Easter!

P. O. (Previous Owner)

This is a quick rant about the person that owned the J2000 before me.

In the world of car forums, the previous owners of a vehicle is known by the abbreviation "PO". Usually the PO is an individual that is relatively unknown by the current owner, and thus becomes the recipient of a large amount of trash talk and ill will (a typical post on a forum will look something like this - "That stupid PO installed a set of 100 watt driving lights by wiring directly to the fuse panel instead of using a relay" - or something to that effect).

Well, the PO of my current project truck models the image of a previous owner as the completely lazy, idiotic dolt. You've seen my previous post about the door handle that was crudely carved from 2"x4" and then screwed into the door panel with three inch long lag screws. The same level of care was employed to complete the task of painting the dash. The J2000 came from the factory with a coat of a rather ugly shade of metallic green. Apparently the PO didn't like this green on the interior of his truck and decided to change the hue. From the looks of things when I got the truck it appears the only prep that the PO did before painting the dash was to shake the spray can.

The entire dash was rattle canned a red/burgandy color. The ENTIRE dash, including the chrome knobs, the white steering column, the silver surrounds, and the windshield weather strip. No masking was involved. Just a couple waves of the arm while the can was spraying.

Today I decided I was tired of looking at the peeling flakes of red on the top of the dashboard. I sanded off the loose stuff and masked the dash and windshield. I tried a can of semi-gloss white spray paint but it wouldn't spray. I rooted around the 'shop' for another can of paint and all I could find was flat black. Hmmm... that might be cool.

After painting the top of the dash I was looking at the rest of the interior and figured that while I was at it, I should go ahead and do the rest of the dash. So I did.

Here's a before photo of the flaky red paint. It looked much worse in person, trust me!

Here are two after shots. Still not a beautiful paint job, but at least it is uniform and much cleaner looking!

More randomness

Vermont flowers with a few effects applied...

Storm's abrewin'...

Random Shots

Attempt at abstract art...

I miss that Jeep...


Somewhere in Northern Vermont

Getting there bit by bit...

Just rolling along...

City Kids Nature Experience (Petting Zoo)

That's one BIG bunny!

A cavy that very much wanted to not be in her pen!
So soft...
A hedgehog. For some reason I thought they were a bit bigger. Regardless, I now want a hedgehog as a pet!

Playground Time!

Before...

During...

After...

The Original

Sometimes the simplest things can make you stop in your tracks and think of things you don't often think about.

This cardboard logo is now a 'poster' in my office. The Andy Boy brand sign is from the box of some sort of produce we carry at the store, but for me it's a reminder that I miss my brother.

Now, I'm not the sort to get all teary-eyed and start bawling about not being able to regularly see and talk to my brother due to the fact that he lives hundreds of miles away. I do however, miss sharing things with my only brother. I miss hanging out fishing, four wheeling, fixing trucks, and talking for a long time about nothing in particular. Yes, technology exists that would allow me to call or video chat with him - but it's not the same. I don't much care for talking on the phone and neither does he. Email doesn't work well - I rarely check the messages. (It's been three months since I updated the blog...I think it's been almost that long since I've logged into the email account!).

So our lives carry on. Mine here in Virginia, and his in Vermont. I would love to have my brother closer to 'home' and share time with him, Cari and Levi. Miss you guys. Know that I think of you all often.

After all, I do have my Andy Boy Brand poster on the wall!

One Failure as a Parent

I love music.

I listen to a wide variety of artists throughout every genre. I promised myself that as a parent I would pass on to my son my appreciation for all types of music.

I talk to Jack when music is playing in the car, and tell him the band name. I tell him the words to the chorus (when appropriate!) and I share short stories about the artist's history. If I am flipping through the stations while in the car and Jack hears a song he wants to listen to, I leave it on that song regardless of whether I like the song or not. I do everything in my ability to encourage his interest in music.

So imagine my dismay when Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody began to play and within the first ten notes of the song Jackson blurts out excitedly "I love this song! It's by the Muppets!"

See, there is a video out there on the 'net that has all of the Muppets playing and singing Queen's great hit. The video is very cute and has a funny bit in it where Animal goes off on a tangent with the 'Momma' bit.... anyway, my horror derives from the fact that now tied into Jack's brain the Muppets are the artists that sing a great rock classic, not Queen.

Sigh.....

Jack managed to redeem himself in music credibility last night by hearing the song Should I Stay or Should I Go? by the Clash and not only did he yell "I love this song!", he then began to sing along. Correctly.

(Monologue in my head -YES! I've had an affect! Jack recognizes a song for the great beat and catchy lyrics and is able to identify a classic!)

And then in the middle of a verse he stops to add "This song is great! It's from the Rug Rats show!"

ARRGGHHH!!!