Dog Days of Summer

Nice way for dogs (or people) to cool off in the hot car in Summer.

Just have to watch for passing cars or bikes, so the snoot doesn't get bumped. 

Do you know where we're going?

No hon, but it's hot as hell today and I'm sort of down in the dumps. 

Just try to enjoy the ride and I'm sure we'll be there soon. 

I'm trying, just let me have a little peace and quiet, please!  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)

Dog Days of Summer

Wow Fast Cars

Nice red hot convertible Ferrari! 

Man is this slick or what?

I wouldn't leave a car like this parked on the street or with the top open. 

But boy would I enjoy driving this along the palm trees, white sand, and blue ocean beach. 

This is living in style!  :-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Wow Fast Cars

Kustom Cars

What a cool car!

Engine revving and the belts and pistons turning high up in the air.

And the the rest of the car, the body, couldn't get any lower to the ground (not even John Belushi in The Blues Brothers)

As it was driving, the metal was scraping along the street. 

I wondered how it was that the pieces didn't actually pull/fall off the car. 

The thing has got to be pretty solid despite the rusty looks.

This guy was getting quite a bit of attention along the beach.

Isn't that the point. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Kustom Cars

Give A Bear A Ride

Wow, tennis star, Angelina Dimova is so cool with this awesome car and bear!

(Credit Photos: Andy Blumenthal)

Give A Bear A Ride

Flintstones Car(-Like)

Why do all the mechanic shops seem to have a car, like in this photo, lying around. 

Sort of reminds me of The Flintstones Car (from the TV Show originally aired in 60s).

No motor or anything; you would just stick your feet out the bottom and you would run while in the car. 

Stone Age answer to the need for an automobile. 

Hey whatever works and no need to recreate the wheel either.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Flintstones Car(-Like)

Chucky Rules The Road

This was a scary mother of a truck. 

It had Chucky perched spread-eagle over the front crash bumper. 

Imagine looking in your rearview mirror and seeing this barreling down on you. 

Chucky rules the road and he's coming for you.

It's too late to run and hide. 

He's gonna get you!

Consider yourself dead meat and it's not even Friday the 13th. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Chucky Rules The Road

Ghostbusters Mobile

Look what car I found today in Lancaster County.

The Ghostbusters Mobile.

The hood ornament is even a little ghost!

From the looks of the downtown, there very possibly could've been some ghosts around. 

Life and death are just a hairbreadth away. 

And when you die in one life, you pass over to the next. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Ghostbusters Mobile

Wow, Not Bad For A Toy

A toy is a toy and this one really is, but a Porsche is not a toy! 

Design is an art, whether for cars, homes, fashion, and more. 

Those that get design right make things not only functional, but incredibly beautiful. 

And when function and design come together in perfect harmony that is no toy! ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Wow, Not Bad For A Toy

Bucket List

So this week, I managed to check off 1 item from my bucket list. 

I replaced an almost 16-year old 4Runner with a new car that I had been eyeing for some time. 

I never thought I would actually get the new car, but I am so very grateful to Hashem!

My father used to say:

It's just something to get you from here to there!

And he was right, but it was still nice to replace the old clunker.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Bucket List

You've Got To Do It

Interesting message on this car window:

Imagine all the wonderful things that will never happen if you do not do them.

You've got to get up and get out there and try. 

Never say never. 

Success is within reach. 

Rocky, Rocky, Rocky!  ;-)

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

You've Got To Do It

@Eastern State Penitentiary

Photos are from my tour of Eastern Penitentiary in Philadelphia. 

The prison cells were in these tomb thick concrete structures, freezing cold, and completely claustrophobic!

You have to stoop through a tiny doorway to get in and out. 

The cell with the car in it shows how small these prison cells were.  

There is a photo of a cell with a stinking toilet and also the one with a barbers chair. 

Then there is the picture of the fancy cell which is that of Al Capone's (right after the regular disgusting cell). Pretty sure Capone had some real pull with the warden and guards, and I'm sure they were afraid to cross him.

There was even a synagogue in this frightful gothic-style prison with a light that says Shalom (peace).

One cell had art painted on the walls and had many of these dreamy-looking women in Island type spots so far away from the reality of these horrible prison conditions. 

It was also interesting the the prisoners inside these walls were I'm sure dying to get out, and yet the visitors to the prison were lined up at the ticket booth to get a glimpse inside. 

The whole experience was so full of juxtaposing contrasts. 

I feel like I learned a lot. Overall, a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live here! ;-)

(Credit Photos: Andy Blumenthal)

@Eastern State Penitentiary

Oh Deer!

So you really don't want a deer ending up on the grill of your car. 

Not good for the deer (dead meat!) and not good for your car. 

My daughter and son-in-law just gave me Deer Warning Whistles. 

They are supposed to emit ultrasonic sound waves that warn the deer away. 

Anything that keeps the deer away is welcome in my neck of the woods. ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Oh Deer!

Fire Stripes on Buggy

Thought this VW with the fire stripes was pretty cool. 

