Sparky Is Here.

Yes, I finally have my Tesla! I took delivery April 16th, and have had SO many adventures already! I continue to learn new things about it. I've already had 3 (count them, THREE) software updates to add to the features I have to learn.

Bottom line, this is an incredible machine. Best thing to happen to me in decades.

Have update my other blog (Tesla-specific) to My Tesla Chronicles. Have no idea how I'm going to make time for it, but I'm excited to share what I've discovered... about the car, and about myself.

In the meantime, I had a couple days of fame when @Tesla retweeted my tweet. Pretty cool.

Waited over 30 years for today. Ever since I saw an electric car on TV in the 80s and I said “I’m buying one of those if I ever get the chance.” Today I make good on that teenager’s promise. Bucket list item: CHECK! TY to the amazing @Tesla team and @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/SyksrQ1GE7

— Somi (@somichuhon) April 16, 2019

My Tesla Is Finally Here

I remember back when I was a teenager in the 1980's seeing an electric car on TV, and thinking that it would be the greatest invention ever! It seems so far-fetched and too space-aged to ever be real. Since then, every time I see news about another electric car, I got intrigued, looked it up, and imagined the possibility of getting one. But they were either not regulated for Canada, or the range was so short and battery charging was so slow, it would be a major sacrifice to make it work without another car that used gas.

Then along came Tesla. Seriously! I never thought for a minute I would see a "real" electric car in my lifetime, let along own one. But here I am, almost 3 years after placing my reservation. I am going to own a brand-spanking new Tesla Model 3!

I've been following Tesla since late 2015, completely fascinated by the company, and thinking that I will finally make my teenage dream come true. I just HAD to make it happen. My teenage self would never forgive me if I didn't try.

The most expensive car I ever purchased was my current Honda Civic at $18.5K (including taxes). How in the world would I EVER be able to afford a car like this? I took one more music gigs outside of my regular job. I penny-pinched when I could, putting whatever money I could spare into a savings account every month. I worked out the monthly payments, and tried to be as realistic as possible. Yes, I could save on gas and use that towards my monthly payment, but my insurance would be higher, and maintenance costs are less, sure... but not nothing!

Well, I placed my order on Sunday, January 6th, and now I'm just waiting.

I told the Tesla Advisor that it would be so cool if I got it in time for my birthday on January 31st. Next thing I know, I get an email almost right away that my delivery day has been set for that day! Now they just have to work at matching me with my car. How cool is that?

I've learned so much about the car that I feel like I know it already. I just want to experience it now!

Stay tuned. It's going to be a great birthday this year!!

A Glimpse Into Grandeur - Carter Johnson and the UBC Symphony Orchestra

It is no small feat. Choosing Prokofiev's monster Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26 to enter UBC's annual piano concerto competition is an unequivocally all-or-nothing decision. There is no such thing as a "just okay" performance of this piece. The risk will either guarantee your success, or you will crash and burn in its grips.

Tonight, I listened to Carter Johnson of Campbell River, BC and a 4th year student at the UBC School of Music, conquer this tremendous piece of music. As I watched him move to the pulse of the orchestra around him, it felt akin to witnessing a rare manifestation of the young Van Cliburn -- invited to an overwhelming and expansive Russian musical environment, only to tame it by his calming charisma and musical generosity. Johnson started his first notes, not turning internally into his own world with the piano keys, but intently watching the conductor for the entire length of the first musical segment -- perhaps his way of drawing himself into the symphonic collective. Then Johnson graced the piano with what felt like a never-ending slough of technical impossibilities. It was nothing short of breath-taking. The audience was bedazzled to the point that there was no choice but to break the code of silence between movements and offer an ovation of praise after the first movement. Johnson gave a brief nod of thanks, and then it was back to the business at hand -- the rest of this unforgiving and haunting repertoire.

I felt an immense rush of inspiration listening to this performance. It would stand up to any professional performance I have witnessed. It was not to be missed, and I'm so grateful to have made the decision to attend.

Johnson gave an encore that was the perfect dessert after the complex flavours we had just ingested . A fusion of contemporary classical and jazz-like stylings on Richard Rodgers' "My Favorite Things" was a delight to listen to and the "cool down" I needed to recover my emotional faculties.

The only response I have to this experience is, "I want more." This is a budding artist to follow. An already nationally accomplished musician, he has so much more to him than just his music. Of course, I found his Facebook page, appropriately using "postmilpianist" as his extension and "Liked" it right away. You may want to do the same.

I have to give a nod to the UBC Symphony Orchestra for overcoming the incredible challenge that is Prokofiev. It is not easy keeping pace with the tempo without letting it get away from you. My hats off to their conductor, Jonathan Girard, and guest conductor Jaelem Bhate, for a wonderful evening. If you have not attended a UBC Symphony Orchestra concert, for $8 tickets, I guarantee you will not find a better concert deal in town!

Click here to replay the Live Stream.
Not the same as being in the Chan Centre live, but a nice taste of what transpired tonight.

Tracking Tesla

Alright so I went a little off the deep end. I'm so excited about owning a Tesla Model III that I get dizzy just thinking about it. My brother told me to start a blog just about Tesla and stop clogging up my "What I Love" blog with the same thing over and over. So I did.

So, sorry about pasting any followers with my sudden Tesla fanaticism. If you are kinda crazy about Tesla Motors like I've become, you can follow me there at my Tracking Tesla Blog.

Peace.

Something's Off about Citron's Shorting of $TSLA

I saw lots of buzz around this tweet yesterday:

After watching $TSLA stock go up for the last couple of weeks, it suddenly had a downturn yesterday. Well, not significant enough to cause any panic, but it did go down. And it returned back on the upswing again today. So much for trying to influence the market, Citron. One day of slight-but-not-so-much panic.

The thing is, Citron seems to be betting their short stocks on the fact that Tesla has had a problem supplying their demand in the past. I mean, it's possible that Tesla Motors may have some delays initially filling orders for the Model III when it comes time to ship (a lot is riding on their new gigawatt factories), and it wouldn't surprise me if there was a delay. But that's looking beyond this year.

While the Model III continues in development for now, this year, Tesla factories are focused on pumping out more Model S's and X's, and is increasing their output. Their aim is to once again double their production in the coming year. But even if they fall slightly short of that goal, there's no doubt that they WILL grow. The issue of the falcon doors on the Model X seem to settled now that they have gone with a different supplier. And the X's have started to show up at the buyers' doors. Whatever supply problem they had, they seemed to have weathered most of that storm and are back on track.

As for the Model III, there's no demand to fill yet. They don't go into production until late 2017, far after Citron's projection of a minus-$100 loss on each share. Maybe Citron's projection has merit for next year. But for this year, they are blowing their whistle way, WAY too early. I think they will be in for a big surprise.

I think Tesla stock owners know there'll be a ramp up in price leading to the Model III unveiling on March 31st. If Citron's trying to kill, or at least dampen, that upward trend, they are going to be in a losing battle this month. While $TSLA stock prices might go through a bit of a roller coaster after the announcement, I expect it to equalize shortly thereafter and return to its course upward.

Stock trading is a game, and we're trying to figure out who is reading it right. I'm not convinced yet that Citron has got it right. But what do I know, right? It's not like I'm an experienced trader. I'm just trying to do my homework and rooting for Tesla Motors to make a difference. So good luck, Citron. But for the sake of the future of sustainable transport, I hope it's not good...