The Jalopy Journal

**Ryan** · 03-31-2009, 07:44 AM

Day seven. Still sick. Still sucks. I think all of the missery has made me a bit nostalgic. In between hacking up a lung and snortin' more Afrin, I spent some time last night looking over old posts, graphics, and just generally remembering where I ca...

To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

daddy-o63 · 03-31-2009, 07:48 AM

word

**zman** · 03-31-2009, 07:54 AM

I hear ya! It's tough to take that step, sometimes it works out, glad it is for you. I'm still struggling to make it work. But you know what? Even struggling it 's better than be cooped up in a cube.

oldcarmike · 03-31-2009, 07:54 AM

THAT, and exactly that, is what it's really all about. Doing what you love and being comfortable with that decision. I too am striving for that feeling and inner peace. After 45 years on this earth, many of them personally tough, I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.

Congratulations, Ryan, and again, thank you for this community I've grwon to love. Good work!!

1950ChevySuburban · 03-31-2009, 07:58 AM

Right on!
Excellent post Ryan, now you all get better soon.

Ian Berky · 03-31-2009, 08:00 AM

I just read both stories and what a great writer you are!! Thanx for chasing you dreams Ryan, we all benefit from it , BIG TIME!!

Ian

Velomech · 03-31-2009, 08:01 AM

Cool story, been there, done that. It's nice to see some people search for "quality" of life...

cheers and beers
Hodge

**64 DODGE 440** · 03-31-2009, 08:01 AM

Damn Ryan, once again you have summed it all up.

If you are doing what you love, it isn't work. All the day to day crap melts away when you are in the zone.

Rich Venza · 03-31-2009, 08:08 AM

I spent a couple years pretending to be a computer programmer for Uncle Sam. Could have stayed there for 30 and retired fat and sassy. But the car guy/hot rodder in me pointed me in a different direction. Fiberglass, Speedway, small rod shop, Eastwood, and more Fiberglass took over the next 45 years. I never had second thoughts about my decision.

ryno · 03-31-2009, 08:14 AM

theres something to be said for the dream chaser.
if that lonely impala guy only knew the impact his morning cruise would cause.........?

thanks for making , maintaining , and loving , what so many of us hold dear to us , the HAMB.

**oldandkrusty** · 03-31-2009, 08:25 AM

Ahhhhhhhh, if only I had listened to tht inner voice! But, what the hell I am where I am and that's the way it is! However, Ryan you make the days and weeks go by so much easier because you gave me the gift of the HAMB. I guess I am a simple guy, but it is true...

Thank you, Ryan.

**general gow** · 03-31-2009, 08:26 AM

sometimes i really envy people with rational shit in their heads...

...most of the time i'm just glad i'm not one of them.

live the dream. or die trying.

LUX BLUE · 03-31-2009, 08:30 AM

My "to hell with this" moment came almost the same way.

I was managing yet another wounded store in the chain of wounded stores I worked at. (see, once I got them to make money, I got shipped to yet another store where lousy staff and lousy management had driven off the business...but I digress.) It was the day before my birthday.

before I moved to Austin, I had worked almost exclusively in hot rods and eurocars (not Hondas, boys. just Imagine driving a half primered Countach to wendys and paying in quarters. classic.)when I moved here...there were no hot rod shops. nada. a couple "we do that too" shops...but nothing with the right feel to it. so I did the logical thing. i looked elsewhere. I ended up in Hutto working with a pro mod team...once that fell through, I was screwed. and I ended up at "the big shop".

fast forward a couple of years. I had moved through the ranks...was making alright cash, but because I am tattooed (like really tattooed. not "playing around" tattooed.) I had to wear a long sleeved shirt.

Ever been through Austin in august? suffice to say it gets a bit warm...

after months of bumping around, I landed at the fuck up store yet again...this time was different. The manager who screwed the place up was still there. My instructions were basically to "observe, take notes, and call us if there is a problem."
great. now I am a stool pidgeon. after explaining to my v.p. that it was physically impossible to get 13 gallons of coolant into a 94 Impala, I said fuck it, I am outta here, and 1 day later, feb 2nd, I had opened Crushproof.

