what's up?

get on with it

went to the azalea festival show last year. i think we are done with that one, the attendance is low compared to past years, and the people at the gate, while friendly, just won’t let me in before it gets too hot.

here’s the back end of an impala. the front is pretty plain, so i always prefer the tail lights on impalas of any year.

kinda wished they’d closed the trunk, but can’t have everything.

whoa, it’s been a while since i posted. so much going on.

last post found me temporarily in chicago. later that day, i was in washington, d.c., where i spent a week at a conference. it was so hot outside, i did actually attend the classes. i had scheduled a free day to get out to the museums, but i so could not tolerate the humidity, i only managed the national archives, since the metro station was very nearby.

about half-way into the week, i found myself feeling so very sick, that i stayed in my hotel room and watched the video feed of the conference, and otherwise slept.

better half was unable to join me, so i was on my own, and had to stumble out for meals, and ultimately in search of some cough drops, nyquil, and tylenol.

standing by the metro tracks, i found i got really dizzy if i watched a train pull in to the station, passing me quickly. turns out i was running a fever over 101.

last couple of days there, mostly just coughed a lot.

flew home, to find i was positive for covid, though i mostly felt fine by then. locked in the bedroom, better half would fetch me food, and i didn’t see my mother until i went negative.

was very busy at work, with a big tradeshow in process, and another coming up.

lately, my brother got sick, and he’s been in the hospital for about a month now, and probably for some time to come.

better half’s sister is also in the hospital, and he’s gone north to sit at her bedside.

my daughter was here for a month with her dog, while she worked at the oc fair. i mostly watched the dog at my mom’s. at least a big barky doberman keeps the salesmen away from the door. no, we have no interest in bug exterminators or solar panels, thanks. they really are very pushy, and don’t understand no.

i’m doing some physical therapy, to help with the dizziness i’m still experiencing since i fell.

hoping to get back to swimming in the morning, before work, now that the dog is back at home, but my sleep schedule is all screwed up, so have been unsuccessful getting back to that.

i’m still rotating between visits to my brother, then working from my house or my mother’s.

not a lot of free time, but this past weekend, because of circumstances, i was able to sit in my home; in silence; in the dark; turn the tv to whatever i wanted to watch, as loud as i wanted; got to see a movie—wolverine and deadpool—which the better half would never want to see; and go clean my mom’s carpets.

i need to head over to see her shortly, but i’m delaying. got the ac going here; she keeps hers turned up to at least seventy-six.

expecting another busy week at work, though my boss is out of town, the show must go on.

the hotness

i had a couple of reasons to be in temecula last weekend.

i’d mentioned the ramble on the ranch show a couple of months ago to my son, who lives out there.

at that time, it would be taking place after the due date for his second kid, so hey, convenient reason to pop in and see the little critter.

we had it set up that i would carry a go bag, if the wife should go into labor before the time that her mother could take time off from her day job to go help out.

i was visiting, about a month before d-day, and figured i’d just leave my bag there, so it wouldn’t have to bounce around and bake in my trunk.

well, the due date came and went. finally, they set up a date to induce, on friday, the fifth.

so i took the day off from work, to watch my granddaughter, while they went in to the hospital.

then they got scheduled for ten p.m. that night. they called before heading over; they got bumped to the next morning, due to other women that needed priority inducements, and there weren’t enough beds. please come tomorrow at eight a.m.

then bumped again, for the same reason on saturday morning. finally, telling them, they’ll try to schedule again on tuesday, if baby doesn’t show up on it’s own. mom was bummed, of course. she’s ready to meet this little person.

by this time, the mother-in-law was able to be there to help with things, so, i went to the car show, as originally intended. i was there at five p.m., and parked nearby under the shade of a tree. i opened my car door to about a hundred-degree oven-like heat.

keep in mind, that i haven’t been out much to shows lately, and i don’t tolerate heat so well anymore, which equals a recipe for fun. i pulled my gear out of the trunk, and walked a couple of rows over to the show in the parking lot.

