1st off, I need to reply to this thread. I am still employed and for some reason have a garage that works well
. As some will tell you, I have never been shy to share it for wrenching. Even if my current powerless Kirkham is on the lift, it is easy to move off. I just picked up a MIG welder last week that I look forward to playing with--just need a new 230V outlet. Long story short, I am still employed and actually current indications are for an even better job than last year. DC travel will not be on the agenda, but maybe a touch to the UK and Europe. Below is what I posted on another site for those that want the travelogue:
"My day has gone very well as I pen this aboard a Boeing 777 for cut and paste onto the forum, even after a 1 hour delay because the frenchies couldn't get the jetway to move from the plane (WTF?). I woke up at 5AM to catch the first flight out to Paris from Nice. Had only about 45 minutes to change planes in CDG Paris, but I made it. Talk about a big ass airport. I end my business trip to this socialistic paradise, noting that they suddenly call boarding for the flight--ALL passengers. No preference for 1st class or biz class, or Elite members. Go figure--what a classless society. I wonder if these boarding procedures are in the Communist Manifesto somewhere? FTF.
Upon getting to the ticket reader at the jetway, attendant rips up my boarding pass. I figure they are getting me back for all my misadventures while in this land of pansies. I ask her what is happening, and she says I have been upgraded from economy to business class (which is superior to 1st class on most American domestic flights!! Yahoo. 1st class has full bed like seats). The champagne at 10AM as I write this sure tastes good!
Well, I sure did miss this site during my trip to the land of the "not so great" unwashed. They were celebrating a National Holiday called Bastille Day upon my arrival. They were exercising their military (the only time they most likely actually do anything "productive") by showing off advanced military technology such as tanks that have only one gear--reverse. FTF
I spent an evening in Cannes midweek, where a 60 foot yacht in the harbor looks like a rowboat. I was here a few years ago, but the Superrich are clearly richer judging by the number of 150 plus footers . The superyachts and gross display of wealth and fashion was in full swing whereever my eyes gazed. The "Sheilas", despite the occasional armpit hair, were certainly not bad to view. They do know how to make 5s turn into 7s, and 7s into 9s or 10s (or maybe it was the beer I had?). I surveyed the place and quickly found it interesting, yet "stuffy" and pretentious. Every fine luxury automobile was parked on the main boulevard by the harbor. One of everything except the new Maybach could be seen (I had hoped to see one), I hear they would be the perfect size for Jamo
.
At this point my Gasholian mind started to think, what would be the coolest, most in the face thing you could have here. In a nano-second, my mind says nothing would say FTF like cruising down this boulevard in a BNL Kirkham or Shelby, with a snorty lumpy cammed 427, and Amy's bloomers flying in the air like a parasail, tied to the Cobra, and maybe Crilly's blow-up "date" in the right seat. Then when some rich French snot asked where he can get one, I'd say, "only eligible to people who support the US and UK soldiers and countrymen who fight against terrorism, guess you'll never have one...plus you couldn't afford the gas!!"
Boy am I glad to be headed back to the land of cheap gas and V-8s. To make a political comment, I managed to only spend my own hard earned cash for a bottle of Duty Free Chivas, and a Duty Free box of Cuban Romeo Y Julietta cigars I hope to sneak by US customs.
Some observations I thought you may find interesting:
1. Colleagues went out last night and spent 10-12 Euros for beer in Antibes (they were not even in Cannes). WTF!!! FTF!! Thats like $12-$15/beer. I don't even think any of you could find that high a price in the US even in a VERY FINE gentleman's "night" club. On top of it, the common size for beer is 25 cl. Wimps. FTF
.
2. South Park airs daily in French on TV. Any of you A-Team, Dallas, Magnum PI fans, if you missed any episodes, just come here. Glad to see we only export the best American TV for the froggies. FTF
.
3. The 86 year old bozo who mowed down half of Santa Monica and the Recall movement of the California governor are international news. Both are clearly idiots . I vote that the Gov hire the 86 year old as his new chauffer for trips on windy mountainous roads here in France, and install only gas pedals so the knucklehead does not get confused. Hopefully that will rid society of both in short order and a couple of Froggies as well. FTF
4. As someone who eats more "dead cow" than anyone else, I had fish almost everyday and found it most enjoyable. I ate fish everyday because since Mad Cow, it seems all beef is now cooked until it is leather here. Any juices within the meat I guess are evil now in Europe. Red Meat fanatics, when choosing a vacation spot, avoid this place. FTF
5. We had some Aussies and Brits with us. The Aussies could definitely outparty Jay and BlackJack. The Brits would probably tie. I did not see a frenchie drink anything stronger than red wine. FTF
6. Big surprise from several dinner conversations . The French do not like Bush's "take it or leave it" Foreign policy. They like Joe Lieberman as a future president. That said, they all said that 9/11 was like an attack on them and all of the world, upon which I say, "Then why haven't you guys done sh!t to stamp out Al Quaida and Saddam's terrorism?!!" I may not be invited back I think. FTF
7. Be glad they don't sell French air conditioners in our country. Well, maybe they do and call them fans instead. FTF
8. My rating of the french four star hotel I stayed at (not my choice)---maybe two stars . I think the US is clearly the better place for a predictable mediocre hotel stay at a fair price and they wouldn't even attempt to stick 4 stars on it. FTF.
9. I was informed by some french co-workers that the French fatality rate on their roads is now as bad or worse than some African countries. Darwin at his best!! I say raise their speed limits. FTF
10. Complement to them. These guys know how to do airport security!! Full X-Ray screen and then hand check of almost all luggage. Never took more than 10 minutes from on e side to the next. Drug and bomb sniffing dogs throughout airport who are allowed to get in your face if you know what I mean. Although I feel sorry for the dogs, knowing their sense of smell, I wonder what a Frenchie smells like to a German Shepard. 3 levels of identity checks but none of the silly crap like removing laptop, removal of shoes, etc like the U.S. does. They are thorough yet efficient. Maybe it only took 10 minutes because they are all asking where are all the American tourists?. Hahaha. FTF.
11. I watched Tony Blair's speech in Congress last night on BBC. Congress gave applause for every 2nd line he uttered. He said the same thing Bush has been saying for over a year. To bad the phonies in Congress don't vote and support the Pres like they applaud a British PM. FC
12. No matter how much deoderant I wore, towards the end of the trip, even I started to smell like a frenchman by the time midnight came. Must be the water. It was definitely time to leave. FTF.
Cheers,
TC
Yo - Atlanta guys:
and he has at least a couple thousand square feet to lease to the club and it comes with a lift!
delivery buy the demon, the Holley will be smoother 
with less radical performance". Don't let me influence you - if you pop your hood and Holley is sitting there I'll know that it could of come off my Grandad's Torino.
if you know anyone looking for a nice engine or weber setup. I also have virgin 427 medium riser heads complete. Thanks again for the Willis event! By the way, I hear your tire pressure fella is also pretty handy with software around the office.
Linear Mode