Black, white, and red.  

Definitely a standout!

The only thing better is the VW van with the psychedelic hippie colors and fantastical images for hope and love.  ;-)

(Credit Photo: Andy Blumenthal) 

Fire Stripes on Buggy

Breakthrough Hybrid Car Technology

Saw this photo on Facebook.

Thought this was just too excellent. 

Yes, a new hybrid car.

- The chassis goes one way.

- The passenger compartment goes the other way. 

Was the engineer on hallucinogenics? 

Or perhaps, this is some super secret new technology for easy parallel parking. 

Think about it, if the car is driverless than what difference does it make anyway? ;-)

(Source Photo: Facebook)

Breakthrough Hybrid Car Technology

Anyone Have A Question About This Car?

Yeah, all I can say...

Anyone have a question about this car?

I am pretty sure this car is owned by Matthew Lesko, "The Question Mark Guy."

Lesko was in a number of commercials and infomercials about asking him how to get free information and grant money from the government. 

He dresses and drives in question marks, and I've seen him a number of times around town. Frankly, it's sort of hard to miss this guy!

His self promotion sort of makes you wonder, if you had to choose just one symbol to wear everywhere to represent you to the world--it could be a punctuation mark or anything else--what would that look like?  ;-)

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Anyone Have A Question About This Car?

Cool Car DC

Who would think you'd find a car like this in Washington, D.C.?

Definitely a standout, you think. 

Although it seems like the people crossing the street don't even notice it.

Ah, wake up people!

Anyway, where do you park a car like that?

It's nice to look at, but between people wanting to steal it or deface it, I think it's probably more trouble than it's worth. 

There are enough loonies out there...why give them a reason. 

Then again, if you tether yourself to it, maybe it's good for a joy ride around the Capital especially before the new tariffs kick in.  ;-)

(Source Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal)

Cool Car DC

Not Every Problem Requires A High-Tech Solution

So I thought this was pretty smart.

Yes, it's a "Smart" car.

But more important is this guy parked his car in a very smart way. 

The spot was too small even for this micro urban car.

So he just parked it sideways--and poof it fits.

Also, look how easy it is for him to drive out of the spot when he's ready. 

Now, I'm not one to say whether this is legal or not (his rear wheels are on the sidewalk, of course).

Still there is something refreshing about this solution. 

Nothing high-tech about it -- he didn't need to move the cars further apart or shrink his own vehicle, rather just think out of the box. 

Frankly, it works, and I think this guy deserves the parking spot--so right on dude!  ;-)

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Not Every Problem Requires A High-Tech Solution

Cat Nap

What a great place to take a cat nap!

So many gorgeous cats in Israel. 

They don't run away either. 

So friendly and happy. 

Sort of got a feeling like they were old souls inhabiting these cats. 

Old souls are very often wise souls.

Cute and wise cats.  

Enjoy!

(Source Photo: Rebecca Blumenthal)

Cat Nap

It's All In The Interpretation

So a friend sent me this hilarious spoof about automatic transmissions, and it goes something like this...

A guy calls up the car service hotline and asks for help with his car.

What's the matter?

Well the car works perfectly in the daytime, but it refuses to drive at night. 

The lady on the customer service line is baffled.

Then he explains:

- During the daytime, I just put the car into "daytime" (D) mode, and it drives fine.

- But then at night, I put it into the "nighttime" (N) mode, and it doesn't move.

- What's worse yet, when another car tried to jump ahead of him, he puts the transmission into "race" (R) mode, and he ends up hitting the car behind him!

At this point, the customer service representative is completely cracking up laughing. 

Apparently not everyone has the same notion of "drive" (D), "neutral" (N), and "reverse" (R)--and frankly, maybe we shouldn't take so much in life for granted.  ;-)

(Source Photo: here with attribution to AliExpress)

It's All In The Interpretation

Shock Value Gets The Ball Rolling

There is definitely something to be said for shock value. 

When you do or say something that is S~H~O~C~K~I~N~G.

And it jolts the other person out of their daily stupor so that they really take notice. 

It's hard to stand out in a global population of over 7.2 billion people and counting. 

Everyone wants to be special, unique, have an impact, and make a difference. 

It's our answer (partially) for why we are here and why it matters.

Our life is a journey and it can be a log slog if we don't have a purpose and meaning in it all. 

We look to the One Above for guidance, meaning, love, and protection.

But we also have to look at ourselves in the mirror...what are we doing with our lives. 

Shock value doesn't mean real value...it's just the initial jolt to get noticed...like that purple and green spiked hair or those sparkly shoes you adorned. 

So you have to take the initial jolt and make it into deep impact--by touching not just a cord, but the nerves that run through. 

In Florida, there was a funny sign along the highway with that shock value that said something like this:

"Your Wife Is Hot So Call {X} To Fix Your A/C!"

What did you say about my wife? 

You know you're right, I do need to invest in better air conditioning! ;-)

(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Shock Value Gets The Ball Rolling