First Car - Latest Car

     The first car I bought was a 1958 Chevrolet Delray. I paid $275 in 1965. It was I sad shape but I was thrilled to get it. The previous owner was a young driver. This was apparent because the hood was bulldozed (chevy emblems removed). It had been repainted a maroon color.
     The three speed shifter was removed from the steering column and relocated to the floor, which was cool but it was installed backwards. First gear was on the top left where reverse would normally be and there was a 4-speed knob on the gear handle. It was important to know the weird setup so you didn’t follow the pattern on the knob and shift from 1st to reverse. Can you say janky?
     It didn’t run great but my Dad had a buddy that jumped in to help get it in good running order. Thanks Mr. Berkel. I learned to drive on my Dads 1959 Oldsmobile 98, eight cylinder with an automatic transmission. It was pretty fast. The drive selections were P, D, S, N, R. I ask my Dad what S meant. He proudly said. “That stands for super.” I guess that was like Tesla’s insane mode, nah, more likely it meant 2nd gear.
     My ‘58 was the first stick shift I drove but that’s what I wanted. I took me quite awhile to master it but with all the hills around St. Louis I had no other choice but to learn. I still have a shift car today, a 6-speed, Mini Cooper. It shifts much smoother than the ‘58 Chevy.
     Those were fun times, just owning a car was a privilege then. Nothing high tech on the cars back in the 60’s which is quite different from today. This week we bought a 2019 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid. It’s the base model but it’s got more bells and whistles than I ever imagined a car would have. We’ve only had it for two days but so far the gas mileage is 85 mph. I like the car and all the gadgets so it’s all good. Back in the 60’s no one even checked gas mileage. “Just Saying . . . ?

Give me a Dollars Worth

     How many people have said this? Who understands this reference? If you know what that means, you’re probably 70 or older.
     When I was a young driver, I didn’t have a lot of cash like most young people but it didn’t stop us. It was different then, less complicated, we didn’t live in the high-tech society like today. But, on the plus gasoline was cheap, we didn’t appreciate it or even realize it. At 30 cents a gallon, a dollar would buy you a little over 3 gallons without a gas war. It was not uncommon to pull into a service station and get a dollar's worth.
     Wait . . .What . . . gas war? What’s that, young folks may ask? Well, gas stations used to compete for business by lowering the price of gas to get the consumer to fill up at their station. During a gas war, the gallon price could go down to 20 cents or lower. So for $1.00 you could get 4 gallons of fuel. Hard to imagine today.
     Just as surprising was the fact that there was no need to get out of your car because an attendant would fill the tank for you. They even washed your windows, checked your oil and, this will blow your mind, put air in your tires. Air was free then. All for the privilege of having your business, even if you only spent $1.00.
     If you had a motorcycle, a dollar's worth was more gas than the tank would hold. A motorcycle rider could go to a gas station in the 60’s and ask for a fill-up, hand the attendant a dollar and get change back. Whoa! Mind blown.
     You can still go to a gas station today and buy a $1.00 worth of gas but you’ll pump it yourself, wash your own windshield, check your own oil and tire pressure. Since you will only get 1/3 to 1/2 gallon for that amount, it’s probably not a wise move. Also, you’re likely to hear a few comments about camping at the pump for an extended period of time. “Just Saying . . .”

The Shutdown

     Non-Essential that's the term used for the 800,000+ government workers that aren’t getting paid during the shutdown. Who in the government determines those jobs that are non-essential? I’m not sure, but I’ll bet their not on that list. I’m sure the families of the unpaid federal employees believe they’re essential.
     Being a Democrat or Republican or your belief in reason for the shutdown is not as important as the impact it has on the families shutoff from their wages. There’s probably not many people that would dispute that fact . . . except our elected officials.
     Let’s talk about fairness. There’s many things that are not fair in life, but we understand that and deal with it in our own way. We the citizens of the USA elect politicians to represent us, so any decision they make that affects us. In truth that makes sense but for some reason it doesn’t affect the elected officials. Why?
     I’m not just talking about the shutdown, social security is another hot topic for a later discussion. Here’s an approach I can get behind. In any governmental shutdown pay the 800,000 employees that are essential to their families well being, but suspend salaries of all elected officials. That seems fair to me, after all their the ones that can’t come to an agreement.
     Isn’t it possible that a resolution will come quicker if the elected officials are required to work without pay? “Just Saying . . .”