i’ve never been to this show, but have seen pics. vail headquarters is more of an historic park, with storefronts surrounding a little plaza. it’s been around since 1867. they have car shows at least twice a year, during the summer and at winter holiday time. cars park up in the plaza, and a shit-load more are out in the parking lot, and some out the back of the area.

my son sent me a text saying his wife would like to get out of the house, and after their daughter woke up, they would head over and we could get pizza for dinner from the shop there.

i started shooting a few of the cars in the parking lot, watching more and more cars pulling up.

problem was i was sweating profusely. my arms were turning red, so i supposed my face was. felt it was awfully soon to be getting a sunburn. i felt my heart beating quickly.

then i started getting the first sensations of “i’m going to pass out.” not good. no one knows me here.

i went as quickly as i could to my car. i had water in my trunk. i threw my gear in the trunk. didn’t even put the camera away, just set it down, grabbed the water, and got in the car. turned the air conditioner on for bit. thought, if i pass out, the doors are locked, no one will notice.

that wasn’t working. i looked like hell when i peaked in the mirror. i’d tied my hair up. my face was super red. i wasn’t sweating anymore, and i felt swimmy.

i figured it wasn’t good to sit idling with the air on, so decided to move the car, and get into the kohl’s store.

left all the stuff in the car, even my purse; my id was in my camera bag, which i didn’t want to draw attention to, so i left it, and stumbled to the store. people were already sitting in the chairs just inside the door. shit.

so i looked for the bathroom, so i could splash water on my face. saw some furniture for patios in the back corner and sat down for a bit. i’d turned the wrong direction, and the bathroom was in the other corner, but i needed a minute.

the air conditioning was not helping much, but it was better than sitting in my car. wanted to move before security came over to see what i was doing, just sitting there. i think i sat for five minutes, then found the restroom.

the water from the faucet was warm. i tried another, not much cooler. better than nothing. splashed my face, my arms, my neck. i was bright red.

i went to a stall, closed the door and took my shirt off for a bit. i finally felt my pulse slowing down.

i am guessing i was starting to have a heatstroke. never had one, didn’t know anyone that had, so how should i know? looked up symptoms on my phone. yup yup yup, going down the list.

decided to go over to the plaza, and find more water. about that time, my son sent a text to say they’d arrived and were parking the car. i told them i’d meet them by the pizza place. previously, they’d parked at the back, so i headed there, where i found a slight breeze and the additional show cars.

turns out they’d parked out front. i spotted my son walking through the crowd. his wife, her mother, and the kid coming up a few feet behind him. he strode over saying he liked the vibe.

i got a hug, and told them i think i’m having a heatstroke, and i need water. we went inside and got in line. we were about to order, when the phone rings. a nurse is calling and saying they have a bed for her now. she wants to leave, but she’s hungry, so they tell her she can go ahead and eat and then head over.

they ordered pizza to go, but it was ready so quickly, we decided to just eat some there. i felt a bit better after food and water.

told them i’d stop by the house to get my bag after. i stupidly thought i’d take a few more pictures.

off they went to have a baby. off i went to grab my camera bag. dumb, i know. told them i’d just shoot the cars in the shade. or else i’d be seeing them at the hospital…

i shot for about forty minutes, before i judged that i should stop while i still felt i was ok to get back to my car. i glanced at the parking lot, which had gotten quite full by then, and sighed. i just couldn’t consider them.

i’ll go back if/when they do a holiday show. cold, i can deal with.

here’s one of the later shots. i was having to do a lot of waiting for people to move out of the shot, so i was getting more frustrated by this time.

nice cadillac. not a lot of room to maneuver to shoot the side or the back end, so the front will just have to do.

oh, yes. i have a gorgeous new grandson, named levi.

party on

it’s after one a.m. and the neighbors are still having a very loud party. or maybe it’s just several very loud drunk people. yelling about the dumbest things, while a couple of drunk women cackle like hyenas, and hip hop plays in the background.

their parties usually wind down about three in the morning with loud goodbyes in the street.

really just big a$$holes.

