Local car collection

Remember the McLaren F1 at the dealership?  Here it is, at "home".

P.S. Alan, I'm trying to figure out if this collection includes an EB110.

H/t to Peloton25 for the images.

Lunch at Pismo Beach

The steamed clams and sourdough were perfect. The cheap Chardonnay...barely drinkable. Can't win them all.

Happy Easter from...Tarzana!

Am unexpectedly at the Tarzana Inn right now.  My plan yesterday was to visit some friends and then drive three hours north of Los Angeles and spend the night at some random beach town past Santa Barbara.  But with just two hours of sleep the night before, I was exhausted by 4 p.m. yesterday, just 15 miles into my three hour drive.  So I pulled off the autopista (I've been listening to traffic reports on a Mexican radio station) and got a room at the Inn.

Had a truly L.A. moment at dinner.  While enjoying lamb chops at a Persian eatery (if lamb were more available, I'd happily give up beef), I was eavesdropping on the two Chicanas seated next to me.  One was complaining to her friend about her Iranian mother-in-law and a scheduling conflict between a baptism/mass and Passover.  There's not only a large Persian population here, there's an Iranian Jewish diaspora here as well.

Finally, during my epic 15 mile drive, I heard this piece on the effects of global warming.  Spring has sprung early here in the U.S.  Last month, over 7,000 temperature records were broken.  As a result of the earlier warm weather, crime is up, outdoor accidents/injuries have risen, and people are suffering from allergies longer.  At one point, it was 90 degrees (32 C) here yesterday!

And yes, Tarzana is named after Tarzan.  Only in L.A.

Carspotting (Tarzana edition): Mazda FC RX-7

After a complimentary motel breakfast of bagel and banana, I took a stroll around the 'hood.  I spotted this Mazda last night on the walk back from dinner.  Luckily, it's still there and the rising sun is at just the right angle.

Cars & Coffee April 7, 2012 photos

Cars & Coffee

In Southern California...

Citroen XM factory

James Bond drinks Heineken instead of martini in next movie

Blaspheme!  

A West Virginia story

The year is 1996.  I was driving from California to Washington, DC to start graduate school.  I spent the night in a small town in West Virginia.  In that town, on top of a hill, is a bar that literally has a sign that says "No N$#%#$s, F^%s, Or Dogs Allowed."

The next morning, I went to the center of town to use the only pay phone I could find.  It was in front of a restaurant/bar called Bubba's.  It was early so Bubba's wasn't open yet, but I could make out movement inside.

I was using the pay phone because there were complications with my financial aid package.  I called and was told that there was some sort of snag and I don't have my tuition covered.  I freaked out, then and there.  I must have made quite a scene because two guys came out of Bubba's to check out what was going on.

Bubba looked just like John Popper.  His sidekick reminded me of the skinny kid from Road Trip, but without the charm.  He had an old t-shirt with a print of Farrah Fawcett on the front.  As they approached me, I thought, "Oh great, trouble."  The banjo music from Deliverance was playing in my head.

Bubba asked me what was wrong and I told him everything.  I was broke; school was going to start next week; and I didn't know what to do.  Bubba calmed me down, had his employee run back and make me a couple of free sandwiches, gave me a couple of 2-liter bottles of Bubba Cola (for real), and gave me the phone number of his sister in DC.  "You tell her that you're Bubba's friend and you stay at her place as long as you need to."

Well, I got to DC, immediately rushed to the financial aid office, and straightened out everything.  I never called Bubba's sister.  

I learned that stereotypes suck.