God Bless My Bride

With the importance of digital and new media in my field, I felt I needed to prove a point to myself. I could have hired a digital whiz to design my new website, but instead I resigned myself to doing it myslef with the technical assistance of the brightest non-expert I knew. My lovely bride. I have just got to say that I thought I was looking at a 5K jaunt. I never knew it was going to be a marathon. Under no other circumstances would I have had the opportunity to teach myself how to build an entire website. And while I had help, I must say that I really did a huge chunk of the work. To say I have renewed appreciation for how much planning and mapping help the process, is an understatement. But now I'm happy to say I've done it and sent it out to the first volley of folks to take a look. It was actually fun once I passed the halfway point because I was too far in to turn tail and run. Is it perfect? No. Will it do the job and be the basis for the site I'll have for the rest of my life. I hope so. Have a look. And by all means, if you see a typo or grammar guffaw, please shout it out. Camwritesads.com

Morning ride in a '29 Model A roadster

I got a visit this morning from Jalopy Joe, a new friend who like us, moved here with his wife from California. As some of you might know, I have a 1929 Model A Roadster. As does Joe. Only his actually runs and drives, as opposed to mine which is in a hundred pieces strewn around my garage. Ah, some day. Anyhow, it was a rare treat to see a finished one roll into my driveway. And even more of a treat to go for a spin in Joe's traditional styled, vintage Hemi-powered roadster. To say it made my day is an understatement. I love hot rods. Jalopy Joe is one of those types of people who is beyond his years and a most positive thinker.  We sat, drank coffee, had a few laughs and talked about our favorite subject, hot rods. Before I knew it, noon was approaching and I was due downtown to meet another new friend for lunch, a lady who is relocating to Austin, and is in the same business as I am, only with a completely different skill set than my own. Which is another story for another day. P Terry's did me proud on the lunch, BTW. They make one hell of a product. I can honestly say that my old client, Whataburger, can't hold a candle to this. All the marketing in the world won't change that fact.

Please watch this. It's miraculous.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/apr/26/honda-impossible-dream-ad-europe

Speechless...

ZZ Top is in the house!

Yesterday, our old neighbors, The Backyard, opened their new concert venue. We wondered if we'd still be able to hear the music from our home since they jumped to the other side of the highway. Well I'm pleased to report that the music drifted onto our property with ease. It was a beautiful Texas evening and the Top boys did us proud.

A Perfect Day?

Yesterday, Drew and I grabbed a handful of tie-downs, hopped into "Jessee", our well-worn '98 Chevy Shop Truck, and headed South to the New Braunfels Swap Meet, determined to find treasures. The weather was perfect and the wildflowers were out in force, one of the spectacular things about this time of year in Central Texas. But I must confess it was the company that made it a perfect day. Drew, who has just acquired his learner's permit handled the 45 mile drive while I gave him pointers. As we drove, we talked about school, life, exchanged a couple off-color jokes and just plain enjoyed the ride. Arriving right as the show opened, we immediately started scouring the grounds for parts for his '67 Impala, my Model A or Model T hot rod projects, or anything we could pop on one of out favorite blogs and make an honest profit on. I just love the smell of good old-fashioned horse trading. As Drew and I walked among the rows of rusty junk, I was struck by what a fine young man we had raised. Honest, respectful, funny and ready to engage in conversation with any old timer with an interesting story to tell. I also noticed something els. Any part that an old timer was trying to get forty for a part dropped his price to twenty-five after Drew took the  interest in it and the story that invariably came with it. Not only that, every purchase Drew made came with extra stuff. And it made me realize that there's a code among people who love cars. Any kid who shows genuine interest in carrying on the tradition and treats those around him with respect,  gets the righteous "pay it forward" treatment.

I watched it play out over and over again throughout the course of the day, and as we packed up and secured our bounty in the bed of the pickup, I counted my lucky stars to have this time with my son. Some day, after the finer details of our day spent together have begun to fade, I'll have to thank him for being a large part of what made this day. Yep, it was perfect.

Below and to the right is a little yard art we dragged home to surprise the Debbie, proving that there really is something for everyone at the New Braunfels Swap Meet. Just ask my wife.
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