——

oh dear, the cops just showed up and they all ran inside and turned the lights off.

——-

here’s the tail end of an impala from a show last year at the roadhouse in whittier.

——-

party over theoretically, but they are now cackling and howling in the house. i guess i’m tired enough to sleep now.

got the blues

missed the imperials’ show this year. dug up this pic from a couple of years ago for tonight. i remember there was a pair of impalas up at the front, but irritatingly roped off, so you couldn’t get a shot without the blockade there. more of a keep off / don’t touch the cars move, and i don’t blame them – they were pretty nice cars.

liked that they used blue lights on a blue car.

no idea where i might end up this weekend; all depends on how hot it is and what time i wake up…it’s been a tough week at work so i’m kind of burned out. gotta listen to my bod. probably will stay close to home.

would have been my dad’s birthday today. missing him extra.

sad and tired, so i guess i’ll go to bed.

fourth of july

away from my computer, and not finding any pics on my ipad with flags waving, so i’ll just put up this old one.

early morning out in south gate, waiting to go onto the golf course at the azaelia festival. pretty sure this was a majestics car. very nice, with the sunrise orange sky behind it.

standard airbrushed, large-breasted women painted down the side. at least they are fairly well done—kudos to the artist—i’d be afraid i’d fuck up a paint job on a car. same goes for all the pinstripers out there. cuz omg, there is definitely really bad work being done, and what are you supposed to say to the owner? blow sunshine up in there and say, “yes that’s great, definitely looks like your kids and/or wife/side chick.” nah, i just don’t take pictures of them...too tempting to me...if you can’t say anything nice...

i think this was the year they wouldn’t let me in early, so i had to fend for myself in the parking lot until almost the time for spectators to be let in. that really sucked. if you see me sitting out there, let me ride in with you in your car; otherwise, i may just go find another show to shoot.

————-

holiday, and here i am, sitting in a pollo loco, josé feliciano singing soulfully, “light my fire,” while i enjoy the air conditioning. no one here, except the employees, and i guess a kid that belongs to one of them, quietly staring at a cell phone.

woke up this morning in my half emptied house. kid still has a lot of stuff to get out of here. he’s leaving the beds, a kitchen table, and a desk behind...won’t fit in his new apartment, or has otherwise upgraded with new. ok, i can use the beds, since mine were tossed during the six years he was in here, but i have a table and desk elsewhere, so need to decide what to do with them.

can always put them in the alley in whittier—lots easier and quicker than trying to sell stuff. i have no patience for it. or i can continue to have them in storage until my other kid moves out and give them to her.

very quiet and cold at my house, which my deeply introverted self is enjoying, almost like a vacation, from the house in whittier.

a large number of porsches, ferraris, and lambos roared by early morning. never saw so many pns cars on the road before. must be an old douche white guy car club, out being weekend warriors, taking advantage of a holiday mid-week. all going over the speed limit, engines roaring, but no cops around, of course. if i drove eighty in a forty zone, no doubt one would happen to be around and give me a ticket.

there is a lot of fixing to do here after this kid is out, but the other is impatient to get in, so we’ll see what i bother to get done. her big beast dog will hinder remodelling; probably will have to send him to stay at my mom’s while anything is done.

pretty sure i’ll rip up the flooring and replace the cabinets, especially since a pipe burst last month, and there seems to be some issues with the wall behind the dishwasher. you know the drill, replace one thing, and soon you’ll be replacing so many other things, so it all looks good. don’t know the first thing about doing these things, but my ex has offered to help or at least find people to do it.

i need to walk back to my place, but the sun is full up, so will be flitting from shady spot to shady spot the whole way. if i start feeling too ill, i’ll get an uber.

now that the eagles are singing, “peaceful, easy feeling,” i will be on my way. have a great holiday!

ruined

here’s an old impala, with the morning sun hitting it just so. there was a line up of an impala club, just under ther coronado overpass, waiting for their turn to get into the show at chicano park. i think this car was near the end of the line, so his back end was hanging out in the sun—-lucky for me, i saw it.

