mizell.name

We explored Lake Tahoe in the Boat

Karen is looking to replace her car soon.  This, of course, means that we’re in research mode.  The criteria are simple enough to list: MPG at or above 30; all wheel drive; wagon/hatch/suv/crossover body style; a back seat that will comfortably seat an adult; 4-doors; and, a styling that appeals to Karen.

Simple right?

Except then throw in the fact that Tripp wants a healthy amount of torque for spirited driving and good handling.  Also, keep in mind that Karen comes from a Ford family.  The company faithfully employed her father for 30-some years and continues to treat its employees and retirees well.

Not as simple anymore.

Any car must also fit within the tight garage of our house, limiting the size of the vehicle to, at most, 90 inches wide and 190 inches long.

Really not as simple anymore.

So, we’ve boiled it down to three possibilities.  Each gives up a little on the constraints.  The potentials are: Subaru 2007-2009 Outback XT – Infinity 2012 EX – Ford 2013 Escape.  Some others that might fit but have been ruled out for this-or-that include: Volvo 2010 V50; Audi used A4 Avant; BMW used 530xit; Mini Countryman; and, Subaru 2013 Outback.

Returning to the contestants, we have the following information:

FUEL ECONOMY

Subaru 2009 Outback XT: 18 city, 24 highway

Infinity 2012 EX: 17 city, 24 highway

Ford 2013 Escape is undetermined at this time.  However, fuel mileage can estimated by looking at the current Ford Edge crossover (21/30).  The two vehicles are similar in size and weight (potentially) and use the same 2.0L Ecoboost Engine.  It is harder to estimate what the AWD Escape will generate, as there are no Ford products that use the same engine with AWD.  The Volvo S60 T5 is, from what I can tell, licensed technology of the Ecoboost.  Again, Volvo doesn’t offer that engine with AWD so there is no real comparison to make.  The most we can say with the current data is that the 2013 Escape is unlikely to get better than the Edge’s 21/30MPG.

PERFORMANCE

Subaru 2009 Outback XT: 243HP, 241Tq on a vehicle weight of 3600lbs

Infinity 2012 EX: 297HP, 253Tq on a vehicle weight of 4,000lbs

Ford 2013 Escape: 285HP, 253Tq and a likely curb weight of 4,000+lbs (based on the FWD Edge’s 4000lbs).

SIZE

Mazda 2004 3 (current car) is 69in wide and 178in long.

Subaru 2009 Outback XT is 70in wide and 189in long.

Infinity 2012 EX is 71in wide and 182in long.

Ford 2013 Escape is 82in wide and 178in long.

Thus, we’re looking at a conundrum of sorts.  The Outback will be harder to park front-to-back while the Escape will be harder to park side-to-side.

CONCLUSIONS

Bottom line, there are compelling reasons to select any one of the choices.  The Escape has the best estimated gas mileage and may be a better performing vehicle for towing (another potential criteria).  It will not, however, drive like a lighter and lower car and it is the widest of the choices, pushing the limits of our garage.

The Infinity has the closest dimensions of all the vehicles, gets the same gas mileage as the Outback and is the highest trim level of any of the choices.  It also has the best HP rating and worst fuel mileage.

The Outback has the most room in the back seat and is a car rather than an SUV or crossover.  However, it pushes the limit of our garage in the length category and gets worse fuel mileage than the Ford.

This past weekend my family buried James Elsworth Mizell, known to his family as Pop.  He is my paternal grandfather and namesake.  As you might imagine, his death was an emotional event made more so by the fact that I couldn’t help but think back to 2005 and the death of my father, James Elsworth Mizell II.

I’m now the last standing Elsworth.  Of course, I expected such a time would arrive.  But if asked whether this time would arrive sooner or later, I would have guessed later.  That, of course, all changed to 2005.  And, more recently with the increasingly fragility of Pop’s health, I was all to aware of my impending status.

As I sat in the audience at the funeral, and later at the wake, my pain was too consuming to consider speaking.  I count that as one of my major failings.  I owed it to my grandfather to speak at his funeral.

If I had it to do over I know exactly what I would say: Pop means so much to each of us. We each remember him slightly differently and honor him in unique ways.  But, if there is one thing, one overriding lesson, he managed to teach all those who lived or were close to him, it was to live with conviction and honor.  This was reflected in everything he did.  From his many successful businesses to how he raised four kids and taught their children.  By way of illustration, there is a particular moment in my adult life when this was especially clear.  In 2001 I began law school.  Pop was glad and it gave my dad and him something to talk about.  As my courses progressed and I was close to graduation he pulled me aside one Thanksgiving.  He said, “Tripp, are you going to be an ambulance chaser?  Or, are you going to do something good for this world?”  After a short pause he added, “Remember that you’re a Mizell.  We treat people properly.  Don’t let me down.”  Pop lived with conviction and honor.  That is how I’ll always remember him.  That is how he deserves to be remembered.  It is my greatest wish that he is now relaxing with his son Jamie and they are both looking at their families and thinking that we’re living up to everything they could have ever hoped for us.

