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Yessir jaybee I find it very un-nerving and can only come up with death wishes as motivation for such behavior.

I mentioned pot day in there somewhere... in calming support of my ongoing tranquility quest, Mom gave me geraniums and lavender and potting soil yesterday so today was pot day for those. Touching dirt, rocks, and plants was somewhat theraputic.

To support ongoing + ...

I saw a vid this week of some boys on a merry go round with a buddy's moped or something laid down beside it with tire touching the base.     

They all leaned inward with heads down once it got going, then one kid flops his head outward and whoa! Now two kids by moped are laying on the ground trying to slow it down with their shoe soles. Dont'cha know that was a vom-o-rama at some point. 

OK, even better... As I sat and sat patiently waiting at an intersection signaling a left turn, the policeman directing traffic approached my window asking if I wished to go left.

They get this stupid every year on the pot holiday, blocking access to and from my home for some unwelcome ritual event. Makes me so mad each year its a wonder I haven't broken my transmission in the powerful instant rages it causes or been jailed for the expression of such. Might have hurt the car this time, driving in the stormy rage, don't know yet. Who cares?  Several officers I pay to guard a marathon I don't want in my city of residence would gun me down were I to begin to express my taxpaying sentiment.

Currently installing patches over roof seams at my job, as I witness co-workers wile away the hours in lengthy conversations with arms folded. Yesterday I treated my parents to their favorite restaurant after work and had to physically force their money back into their pockets.

Got home yesterday with lots of beautiful day left but without even the energy to shower. Sleep is all there is, if allowed my nearby dogs. Thats what I'm doing today despite the mile long overdue chore list.

I know motorcycle enthusiasts and riders are present here. I know lane splitting is legal in California and lane filtering is legal in Utah. Why does the situation pictured occur so frequently with only inches to spare in other states? Is some lawful authority telling riders they are safest when they are within arm's reach of automobiles, and being believed? Such behavior persists in moving traffic as well. I view such as a threat, fail to understand the logic and wish someone would explain it like I am seven.

All I got done over the weekend was oil changes for the push mower and GTP, and mowed front yard. Half and half of what is needed. Cut new cardboard for the sunroof shade in the DD also, last year's was flapping in the breeze. Had to revise my health care insurance application to report another raise. That process is sure-fire anger every time. It was mid day Saturday before I felt like moving a muscle. Crouching in and leaning over the Mustang job for a few weeks has taken it's toll and now it is time to go again.

Had a real serene outing in the 69 yesterday though.

Me too. 

Tossed the tunnel and hump I made for the 73 job onto the scrap heap yesterday, customer wants an automatic. Welded seat braces in today then took roof and qtr off to prep them and weld a wheelhouse section. The pale green Bronco job is a roller now and rebuilt engine is going back in. Snagged somebody else's burger combo on the way home (they gave me the wrong order but I ate it anyway) and collapsed onto the bed upon arrival. Too bushed to boogie.

Yesterday was a horrible day. Bodily.

Looks like Eb and Flo stopped coming here.

But.

Dad had a blast driving my car other day.

I watched the eclipse via dark sunglasses and autodarkening helmet by waving hand in front of it to keep it dark.

Done in trunk and under hood on my job. Customer visit in a couple hours from now. Halfway through pan install now. Tunnel, wheelhouse section, qtr pnl and roof install are what is left.

Still feeling light in the pockets but man...

Dad insisted on taking the 455 around a few blocks today and I was shocked by how genuinely he adores that car. I can't turn it loose while he is topside. Nope.

All that ^^^ fussing crap meant nothing while we were cruisin'. He probably only chose today's visit to exercise Dad rights because his hearing aids are broken right now. But his interest patched my enthusiasm. The car has become a much greater privelidge than I ever earned. People don't seem to care how much bondo falls off. Not unlike growing old.

How about more of the same? Went out to wash the 69, but felt sorry for the dilapidated GT in the street. Thought I'd rinse the bird crap off it at least. Started it one day in the last half year or so. No start. Six year old battery. Another half week's pay gone, and the precious Saturday afternoon. Had to sand and paint the battery tray.

Automotive catch up weekend is toast, tomorrow is relatives visiting en route to the eclipse hype thing. So the cars both got just rinsed off or more like tarred and feathered with leaf litter / pollen in 25 mph winds. I was a doof for even thinking a wash job could be allowed. Took the GT for a drying out spin but the fans still don't work and the LR wheel is still crooked. To start. But it is loosely operative once more.

