Only Dreaming

 Some days, especially in the last few months, the best times I can have are the time spent lost in dreams. Anything to put the reality of this year out of my thoughts. Lately, the craziness of 2020 is just too stressful. I have to think of something else to relax and bring my blood pressure down. My favorite thoughts are something automotive. Even if it's dreaming of some car I know I'll never have, it is a great distraction to just day dream. This is one of my favorite subjects . . . . . 

                                                                      

                                                              ( Internet Twitter photo )

10 Years Ago

 It’s not really a very long time, but 10 years ago seems like a different world, from where we find ourselves now. Those things we were doing, and our outlook on life was a lot different back then. When we try to imagine our daily thoughts and concerns, and the things we might have been planning for our future, it’s hard to visualize what we might have been thinking.

Looking back at some old pictures, it’s nice to reminisce on some of my favorite activities, from back in the day. I used to love a little “small town cruising” on a Friday or Saturday night. I haven’t done that for years now. I really miss those days.

Details

 One of the first jobs I had as a teenager was detailing cars for a used car lot. The things I learned there have served me well for all these years. It’s more than just cleaning a car, they call it “detailing”  for a reason.  The quality of the results is in the details. 

Everything is important, and nothing should be overlooked, but there are a couple things that put the finishing touches on a job well done. The windows are one of those things, but probably the most important is how well you finish the tires and wheels. That’s especially true if you’re detailing a performance car. 

Car enthusiasts, check out my book by following this link; Grab Some Gears 

                                                                 (  Internet Twitter Image )

Automotive Awesomeness

 When you walk around a car show, looking over all those beautiful machines, at some point you get into a discussion with some other “car guy” about cars we owned in the years past. Some times the person you’re talking to is one of those people who owned one cool car many years ago, and then they sold it, and have spent the last 50 years driving boring cars. What a shame.

It’s a real shame that someone who loves cars, drives “plane Jane” transportation appliances, when they should be enjoying the machine they have to drive every day.  Automotive awesomeness is out there, all we have to do is look for it.

Mustang Guy

 What does it take to be called a "Mustang Guy" ?   It could be just a casual title of anyone who owns a Mustang. Or, maybe you must have owned several over the years. It's really nothing official, but in my case, I believe that owning numerous Mustangs, of almost every generation, for over 50 years, gives me some cred as a "Mustang Guy".

The first Mustang I drove was my moms 66 coupe that she got new when I was 17 years old. That started what has been a life long association with that iconic car model. The first one I actually owned, was also a 1966 coupe with a 289 V8 , that I owned when I was in the Air Force. Over the years since then, I have owned so many that I have to refer to the list at the back of my book to remember them all.

Anyone interested should check out the rest of my story. Just follow this link to check out my book and read sample pages: Grab Some Gears

2020 Summer Day Dreams

 Here we are, the year 2020 is over half way through, and all we have to show for it, is the most stressful times that most of us have seen in our life time.  I had such high hopes for this year, and it all started to fall apart before it barely got started. 

At this point, the best part is a few summer day dreams that I seem to have, over and over again. The best ones have to do with the new 2020 Shelby GT 500, and which color I would choose, if I were to order one.  That’s right, I can dream as much as I want. 

The Comet

The world has been in total craziness for the last few months.  Lately, I try to avoid watching the news as much as possible. I’m just so tired of all the ridiculous stuff that never ends.
Recently we have had a beautiful, and quiet distraction, that’s literally “out of this world” . The comet Neowise has been visible for the last little while, and I look forward to going outside and viewing it, several times a night, as long as sky conditions cooperate.
It’s a nice and relaxing distraction to see that the universe continues about its business, regardless of what ever crazy things are happening on our little planet.

(Internet photo) 

The Road Ahead

Those of us who have been around for a few years realize that we come to those "mile stone" points in history, when everything in life is in a state of change. This is one of those times. We have spent the last few months dealing with one of the worst health situations the world has been through in centuries, and we have no end to that in site yet. On top of that, we have been dealing with massive social unrest over the last few weeks, and no one knows when this will be resolved.
The road of life has hit a bumpy stretch, with many twists and turns ahead. We are not sure where this is all headed, and what our lives will look like in the future. At times like this, we need to hold on tight to the good things in our lives, keep our loved ones as safe as possible, and pick the best path forward. We need to rebuild our world to make the future better than the past we are leaving behind.

"The road of life, and we don't know what is around the next corner"

Memorial Day

This past weekend, we celebrated Memorial Day, a long standing tradition to remember those who we have lost over the years. In addition to paying tribute to our past family and loved ones, we also want to show our care and respect for those military members, both living and those who have given their lives, in service to our country.
As a former military veteran myself, that means a lot to those of us who have served, to see the level of respect and appreciation, that most Americans show toward our military veterans.  Thank you.

