Photo 101: Triumph

Tags

black and white photography, blogging U, classic cars, photo 101, Photo Challenge, PHOTO101, photography, red cars

Sometimes I’m such a guy! Show me a babe with great curves and I’m lined up with the rest of them, gawking, drooling and making inappropriate comments…out loud! I can’t tell you the difference between makes and models, or tell you what’s under the hood, but I know I’m in love!

I fell in love with a number of classic cars at the car show this Canada Day!

“Well-behaved women rarely make history.” – Marilyn Monroe

It’s the weekend – I have to go make history!

My Unicorn

Tags

humour, Mustang, red cars

I saw it only once. My unicorn. My Eleanor, with a “For Sale” sign.

Hubby and I stopped to look it over…and to dream out loud.

I knew I would look so good. I’d wear over-sized sunglasses and wrap my hair in a scarf, like Grace Kelly. I would wear ruby red lipstick and nail polish to match the exterior. Baby car seat in the back and a personalized license plate – “Hot Mama”. V8 engine. Cherry Red. Convertible…top down, of course. My unicorn is a 1967 Mustang…

And when we were done admiring her, we got back into our car…and we drove away.

 This year, Mustangs turns 50! The first car rolled out on April 17, 1964…one dealer had to lock the doors of his dealership. A truck driver was so transfixed by it that he drove through the showroom window. One man slept in his new car overnight until his cheque cleared. During Launch Week, more than 4 million people visited dealerships and 22,000 cars were ordered on Day 1. Mustangs came with a selection of body styles, colours, options and engines (from mild to wild), and a base price of only $2,985. Mustang is now in its 5^th generation!

These cars have appeared in a number of movies and television shows. In 1964, Tilly Masterson drove a Ford Mustang convertible in the movie, Goldfinger. Farah Fawcett gave the 1976 Cobra II sex appeal in Charlie’s Angels. K.I.T.T. in the TV remake of Knight Rider in 2008. And the best, “Eleanor” in Gone in 60 Seconds, in both the 1974 and 2000 version, were Mustangs!

In 1968, the ads claimed this car was the “gateway to a more exciting life”. Too bad there won’t be a Mustang appearing any time soon in my life. I’d love to listen to the rumble and burn some rubber!

 My unicorn… Happy Weekend!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Community

Tags

Photo Challenge, photography, red cars, Weekly Photo Challenge

I love the old cars (especially red 1968 Mustang Convertibles), but I also love watching people. Families with multi-generations stroll between the rows. Neighbours and old acquaintances greet one another with handshakes and hugs before catching up. Stories are shared between the young and the old. Paint jobs and engines are admired while children turn somersaults on the hillside. Golden oldies and the smell of barbecued burgers just add to festive atmosphere at this annual community event.

For more Community Photos, click here.

All By Myself

Tags

boots, driving, family, humour, red cars, shopping

Well, when I started this blog, I had said I wanted to have new experiences…and last night was a new experience!

When Hubby called to ask me if I’d undertake this task, I was thankful I was still dressed in my skinny jeans and wearing make-up. I put on my sassy green boots to boost my confidence level, and with my hair braided and hanging over one shoulder, I felt like Katniss setting out with one goal in mind – to come out the other end of my journey, intake and alive!

I started my car and cranked the music up – there’s something about loud music with a throbbing bass guitar to empower the soul. Group: Red. Album: End of Silence. Song: Let Go. How appropriate!

As I pulled into a parking space, I took a deep breath and checked my lipstick (a girl feels confident when she feels she looks good, right?). I had called ahead to make sure the sales rep. was available…but unfortunately, he was with other customers…so I confidently informed the receptionist that I would wait for him, and I strolled to the lounge area. I didn’t realize I would end up waiting almost half an hour, but the sales rep.  did pop over a couple of times to apologize for the wait. I didn’t mind waiting for him – we met with him Monday evening and he showed us the car, crunched the numbers and sent us on our way in less than half an hour. The sales rep. at another dealership last night only spoke to Hubby, took up an hour and a half of our time, and was just plain too pushy! It pays to be personable.

By the time I sat down at the sales rep’s desk, I wasn’t nervous any more. I wanted to finish up so I could go home!  To make this long story short, I bought a car…

A L L          B Y       M Y S E L F 

I have owned 6 cars before this, but I have never purchased a vehicle without either my father or my husband being present and dealing with the sales rep. I paid the deposit, filled out the paperwork for the financing, and signed my name to the contract. I will drop off the remainder of the information required today, and hopefully, we will have a new car by Friday (Monday at the latest). I bought our flat screen television, a cell phone and now a car. What’s next? A house?