Ironically...in the same shop as my old pro mod team.
been chugging along ever since.

hankcash · 03-31-2009, 08:31 AM

Awesome....
I'm right there with you.
We must never go back!

hc

Fast Elvis · 03-31-2009, 08:36 AM

Livin your dream .........good on ya brother......life is good......damn good.

Concrete B · 03-31-2009, 08:42 AM

I wish I had it in me, but I just can't pull the trigger. You are lucky Ryan.

38zephyr · 03-31-2009, 08:46 AM

I get it ...

4 years ago on April fool's day , I quit a great paying job in a company I had worked at since 1990 after helping start it with my Dad . I was miserable , fighting with my parents every day at work and not very nice to my wife at home at times , after brawling with some of the sneaky customers all day long . I have to hustle sometimes to make ends meet now , but since I walked have never been happier ! As you get older , you begin to realize that time is truly precious and trying not to waste it on things that are unimportant is actually a wise decision .

Labold · 03-31-2009, 08:49 AM

I pulled the trigger and shed the tie about 6 years ago and have never been happier. I am thankful I did, my life is much more fullfilling doing what I love instead of just looking for a paycheck. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
The older you get the harder it is to take the chance (kids, mortgage, etc).

...guess life is what you make of it

LUX BLUE · 03-31-2009, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hankcash

Awesome....
I'm right there with you.
We must never go back!

hc

waitaminnit.....
what the hell are You doing up this early?

**oddrodgarage** · 03-31-2009, 08:59 AM

Totally relate to this...years ago through nepotism, connections, etc. I landed a pretty good job with benefits that everybody, except my Gramps, thought I should take and wasn't I damn lucky to get it...off I went for the obligatory physical and indoctrination, document signing etc, as I pulled into the parking lot in my pickup and was dwarfed by the mammoth size of corporate headquarters I started to panic...did I really want to take this offramp and take the corporate heavy toll road (not that there is anything wrong with that...I just knew it wouldn't work for me)...I sat there for about 20 minutes and finally reached over flipped the key and got on the PCH and drove around until I blazed through the first tank of gas...filled 'er up again and drove home...when my Mom called later on that day to see how it went I told her I flunked the physical because my blood pressure was too high...of course it wasn't and still isn't but even after 'fessing up a few years later she still constantly asks me how my blood pressure is doing...just fine Mom 'cause I'm doing what I want to do and not what somebody else wants me to do...plus it affords me the time to spend on the HAMB with nobody lookin' over my shoulder.

03-31-2009, 07:44 AM	#1
Ryan Administrator Join Date: Jan 1995 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 13,608	All My Friends... Know The Lowrider... Day seven. Still sick. Still sucks. I think all of the missery has made me a bit nostalgic. In between hacking up a lung and snortin' more Afrin, I spent some time last night looking over old posts, graphics, and just generally remembering where I ca... To read the rest of this blog entry from The Jalopy Journal, click here.

03-31-2009, 07:48 AM	#2
daddy-o63 Grenade Inspector Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: abbotsford bc canada Posts: 227	Re: All My Friends... Know The Lowrider... word

03-31-2009, 07:54 AM	#3
zman Alliance Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Garner, NC Posts: 16,481	Re: All My Friends... Know The Lowrider... I hear ya! It's tough to take that step, sometimes it works out, glad it is for you. I'm still struggling to make it work. But you know what? Even struggling it 's better than be cooped up in a cube. __________________ I have gotten grief for pointing out that the white, speckled stuff on chicken shit is still chicken shit. I will continue to do so... Chili Phil

03-31-2009, 07:54 AM	#4
oldcarmike Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Aurora, ILL-Annoys (40 miles west of Chicago) Posts: 4,000	Re: All My Friends... Know The Lowrider... THAT, and exactly that, is what it's really all about. Doing what you love and being comfortable with that decision. I too am striving for that feeling and inner peace. After 45 years on this earth, many of them personally tough, I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. Congratulations, Ryan, and again, thank you for this community I've grwon to love. Good work!! __________________ *Will trade upholstery work for running pre '64 truck.* *Mopar prefered but oddball makes OK esp. COE.*

