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Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Lost in the Wilderness




Remember the scene in the Steve Martin movie 'The Jerk' where he walks off, mumbling, taking the chair with him? 

I feel a bit like that lately... with too many things going on my brain feels muddled, and an old quest has (perhaps) bit me in the ass. 

Most of you know I recently bought a 1969 Spider, which was a very good deal, and was something I'd been looking for ever since one slipped through my fingers in 2008. These cars have always 'spoken' to me, and this one was SUCH a good deal, I just couldn't say "No". 

...but I broke two of my own cardinal rules. 1) Only own one 'project' at a time, and 2) don't get two cars that are too similar. 

My '74 Spider is the project that'll never end. Something I never foresaw was that after modification on top of modification, the required little continuing adjustments never seem to end. You modify one thing, then something else has to be adjusted around it, and then a third thing isn't quite what you expected. It's tough to know when it's 'done'. 

In the meantime, I have so little time that it's just too easy (and too damn much fun!) to drive, so I end up never WORKING on it. The '74 has a dozen small projects that have been hanging over my head too long, making me crazy. That damn exhaust braket rattle will drive me around the bend soon, and with less time than ever for my Fiat 'habit', I haven't even had time to open a box of parts I recieved a few weeks ago. 

With the '74 projects behind, the new '69 needing attention, the 'ole Wagon felt like too much - so the poor thing languished, only to eventually be sent off to be "out of sight & out of mind". That wagon deserves a better owner than me.

I collected a number of parts off the '68/'69 series cars for my '74, but I know in my heart it'll never 'really' be an earlier car, and darned if that damn '69 doesn't just have charm coming out it's ass. It is a shockingly different driving experience, and not just because it has a fraction of the power my '74 puts out. That little 1438 motor is surprisingly 'spry', and I can't help but think that after rebuilding the carb & giving it an electronic ignition & good tune, it'll be remarkably better. 

The '69 needs a lot of work to bring it up to snuff, but in a VERY different way from my '74. The '69 is sooooo close to stock, it's really easy to measure & list what it needs. That line is VERY blurry on my '74, which will NEVER be stock, and likely never 'done'. 

So what do I do? 

My original intention was to spiff up & buff out the '69 for an easy flip, early in the summer. The proceeds would help get The Great White Wagon back in service, which would then mean I'd have time to wrench on the '74 guilt-free. (And the clouds would part, and the sunbeams would shine down on me while the angels sang!)

...in the meantime...damn, I love driving this '69... 

After all I have done & gone through on my '74 (and all the bruised knuckles of everyone who helped!), can I even imagine selling The Beast? Would it be absolute lunacy to even consider selling the '74, and keeping the '69??? 

Or do I need to just focus on one project at a time, some day arriving at that mythical nirvanna where all the cars just need periodic maintenance? 

Sometimes, that's the part of the Fiat Ownership Quest that always seems to be one step too far...or one step inside the looney bin...

Thursday, March 28, 2013

A truly shit day

After a delay in Feb, (due to being laid off after nearly 12 years with CEC & dealing with COBRA & whatnot), I went in for knee surgery today.  After being put under General Anesthesia, I was the 'exciting patient of the day' when I went into Atrial Fibrillation.  
(Please forgive spelling & terminology issues, as I'm still in the hospital, posting via free wireless.)
Atrial Fibriliation means that the top part of the heart is fluttering around, which could cause blood pooling, or a risk of clots.  This isn't uncommon in the elderly (which I am not), those with chronic high blood pressure (which I don't have), those with chronic sleep apnea (which I've not been 'diagnosed' with), and it can be...hereditary.
Ding!  We have a winner!  
My (almost) 91 year old Grandfather has it, and...well....this isn't what I'd choose to inherit!  However, we have two BIG! FUN! tests tomorrow to figure out 'next steps'.  
Medication may help, they may shock me back into submission, or we may have to live with it.
THEN .... we can decide when to go back & do the darn knee surgery!
So....amidst the tests, pic-cushion-practice, and inevitable Hospital Food, I get a whopper of a headache going, just in time for a phone call.
From Allstate.
You know, where I had a GREAT interview, which went almost twice as long as scheduled, and where halfway through she began interviewing me for the position ABOVE the one I'd been brought in for!  A week later I had a phone conversation with her boss, as I'd "be part of his management team".  It went VERY well.  They even asked about my availability!  They were supposed to call me yesterday, and the implication was that it'd include an offer letter.
No call yesterday.
In fact, for the last week, the recruiter never followed up on my question regarding the higher level job's salary range, and in fact, never called after the initial "It went GREAT!" phone conversation.
...but I didn't expect him to call and say the positions had evaporated.  BOTH positions.  One to fresh budget cuts, the other to a recent new hire.
It really caught me off guard.  
Something about it stinks, but it's a moot point, it's gone.
So, it was a double-barrell-shit day, and rather than compensating by grilling a good steak, and having a nice bourbon with a good cigar ... I'm up late & unable to sleep in the cardiac ward of St Alexis.


Friday, March 22, 2013

Interesting stuff?

Looking at this picture on my wall, for some reason today it caught my eye.

Saturday, March 02, 2013

American Heritage Shopping

The other customers were 'real' American working men - Tire Shop employees, and various construction types. When I asked about the Iron Rangers and some of the other boots in the heritage line, I was told "Those are for poser 'office-types". It was a beautiful store, with experienced & knowledgeable sales staff. I didn't stay long.

Friday, March 01, 2013

Aloha Friday

Bourbon & Ginger Ale, with a chicken, bacon, and avocado flatbread.

Good for the soul...

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

The Barn Coat

Waxed canvas, plaid lining, brass zippers. Stand up collar, a bit thin for truly cold weather, but a nice timeless design

Friday, February 22, 2013

The new interview outfit

It's not 'standard issue' East Coast Navy Blue Blazer & khaki's...but it's still very traditional...



-Lee

Thumb typed on my iPhone

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Monday, January 14, 2013

The Ups & Downs

It's important to mark the occasions of our lives, even when times are tough.

In fact, I think it's even more important to do so when life is challenging.

It's easy to celebrate when things are good, but during times of stress it can feel difficult to be 'up for it'.

...But the effort is worth it. In the same way that the spirit of giving is what brings us happiness, celebrating the good things reminds us that no matter how dark the hour, we all have things to be thankful for.

Saturday, January 12, 2013

The Pink Slip

I always thought 'pink slips' were supposed to be...PINK?

In this day & age, apparently not.

Eleven and a half years has come to an abrupt end. I've had at least six different positions with CEC, moved halfway across the country for CEC, I've had some wonderful opportunities & I've met a lot of really great people.

I keep reassuring the people who reach out to me that this is...ok. It's the best version of a shitty thing.

It'll be ok, because I'll MAKE it ok. I don't know how that'll happen, and while that's a little scary, I have faith in myself.

I've been through worse times, and comparatively, I'm very lucky.

...but you're right. It still sucks...