It’s All About the Money

      9.5 million dollars, apparently that’s what an off-colored joke or comment is worth. CBS recently paid actress Eliza Dushku because she was uncomfortable with the remarks Michael Weatherby (Bull) made in between scenes.
      I struggle to understand how any joke or comment no matter how off-color could be worth 9.5 million dollars. It’s interesting how actresses are happy to do a nude sex scene but are offended by a dirty joke. Seems like a double standard. Here’s a clue, it’s all about the money.
     How many women have made off-colored sexual comments to a man? Do you ever hear of a man suing because he was offended by comments a woman made? If you want to hang with the big dogs maybe it’s time you put your big girl pants on and learn to laugh it off. 
     My one wish is that some famous rich woman would tell me a dirty joke, I too could use 9.5 million. That could be a new hashtag, #IToo. 
     Harassment is serious crime but so is fraud. “Just Saying . . .”
     

What’s wrong with living more responsibly?

     One of the big topics these days is about climate change and how we, the world population, contribute to the problem. There are two sides to the argument. One says human beings and their lifestyle are the reason for these changes. The other side says climate changes are exaggerated and that the changes occurring are not unusual and have little impact from humans.
     I’m not an expert but I see the pictures of polluted oceans and skies. Still I’m not sure how much of that contributes to climate change, but what’s wrong with us living as responsible individuals.
     Leave no trace is an guideline for outdoor ethics to promote conservation. It simply means minimize you negative impact on this earth by leaving only your footprints in nature.
     How much effort does it take to make responsible choices? How will this help I can’t answer? But I know it won’t hurt. There have been other times in history when pollution was worse and changes were made with a positive impact. Preserving our planet is worthwhile goal. Small changes to our lives will have a positive impact. How big is to be determined but isn’t worth the effort? “Just Saying . . . “

Do you have a chip on your shoulder?

     Life is different today than when I grew up. Today a lot of people have a chip on their shoulder with a short fuse to their emotions. I’m not saying things were perfect when I was young. Bad things happen in life, it’s not right but it’s that way because our planet is filled with people. Some will say, “I have no control over what others say.” That’s true but you can control your reaction.
     Some people are so easily offended it’s almost impossible not to touch their trip wire. Name calling is not new. The Polish, Jewish, Blacks, handicapped, short people, overweight people have all been on the butt end of a joke, or negative comment. There is really no one safe from harassment, but in order to survive you have to turn a blind eye toward these comments. Learn to laugh at the comments and own your differences. Be proud of who you are.
     Many people choose to be angry, but it’s just as easy to choose pride and happiness. Some say, “How can I be happy when negativity is thrust upon me?” First, take the chip off your shoulder and look at the positive side of life. I promise you taking a positive approach will change your life and others reactions toward you.
     That doesn’t mean you will be immune from harassment, but if you have a positive attitude you will be better equipped to handle it. All of us make thousand of choices daily, why not pick the positive ones. “Just Saying...”
     

Little Courtesies

     Are you an Ace or Ass? There are a lot of simple ways to be courteous to others with little effort on your part. Many of us do a lot of these like, hold the door for the person behind you, let the person with two items check out before you, help someone load a heavy item into their car, etc. Not doing these things doesn’t make you an ass, it just might be you are consumed with your own thoughts at the time and not aware of your surroundings. Wake up and join the world.

     Drivers darting and weaving through traffic like they’re driving a stolen car are the definition of an ass. They have an FU attitude and seem to care about nothing but their self. Merging on to the highway from an on ramp is not always easy when the access ramps are short. I’ve noticed some drivers will move to the left lane if it’s empty, to allow the cars entering the highway easier access, but some don’t. I’m not sure if the drivers that don’t move over are oblivious or just an ass. It’s a small gesture that cost you nothing but could prevent an accident. Legally the car entering the highway must yield to oncoming traffic, but there are situations when being courteous is the right thing to do even if it’s not legally required.

     In heavy traffic, when someone uses their blinker to signal a lane change you can be an ace by letting them in. But if you race ahead with the sole purpose of keeping them from getting in front, you may be in the early stages of assholeism. I see many more aces than I do asses, but I tend to remember the asses. Be attentive when you’re behind the wheel and drive like an ace. “Just Saying....”