"Next to a circus there ain't nothin' that packs up and tears out faster than the Christmas spirit." - Kin Hubbard

I got the Christmas decorations down and packed away. Didn't take any time at all.

I used to think my wife was a fairly intelligent person. But she voluntarily went shopping today for new shoes.

I realize this doesn't look like much, but these pics represents a major step and the better part of a day's work. The new 5-speed transmission has a stem that's located about 7" further to the rear of the truck than the stock 4-speed, and it had a threaded stem. I ordered and installed a special top unit that shortens the throw from one gear to the next and has a flat, Hurst-style stem. I wanted to use my stock shift rod so the interior looks original, but it was now too long had an end that wouldn't mate with this new stem.

I spent several hours at the metal shop to produce what you see here, and got a LOT of help from Clayton, a retired sheriff deputy from Yakima, WA with metal working skills from years of building race cars. We cut off the bottom end, fabricated a bracket that would mate to the Hurst stem, drilled it with mounting holes, and welded it onto the end of my shift rod. I took it home to discover it hit the front of the seat, so back to the metal shop to heat it up and bend it, taking out the stock curve.
As you can see, it's now all bolted up and almost ready for use. I have to get a new rubber boot to cover the innards and the slightly crooked part at the bottom, but I think we're in business.

I have a toothache. Nasty, painful toothache. I need to make it to January 1 when our dental coverage resets. Seven more days. Tylenol is my friend.

I need to write our Christmas New Year's letter.

Yes, there are bad cops. There are also bad pastors, bad plumbers, and bad professors. But the vast majority of LEO's are committed men and women who go to work serving us, knowing that any one of those days could be their last.
I watch CNN while I eat lunch. Today I saw a story about Tunnel2Towers, a non-profit set up after the Twin Towers incident to help first responders who die or are injured in the line of duty. Their goal is to pay off the mortgages of the two NYPD officers who were assassinated recently. It will require $800,000 dollars, a big number, but as the organization's CEO said, it can easily happen if/when enough Americans make small donations.
Pam and I made a donation. Our way of making a statement.
If you go to their site the first page will be for this project. If it rotates to another screen just wait; it will come back.

According to tonight's news Christmas was "ruined" for thousands of people who got an X-Box or Playstation that wouldn't work because those sites were hacked and crashed.
Uhm...maybe it's time to reconsider the meaning and purpose of Christmas. And to get a life?

What we call a convertible is elsewhere known as a cabriolet, a drop top, drop head, and a soft top. Today I learned that the French call it a decapotable.
Guillotine?