03-31-2009, 07:58 AM	#5
1950ChevySuburban Member Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tucson AZ Posts: 6,239	Re: All My Friends... Know The Lowrider... Right on! Excellent post Ryan, now you all get better soon. __________________ *My '29 Sedan build thread can be viewed here:* /showthread.php?t=635145

03-31-2009, 08:00 AM	#6
Ian Berky Old School HAMBer Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Burbank, California Posts: 3,665	Re: All My Friends... Know The Lowrider... I just read both stories and what a great writer you are!! Thanx for chasing you dreams Ryan, we all benefit from it , BIG TIME!! Ian

03-31-2009, 08:01 AM	#7
Velomech Grenade Inspector Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: nunya Posts: 136	Re: All My Friends... Know The Lowrider... Cool story, been there, done that. It's nice to see some people search for "quality" of life... cheers and beers Hodge

03-31-2009, 08:01 AM	#8
64 DODGE 440 Alliance Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: so cal Posts: 2,635	Re: All My Friends... Know The Lowrider... Damn Ryan, once again you have summed it all up. If you are doing what you love, it isn't work. All the day to day crap melts away when you are in the zone. __________________ Living the dreams of a points & condenser world. HA/GR build: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=189651 Life is good on the lunatic fringe, Tom

03-31-2009, 08:08 AM	#9
Rich Venza Old School HAMBer Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Suwanee, GA...but grew up in North Jersey Posts: 4,191	Re: All My Friends... Know The Lowrider... I spent a couple years pretending to be a computer programmer for Uncle Sam. Could have stayed there for 30 and retired fat and sassy. But the car guy/hot rodder in me pointed me in a different direction. Fiberglass, Speedway, small rod shop, Eastwood, and more Fiberglass took over the next 45 years. I never had second thoughts about my decision.

03-31-2009, 08:14 AM	#10
ryno Old School HAMBer Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: carl junction mo. Posts: 2,951	Re: All My Friends... Know The Lowrider... theres something to be said for the dream chaser. if that lonely impala guy only knew the impact his morning cruise would cause.........? thanks for making , maintaining , and loving , what so many of us hold dear to us , the HAMB.

03-31-2009, 08:25 AM	#11
oldandkrusty Alliance Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Rochester, NY USA Posts: 1,884	Re: All My Friends... Know The Lowrider... Ahhhhhhhh, if only I had listened to tht inner voice! But, what the hell I am where I am and that's the way it is! However, Ryan you make the days and weeks go by so much easier because you gave me the gift of the HAMB. I guess I am a simple guy, but it is true... Thank you, Ryan.

03-31-2009, 08:26 AM	#12
general gow Alliance Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Taunton, MA Posts: 5,434	Re: All My Friends... Know The Lowrider... sometimes i really envy people with rational shit in their heads... ...most of the time i'm just glad i'm not one of them. live the dream. or die trying. Last edited by general gow; 03-31-2009 at 09:45 AM.

03-31-2009, 08:30 AM	#13
LUX BLUE Old School HAMBer Join Date: May 2005 Location: AUSTIN,TX Posts: 4,428	Re: All My Friends... Know The Lowrider... My "to hell with this" moment came almost the same way. I was managing yet another wounded store in the chain of wounded stores I worked at. (see, once I got them to make money, I got shipped to yet another store where lousy staff and lousy management had driven off the business...but I digress.) It was the day before my birthday. before I moved to Austin, I had worked almost exclusively in hot rods and eurocars (not Hondas, boys. just Imagine driving a half primered Countach to wendys and paying in quarters. classic.)when I moved here...there were no hot rod shops. nada. a couple "we do that too" shops...but nothing with the right feel to it. so I did the logical thing. i looked elsewhere. I ended up in Hutto working with a pro mod team...once that fell through, I was screwed. and I ended up at "the big shop". fast forward a couple of years. I had moved through the ranks...was making alright cash, but because I am tattooed (like really tattooed. not "playing around" tattooed.) I had to wear a long sleeved shirt. Ever been through Austin in august? suffice to say it gets a bit warm... after months of bumping around, I landed at the fuck up store yet again...this time was different. The manager who screwed the place up was still there. My instructions were basically to "observe, take notes, and call us if there is a problem." great. now I am a stool pidgeon. after explaining to my v.p. that it was physically impossible to get 13 gallons of coolant into a 94 Impala, I said fuck it, I am outta here, and 1 day later, feb 2nd, I had opened Crushproof. Ironically...in the same shop as my old pro mod team. been chugging along ever since. __________________ "My name is Good Cat...You can call me MISTER Good Cat." WWW.CRUSHPROOF.NET

