Between 485 & 705 SQ/FT Bob Heine's Auto Emporium

[gman007]

Bob
It is great news and relief that you are fine and were not affected too much.

While I honestly never had a problem with my in laws (RIP), visiting them was never a comfortable experience. They lived In Toronto and a couple times a year my wife would go to visit them. I would reluctantly accompany her as I did not want her to drive the long distance alone with our son and across the border.

One time we are crossing the border and the Canadian immigration/customs officer as usual asked, what is the purpose of your trip. I said well my wife says this is a vacation but we are visiting my in laws and I ask you, is there no provisions in the Geneva Convention against torture, cruel and unusual punishment? I immediately got a dope slap from my wife.

Then the Officer goes, oh man tell me about it. My mother in law has lost her job and she is moved in with us and I swear she will never leave bla bla bla . I guess he had a lot to get off his chest. And we had to sit there and listen to him for like an eternity. Meanwhile a huge line of cars were piling up behind us in our lane!

I guess somethings are universally applicable to all

 

[bolensboneyard]

Bob, glad to see you are still active, which explains all the extra toilet paper.

 

[gman007]

Bob
Happy Father’s Day to you and all the other fathers who participate here.

 

[Squankum]

It used to be a whole lot of work to do those engine swaps. You had to make your own engine mounts, transmission adapter plates and in the case of the 914 and Corvairs, a custom cooling system. Along with an endless list of modifications to get the clutch and throttle to work, electrical wiring to starters and distributors. Then you had to fix every weak point in the transplant vehicle. Today's LS swaps are like Leggo kits that provide everything you need besides your shop tools.

Bob, since you wrote that, I watched a video by those Donut boys about how they sunk a large pile of money into sad old Honda Civic, the heart of this project being the better Honda engine they swapped into it.

The man from the company who makes the adapter kit says they are selling about 60/month -- and have been selling them since 2004.

 

[Squankum]

One time we are crossing the border and the Canadian immigration/customs officer as usual asked, what is the purpose of your trip. I said well my wife says this is a vacation but we are visiting my in laws and I ask you, is there no provisions in the Geneva Convention against torture, cruel and unusual punishment? I immediately got a dope slap from my wife.

Then the Office goes, oh man tell me about it. My mother in law has lost her job and she is moved in with us and I swear she will never leave bla bla bla . I guess he had a lot to get off his chest. And we had to sit there and listen to him for like an eternity. Meanwhile a huge line of cars were piling up behind us in our lane!

I guess somethings are universally applicable to all

i once spent a summer in Wisconsin as a young man, and my route there took me through Ontario. My Golf was loaded up with all sorts of stuff, which VW Golfs are so adept at doing. Pulled up to the border booth, the Canadian man brusquely says, "Are these all your possessions?" I say no. He gets more brusque, asks me to explain. "I do have some other possessions back home." He made a face like I was being a smartass.

 

[Squankum]

Bob, glad to see you are still active, which explains all the extra toilet paper.

The TP backs up, with all of those palm fronds he just took down.

 

[gman007]

He made a face like I was being a smartass.

These folks have a lot of discretion and power! If they get pissed they can give one serious trouble.

My best man is an IT consultant and as part of his job used to travel all around the world. Some years ago he went on vacation ( he was single at the time) to Mexico and while there got sick as a dog from some tainted alcohol (at the resort no less )!

On the way back he is feeling really shxtty. At the customs, there is this young lady officer who starts flirting (he is a handsome fellow) with him and keeps chit chatting about this and that, did you go clubbing?, what kind of music do you like?, etc, nothing to do with clearing customs. Meanwhile he is very sick and he just wants to get out of there. Finally, She is running out of things to talk about and looks at his passport and says oh wow so many visas from so many countries, must be very interesting, why do you travel so much?

His response, like an idiot and so unlike his normal charming personality was well because I do not make minimum wage like you are !

She starts crying and runs to her supervisor. He comes over and says, we suspect you are carrying something and need to hold you for investigation.

Long story short after spending nearly 6 hours at the interrogation center, another officer comes back holding two plastic bags. One holding my best man’s belongings and the other pieces of his expensive luggage and says we suspected something was hidden in the lining! You are free to go now!

