What is it that I’m going to do this year? Projects, people, cars, doodas, shows, books. I’m in concept mode for the next month, but whatever I decide, it has to be fun. Hard work, but fun.
Conceptual inspired thinking is what we humans do best. Whether it’s in the shower, on the pot or driving, ideas show up when you least expect it. These are called “Thoughts of Inspiration” and they are the most important thing in your life.
When you get one, it’s the universe telling you to get off your butt an “act.” So, don’t let it down by saying, “Oh, I’ll do that later.” Do it now… and watch what happens. It’s a message that can’t be avoided, like an open window of opportunity.
So, as I conceptualize, I think I’ll have pasta for dinner. Pesto. Mmm. not THAT’S and opportunity…
There’s a cool principle in the universe which states: Energy flows where attention goes. So consider this…
Where are you directing your energy and attention every single day? Do you have a car in your garage that you haven’t touched in 10 years? Regardless of what you answer, your current results will tell the truth because your results are a reflection of you. If your house or car is a mess, then your mind is a mess.
I’ve been cleaning. Really cleaning. Uncluttering, I call it. And boy, do I have a lot of crap. And not only crap, but stuff is piled in all sorts of places. No wonder things aren’t flowing as smoothly as possible. I’m sending the wrong message. If I clean the shop, then work always comes. THAT’S a fact.
If the car looks good, then I feel good. So, start the cleaning, folks! Get rid of all that ruckus and see what comes. I guarantee good things will…
And no, this isn’t my Bentley. But, it’s gonna be sick lookin.’
Resolution, shmezolution… Who says you have to have resolutions? New and constructive habits is what I care about.
I spent the last couple of days going through the house and looking for what I don’t use anymore. The Law of Use states that if you have things you don’t use that only sit there, you’re not sending the message out to get better things. So, I gathered up clothes, books and anything I didn’t use that I could give.
This was tough, becuase I had to be honest and not keep something the meant something to me 10 years ago and has been sitting there ever since. Really honest. I found weird books that I never read, art supplies that were in excess and thingamabobs that jahoogle when you press a particular button.
From there, I went up into town and went to the Salvation Army, Library and a couple of Art Studios and donated everything. It really felt good.
And to my suprise, Malibu was as dead as a doornail. The photo is of Cross Creek Park, a normal haven for exotic cars every Saturday. This Saturday? One Ferrari. And tons of open spots, which is totally snapped. But, being the holiday, all the cool cars are still in the garages as the owners eat, visit, get sick and be merry. (Not necessarily in that order…)
Wow, my office is clean now. I can actually get to things. I had 25 triangle templates for cryin’ out loud!! But when you give, make sure it goes to a place that disperses to all, which is why a Library is good. And no, I didn’t give them by cars books, ya ninny…
Where can you give?
Back from San Fran with a peculiar smile on my face. Despite the total weirdness of this holiday, I have a quiet sense of peace today.
I got sick in SF for a few days. You, know, sore throat, cough and stuff. But not enough to really stop me from doing what needed to be done. Had a great time in our FORD van. Yea, we opted for a Ford E250 instead of the Chevy. It was crap.
Saw a cool 600hp Vette on the way up. The intake was so big that the guy couldn’t put the hood back on. Um,… peculiar. But, we visited our usual stomping places. The Warming Hut at Fort Point with awesome brownies and a cool lil’ nook on Van Ness call The Underground for a Hummus Bagel and Joe. But, … it wasn’t, um underground. Peculiar.
Downtown was in full festivities with the Big Tree and Ice Skating in Union Square. Very Christmasy. Then, we shot back home, the pups in tow for a Christmas day with the family. I even made a cake, but ran out of letters. Pe, pe, peculiar.
2009 will bring great car things. Great things for all, I believe. And it’s important that you believe that, too. We’re all in this together.
Good read. Robert Collier’s “Secret of the Ages.” It will put in in a good mood and ensure you that your life can and will be better. …With cooler cars.
Good night, 2008.
Yea, it was a good test for all. (Kathie and I in the Center) Some passed, some didn’t, but the true challenge is what do you do next? If you pass or succeed at something, it brings a new hurdle to overcome. Such is life, eh? If you fail, then do you give up and go home? No.
The biggest challenge in all our lives is to not take the easy road and step up. If we end up screwing things up, it’s how we deal with it that counts. So, Kathie and I studied very hard and did well enough this weekend to pass to our next level in our new Martial Arts School. I’m always weary of schools where you pay your dough to test and they ALWAYS pass you. But in this school, several people didn’t pass, including a dood going for his black belt! Ouch. The look on his face when he knew it was over was painful.
What could be easier then to fail at something then pack it in? The easy road. Stick your tail between your legs and wave goodbye. So lame. Anyone can do that. …Those that succeed take the hits and keep getting up until they overcome the obstacle. Whatever it is. The hardest thing that a human being has to do is believe. Really believe without any doubt or fear.