Five Years Old

It’s hard for me to realize that my Mustang is five years old. Time just seems to go by so fast these days. I understand that’s the common feeling among older people, so I assume I’m not the only one who is having this experience.
Very seldom have I ever kept my vehicles this long, so this is a new experience for me. Sure, I have already been dreaming about what I might get to replace the my 2015 Mustang GT. And yes, I have thought of how cool it would be to own a 2020 Shelby GT 500. Trouble is, that would be a serious stretch of what I could afford.
I told Jackie five years ago, when we got this one, that this may be the last Mustang I own. Now that I’m having my 70th birthday, in a few more months,  I not so sure about this being the last Mustang I ever own.  We’ll see what the future may have in store.

My 2015 Mustang  GT, here in Southern Utah.

Social Distancing

In our part of the world, “social distancing” can be pretty easy to achieve, depending on what kind of activities you choose to participate in. If we plan on making a trip to the grocery store to pick up some necessities, the same precautions apply here as most other parts of the country. But if we’re looking for a little quiet time in the great outdoors, we have many choices, in some of the most beautiful places in the world.
For some of us, we prefer the wide open spaces over being around people anyway. Yes, I have freely admitted to being a “loner”  for many years, so some of these wide open vistas are heaven to me anyway. I’m sure many other people feel the same way. Let’s enjoy our social distancing.

Social Distancing in Southern Utah.

Summer Dreams

With all that we have been through the last couple months, we can’t help but wonder what else is coming down the road. Many of us have stopped talking about “getting back to normal” , and instead started wondering what the new “normal” will look like.  I think the experience of the last few weeks have made some permanent changes to the way we will be doing things in the future.
Just looking ahead to this coming summer, it may be a lot different than the summers we have enjoyed all our lives.  The normal outdoor activities, and traditional public events, may not take place this year. Being a “car guy “ , I can’t help but wonder about summer car shows, and other enthusiasts activities, that we have loved all our lives.   What will our new normal look like?
But, we can still dream of what could be, and remember all those special summer activities of the past, and see what we can do to make our new normal the best it can be.

Summer Dreams.  (Twitter photo) 

National Mustang Day

On April 17th. 56 years ago, the Ford Mustang was introduced to the world. From that day forward, the Mustang was an automotive game changer, and started setting sales records for the first couple years of production that have never been equaled to this day.
I have been a Mustang fan from the first time I saw one as a teenager, and have owned many in the years since. My mom came home with a shiny new 66 V8 Mustang coupe, and I was lucky enough to get to drive it once in awhile. That made a lasting impression on a young South Dakota farm kid that still affects me to this day.
On April 17th, five years ago, we took delivery of our new 2015 Mustang GT, on the 50th anniversary of the Mustang introduction.  As with all the Mustangs I’ve ever owned, it brings a smile every time I drive it.

Our current pride and joy, 2015 Mustang GT, over looking St. George.

Time to Read a Book

Lately we have found ourselves with a lot more time on our hands. When we have exhausted all the many jobs around the house that we have been meaning to do for years, maybe we have some time to read a book.
If you are an automotive enthusiast, why don’t you check out my book. It’s easy to do, just follow this link and take a look, and you can even read sample pages,  Click on this link; Grab Some Gears

Spending Time Alone

With a worldwide virus attacking us from every direction, the medical advisors are telling us to stay away from people to help us stay healthy. For many people, spending time alone is hard to do. For me, it’s just the opposite, I’m a loner, and always have been.
I’ve never had a problem finding something to keep me busy when spending time alone. Maybe the time has come for me to share some ideas with the rest of the world. Many “car guys” already know what I’m talking about.
Spending time in the garage, with your favorite car, can be very relaxing and time well spent. There is always something that can be accomplished, even if it’s just a little cleaning and lite detailing. Just put on your favorite music, pick up a clean towel and a bottle of spray detailer, and time will slip away.

Good place to spend some time. 

Saint Patrick’s Day

Everyone is anxious to show their green today in support of Saint Patrick’s Day, whether or not they have any Irish in their ancestry. That is also true for many of the car enthusiasts who post on Twitter and Facebook. There is no shortage of green vehicle photos on social media today.
I have to admit that I’m part of that group. There is no shortage of green cars in my Twitter posts today. One of those photos is one of my favorite, and not just because of the color. I’m proud to share it here today on my blog.

Beautiful green Cobra (Twitter photo). 

Our Place in Life

How many years have you spent doing whatever needed to be done, to have a good job, to build a good life for your family, and all the time wishing you could be some place else? Maybe there is a great vacation spot, that you wish could be your permanent home. Maybe it’s a place you travel through occasionally, and wonder what it would be like to live there every day.
That was my situation ten years ago, and we bought a vacation home, and started planning for the day when we could retire, and make it our permanent home. Six years ago, everything fell into place, and it became a reality.  Now, as I look back, it seems that every thing that happened through out my life was just working to get to this place in life.  
I greatly appreciate this beautiful area of the world that we have come to live in.  I love the climate, and the landscape of this part of the country is something out of a travel magazine.  I’m very happy with our place in life. 

