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The only thing better than being a car enthusiast is being a car enthusiast driving down one of the most beloved stretches of highway in our country’s history. Route 66 is America. It is a drive that connects the dots from the past to the present. When you touch this great road it touches you back.

Here are a few pics I’ve taken along Route 66.

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As one of its newest members, I  went to my first meeting of The Route 66 Association of Missouri. A huge thank you to my husband, Brad for riding shotgun!   We didn’t know what to expect, but the hour-long drive to Wildwood, Missouri was a beautiful one. You might be curious as to how it took an hour to drive from South County to Wildwood. In truth: when I hit the “avoid highways” option on my navigation, I really do mean it. Our destination was Stovall’s Grove Dance Hall & Saloon. We enjoyed a great meal of pork steak, chicken, salad, and other sides along with 60+ other members.

 

The meeting did not disappoint. Led by our president, Tommy Pike, it was extremely well run, informative, and entertaining from start to finish, The agenda included items such as the treasurer’s report, old and new business, and upcoming events. Rounding off our visit was a historical presentation given by Stovall’s proprietor.

 

Yes, I drove on and parked near a gravel road!

Prior to joining the association, I knew I had a fondness for The Mother Road and its history. However, it was when Ruth Keenoy, a historic preservation specialist, spoke about the work she and our club have done, and continue to do, on the Meramec River Bridge.   It was then that I became excited about being part of The Route 66 Association of Missouri. I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you that the association also takes very serious the preservation of neon signs along the road, in addition to a great number of other worthwhile endeavors.

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Extras:

A big thank you to our table mates Ginger and James.   There was another likable fellow with great humor, but I can’t recall his name.  I later found out we were sitting with royalty, as James is the VP of the association.

Anyone can join the Route 66 Association of Missouri.

The bridge we are saving is located in The Route 66 State Park.

Please click on links throughout this post to learn more!

Picture credits: Me, NPR Service, flickr.com, and a gofundme page set up by Keenoy for the bridge.

My greatest apologies for any misinformation.

Posted on October 8, 2016 by Debbie | 8 Comments

 

 

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I just needed to say it so I wrote this song to my son Jon. It makes my heart very happy.  My heart is always very happy.  My heart is always #brightside… and quite a bit more.

 

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Just in case I haven’t told you this in quite a bit, I’m missing you more than just quite a bit. You’re on my mind most partial parts of most every day and I can’t help myself to say I miss you more than words can say, but only in a small enormous way. No pressure from your momma’s heart just a few vague words full of sidewalk skips, giant steps and rain drop puddles with big jump starts. I miss you more than a few small hugs, more than heartstring tugs, and more than all the moments in a calendar year. No pressure here, no pressure here. Saying it out loud brings clouds to a clearing up smiley day, but hey #brightside sent your way. Missing you more than just quite a bit, it’s like fields of praises, gone up in blazes and love spilled out upon the floor. But I know I raised you and your heart spills inside my heart forever more. I know you’ll come back and we’ll touch hearts, saying goodbye to time apart. Until then I miss you so much more than just a little bit, quite a bit. Until then I’m hit with quite a bit of you not here. You’re nowhere near, your voice unclear. You’re on my mind most partial parts of most everyday. You’ve found your way, and your Momma says hey. And way to go. Way to go. No matter where you roam….You’ve found your way. Until you find your way back home. Until then I miss you more than just a little bit of quite a bit, and more than a calendar that never quits. My heartstrings sing and sing and sing. I miss you more than just quite a bit. Looking down the road that brings you home to me. I miss you more than just quite a bit. Just in case I haven’t told you this in quite a bit, I’m missing you more than just a quite a bit. I miss you more than forever and quite a bit more until the road leads you back to me.

 

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Love you as big as the sky Jon Boy.

Posted on September 18, 2016 by Debbie | 10 Comments

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My first personal day of this school year was put to excellent use.  Along with several of my Mustang Club of St. Louis friends, on Thursday September 1, I participated in the Great American Pony Drive.  The following is taken directly from their website:  The Great American Pony Drive is the only MCA  (Mustang Club of America) Chartered Driving Club. We were formed to promote driving events with America’s favorite Pony Car and members from all over the world. We are the only Mustang club that actively interacts with Mustang clubs all over the US, working with each to plan activities for the members of each club while we are visiting their area. The success of Pony Drives each year can be directly attributed to this participation with the other clubs and Mustang businesses.  Please visit their site to learn more.

For our club, the event meant gathering at 8:00am then crossing the historic Route 66 Chain of Rocks Bridge.  Click on the link to discover a bit of the rich history of this mile-long bridge.