Only then will you succeed. It’s all about thinking in a way that gives no room for failure. Case in point, that jalopy you have in your garage. Stop wasting time and build it. Get it DONE. Then send me a photo of it so that I can appreciate it.
To celebrate, we took my Dad to The Grove in Hollywood to see “The Day The Earth Stood Still.” Review coming on Episode 16 of The Hollywood Car Show, but let’s just say it was… um, flat. But we had great Pasta, so that was successful. Who’s havin’ a good holiday??? You??
About 3 months ago I joined a new Martial Arts School headed by Master Simon Rhee. An extraordinary teacher. I was humbly placed as a mid-level blue belt along with my wife, Kathie, so we could start fresh. We both have gotten our black belts in other styles, but wanted to try something new and exciting. And this was it…
It’s important to shake things up every now and then. Actually, the more often the better. If you’re not uncomfortable, you’re not growing. So, tomorrow, Kathie and I are testing for out next rank. Blue/1 Stripe. There will be about a hundred people there including other students testing. Very exciting.
Remember the song “Shake It Up,” by The Cars? They were’nt talking about salt and pepper. Get your ass out there and make things happen. Don’t be one of those that watches other people do stuff. Post here and tell me what you’ve done recently that made you uncomfortable and made you grow. Share it so that others can be inspired, including me.
Poor pillow. What did he do to deserve this?
There’s a lot of things that I’m into. And it covers a gambit of subjects like you. From certain cars, books, foods, things to do on the weekend.
I like books by authors that make me think. Not novels, but books on Metaphysics. Elizabeth Towne, Robert Collier and Charles Haanel. They make me realize that there’s more to life than working your tail off to pay bills. And there is…
Movies like Blade Runner, Final Fantasy and Monsters Inc. Movies that make me realize how creative people really are. Concepts and ideas that surpass the norm.
Designs like that of Fisker, Luigi Colani, Syd Mead and John Berkey. Images that rouse the emotion to say “how did they do that?”
I guess you could call it inspiration. Things that inspire. Designs, Images, Films, Ideas, all that take you further that where you are. But you don’t to be a conceptualist to apply ideas like these. I mean, say you’re a guy working in a restaraunt? And you want to come up with a new way to sell certain dishes that make them unique. This is as valid a concept as anything else. But ideas are a dime a dozen. Applying them and having faith that they’ll succeed is the true challenge.
Ramble on, Fireball… Is this making sense to you? Find a quiet place to think and close your eyes. Concentrate on what you want for a few moments (see it) and then get silent. The answer will come. It’s how writers write, designers design and how dishes get dished. And it’s how things have been done since the writings of The Emerald Tablet in Egypt. Try it.
Your ideas are as strong as anyone else’s. See them through. Life is too short and goes to fast to have anyone tell you that it won’t work. It will.
So, off I went this morning to Johnny’s Auto Clinic to get my car Registered. You know, smog check and all that, when SNAP! As I was driving, something went afunk. As in, my passenger’s side hub-assembly started a clickety clacken.’
Johnny took one look and said. “You’re drivin’ a Death Trap, Fireball!” SO, several hours later (and after my car was smogged and passed and came back,) I was sportin’ TWO new hub-assemblies on THE MACH 3.Not bad for 130,000 miles, I suppose. I’m grateful I wasn’t stuck somewhere in the Mojave.
Goin’ to the shop is always interesting. Especially when it’s not my shop. But if there was ever a great place to take your MINI, or any car for that matter, then Johnny’s rocks. Da pros.
And now that I have TWO new hub a dub dubs, I’ll be off to Motor4Toys Sunday, a thank you very much.
So, it’s the weekend, right? I decide, “I’m gonna grab my Dad, Tony, and take him out for some fun.” And with that in mind, I settled on a rapid paced, high stakes intense round of miniature golf.
Now, had I known that my Dad was a closet minigolfer at heart, I would have decided on something much less extreme. But, he said, “Wow, I haven’t done that in years!” LIAR!! I KNOW he’s been playing on his off hours every day for the last 12 years. How do I know? BECAUSE HE LAID THE SMACK DOWN ON ME!!!
There I was all ready to take it easy on my POP, when WHAM! I get a ball to the head, club to the foot and spun like a top on starbucks. He’d say things like, “Hey how did THAT happen?” …as the ball sank into the hole like there was some sort of James Bond Magnet dug inside.
The Lighthouse,… I GOT SLAMMED. The MAYAN GARDEN,… I got smoked. THE PSYCHO HOUSE! I GOT BOXED AND SENT TO THE CLEANERS!!!
My Dad. Best dood on the planet. Only, I think I’ll take him to something simple and easy next time, like an Alcatraz Dig, Dive and Dash event… Or maybe get him on TV…