The kind of views we can enjoy in our place in life.

A Very Good Year

When I was 17, it was a very good year.  “Sounds like words from a very old song”  But, for me, these words are true for several reasons.
That’s the year my mom came home with a new Mustang. It was a white 66 coupe, with 289 V8 and automatic transmission. It was late enough into the year that the 67 models were already starting to hit the dealerships, so they probably got it for a good price. Though I had been driving on the highways for about three years, getting an occasional chance to drive the new Mustang was quite a treat.  A high school friend of mine already had a 65 convertible, so I was already a fan.
It was some time during that year that I saw the first 67 Shelby GT 500’s.  It was love at first sight. I must have spent over an hour walking around those cars, admiring them from every angle, and memorizing every beautiful detail.   The 67 Shelby GT 500 remains my favorite Mustangs to this day.

The 67 Shelby GT 500 has been my favorite Mustang for over 50 years.  (Twitter photo)

The Year of the Tiger

No, it’s not this year, but I was born in the “year of the tiger” 1950.  According to Chinese astrology, your year repeats every 12 years. The next tiger year is 2022.
I first became familiar with the Chinese zodiac signs about 20 years ago, and did a lot of reading on the subject at the time. Looking back across my life, I was amazed at the significance of the life events that have happened in the “tiger” years all through my life.
The first was 1962, I was 12 years old, and spent the summer with my grand parents in Pennsylvania.     All the young neighbor girls would spend the afternoons listening to music on their porches. It was a real awakening in my life.  I discovered the popular rock music of the era, which is some of my favorite to this day.  And, girls.  All of a sudden, I started noticing girls in a completely different way.  That “year of the tiger”  changed my life.
Looking back through the years, major life changing events have happened in every tiger year.  I had not thought of these things in years, until a interesting tiger photo caught my eye last week, and I started looking into it again.  What I discovered was amazing. The last tiger year, I hadn’t even realized, also held major life changing events.  Now, I’m looking forward to 2022 with much anticipation.

The tiger photo that caught my eye last week.  ( Twitter photo )

The Eyes of a Car Guy

We have all heard the term “car guy” used all our lives, many times referring to ourselves. I know I have used it many times to describe my own personality to people I meet.
Most people would assume that meant we are people who like cars, and that is true, but many people may not have any comprehension of what that really means, or just how far that goes.
When a real car guy looks at a car, it doesn’t just mean that a car was flashy enough to get noticed, though many times that may be part of it, but often it goes much deeper than that. Especially when it’s something truly unique, or we have a deeper understanding of the car’s mechanical attributes and performance capabilities.  It’s not just a visual image, but our mind is in hyper drive, reviewing all the things that make that car something special to us.
That’s why some images we have seen thousands of times never are enough. Our mind could find something more to love every time, through the eyes of a car guy.
For more of my "car guy" past, check out my book at: Grab Some Gears

Timeless excellence, in the eyes of a car guy.

US Air Force

Yesterday marked 50 years since I became a member of the United States military.  On January 26th. of the year 1970 , I joined the US Air Force , and flew off to start basic training in Texas.
I spent four years as an air traffic controller, at Luke Air Force Base west of Phoenix, Arizona. The Vietnam war was ragging at the time, but my number never came up, and I didn’t get sent to that country.  I am proud to be a Vietnam era Veteran.
After my four year enlistment was over, I ended up back in Northern Utah. The commander of the local Army National Guard unit offered me a promotion to put my military experience to work for them, so I spent three more years as a communication specialist in the Army.
My years in the military taught me many life lessons, that have served me well ever since.

Me, as a 19 year old US Air Force recruit. 

50 Years

Yesterday was our 50th. wedding anniversary.  Jackie and I were married 50 years ago in Phoenix, Arizona. Wow, where did all that time go?
Some things seem like they happened so long ago, and others seem like only yesterday. I guess that's the way with most things we are remembering after many years have past.
In this day and age, a couple still together after 50 years is kind of a rare thing. I'm very proud of what we have accomplished in this life. I love that lady so much, I can't imagine my life any other way.

Jackie , The love of my life,  in 1969 before see moved to Phoenix.

In the year 2020

“In the year 2020”  sounds like a line from some old time-travel movie we might have seen many years ago. Well, it finally happened, we now find ourselves living the year 2020. The future has arrived.
Now that we’re here, what great things can we accomplish in our lives this year?  We get a new start every new year, but somehow this year seems a little more special to me. Maybe because Jackie and I are celebrating our 50th. anniversary next week, or maybe because I have my 70th. birthday later this year, something is a little different about 2020.
With all these life milestones happening, I think I should be celebrating with a new Shelby GT 500. That sounds like a great way to keep me young.  Kind of a time machine.  Ok, maybe that would be a stretch, but could be a lot of fun.

Cruise into the future in a new 2020 Shelby GT 500. (Twitter photo)