When will I do the three badly overdue oil changes? Um. Too hungry to think about that, must go in the GTP to dump billfold now for chow but hey...

That makes it a Grand Three. Yes! 

It is a good day and I feel lighter somehow. You all know that feeling.

Started welding the trunk pan in the Mustang, mostly done. After work I went and bought two new 275/60s and put the 255s up front. They still have outside corner tread which is what I need to retain a shred of sanity if such remains. All Cobra GTs still so no brand mix chaos.

The shorter tires made it noticeably quicker but the 255/275 stagger is the best and I had forgotten just how pleasant the ride is that way. Been running 245/255s but a 245 started showing belt. Happy days are here again and no you can't have her now that I've invested in 15s. They chirp magnificently, feel round, and there was zero wait or hassle because I knew they had them. Five bills and a five-spot. I just brought wheel / tires to the store with car on stands in driveway.

 

But wait a sec, she told me Wednesday that 255s/275s in TA radials would be $1,338 all told. Hmm, theres another highly compelling reason to not use those. 

Phil they want that much for two rears. A week's pay. It seems idiotic to continue but I will try. Arguably as stupid to keep the car as it is the job but thats been the caae for many years. You see how it is though, everybody thinks I am a primadonna sitting on a gold mine because I have the purple car... yet no one wants it for free. Free! Car. 455, parts car with 400 and many extras. Runs, drives, does burnouts. No want. Unbelievable but thats how poor my choices have been. So poor I'll have to pay to dispose of my life's highest achievements.

To this day the bridge of my nose scar (8 stitches at 20 yo) requires attention and tries to make me look like one of those shrunken apple faced hillbilly dolls. They even cut out a hunk of scar later to try to help it. But it ties into the ten stitches in one eyebrow from the same day and five just above the other eyebrow. Where my chin was ground away on asphalt gives me the biggest trouble.

The body is a log book so yep. And times of stress affect the insides like hitting them with a hammer.

Mom says she is steadily improving.

Think I finished up engine compartment of the 73 today. Glad to be done pretending I'm a Mustang engine. Running out of bandaids. Caught a slag ball on the collar today.

If any of you want a couple or three Grand Prixs, come load them up. I no longer have the price of admission to the automotive community. A pair of 15s costs what a full set of 17s does, and theres no brand choice. Thats it, I am licked. I fear that even though I only have 13K left to pay on the house, I won't make that either. This is very very very sad but only to me. The greed outpaced me by a longshot and I admit defeat. What does a lifelong car-only guy do when its all over? I'd just as soon ball up under a rock and rot, feel sick. No reason to continue having the car job. The greedy can take all their greed and shove it. Close the curtains.

I watched that entire series years ago-

https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiPNgE-Z-5RRov3vzyzVze7ru86056UIA

The star was a persistent drunk driver who by the end of the series couldn't even legally drive.

Last two vehicles I sold had to be pretty much given away for a small donation. You did good, Bill. Because it was not just built but also driven.

A front tire on the 69 has worn through, noticed it last weekend. Thinking now that scrapping all four GPs is the way to go. Can't even buy a decent tire now. No more V8 time for me unless I figure a way out. Even just the how to get my junk to a tire place.

Mom just got covid. Her only wish for me has never changed, she only wants me to drive Japanese air conditioners. I am defeated.

Frt susp xmember on the 73 was mud packed and rusted through. Fixed that, shaving all holes in aprons now. There were 25 on the right.

Saw a lady eagle this week, on the wing but close up. The scale of those things is (say this in a British documentary host voice) extraordinarily massive. Bloody hell!

I'll work my way out of this coyote den eventually. Started plugging the cowl on today. The unimaginative beads on firewall will be buried behind engine but are for strength, not beauty.

Left tower done on the 73 job. Joined the connecting piece of tunnel to firewall yesterday and trimmed that for butt welding. You can see by the screw tabs left that there was plenty of room to plug weld it. But since I got the news yesterday that this guy wants to add supercharger too (as all Coyote folks do) I figure they can afford / will want the firewall smooth. Not like it will be visible much though. Nothing like doubling the horsepower halfway through body construction. I guess it will handle it. Same builds that get the upgrade still never want any sort of rollbar.