My brothers and paternal extended family might read this and think that I’m taking liberties in thinking I’m somehow special.  I don’t assert that I am anything more than one of many mourning family members.  My name, however, is one of the more concrete connections I had with Pop and it seemed an apt analogy to my feelings.  No disrespect or minimizing of others’ pain and suffering is meant.  Please don’t take it that way.

Instead, know that I love all of you more than anything and I know each of you is making our grandfather and dad proud.

This past Saturday Karen and I took advantage of the Fall-like weather to hike Glacier Point in Yosemite.  We drove in to find that the reports of “no snow” were absolutely accurate.  Generally, Glacier Point road is closed past Badger Pass Ski Resort starting sometime in late November.  This year, however, the road is open and very clear of any trace of snow.  And, it’s mid-January.

So, we donned some warm jackets (because although there was no snow to speak of, the temperatures were between 20 and 40 degrees) and headed off to The Fissures, Taft Point, and Sentinel Dome.  The trail was empty.  This gave us a great chance to enjoy a peaceful walk through the woods and some stunning views of Yosemite Valley.  The waterfalls were in winter hibernation but the granite faces of Half Dome, El Capitan, Clouds Rest and all of the high-country made for great photos.

We encountered only a slight amount of snow.  It was on a north-facing slope that tended to see sun only between the hours of 1 and 2 pm.  The hiking path was well worn and dry, indicating that this was old snow and barely hanging on from the storms back in November.

Once we arrived at the Fissures and Taft Point, we encountered our first fellow hikers.  They had walked the 0.5 miles in from the Taft Point trailhead.  The cliffs were as dizzying and spellbinding as ever and we had a great time scampering among the rocks and having a quick lunch before heading to Sentinel Dome.

Upon arriving at the top of the dome, we found ourselves amongst our 30 closest friends.  It seems that the top of the dome is a particularly popular place to watch the sunset.  So, we staked out a piece of rock, took some photos, talked with some other tourists and enjoyed a very colorful mountain sunset.

The last few miles back to the car were much colder, as the temperature dropped substantially after the sun was down.  But we were prepared with additional layers and gloves in addition to a new pocket-lantern courtesy of “Santa.”  By finding a nicely curved stick, we were able to turn our pocket lantern into a convenient way of lighting our path.

To wrap-up, the hike was a great way to spend a Saturday.

P.S. – We took a little detour on the way home to stop at P.J.’s Pizzaria in Groveland.  We were really looking forward to a BBQ chicken pizza.  However, it turns out that they didn’t have pizza to serve.  They also were out of breadsticks… and the chicken curry special.  So, we had chicken fingers.  Guess if we want pizza, P.J.’s is the wrong place to go.

2012 arrived at a pivotal time in my life and the life of those around me.  The changes called for something special, something beyond a mere kiss at new years and broken resolutions.  The new year called for a reflection.

Immediately prior to the threshold of 2012, the Mizells said farewell to our paternal patriarch, James Mizell.  He lived 92 years on this planet, raising four kids and successfully running many of his own businesses.  He succeeded in teaching his kids and grandkids the meaning of hard work and, as for me personally, a sense of responsibility to deal with the world forthrightly.

At the same time, I’ve jumped into a new job and thereby redirected my career slightly to focus almost exclusively on water rights.  I am now working at the California Department of Water Resources as staff counsel for the State Water Project’s water rights.  Rock on.

As for New Year’s, Karen and I spent the evening celebrating in a low-key and friendly way with Grant and Evelyn a their home in Amesbury, England.  I believe we celebrated on Copenhagen time… or was it Brussels?  In either case, it was a great evening of enjoyable banter and English TV hilarity.

What will the new year bring?  This is something only time will tell.  I suspect, however, it will be exciting and full of adventure.  Kraen and I have several backpacking trips in the works, a season of snowboarding (if Tahoe would hurry up and get some snow) and we’re running, for the second year in a row, the Vineman 70.3 half-Ironman triathlon this July.  On top of that, we have two family weddings with Julia and Chris and John & Kira.

Stay tuned for a new year.