Author Archives: Steve Mays

Patina (2018)

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Something about a rusted, beat up old pickup truck really speaks to me. I think I’d trade the MINI for this, straight up. And “derilict restoration” is a thing.

Spotted this beauty today in Springfield, MO. That is art on wheels. I could buy an old truck like this but no amount of money could buy the memories that go with the rust and the dents. The difference between buying a “distressed” motorcycle jacket on Rodeo Drive and wearing one for 20 years in a outlaw biker gang.

But that’s the romantic in me. If I could talk to the guy that owns that truck he’d probably say something like, “Fuck yeah, I’ll sell it. Don’t mean nothin’ to me but 20 years of shitty minimum wage jobs.”

Magnetic bumper stickers

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I don’t put bumper stickers on my cars for the same reason I don’t put tattoos on my skin. I’m committment challenged. Today’s clever sticker will seem dated and lame in a week. And I’ll play hell getting the thing off my car. So no bumper stickers. But every time look at a photo of the rear “bumper” on the Land Rover (looks more like part of the frame to me but everyone calls it the bumper) I think, “What a good spot for a bumper sticker”

Then I thought of magnetic bumper stickers. Sure enough, they make them and the made a couple for me.

Barb asked what would keep someone from taking this. And do what with it?

“Just show me Land Rover posts”

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I’ve had a few folks tell me they’d like to read about my Land Rover adventure but don’t want to hunt back through my other posts (113 to date). Don’t blame you. There’s a “category” link at the bottom of each post having to do with the Land Rover. Clicking that will pull up just those posts.

Clicking the photo in the top right corner of the home page will get the same results. If you care to comment, here’s how I have that configured. The first time you post a comment, I have to approve it before it appears on the blog. After that first time your comment will show up immediately. Love to hear from you.

The Land Rover is done

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Mr. Wolf has thoroughly vetted my truck and pronounced it done. If you’ve been following the story here you know what a laborious process that has been. He knew he was sending the truck to someone who doesn’t own a wrench (I’ll get some! I’ll get some!) and wanted to find and fix everything he could. He’ll arrange for transport and when we have a delivery date I’ll post it here. Tentative plan is to unload in one of the parking lots of the Capital Mall west of Jefferson City.

Now that he has the truck shipshape, Mr. Wolf added the badge I had made. I think I can safely say this Land Rover is one of a kind. Thanks entirely to his tireless efforts.

UPDATE: Not so long ago the idea of naming a vehicle would have gotten some serious eye-rolling from me. Any reference to the Land Rover would probably start and end with “the truck.” Now I’m not so sure. Depending on how much personality the truck acquires, I won’t be surprised if I find myself referring to “Mr. Wolf.” If the truck lives long enough to acquire a soul, it will be because of his efforts.

700 Days

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I started meditating in 2008 but didn’t make it a regular (daily) part of my life until November 30, 2014. At least that is the date I started keeping track. Since then — as noted here previously — I have missed just two days, for a total of 1,343 days on the cushion. Today’s practice was 700 days without missing.

I sit for either 30 minutes or 45 minutes depending on what’s going on. I am a firm believer in making meditation a daily part of one’s life, if only 10 minutes.

I hope to share “1,000 Days” with you next year.