 

[Bob Heine]

Bob
It is great news and relief that you are fine and were not affected too much.

While I honestly never had a problem with my in laws (RIP), visiting them was never a comfortable experience. They lived In Toronto and a couple times a year my wife would go to visit them. I would reluctantly accompany her as I did not want her to drive the long distance alone with our son and across the border.

One time we are crossing the border and the Canadian immigration/customs officer as usual asked, what is the purpose of your trip. I said well my wife says this is a vacation but we are visiting my in laws and I ask you, is there no provisions in the Geneva Convention against torture, cruel and unusual punishment? I immediately got a dope slap from my wife.

Then the Office goes, oh man tell me about it. My mother in law has lost her job and she is moved in with us and I swear she will never leave bla bla bla . I guess he had a lot to get off his chest. And we had to sit there and listen to him for like an eternity. Meanwhile a huge line of cars were piling up behind us in our lane!

I guess somethings are universally applicable to all

@gman007, when I started working for IBM in 1964 we lived in West Babylon and I worked in Manhattan. Best way to get to work was by train (Long Island Railroad and New York subways). My father-in-law and I rode the train together every workday until the day I missed it. He made it pretty clear he had more care and affection for me than his own son. When he broke his hip in 1985 he began a long decline and spent his last three years in a nursing home. Every time IBM sent me [from Florida] to New York I stayed at their home and visited him in the nursing home. It is heartbreaking to see a grown man cry but he did that every time I left. He died on the 23rd anniversary of my run-in with the train.

Bob, glad to see you are still active, which explains all the extra toilet paper.

Bobby, I'm still active but for very short spurts.

Bob
Happy Father’s Day to you and all the other fathers who participate here.

@gman007, Happy Fathers Day to you as well.

Bob, since you wrote that, I watched a video by those Donut boys about how they sunk a large pile of money into sad old Honda Civic, the heart of this project being the better Honda engine they swapped into it.

The man from the company who makes the adapter kit says they are selling about 60/month -- and have been selling them since 2004.

@Squankum, my comments were based on my first car magazine, the October 1956 issue of Rodding & Re-styling.

In that issue, they covered Adapters. The manufacturers offered the engine-to-transmission mating but things like mounts and linkage were up to you.

i once spent a summer in Wisconsin as a young man, and my route there took me through Ontario. My Golf was loaded up with all sorts of stuff, which VW Golf's are so adept at doing. Pulled up to the border booth, the Canadian man brusquely says, "All these all your possessions?" I say no. He gets more brusque, asks me to explain. "I do have some other possessions back home." He made a face like I was being a smartass.

@Squankum, I always tread lightly getting through customs. In 1989, the day before we moved to Australia I picked up a brand new PS/2 computer, monitor and impact printer. I had been warned that I would have to pay 100% duty on that stuff and it would be refunded when I left Australia. Not wanting to fork over $4,500 and even less try to get it back, I packed two switchblades in my luggage. A 1-armed person in the US can import two personal use switchblades every time they return from a country that sells them (Spain in my case). I checked the box for guns, switchblades and other weapons and presented one of the switchblades to the customs agent. He called all his mates over to demonstrate the knife and not one of them said a word about the clearly labeled pile of computer hardware boxes on the trolley behind me. Every time I went through customs in Australia I headed for the Red line and declared something I shouldn't have had. One time it was a half empty bottle of scotch over my limit. The agent said "Good on ya, enjoy!" and sent me on my way. Never checked for the contraband in my luggage (I had several boxes of microwave popcorn).

The TP backs up, with all of those palm fronds he just took down.

@Squankum, I still have several packs of terry towels that we would have used and washed had we run out of TP in the Covid crisis. Somehow we never ran out and never went on TP scavenger hunts. I never thought of using palm fronds but now that you mention it....

These folks have a lot of discretion and power! If they get pissed they can give one serious trouble.

My best man is an IT consultant and as part of his job used to travel all around the world. Some years ago he went on vacation ( he was single at the time) to Mexico and while there got sick as a dog from some tainted alcohol (at the resort no less )!

