In the median…

As the car tire blew, she almost lost control and was able to pull off to the left side through the south bound traffic. Grabbing her cell phone as the injured car came to a stop, she got out assessing the damage. She yelled and screamed for quite some time on the phone… Angry and worried about all the problems that this had caused her. As she came back to the car with the door still open, she looked in and the child's car seat was empty.

He was driving north on the freeway with 3 busy lanes on each side. Up ahead a dog walked straight through all the lanes on his side. No cars swerved, no cars stopped.

As the dog reached the median of the road it stopped and sat on its haunches, staring in his direction though not directly at him. His first thought was to help that dog. He slowed to a stop on the left side of the traffic and got out. 

As he started to approach the dog, he noticed that there was also a child walking in the median alone towards the dog. The child hadn't seen the dog yet, though the dog was intently watching the child. 

As he got to the child he slowly squatted down and he put his arms around it. The dog remained statue like and continued to stare at the child. 

As he talked with the child, the child relaxed and smiled. He stood up with the child in his arms and moved closer to the dog. Now the child was looking, smiling, and pointing at the dog. 

It was then that he became aware of someone yelling profanities and screaming! Suddenly, a woman walked in front of him, turning to face him and the child. She was pointing her finger and screaming at him, accusing him of various things, calling him all kinds of names, and demanding that he give her child back. He carefully handed the child over without saying a word, even as she continued to berate him. She turned and started walking back behind him to her broken-down car. 

His head dropped as he turned to look back. He saw the child peering over her shoulder at him. A tear formed in the child’s eye, then slowly slipped down its cheek. The child looked at the dog and pointed. When the man turned back, the dog was gone.

W

Librarians on Horseback

 ..."she seemed to really care about delivering information in a way that was practical, free of shame, and mindful of her community’s limited resources".

Librarians on horseback (link)

W

2026's Car Show Season

 has officially started for me. Today's show was the first of this year for Marg & I, and as usual there are always treasures to be found...

Enjoy

W

One never knows

what you will see at your local gas station. 

This morning as I was waiting to pick up Marg after she visited with her sister and husband in North Carolina, a large newer dually pickup backs up next to me. He has a rather oversized box in the bed, strapped down, that is about the size of a short double door refrigerator.

At first I am focused on the large box in the back, tilted at a strange angle and strapped in, in a way I would not think was safe. Anyway, the more I looked, I noticed the word "Drone" on the side of the box. I'm like does he have 100 small drones in there to resell? 

Out comes the smartphone and I google "Talos Drone T60X" and I'm like holy shit. That huge box is one drone! 

https://talosdrones.com/products/talos-t60x-sprayer-drone

https://youtu.be/gR_L-gIL89A?si=H8pqR3npnW1vx2Ze

Farming has come a long way, the farmers are now using drones to spray their crops, plant seeds, spread dry fertilizer and lift various loads to transport. WTF...

All for $21K. Guess farming is going well for this man, he drives a $50-70K truck with a monster drone in the back... God bless him for prospering as a farmer.

W

Cars, limos, motorcycles, trucks

anything with wheels for some reason has always has been a part of my life. From my father's passion for cars and rallying with my mother and my two brothers. To my numerous jobs and businesses that I have owned, that have involved cars, limos, motorcycles, trucks, and Thikols. 

Today an article popped up about the "White brand Touring Limousine" that the Park Service hired to take guest around Yellowstone and other parks.  A company is restoring them, cool!

https://www.autoweek.com/photos/g64807756/gallery-krown-restorations-montana-photos/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=Autoweek2019/magazine/Autoweek

I was fortunate enough to drive two of these (restored) in my days as a highly trained chauffeur, I was not a "limo driver".

Yep thats me

I made the front page of the local newspaper...

Me in the driver's seat

Once while driving one of these White Touring Limousines, the grandson of the original White that formed the company walked up and started to talk to me. At first I was surprised then as I realized he obviously knew more about the vehicle than I did so we talked, and I learned. Nice person, he was totally surprised and proud to see one of his grandfathers rigs still working in downtown Denver.

 Anyway, the company I worked for had 2, yes two 1936 of the White brand Touring Limousines. Both were brought up to current DOT specs for safety and performance, meaning new power plants, drive trains and brakes. They actually were a dream to drive with up to 14 people in the cabin. The fun part was that the canvas top actually rolled back and people could stand up. When they were in service with the National Parks, the guest would stand inside the Touring Limousines and hold onto a wood handrail and view the park as they were driven around at a slow speed. Each of the limos I drove had hand carved woodwork by native americans, leaded glass rear window and the original body work. The interior seating was changed to fit the needs of the guests and the roll back top was still functional and used on most of the trips I drove. They were so awesome to drive...

Rear leaded glass window

Hand carved dash panel from 1936

Me in the driver's seat for a parade

Me in the driver's seat for a parade

In front of the Stanley Hotel Estes Park

The company I worked for also had in their fleet a 1931 Chrysler owned by James Cagney, and 2 Rolls Royces (1950's) that were in the Queen service. They also had a Rolls Royce that Churchill and Eisenhower used to travel in between meetings. Of course then the RR was painted military green, not the white that the pictures show. It was also right hand drive, a little strange until you got used to the difference. 

James Cagney's 1931 Chrysler

Rolls Royce Churchill and Eisenhower rode in

One of the 2 cars that were in the Queens service

All of these vehicles I had the honor to drive at different times. None of them ever left me stranded, thought one time one of the 1936 White's blew an AC (pressure) hose for the rear compartment. Sounded like a tire exploding, fortunately I was stopped. Once I figured out the problem, called the mechanic, and he told me to continue on. Fortunately the guests were related to the company owners and the weather was mild. This happened in downtown Estes Park, big explosion, no damage though.

One trip they called me on was to a wedding in Ft Lupton with the bride and groom as my passengers. The company specifically wanted me because of my experience with driving in snow. Okay so I am driving a priceless 1955 Rolls Royce with 2 newlyweds inside in a blinding snowstorm, can you say pucker baby.

 

Anyway the drive went fine though a little slow. The newlyweds were too busy to notice any problems... 

I'm rambling a bit, cause this was a unique time in my life. One time I was able to pick up my grandson at his bus stop in one of the Rolls Royce limo's, you should have seen the look on the kids faces inside the bus, still makes me laugh...

Master Bryce and his Chauffeur 

I was also able to take one of my daughters and a couple of her friends to their dinner appointment in one of the Rolls Royces. Good times, good memories and nice people to work for.

W

Just one wrong number

 and you receive a text from someone that you have never met and do not know who they are. 

Time to have some fun, this actually happened today. Marg & I laughed for quite some time over this mistake.

I got a random text from someone this afternoon that left the door open for some texting fun. This is the text that I received;

This text comes in the day after my post https://tocookistoheal.blogspot.com/2025/05/i-love-good-smoked-moose-nose.html about smoking Moose nose, so, well you know me, time to have some fun. This is my reply;

 

Now the fumble finger texter replies and my response;

God has a sense of humor and His timing is perfect. I've no idea who this person is, all I can say is Marg & I sure got a good laugh out of a one digit mistake...

W

Merry Christmas 2024

 Merry Christmas from South Carolina! Marg & I went to Surfside beach for a rather chilly Christmas day beach walk. Good times. Love to all.

Remembering the true meaning of our celebration, the birth of our Saviour.

W