The car required some compromise – I wanted manual transmission and Hubby wanted automatic transmission – Hubby won! I wanted red and Hubby wanted silver – we’re getting violet gray.

Now we just have to figure who gets to drive it!

New Car Smell

Tags

family, humour, new car smell, red cars

A lot of guys would probably remark that there’s nothing better than “new car smell”…

Big Guy called last week, super excited, to tell us he had purchased a new car…as in 2013 brand new!! He had done his homework, examined his finances, and traversed the paperwork all by himself, something I have never done all alone! He posted a picture on Facebook and it’s gorgeous. His first car (may she rest in peace) was named Betty…I’m wondering if this one will be Veronica?

I bought my first (used) car just after my 18th birthday, and within months 2 months of getting my license. My Dad had picked out 2 cars…my brother bought one and I bought the other…our very first cars. My car was a silver 1981 Toyota Tercel Hatchback (aka “My Toy”). It was standard transmission, 2 door (wrestling the cumbersome kid car seat in and out was a physical challenge), and an AM/FM radio/cassette player. I was all set for college! The engine only blew up once on the highway…in the middle of winter…in the middle of nowhere…and I was wearing shoes and a short skirt…but some nice ladies in a pick-up truck took me home.

My second car (also previously loved) was a few years later – a sporty, red Nissan Pulsar – sunroof, tinted windows, flip-up headlights, standard again…it even had a black leather bra! My Dad loved driving it (maybe he was having his mid-life crisis). It was a lovely car while it lasted.

Once we were married, we had to cut back to a one car family. We had a periwinkle something, then the Ford Taurus that always felt too big! It eventually wore out and we donated it to a charity that teaches auto mechanics to youth. Lucky me, I spent years commuting to work by bus, train, and/or subway. I still don’t miss the commute.

In 2005, we bought a second car. I remember that day because we went out for lunch after we bought it to contemplate what we had just done…and I told Hubby that I was willing to let go of the dream of more kids and not pursue any infertility treatments. I asked him to be patient with me because it would take me a long time to grieve this loss. We found out I was pregnant less than a week later! This shiny, brand new 2005 Toyota Echo Hatchback was my “baby”! It was little and cute (just like me?) I learned how to pack 2 adults and 1 baby with lots of luggage in that little car for long road trips! It was like playing Tetris.

I loved that car (may it rest in peace). Hubby took it to work one day about 18 months later., and was sandwiched at a red light, by a (female) driver on a cell phone. I still miss that car…we were so good together!

I currently drive an older (used) navy blue, Toyota Echo Sedan – it’s a “soccer Mom” car. It had previously been leased so someone beat the crap out of it before it came into our lives. I have tried to give it lots of TLC and so far, it’s been pretty faithful. It gets me where I need to be.

There’s no “new car smell” in my future…and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little jealous that Big Guy gets to enjoy it instead of me. When he visits, I’ll have to hop in and take a whiff!

p.s. I’ve never named my cars!

Rude Awakening

Tags

cleaning, cry, driving, faith, family, red cars

Yesterday morning, I discovered that I can still move with catlike agility through a dark room (littered with toys) to get to the phone in what feels like the middle of the night because your kid is leaving this message: “I’m ok…but my car, not so much…yeah, it’s totalled…”. It was only 6:15 a.m., not the middle of the night, but I wasn’t going back to sleep! We only got to talk for a few minutes because he had to go, but after we hung up, I curled up on the couch under a blanket, with my Bible. I was too shaken to even open it. I was very aware that this phone call, this rude awakening, could have been “the call” dreaded by all parents.

When I was 16, my uncle died in a car accident. My Mom took “the call”. It was the only time I have ever seen her really lose it and at the time I was frightened by the power of her raw emotions.

When I was 23, on my first Valentine’s Day as a married lady, I got a “call” – I was cooking a romantic dinner and a friend called to tell me that my best friend’s car had slipped on ice and gone over the overpass. My best friend’s parents had died in a car accident only 8 months before. I remained in control and supported my friend through that call, but when I hung up and called Hubby, I lost the ability to speak. The power of raw emotion.