On the way back he is feeling really shxtty. At the customs, there is this young lady officer who starts flirting (he is a handsome fellow) with him and keeps chit chatting about this and that, did you go clubbing?, what kind of music do you like?, etc, nothing to do with clearing customs. Meanwhile he is very sick and he just wants to get out of there. Finally, She is running out of things to talk about and looks at his passport and says oh wow so many visas from so many countries, must be very interesting, why do you travel so much?

His response, like an idiot and so unlike his normal charming personality was well because I do not make minimum wage like you are !

She starts crying and runs to her supervisor. He comes over and says, we suspect you are carrying something and need to hold you for investigation.

Long story short after spending nearly 6 hours at the interrogation center, another officer comes back holding two plastic bags. One holding my best man’s belongings and the other pieces of his expensive luggage and says we suspected something was hidden in the lining! You are free to go now!

@gman007, customs agents are even more powerful than Motor Vehicle Department clerks. They also have a sick sense of humor.

We were happily adjusted to life in Australia and about six months in, Liane's mother came down for a visit. They were going to travel back to the US together and I was about to take my first business trip to a conference in New Zealand the next day. Liane called from the airport to tell me she had been detained by immigration. Turns out the professionals at our overseas assignment company had filed for 90-day visitor visas, not work visas. They let her leave on condition she get it straightened out with the assignment company when she got to the US. I spent the rest of the day with an IBM representative at the Sydney Immigration and Visa center.

If you do a fair bit of traveling overseas, sooner or later you will be pulled out of line for a special inspection. Fortunately none of ours involved a cavity search.

 

[sawduststeve]

If you do a fair bit of traveling overseas, sooner or later you will be pulled out of line for a special inspection. Fortunately none of ours involved a cavity search.

That’s so funny, we’ve only taken the split screen out of the country twice and both times we’ve been taken to over to the inspection lane.
They swab the steering wheel run a mirror on a stick underneath and make me open up the back.
******, hippy van driving pot heads.

Steve

 

[kaymccampbell]

If you do a fair bit of traveling overseas, sooner or later you will be pulled out of line for a special inspection. Fortunately none of ours involved a cavity search.

Back when I traveled for work, I had federal ID that I was supposed to show, that seemed to give me special dispensation. No questions, no searches, no seizures, no lines, just yes ma'am, no ma'am, thank you ma'am, and I was escorted past it all, right to the street. It worked even better coming back to the States. It could get me, with no ticket, a seat on a full up plane that was about to leave the jetway. That poor Japanese businessman.

Yes, I know that they don't do that anymore. It was different times.

 

[Bob Heine]

That’s so funny, we’ve only taken the split screen out of the country twice and both times we’ve been taken to over to the inspection lane.
They swab the steering wheel run a mirror on a stick underneath and make me open up the back.
******, hippy van driving pot heads.

Steve

Steve, something is triggering this. I got the full treatment when wearing my artificial arm. Like you, I obviously looked like a ne'r do well. In 2003 we were returning from a trip to Maine. Good thing we got to the Bangor airport security line an hour before the flight. They swabbed our baggage and we were immediately taken to "the room." Half-way through the intimate inspection of our baggage, they asked Liane if she used Tide laundry detergent. Yup, apparently something in it gave a false positive indication.

Back when I traveled for work, I had federal ID that I was supposed to show, that seemed to give me special dispensation. No questions, no searches, no seizures, no lines, just yes ma'am, no ma'am, thank you ma'am, and I was escorted past it all, right to the street. It worked even better coming back to the States. It could get me, with no ticket, a seat on a full up plane that was about to leave the jetway. That poor Japanese businessman.

Yes, I know that they don't do that anymore. It was different times.

Kay, I may live in 'opposite' land. Using a Delta business class Around the World ticket to get to India in 1996, the flight to Frankfurt, Germany was delayed and I missed the connection to Mumbai. Delta sent me to the Air India gate. Air India didn't issue me a ticket, just a boarding pass. My itinerary had me on a Delta direct flight to Mumbai but Air India put me on a flight that stopped in New Delhi. Not having a ticket, I was escorted off the plane at New Delhi and a gate agent escorted me to an alley outside the terminal. There was a very long discussion about my paperwork but I remember an acquaintance in Australia describing Indian bureaucracy. I suggested the Air India clerk knew a lot more about running an airline than I did and would be able to resolve the issue. That resulted in a slew of teletype messages and me boarding the New Delhi to Mumbai 747 in First Class (Coach and Business class were completely full so the only available seat was in First Class) but aside from the seat size it looked like Coach. It was 1996 and upon landing in Mumbai I discovered almost all Air India planes were 747s.