———

today is my son’s birthday. i’m sitting down in san clemente, outside some random restaurant his wife selected, waiting for them to show up. got here early to avoid the worst of friday southbound traffic.

almost tempted to keep on going to san diego, but the uptown show is tomorrow, and my better half would miss me, so i’ll head home tonight.

for my kid, i have a small gift, as well as some cash—what the kids always ask for—not enough to help them move out of my condo, but enough to go to get him into disneyland for one day...so not really that much.

i’d stayed up late last night, making him some pan de elate, a sweet bread thing, his tia used to make him when he was a kid. it’s sort of like a yellow cake, cut into squares,and drowned/soaked in sweetened condensed milk and brandy. i used to make it for him often, but now he tries to keep in shape and so hasn’t had it for a few years.

i was at my parents’ house. my daughter is currently living there with her dog, waiting for her brother to move out of my place. sort of musical chairs, where i probably will never live in my own place again.

like i said, i was up late baking. left the pan of bread on the counter to cool. my mom said she’d cover it before she went up to bed, so up i went to sleep.

this morning, i go to the kitchen for a bowl of cereal before work, and the pan has been covered with foil. atop that is a post-it note warning that is not to be eaten, it’s for my kid—this pointedly directed at my dad, who will help himself to anything in the kitchen.

knowing my boy will not want to eat the whole thing, and likely to take it to work or relatives to share, i added to the note, that it was ok to have some pieces. i left it there and headed to work. figured i’d pick it up on the way to dinner, placing some chunks into a gift box of some sort, that i’d buy at lunch.

got a call today frm my daughter around eight a.m. she seemed distraught, as she said something terrible had happened.

being that both of my parents have fallen recently, and have health issues, i began to worry instantly. you know, the adrenaline build up kind?

she began to tell me how she had awakened and realized she needed to go buy some dog food or something for the beast’s hungry belly. she assumed my mom and dad were still sound asleep.

she locked the dog in her room and left for the store. she got back about a half hour later, and the dog was waiting inside, by the front door. my mom was not home, so she figured she had gone to run errands.

in the kitchen, she put the food in the dog’s bowl, on the floor.

he’s usually like a vacuum, always famished, and inhales food in minutes. this time, however, he seemed uninterested. weird.

then, she noticed that the foil was slightly warped up at the corner on the bread dish. she hadn’t thought much of it before, as foil is bendy and the bread was still covered.

as she pulled the aluminum back, she realized why the beast wasn’t hungry. the mofo had helped himself to the bread!

i’ve mentioned before this dobie is tall enough he can just rest his chin on the counters, but he’s never done anything to stuff on the counters before.

and it turns out my mom had been out all morning, so the little bastard had also figured out a way to open the bedroom door. is he some sort of velociraptor from jurassic park? did he learn?

we are guessing he just stood on his back legs and helped himself to breakfast. no paw prints or things knocked on the floor. and he hadn’t knocked the glass pyrex bread dish on the floor, so there’s that.

he conveniently had only eaten most of the soft center of the bread, leaving the crusty edge pieces behind. no one is going to eat that—he probably still licked it.

anyway, my daughter was distressed and had cried before calling me, knowing that i’d stayed up making it for her brother’s birthday.

i just kept laughing, picturing that dog doing his thing. she kept saying sorry, and not understanding why i wad laughing. what was i supposed to do? i couldn’t fix it, couldn’t go home and make more at the moment. it is/was going to make a good story tonight at the dinner table.

away

pretty impala out at garden grove a few weeks ago. hadn't stopped there in about a year, and it certainly has shrunk since i used to go five years ago.

there are a few cars i like here and there, so was pretty happy to see this drive up. parked in a nice spot too, able to include the "historical street" arch in the background, as an extra framing device.