After being closed for quite a while it is now a foot traffic only bridge, making our crossing a unique event.  Our club was very fortunate to have spent an hour on the bridge enjoying conversation and Mustang photo ops.

 

The weather was fabulous and our club had the biggest showing.  A big thanks to all those who made this day possible.  It’s obvious I should take off work a bit more often. Enjoy the photos.

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Posted on September 5, 2016 by Debbie | 4 Comments

Here are a few pics from the past few days . Love the car life. 

Posted on September 4, 2016 by Debbie | 3 Comments

 

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We car people support the car culture in many different ways.  Maybe you’re a collector that houses your gems, taking it for a spin on a beautiful day.  Perhaps your coveted auto is your daily driver that is in a constant state of evolution because of real life events.  Of course there is a myriad of ways to be a car person, and this past weekend I was able to take part in a great car show that brought members of the car culture together.

On Saturday, July 23rd,  two Springfield, Missouri car clubs came together to host the First Annual Doughnuts Not Donuts fundraising event.  The 417 German Autostil and The Ozarks Z Club worked for several months in partnership with The Arc of the Ozarks.  The philosophy of the The Arc of the Ozarks is “to support individuals with disabilities in directing their own lives as valued members of the community“.  The car show was held at Country Girls Espresso on Sunshine Street.  (Please click on these links to learn more.)

This multi-class, family friendly car show included free Krispy Kreme doughnuts, a bouncy house, face painting, category judging and trophies.   While it was probably the hottest day of the summer, the turn out was outstanding.  Participants and spectators, combined with the hard work of so many, made this event a huge success.

Here are a few pictures from the day…

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Posted on July 24, 2016 by Debbie | 3 Comments

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It has been two months since my last post “Ten Reasons to Hire Me”.  Ford Mustang did not ask me to do their social media (for example) so I ended up signing my contract as a teacher for my fifteenth year.  It was with slow and steady pen, much deliberation, and a bit of a heavy heart. (Never doubt my love for teaching.)  While some may think I took the coward’s way out…it is far more important that I continue to do my part financially than to make any risky moves.  I will remain confident and steadfast in pursuit of a future filled with writing.  Rest assured-I’m working very hard getting my ducks in a row and making them quack.  I’m not a coward, just a go-getter with a level head.  As each of my ducks begin quacking respectively I will share details. I will be looking on the bright side of things knowing there is much to be done.  In the meantime-here is a bit of car stuff.

I got a new decal!  I’m pretty proud of it.

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With both boys out of the house…I’ve come to know the perfect garage.  It isn’t filled with high performance show cars, but with family.

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Since February, I’ve been in 5 cars shows (that I can recall) and one parade.  That’s a lot of shine and show.  Honestly, I’d much rather be on a back road cruise, but the folks in my car club are pretty neat to be around.

Early in the summer I met my twinsie…well almost.

I hope all is well with my social media friends.  Make the most of your summer.  Stay cool, be nice to other people, think positively, pick a goal and stick with it, and be you for a reason. #brightside

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Illustration from tag-illustration.co.uk

 

Posted on June 25, 2016 by Debbie | Comments Off on Hashtag Bright Side

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Hello to all of my social media friends.  It is with great enthusiasm that I write this post.  There comes a time for change.  I am the gal that tries  to make things happen.  While it’s true I have everything, I’m just looking for a different kind of everything. No, I’m not running for president, but given current circumstances I’m quite possibly one of the better options.

Now for the big news flash.  I don’t want to be a teacher anymore.  Don’t get me wrong, I love teaching.  My school and my students are fabulous.  However, there is something more out there for me.  And I have more to give.  The future is a mystery that I am ready to solve little by little with gumption, hard work, and go-get-itness.  Ideally my next work environment would involve my mac, cars, and people.  Working from home would be a plus.

Here is my less than traditional resume’…

  1. I am super sparkly all of the time and bring an upbeat vibe to every situation.  This is listed as number one because I truly know (not think or believe) that I can make a positive difference.
  2. Talking with people is a forte.  Public speaking…no problem.
  3. I type quite quickly, using all ten of my fingers.
  4. Problem solving comes naturally for me, easily looking at the end result in the middle of a situation.
  5. Prompt, creative, organized, snappy, smiley (throwing that in just in case you skimmed by #1), enthusiastic, tolerant, and honest.  These are but a few adjectives that describe my sassy little unique self. (Hee hee-threw in a couple more.)
  6. I’ll be happy to hang out after work for a beer as long as the parking is good.
  7. Detailing my car will only be done at lunch time or after the whistle blows.
  8. Being surrounded by cars would definitely be a benefit.
  9. I know what WD40 is for.  Just sayin’.
  10. Technology is a passion.  I don’t creep…I’m just a good Googler.  🙂
  11. Numbers one through ten can not completely express how awesome I would be given the opportunity to embark on a new adventure.