I didn't have a premonition but I was in the habit of traveling with a shoulder bag for my laptop and a carry-on for my clothes and necessities. Liane gave me grief about not having enough fresh clothes for a two-week trip overseas but I figured correctly that the places I would be staying had overnight laundry services. You would not believe the stacks of luggage that used to accompany us on much shorter trips. Someone was convinced that leaving an outfit at home was a recipe for a fashion faux pas.

Yes, I know that the homeless cripple look no longer results in better treatment but it worked back then.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I haven't flown since I left federal service, and from what I hear, I'm VERY freekin glad.

 

[gman007]

I haven't flown since I left federal service, and from what I hear, I'm VERY freekin glad.

Flying used to be a pleasure and now just *****!

I absolutely try to avoid it, if I can but a couple of times a year, for honestly no good reason, my company likes to drag me to the HQ ( I have an ugly face so it can not be because they want to see my beautiful face in person) and so I have to fly.

And from where I live there are no direct flights anywhere so the trip always includes a connecting flight which often is missed as the flights are too close to each other and first flight is generally late!

 

[Squankum]

Back when I traveled for work, I had federal ID that I was supposed to show, that seemed to give me special dispensation. No questions, no searches, no seizures, no lines, just yes ma'am, no ma'am, thank you ma'am, and I was escorted past it all, right to the street. It worked even better coming back to the States. It could get me, with no ticket, a seat on a full up plane that was about to leave the jetway. That poor Japanese businessman.

Yes, I know that they don't do that anymore. It was different times.

Did you get the special badge like Elvis got from the president?!

 

[kaymccampbell]

"How


Did you get the special badge like Elvis got from the president?!

There are things I can discuss, and things I can't.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

There are things I can discuss, and things I can't.

You could tell us but then you'd have to spend the rest of your life chasin' us all down to kill us?! Lol

 

[kaymccampbell]

You could tell us but then you'd have to spend the rest of your life chasin' us all down to kill us?! Lol

Pretty much. Except I'd never get the chance. They have people for that.

 

[rharman]

< snip >

Steve, something is triggering this. I got the full treatment when wearing my artificial arm. Like you, I obviously looked like a ne'r do well. In 2003 we were returning from a trip to Maine. Good thing we got to the Bangor airport security line an hour before the flight. They swabbed our baggage and we were immediately taken to "the room." Half-way through the intimate inspection of our baggage, they asked Liane if she used Tide laundry detergent. Yup, apparently something in it gave a false positive indication.

< /snip >

Some years back, I was traveling from LA to Ohio for business. Apparently, something in/on my CPAP caused the wipey pad to indicate explosives residue. Jeesh....

 

[PugetDude]

You could tell us but then you'd have to spend the rest of your life chasin' us all down to kill us?! Lol

Pretty much. Except I'd never get the chance. They have people for that.

@Dan in Pasadena just went on a watch list.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Dan just went on a watch list.

Just? Have you been enjoying your membership?

 

[PugetDude]

Just? Have you been enjoying your membership?

 

[Squankum]

@Squankum, I have always loved the conversion kit concept. The ones that captured my interest in the 1950s were from JC Whitney and Speedway Motors and they would mail you the parts after you filled out the order form in their catalog, enclosed a check and mailed it to them.

Bob, I was going to say that "Speedy" Bill Smith died just a few years ago, but this morning the internet informs me that was ten years ago. His business was new back when you were starting out! And it lives on. I can't find figures today, but last I checked, their gross revenue was... er... I don't trust anything I'm seeing right now, but they may have 370 employees. They're doing well, I'm sure. I first learned about them from a road racer back in the 90's who kept his eyes open for good sources of race car parts.