When I am upset, I clean; I have to keep busy. If I had stayed home yesterday instead of running errands (in the wind and rain), my house would be immaculate by now. When I was at home, I carried the phone around with me in case Big Guy called. I caught myself on the verge of tears all day, the “what ifs” playing out in the back of my mind. How easily we go about our day, oblivious to just how quickly a piece of our heart can be torn apart, leaving a scar that never really fades. It is a rude awakening. We are not made to remain in this world, but how we cling to it. God could have taken Big Guy home yesterday… While I trust that God would help me to survive such a great loss, every part of me claws and screams against that very idea, even though Big Guy does not belong to me. The power of raw emotion.

The car is replaceable – Big Guy is not! Big Guy’s injuries are minor considering the force of the impact. He was blessed with many calls from people he’s only known a short time – a testament to his character. It will be a challenge for him to find a replacement car, and the cost (and amount of paperwork) is yet to be determined. But this morning, I am just thankful! My family is intact, my heart is whole…and my house is…still a mess!

The Trip Home

Tags

driving, family, red cars

I never realized before just how many red cars there are on the highway, particularly when I’m on the look out for a red car.

Big Guy joined me at my parents for Easter, so we decided to travel together for at least the first part of our journey toward home. But first, Big Guy needed to get gas, so we headed to a gas station by the highway. I don’t know how I got ahead of him, but I pulled into a parking space to wait…I was beginning to think I’d gone to the wrong gas station when he finally pulled into the lot. Then I think at least 3 red cars tricked me into thinking Big Guy was at the pumps, and when I could no longer spot a red car at the pump, I panicked, thinking he hadn’t seen me and gone without me. It was ridiculous to panic because I have made this trip more times than I can count since I moved to the city in 1995. I am very comfortable travelling either on the highway, or through the back roads, including all the times that I didn’t quite know where I was.

Most of the drive was uneventful, except when, once again, I somehow ended up way ahead of Big Guy (honestly, I don’t have a lead foot). I kept spotting red cars, but when they passed, the driver wasn’t a young guy in a ball cap with a red beard (a.k.a. Big Guy). I even had a red car catch up to me and pull in behind me…I waved, realizing too late that the driver was a woman, and her passenger was looking alarmed. Little Guy then piped up – “that’s not him”! Don’t you love backseat drivers?

We stopped for a potty break and snack half-way home, parting ways there because the traffic is heavier closer to the city and it gets harder to stay together. Big Guy left well ahead of us, though I did see him on the ramp heading to the highway. I made a quick call to Hubby to let him know where I was before heading out as well. I spent the second part of the journey watching for red cars, and they were everywhere. Guys are the stereotypical drivers of red car but I think I saw more female drivers.

Big Guy and I had travelled together at the end of March Break, stopping part way for a snack and then parting ways. I kept spotting red cars on that journey too, but with success. I passed Big Guy about 10 minutes from home, at least an hour after we had left the service centre. But this time I wasn’t so fortunate. It would have been great fun to pass him and see his face!

If red cars send the message that you’re sexy, speedy, high-energy, dynamic, then I’m glad I taught Big Guy how to drive. As for high-energy…well, they haven’t seen him first thing in the morning!

Little Red Car

Tags

humour, red cars, tea

Living in the city, particularly around our school, I’ve seen lots of crazy driving and parking! I won’t even get started on the school!!

I was a Tim’s one evening this week and couldn’t believe what I saw! As I pulled in the driveway, I had to pull around a little red car. The driver had backed it into a parking space, albeit crooked. The funny part was that it was only backed in half way…the entire front end of the car was still in the roadway…and there was no driver in sight. I backed into my space further down and I watched (and laughed out loud). Every person who walked by that car stopped in their tracks and stared – they pointed, they frowned…they were just as confused as I was!

I know I’m not the best driver, and that before little guy started at his current school, I would avoid backing into a parking space at any cost. Now, out of necessity, I have learned to back into parking spaces, and get it right the first time (I’m very proud of this accomplishment). I see lots of people at the school take a few stabs at it to get the car lined up, and that’s fine with me…but to not even make it into the space and off the road? That’s just crazy!

Application: Sometimes you have to take a chance at something new or difficult; you may even have to go at it a few times until you get it right. But for goodness sake, don’t stop half-way and leave yourself in the road to get hit. Go all the way or try a new approach! Don’t be afraid…and don’t forget to laugh out loud once awhile (even at yourself)!