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My final thoughts:  I don’t normally ask my friends to share.  However if you know of someone who is not afraid to add a little more success and a whole lot of awesomeness to their business…by all means share away.  Also, I’m okay with my present administration finding out about this.  What intelligent person would look down upon my actions as I attempt to make me a better me, and the world a better place?  I’m supposed to turn my contract in by April 30th….Ready, set, go!

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The VW picture was originally used by amberinalbania.

Posted on April 24, 2016 by Debbie | 8 Comments

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The Mustang Club of St. Louis had a great turnout at the first car show of the season. With temps in the high 40s, we met early offsite, then cascaded  down Dougherty Ferry to The Museum of Transportation.  Tops were poppin’ and exhaust was a blazin’. The parade of proud ponies was  a long and impressive line.   Our friends at Fords Unlimited were included in the showing.  Together, the clubs impressed volunteers, visitors, family, and friends.

Secretly I longed for name tags to make conversation a bit easier, but as the day progressed our parking spaces filled with spit shined metal melded together to form a bundle of horsepower, common quirks, and respect for the ride.  Names were not needed to rub elbows while talking about mods, hours spent detailing, and how we all check the weather channel before we check our Facebook page.

I love the car life and live for the next smell or sound that places me on the line or at the show.   Many thanks to all who supported our car show.

Here are a few pics.  My apologies if I left anyone out.  Final thought before we go to pics:  This post is dedicated to RUBY L MISSEY.  Mustangs forever, especially in heaven.

An inside….

out view of the day.

The club crew was eager to sign up new members!

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And we met our newest member, Diane!  A very nice 2016!

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While walking about I made a few new friends.  Zach and Josh love their rides and totally prepped them for the show.

I’ll leave you with a few more pics…or as I like to call it-PLATE of the WEEK.

 

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Posted on April 12, 2016 by Debbie | 5 Comments

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The annual St. Louis Saint Patrick’s Day Parade was held on Saturday, 3/12.  Being a rain or shine event meant no complaints about the forecasted weather.  A forecast that proved to be correct on the only day parade folks needed it to be otherwise.  I was one of those folks.

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As everyone knows, I was experiencing a great deal of anxiety for the following reasons:

  1. Driving a dirty car for all to see.
  2. Being surrounded by thousands of people.
  3. Driving to unknown locations.
  4. Not really knowing anyone.
  5. Having people close to the car.
  6. Tying balloons to my car.
  7. Being close to other cars.

(The list is much bigger in my head!)

My Mustang started off the morning spot free.  I had driven the ZX2 the whole week, keeping my white pony in the garage.  I had detailed it twice in one week.   Before the parade began I went through three of my best car drying towels.  Anxiety #1 averted. It drizzled off and on throughout the event, but spectators saw  nothing but amazing Mustangs as we drove two-by-two in the route.

A big thanks to husband Brad who agreed to ride shotgun and help me through all situations.  He had many important duties, including #3 and #6 listed above.

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While those were expected, a major stresser just popped up without warning.  Brad had to jump out and retrieve green beads that had gotten stuck in the tread of my back tire. Round and round they went as I envisioned a monstrous strand of 1″ diameter beads causing havoc to my paint. (Of course this was not the case.)  I’m quite surprised they were able to hang on being sure at least $40 per tire had been spun off here and there along the parade route.  Let’s be clear the tires were merely spinning quickly in an excessive acceleration fashion.   There was no ‘burnout’ present for I am nothing if I am not a rule follower.

Anxiety #4 was quickly dispelled.  The other members of our group, The Mustang Club of St. Louis, were so friendly, welcoming, and helpful.  It’s obvious I’ve joined a group filled with enthusiasts that share a common passion for the Ford Mustang.

This also erased anxiety #7.  We were all in the same boat, have the same pride, and take care of our cars.

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It was a new experience and a great day.

Thanks Bill C.  for talking me into participating.  I loved having people snap pictures of the cars, clapping as we drove by, and Yes, I would do it again.

Here are a few more pics!

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Posted on March 13, 2016 by Debbie | 9 Comments

I am very proud of my friend Mart from across the pond.  Please read his amazing story, visit his blog, and come to know the journey of new life breathed into a Mustang, a 1966 project from One Man and His Mustang.  Source: On The Road

Posted on February 21, 2016 by Debbie | 3 Comments