here with my younger bro on a roadtrip down memory lane on the east coast. been a great trip so far, perfect weather, and not quite overcrowded by spring breakers.

we're up in the mountains of west virginia today, and it is supposed to rain all day, and start snowing around midnight. temp was in the eighties here a couple of days ago, and will be again after the snow.

got a couple more hours to go to see some relatives i basically haven't seen much since i was a kid, but my bro has been more in touch with, so should be ok. we'll stay a night or two, then head back down the hills to dc.

after that, i have three more days before heading home for a few days, then on a plane again. crazy month, but it's fun, consoling myself for missing chino cornfeed run and chicano park day.

missing my better half tho...

elite green

chevy impala

this is a nice green car. couldn't get a good angle on it, since the front end was hopped up, and i'm not that tall, but this will do. lots of pinstriping and airbrush work. wondering if these are the type of wheels that they have to pull each spoke out and polish them individually. pain in the ass, i would think.

almost xmas. almost forgot that we had today off at work. all right, i really did not realize until last monday, when someone said something about the day off. which really screwed up my project deadlines, since i had factored in working today. oh well.

i guess tomorrow i'm getting baked, err, getting my bake on...a variety of edible xmas gifts. certain family members don't want things, but they do expect to receive their preferred baked treats. vinegar taffy for my dad...i'll do that last, as i'll burn my hands pulling that shit as it cools. but he likes it, so i'll make it for him. he says he doesn't inhale it all in one day like he used to, and his crowns on his teeth don't come out anymore, since he super glued them in.

my younger brother just decided he'd fly his family in on xmas day, so i'll have to make him a danish pastry. have made it for him every year since high school, except for last year, since he moved to the east coast right before xmas. i'm saying he's coming back just for that, but he won't admit it.

gave my kid the choice between some sticky, sweet, brandy-covered mexican bread or a loaf of carrot bread; he went with carrot. went to the market earlier, with a list, and yep, forgot to get the carrots. i'll go tomorrow.

and i think i'll make my mom some zuchinni bread, with cinnamon and nutmeg flavor.

apart from all that, i gotta make a batch of cinnamon rolls too. that takes all day, so i'll start those first. will be a busy day, and i'm going to make a big mess in the kitchen.

the trunk

go dodgers

was asked to shoot this trunk. owner had been chatting with my better half, and called me over.

i like baseball, grew up watching the dodgers and listening to vin scully, so ok, i'll shoot it.

haven't really paid much attention to the games this year, or baseball at all. one thing after another, ya know.

posting it in honor of his retirement, on this, the last day calling a game. we'll miss you, vin!

missing san pedro today; celebrating our ninth anniversary this week out of town. happy my better half has put up with me this long; he deserves a cuddle or something.

bloody mary

see this car often, and it's owner, howard gribble, too. he's locally famous in southern california and the lowrider community. i follow him on flickr. and though all this is true, i've never been officially introduced. i have often walked past him, and never say a thing. perhaps we're both just shy, at least i am. only on rare occasions do i break out of that shell and go over and say hello.

jae bueno was one i said a tentative hello to, and he was the nicest guy in the world. apparently, he spoke to my better half, frequently, usually while they watched me fiddling around with my camera. he was delightful and gracious, and i was socially akward, as usual.

on this morning, in san pedro, in the dim morning light, before many people had come into the park, i saw howard coming around the bend in back of the lighthouse. he never looks happy, looks sort of pissed. i'm guessing that must be what i look like, at least according to my better half.

anyway, i did not divert my path, and walked toward him, as i was going round to the front of the lighthouse, and quietly said hello. and unless i imagined it, i heard a gruff "hi" from him. and that was it.

celebrate those little personal triumphs. sure it wasn't much, but it's hard for me to get out of my shell, or my head. it does get easier each time, whether you can hear me or not.

btw, the rearview of the car was from the sultan's signal hill show. just saying, i see it a lot, different places. nuff said.