Driving Home a DIY Message in the Twin Cities

We auto boot campers went to Target Field for the baseball game tonight. They sell sunflower seeds, bratwurst and Minnesota brews at the concession stands.

In boot camp class, I used the 3M Scratch & Scuff Removal Kit to erase a small jagged-looking scratch on a car exterior. The No Tools Required kit, designed for light/medium scratches, scuffs and paint transfer, contains a gray abrasive square [shown above]; orange foam pad; and two products you apply to pad. First step, sand the scratch.

Then squirt some Rubbing Compound on the pretty orange-sherbet-colored foam pad and buff away. Next, polish any remaining haze/cloudiness with Scratch Remover, using other side of pad. Finish with microfiber detail cloth [not included]. I can honestly say this was fun and I plan to do it on the white scuff marks on our Honda CR-V. Kit is $14.71 @ stockwiseauto.com. I think I got the marks in the very tight parking garage at the condo we lived in when tree fell on our house.

The 3M pros wore red shirts and black pants. Jenn Cook is an engineer and young mother who taught us how to repair dents with 3M Bondo.

The baseball game @ Target Field was fun, if cold. [Too bad the Minnesota Twins lost to the Texas Rangers, 2 to 1.] But we were prepared for the chill--the PR team handed out special gray 3M-logoed sweatshirt blankets before we got there.

Each of our game tickets was electronically loaded with $30 to buy dinner and drinks. I had a Murray's* steak sandwich with fries, following the lead of Bill Howard, a top editor at PC Magazine--we met in December 2011 in Steamboat Springs, CO on a GMC press trip, but we both live in New Jersey. I sat [or huddled] next to Bill at the game, and he's a great conversationalist. He got salted peanuts and shared with me. A hot chocolate kept me warm.

I better go to bed. Have to be downstairs with my luggage by 7:30 A.M. and it's 12:57 already.

But first, favorite quote from Todd Mathes, the 3M car care expert who gave us the scratch removal demo: "I could talk for hours about headlight restoration and scratch removal. I'm just really passionate about it." And, regarding scratch repair: "It's very addictive." I agree, because it's also very rewarding to see the scratch almost completely disappear. Again, I prefer the No Tools Required Kit vs. the one that calls for a drill. Drills scare me.

Signing off from Minnesota. Good night.

*Just read that Murray's steakhouse has been a staple in Minneapolis since 1946. The sandwich was dripping and delicious, made with melted provolone cheese and onions. With fries, $13.

TCOY 
Ummmmm...nothing? Because it can be tricky on a press trip.