Manual Transmission

Caddy

So, I've been thinking about cars and trucks lately. I went with a friend to look at cars, she wants to find something that gets better gas mileage. A very good thing, but I think mostly it's about saving money. My friend drives a mini-van now and it does fairly well around town 15-20 miles per gallon, which for a van with a fark load of room is good, is it great? Nope, but not too bad. She would like something that got around 30 mpg around town. Cool, what get's that kind of mileage? Small cars, really small cars. Want to have some fun? Go look for a car and tell them that you want something fuel efficient. We had 2 different sales people tell us about the Chevy Impala and they said it gets good mileage around town. True, but low to mid 20's isn't that great. And to be honest the Impala ain't what it used to be, it's a boring front wheel drive slushbox, not the cool ass mid 90s Impala's. Oh, Chevy what happened? Well that's another story. So we end up looking at a bunch of tiny cars, in comparison to the van.(Note: I drive a Ford Contour, which is small, but not the smallest car out there). Well, we test drove a few cars and even one truck, a Ford Ranger, and I don't think there was anything that really impressed my friend. Me either. A bunch of slushbox, beige cars. Slushbox? Yep, an automatic transmission. When did it become so hard to find a manual transmission? Yes, I know that the automatics have come a long way and they are getting close to the same mileage as a manual transmission but you lose a lot. Where is the excitement? I love rowing through the gears. Yes, some of you hate them because, oh, I'll get stuck in a traffic jam, I do a lot of intown driving. Guess what I do both of them. So what! If you don't ride some ones bumper in a traffic jam you actually can do quite well. I like to play a game of see how few times I can push the clutch in when I'm in bumper to bumper traffic. I don't want to have to push the clutch in and come to a stop but if I have too? No big deal. To me there isn't much I like about driving except shifting gears and really feeling like I'm in control, revving the engine, taking turns, and coming out in a low gear and stomping it! So, driving an automatic is boring to me. I am very glad my parents taught me how to drive a stick shift, and I learned lots of new words and sayings driving with my Dad.

So, now that I've completely and utterly bored you with that diatribe I'll finish up with what I was thinking about the other day driving along. 

If any of you are familiar with the Flying Spaghetti Monster, bless his noodly goodness, you'll know that the planet has been warming as the number of pirates in the world has gone down. My thought was that, in the USA we've seen the number of manual transmission cars reduced to few and far between and at the same time we've seen a skyrocketing obesity rate. Coincidence? I'm not sure. In conclusion, I like to shift gears, even in the old Ford truck with the 3 speed formerly on the column transmission. Now there are probably a lot of other factors in my crazed conclusion but keep in mind, if you sat in bumper to bumper traffic 5 days a week and had to push the clutch in and out, in and out, you might get sick of that shit and move closer to work, get home sooner, and have time to walk, exercise, play in the yard with your kids or dog or maybe cat, or you know do things with you significant other.(Ultimate Frisbee). And you would get exercise with out thinking about it. So, lose weight buy a stick shift. I've heard good things about the Fiat.

MetalArtDude receives no compensation for any mention of any of these vehicles but if your company would like to send me something it would be appreciated, a lot. ;-)

And some pics from one of my last hubcap hunting trips!

Chrysler

Dodge Truck

Chase the Sun

 

Chasing the sun, following the moon. The cows come along, glancing at me, wondering, wondering, where are we going? Not caring where we have been, Chase the sun. See the pink sky at night, the cows follow along, the cows follow along!
 

Yo!

Today, the day after leap day, March 1, has been a beautiful day in Georgia, warm and sunny. I however have not enjoyed it as I have a nasty cold. Dang where did that come from? So, last Sunday I went to a fundraiser and got a bowl and some soup, it was good! I had donated a clock to the silent auction.

I've been working on some new things at my new studio, hubcap clocks, faces, clocks, and some new robots. It is nice having a studio space, I do miss having a space at home but I haven't had that in over a year. Things change, people change, I certainly have changed a lot over the last year and a half. I've been lucky at my new studio that the owner of the property lets me get access to lots of automotive parts and such. Another local artist was cleaning up his house and I got a lot from him too.

When I moved from Decatur to Carrollton I had to get rid of over a ton of scrap metal. I just couldn't move it an hour away. It sucked but I've met a lot of nice and caring people out here that have helped me tremendously.  Thank you to everyone that has helped!

Now if I could figure out what to do with the 55 Oldsmobile hubcap I'll be doing great. Apparently it is called a fiesta spinner hubcap and is sort of rare, at least from my research. I probably won't be making it into a clock however.

Saw Blade Clock

New Art

Some new pieces that I made in my new studio space. Hopefully I'll be able to make lots more!  lucky-mustache-original-metal-wall

The Lucky Mustache

Wood Head         wood-head-original-metal-wall-sculpture

Drill Robot

 

 

Gear Face Clock

Hubcap clocks

I've finished moving into a new space. Hopefully this coming week I'll be working on things at the new place. I've already made a few new hubcap clocks there and posted to etsy.  Hearts, flying creatures, a bank, a bike wheel clock, and some lamps are some of the things that I'll be working on soon. Also for now I am taking a class to become a better gardener. So far so good, only 2 class down and quite a few more to go. So without further ado, the link to the 1969 Oldsmobile 88 hubcap clock.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/92259496/69-oldsmobile-88-hubcap-wall-clock

1983 Dodge Aries chalkboard hubcap clock.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/91907955/dodge-aries-hubcap-chalkboard-clock

69 Olds 88

Scanned and digitally altered original artwork photo

Things that I think about while driving 75 mph

Sometimes it's easy to get lost in one's own perspective. My life is so busy, I'm so stressed, I'm overworked, these people drive like idiots, and on and on. Not saying that about my self, except the driving thing and I'm pretty sure that the other drivers think that I'm the idiot too.

So, where were we? Well when I'm driving and sometimes getting down on myself, life, and things I think about the world. I think that in this huge world on this tiny planet many things are going on that have nothing to do with me but happen just the same. Now babies are being born, thousands. Someone is dying, actually thousands. Someone decided today just now that they didn't want to live any more and took the situation into their own hands. That is sad, there is always someone that cares! Now there are people making babies, leaving work, getting high, getting drunk, waking up, sleeping, eating, cooking, planting something, and there are people making plans that you and I might not agree with. With billions of people on this planet you can be assured that no matter what you are feeling and myself included, you are not alone.

 I think about these things and more sometimes and it makes me feel small and insignificant, I am but one person. But my life's struggles, hardships, and joys are a tiny part of this thing we call life. Thinking about these things help me to stop the pity party, chill out, and realize that it's a lot more than about me.


But I probably should paying more attention while I drive, actually I do. I know how quickly things can change. And now for cute dog pictures!

Time

The beginning of the year is a time to reflect on what worked last year and what I want to improve this year. There are a lot of things that I want to improve. I have struggled financially all last year and only through the grace, support, and help of my parents have I made it to where I am today. I walked away from a marriage with not much, a divorce saddled me with a large debt, not being able to find steady employment has added to that. I am hoping this year that I will improve my art work and sales of said artwork. I was at a meeting with other artists the other night and the gallery owners were discussing what worked and what did not work. I need to sit down and figure some of those things out for my self because I need to move on and up. :-)

So, of course what did I do today? Went to another salvage yard and got some awesome hubcaps! And a few pics of some of the sights.

56 or 57 Chevy

65 Ford Truck

Salvage Yard

VW and Rambler