Speedway Motors Founder "Speedy" Bill Smith Dead at 84 - Engine Builder Magazine

Victory Lane fell silent in late May as the performance automotive community lost a pioneering racer, hot rodder and entrepreneur. “Speedy” Bill Smith, founder and owner of Speedway Motors, died May 30 at his home in Lincoln, Nebraska just weeks before his 85th birthday. He is survived by four...

www.enginebuildermag.com

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/speedy-bill-smith

 

[Squankum]

Steve, something is triggering this. I got the full treatment when wearing my artificial arm. Like you, I obviously looked like a ne'r do well. In 2003 we were returning from a trip to Maine. Good thing we got to the Bangor airport security line an hour before the flight. They swabbed our baggage and we were immediately taken to "the room." Half-way through the intimate inspection of our baggage, they asked Liane if she used Tide laundry detergent. Yup, apparently something in it gave a false positive indication.

Bob, about a year ago we travelled to Maine, and then back, with two young kittens. Opening up the carrier in the airport or airplane was not on our "risks to take on this trip" list, but luckily, they weren't too zippy yet. And yes, diverted for extra searching. Please remove the kittens from this soft-sided carrier while we inspect it. I'm guessing it was the chemical traces of kitten pee of kittens past and present.

Amazingly, the whole thing worked out just fine. They were well behaved and didn't make a peep the whole way. Then they got a rental car ride and a ferry boat ride.

Still have them! I really didn't want to add two more cats to our herd here in the aboveground lair, but they have very good personalities, so that's nice.

 

[GeddyT]

I finally caught up! This has got to be the busiest thread on the whole forum, and I suppose it's for good reason. Glad you're still doing well, Bob!

 

[Bob Heine]

I haven't flown since I left federal service, and from what I hear, I'm VERY freekin glad.

Kay, last time I flew was to inter my mother's ashes in the family cemetery in New Rochhelle, NY and that was 15 years ago. I'll leave flying to people who have never known what it once meant to fly. A four hour flight in the morning included sausage and egg with toast, coffee and orange juice (or Mimosa). In the late 70s I could arrive at the Palm Beach airport 3 minutes before the flight, park in short term parking, walk across the street, climb the boarding staircase and be on the plane before they closed the door. Security was a stewardess checking your ticket to be sure you were on the right flight.

Flying used to be a pleasure and now just *****!

I absolutely try to avoid it, if I can but a couple of times a year, for honestly no good reason, my company likes to drag me to the HQ ( I have an ugly face so it can not be because they want to see my beautiful face in person) and so I have to fly.

And from where I live there are no direct flights anywhere so the trip always includes a connecting flight which often is missed as the flights are too close to each other and first flight is generally late!

@gman007, in the late '90s I was a Platinum Frequent Flyer on Delta. Flying home from Dulles airport involved a connection in Orlando. The first flight was late getting to Orlando but they called ahead to hold the flight to Fort Lauderdale for me. As we landed the flight attendant asked everyone to remain seated so I could run to the gate and catch my flight home. The plane broke out in applause as I ran for the exit. Chance of that happening today is probably close to zero.

Did you get the special badge like Elvis got from the president?!

@Squankum, where do you think Nixon got that badge?

There are things I can discuss, and things I can't.

Kay, your secrets are safe with me. Mostly because I'm old and forgetful.

You could tell us but then you'd have to spend the rest of your life chasin' us all down to kill us?! Lol

Dan, one of Kay's machines is euphemistically called a 'dog eater' but I doubt it has ever eaten a real dog. Nosy people maybe but never a dog.

Pretty much. Except I'd never get the chance. They have people for that.

Kay, it's good to have people who take care of unpleasant tasks. Mine mow my lawn, trim the hedges and weed the gardens.

Some years back, I was traveling from LA to Ohio for business. Apparently, something in/on my CPAP caused the wipey pad to indicate explosives residue. Jeesh....

Roger, thanks for the warning. A thorough chlorine bath for my CPAP is now on the list.

@Dan in Pasadena just went on a watch list.

Scott, if you're reading my thread, you're on a watch list as well.

Just? Have you been enjoying your membership?

Kay, our membership keeps us alive because Ryan is watching.

Scott, enough said!