03-31-2009, 08:31 AM	#14
hankcash Old School HAMBer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Keller TEXAS! Posts: 2,656	Re: All My Friends... Know The Lowrider... Awesome.... I'm right there with you. We must never go back! hc __________________ "Purse Boy" www.monstrosityfoto.com

03-31-2009, 08:36 AM	#15
Fast Elvis Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: London, Ontario, Canada Posts: 3,166	Re: All My Friends... Know The Lowrider... Livin your dream .........good on ya brother......life is good......damn good. __________________ "GOES LIKE STINK" "E.L.T.A. APPROVED" "No Goofs"

03-31-2009, 08:42 AM	#16
Concrete B Grenade Inspector Join Date: May 2007 Location: Coshocton, Ohio Posts: 239	Re: All My Friends... Know The Lowrider... I wish I had it in me, but I just can't pull the trigger. You are lucky Ryan.

03-31-2009, 08:46 AM	#17
38zephyr Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Southern Ca. Posts: 690	Re: All My Friends... Know The Lowrider... I get it ... 4 years ago on April fool's day , I quit a great paying job in a company I had worked at since 1990 after helping start it with my Dad . I was miserable , fighting with my parents every day at work and not very nice to my wife at home at times , after brawling with some of the sneaky customers all day long . I have to hustle sometimes to make ends meet now , but since I walked have never been happier ! As you get older , you begin to realize that time is truly precious and trying not to waste it on things that are unimportant is actually a wise decision . __________________ Who the HELL is interrupting my KUNG FU ? Last edited by 38zephyr; 04-02-2009 at 02:01 PM.

03-31-2009, 08:49 AM	#18
Labold Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bowling Green, KY Posts: 1,214	Re: All My Friends... Know The Lowrider... I pulled the trigger and shed the tie about 6 years ago and have never been happier. I am thankful I did, my life is much more fullfilling doing what I love instead of just looking for a paycheck. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. The older you get the harder it is to take the chance (kids, mortgage, etc). ...guess life is what you make of it __________________ Do me a favor and punch me in the face.

03-31-2009, 08:59 AM	#20
oddrodgarage Alliance Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Mooresville, North Carolina Posts: 5,517	Re: All My Friends... Know The Lowrider... Totally relate to this...years ago through nepotism, connections, etc. I landed a pretty good job with benefits that everybody, except my Gramps, thought I should take and wasn't I damn lucky to get it...off I went for the obligatory physical and indoctrination, document signing etc, as I pulled into the parking lot in my pickup and was dwarfed by the mammoth size of corporate headquarters I started to panic...did I really want to take this offramp and take the corporate heavy toll road (not that there is anything wrong with that...I just knew it wouldn't work for me)...I sat there for about 20 minutes and finally reached over flipped the key and got on the PCH and drove around until I blazed through the first tank of gas...filled 'er up again and drove home...when my Mom called later on that day to see how it went I told her I flunked the physical because my blood pressure was too high...of course it wasn't and still isn't but even after 'fessing up a few years later she still constantly asks me how my blood pressure is doing...just fine Mom 'cause I'm doing what I want to do and not what somebody else wants me to do...plus it affords me the time to spend on the HAMB with nobody lookin' over my shoulder. __________________ Custom screenprinted tees: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=614584 www.facebook.com/rodtees

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