I can see clearly now, the brain is gone...

They can't dance, either.

I drove across Bell Ave. for several miles today behind a 20-something gal in a Toyota. She was having an animated conversation with someone not in the car with her. There's something about watching that kind of thing that I find pleasantly entertaining. Same with someone singing along to their music with total abandon. They are totally lost in their world and we get to peak in. Or is that just voyeurism?
As I watched her I thought about myself. I was having an imaginary conversation too, just without the gestures. And I often sing along, but to myself. How 'bout you? Are you openly expressive and vocal, or the silent type?

Don't bother with "Crusoe" on NBC. The only thing it has in common with the book is part of the title. Read the book!! You'll be very surprised. You think it's about a guy who gets stranded on an island and hooks up with a national (Friday) who helps him out. Yes, that's the story line but it's not what the book is about! I don't think I want to tell you what it is about; I'd rather you discover it and be surprised like I was. Don't worry, it's not some deep and abstract treatise with hidden meanings everywhere. It's a very entertaining story line that goes someplace I did not expect at all! And in doing that the book makes a powerful point. Very good book, and the TV show is a profanation.

In last night's post I wondered if I should follow up on the glass company's contact with the lady - the place where my mirror job went ALL wrong. She answered that question for me by calling this morning to tell me how badly that went. He was rude, spent 30 minutes on a personal phone call, and wouldn't give her any answers, never mind an estimate. She also asked me to come take down the platform I put up.
So I called the glass company, and after a couple of back and forth calls got a very different story. The personal phone call was back to the owner of the company to ask how to proceed, the guy was a newbie, he was in over his head and thus hesitated to say anything, and she chewed him out big time.
The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. And it doesn't really matter. She had told me in her phone call that she'd already contacted another firm to come give her an estimate - hence the request to get the platform removed.
That's how I came to be driving across Bell Ave. behind a gal in a Toyota. I got in and out in under 45 minutes, the platform is gone, and I'm done. So done!
I don't think she's mad at me. She was gracious today and even sent me home with some of those fancy thin mints. But I'm still DONE.

I did my 3-mile run after the round of phone calls and before I headed into town. Apparently stress and frustration are good for my running. I dropped 90 seconds off my time for that route.

On the way back I stopped by the advertising firm where Matt works to proof the mailing piece that will go out on 11/6. Excellent! It goes to the printer Monday and will be delivered to 13,000 homes on the 6th. Matt said that a 1% response would qualify as good. I don't do math but half of 1% is still a lot of people, especially given our current size. So much to pray about!

Houses are being repossessed at an alarming rate because homeowners can't pay their mortgages. Steve sent me an email yesterday about the number of car dealerships going under - and average of two per day in the U.S. A financial institution holds the mortgage on their lot and buildings, and the same or another institution holds paper on the new cars the dealer has on that lot. When the dealer shuts down the institutions take back the property and the cars. That leads to a whole set of problems.
And that got me to thinking about other businesses that go under, like the funeral home I read about in today's news. The bank takes the land and buildings, but who takes the bodies?
Now think about other businesses with assets a problem to repossess.
Your nominees?

I may have mentioned that I like cars. I like old cars. I like classic VW's, which is why I visit Samba.com almost daily to see what shows up. OK, they're death traps, but they are cool and affordable, and might make the most reasonable replacement for Stealth Reliabity if/when the time comes.
Last night I spotted this one in L.A. But what's cool is that he put a video on YouTube. Besides the fact I find this particular Bug very enticing - a good price for a daily driver of that vintage - the video is both brief and interesting. Note the emblem on the front lid. It's the old "Wolfsburg" emblem, the little castle, later replaced just a few years later by the VW emblem you're used to. That adds to the value. The seats aren't original but work well. Those original dual exhaust pipes in back are known as "pea shooters," and have often been replaced by aftermarket pipes (rust). The steering wheel isn't original, which is too bad; that vintage had what's called a banjo style steering wheel with the Wolfsburg symbol in the center. That could be fixed.The stereo obviously is also aftermarket. The engine is pretty original except for a couple of very appropriate performance upgrades like the air cleaner and the distributor. Anybody remember oil bath air filters?
I figure $4k would take it. What car will that kind of money buy you anywhere else?

It might look like I'm doing nothing but on the cellular level I'm really quite busy.