Bob, I was going to say that "Speedy" Bill Smith died just a few years ago, but this morning the internet informs me that was ten years ago. His business was new back when you were starting out! And it lives on. I can't find figures today, but last I checked, their gross revenue was... er... I don't trust anything I'm seeing right now, but they may have 370 employees. They're doing well, I'm sure. I first learned about them from a road racer back in the 90's who kept his eyes open for good sources of race car parts.

Speedway Motors Founder "Speedy" Bill Smith Dead at 84 - Engine Builder Magazine

Victory Lane fell silent in late May as the performance automotive community lost a pioneering racer, hot rodder and entrepreneur. “Speedy” Bill Smith, founder and owner of Speedway Motors, died May 30 at his home in Lincoln, Nebraska just weeks before his 85th birthday. He is survived by four...

www.enginebuildermag.com

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/speedy-bill-smith

@Squankum, I remember Bill Smith and Speedway Motors well. I still have printed catalogs from them. When Liane and I got married in 1962 Bill Smith was 33 and Speedway Motors was 10 years old.

Bob, about a year ago we travelled to Maine, and then back, with two young kittens. Opening up the carrier in the airport or airplane was not on our "risks to take on this trip" list, but luckily, they weren't too zippy yet. And yes, diverted for extra searching. Please remove the kittens from this soft-sided carrier while we inspect it. I'm guessing it was the chemical traces of kitten pee of kittens past and present.

Amazingly, the whole thing worked out just fine. They were well behaved and didn't make a peep the whole way. Then they got a rental car ride and a ferry boat ride.

Still have them! I really didn't want to add two more cats to our herd here in the aboveground lair, but they have very good personalities, so that's nice.

@Squankum, it's amazing the things that trigger a search. Liane gets called out more often than me. Her favorite thing when they tell her to step out of line is unbuckle her belt and reach for the fly on her jeans. The TSA folks freak out when you do that.

I finally caught up! This has got to be the busiest thread on the whole forum, and I suppose it's for good reason. Glad you're still doing well, Bob!

Tom, thanks for stopping by. Not much to see here. I don't have a Hurco or mill or lathe but there always seems to be shavings on the floor.

 

[Ford52PU]

Love reading your replies to all the posts. Thanks for ending my evening on a up note! Appreciate it.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Kay, last time I flew was to inter my mother's ashes in the family cemetery in New Rochhelle, NY and that was 15 years ago. I'll leave flying to people who have never known what it once meant to fly. A four hour flight in the morning included sausage and egg with toast, coffee and orange juice (or Mimosa). In the late 70s I could arrive at the Palm Beach airport 3 minutes before the flight, park in short term parking, walk across the street, climb the boarding staircase and be on the plane before they closed the door. Security was a stewardess checking your ticket to be sure you were on the right flight.

I remember those days. Real food. Real booze. In-flight upgrades. Kind stewards/stewardesses. Do you remember DC-3s? There was a treat. Or maybe it was a trick.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Kay, it's good to have people who take care of unpleasant tasks. Mine mow my lawn, trim the hedges and weed the gardens.

Those are some of my favorite tasks.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Kay, our membership keeps us alive because Ryan is watching.

Do you know who Ryan works for?

 

[PugetDude]

Do you know who Ryan works for?

So sberry is really only on double secret probation?

 

[kaymccampbell]

So sberry is really only on double secret probation?

Aren't you an optimistic little bunny.

 

[Grizz1963]

Random change of direction Bob

I was watching an episode of Outdoor Boys on YouTube this week (excellent family friendly channel) and watched them hunt and eat Iguanas.

Have you eaten or met anyone who does??

 

[Bob Heine]

Love reading your replies to all the posts. Thanks for ending my evening on a up note! Appreciate it.

Thank you Dennis, you made my day!

I remember those days. Real food. Real booze. In-flight upgrades. Kind stewards/stewardesses. Do you remember DC-3s? There was a treat. Or maybe it was a trick.

Kay, I do remember DC-3s.

My first flight was in 1957 on a Ryan Navion 4-seater (with five onboard) in Alaska, flying from Fairbanks to Fort Yukon. We were all pretty skinny so my father (not pictured) and pilot were in the front and my mother, brother and I were in back. **** and I shared a seatbelt. It was my first (and only) barrel roll when the bush pilot pointed out a large bull moose in a lake. He pulled the maneuver because I complained about the wing blocking my view).

Second flight was a DC-6 from Mexico City to Merida. I was given hat box duty.

My third flight was a Mohawk Airlines DC-3 from Laguardia, NY to Massena, NY for a college interview at St. Lawrence University. It was a redeye that flew through some rough weather. I was really happy it wasn't my first flight but it was scary as hell. To get to the university I hitchhiked the 31 miles. A kid my age (I was 16) picked me up in his brand new 1961 Chevy Super Sport 409 bubble top. I had never seen one before, let alone rode in one. The kid was actually pretty gentle rowing through the 4-speed floor shifter.

My ride home from St. Lawrence U was less elegant, starting a few blocks away at the Canton bus station. Fourteen hours and three or four Greyhounds later I was home in North Babylon, NY.

Those are some of my favorite tasks.

Kay, I think it started in my youth, when I watched workmen in NYC pour footings for skyscrapers. I've enjoyed watching others work ever since.

Do you know who Ryan works for?

I think it's the Atomic something or other. I wonder if he gets instructions from Oak Ridge -- we stopped at the museum in '59 (that's our yellow '58 Rambler wagon on the right.

So sberry is really only on double secret probation?

Scott, we're all headed to DSP.

Aren't you an optimistic little bunny.

Ask not for whom the bell tolls.

Random change of direction Bob

I was watching an episode of Outdoor Boys on YouTube this week (excellent family friendly channel) and watched them hunt and eat Iguanas.

Have you eaten or met anyone who does??

Rian, I haven't eaten iguana. In the Caribbean they call it pollo de los arboles (chicken of the tree). We visited an Iguana farm in Honduras when we took our nightmare cruise years ago. Although tastes like chicken, an article I read said iguanas should be cooked outdoors (they smell pretty bad during the cooking process).

Florida's Best Iguana Meat Chef Makes Tasty Iguana Carnitas Tacos

Amy Freeze never tried the finished product, but her 11-year-old son did.

www.vice.com

 

[gman007]

Bob
Thank you for the great photos and memories! Honestly those were the truly wonder years and I am not saying this because I am getting old and have started sounding like my dad , reminiscing about the good old days!

 

[gilr]

I started flying for business in 1970, the company policy then was any flight 2 hours or longer was to be in first class. I recall having Chateaubriand for dinner with Beluga caviar as an appetizer, champagne and a great dessert, all served on real china plates with real silverware on those flights, truly a real treat. Today, not so much!

 

[kaymccampbell]

I started flying for business in 1970, the company policy then was any flight 2 hours or longer was to be in first class. I recall having Chateaubriand for dinner with Beluga caviar as an appetizer, champagne and a great dessert, all served on real china plates with real silverware on those flights, truly a real treat. Today, not so much!

I hear that they now spray you with slop, and you have to **** it off your shirt sleeves.

 

[Finallygotit]

I hear that they now spray you with slop, and you have to **** it off your shirt sleeves.

 

[PugetDude]

I hear that they now spray you with slop, and you have to **** it off your shirt sleeves.

Flight attendant: "Dinner, Sir?"
Passenger: "What are my choices?"
Flight attendant: "Yes or No"

 

[gilr]

Flight attendant: "Dinner, Sir?"
Passenger: "What are my choices?"
Flight attendant: "Yes or No"

That about sums it up other than "which credit card will you be using to pay for dinner"?

 

[kaymccampbell]

Flight attendant: "Dinner, Sir?"
Passenger: "What are my choices?"
Flight attendant: "Yes or No"

Oh my dog, last flight I took, I had a choice of at least three nice-ish entrees, plus some meh stuff, like a sandwich or burger. Drink in a cup. Wine in a glass. An acceptable dessert, like apple pie a la mode. I'm very sure that I would have had a Tom Collins or two during the flight. All part of the deal.

And I never flew first class, except once, when me and a guy named Bob, who was already in first class, had the plane to ourselves, so the steward/ess asked me if I wanted to move up, since it would be easier doing their job. Of course I agreed. The meal was definitely better. So was the booze. No paint thinner in first class.