a busy week

This past week and a half have been the first with me working two jobs(I think I'd mentioned I took a waitressing job at a 50's Cafe...in addition to my health/sex educator job). It's going to be a challenge. Although my "real" job is only part-time...I end up thinking about the subject alot - and my extracurricular activities/aka life purposes garner for significant bits of my week. I do like the new job, and have now worked my first 2 shifts of being a waitress on my own (training is done and I'm now making tips!) I forget what it's like coming home each shift with money in your pocket. I'm collecting it in a Studebaker fund drawer...it's a fun way to save money :)
Working at a Diner is quite a bit different from working at Gordon Beirsch! I don't have to be as formal, people are friendlier, and they're not drunk! Albeit...the checks aren't nearly as high as they were...but the people also don't expect the same kind of service. All in all, I really enjoy being there.
On the sex education job side - I was hoping to start teaching classes again beginning October...and it looks like it's going to happen (I wasn't sure it would.) I've been looking forward to getting back in the classroom. Well...this October will be different and new - it appears that I'm going to be teaching four ninth grade classes all at once. Most sessions all four of the classes will come together and I'll do more of an auditorium-style lecture. Then during the activity days, I'll go around to each classroom seperately. I'm a little concerned that it's going to be crazy-hectic. But...I think it's worth trying. I'd like to reach as many kids as possible...and this could be a really good way to do it! It's one of those new adventures that you're excited about but not entirely sure of how you'll pull it off...but, if you never stretch yourself how will you figure out what you can acheive! (I think that was just a little pep-talk to myself!)

I did manage to fit in a little bit of time yesterday to work on my Studebaker again. I did a rust treatment on the floor, took off the chrome molding from the side panels, disassembled the front seat and began derusting it. Now that everything is apart - I feel like I might as well go all out. Before I started I thought I'd just slap some xtra foam on the existing seats and sew little slip-covers for them...now I'm at the point of figuring since I'm at it I might as well completely rebuild the seats and upholster them properly. I think I will however, use the existing cheap fabric that I originally bought. I may have to get creative, because it might not be enough, but I figured it will give me good practice upholstering so that when the time comes when I've decided to do what I really want, I'll be able to do it.
It's really fun getting make these decisions all on my own. Bill, the owner of the Studebaker shop, is an older guy who doesn't want to be bothered by home-making his own stuff...he keeps asking why I don't just get newer seats that are in better condition and send them to the upholstery shop. I just reply that it wouldn't be any fun that way...and he laughs. I don't know how he'll feel about my finished product...but that's okay...I'm having fun in the process. And part of the beauty about having an old car is that you can do all sorts of fun home-made things to it and modify things...plus the notion of keeping as much of the original pieces as possible I like. Bringing life back to an old piece of metal that used to be sitting in somebody's sideyard gathering cobwebs.

Studebaker fact for the week: Two of the five Studebaker brothers joined together in a business beginning in 1852, making wagons. Eventually all 5 of the Studebaker brothers were working together in their wagon & carriage making company. In 1902 they reluctantly made their first electric car and in 1904 their first gasoline-fueled one. Studebaker Co. continued to produce cars until 1966.

i missed it!

I've been waiting and waiting my last few posts, because I knew that I was approaching my 100th post...and I just realized that I've missed commemorating it because it was my previous post! OH WELL....

HAPPY 101TH POST!!!!

hehe

I was just checking email and there was a kid's book recommendations from Amazon...and the top picture was of one of my favorite all time children's books...Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. I loved this book when I was younger. One of those ones that I can remember just sitting there and looking at the pages forever and reading it over and over again. Happy times.
Another favorite is this little golden book I had, The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes. It was written in 1939 and had those old skool illustrations. I recently found some remakes and bought them for my nieces.

Hmm...lets see, what else was my favorite....I loved the Amelia Bedelia series, and Arthur, and Clifford. Charlotte's Web was my first "no picture" book and I read it in 1st grade. I recently watched the movie they made of it and cried my eyes out (an advantage of watching a movie all alone...you can do this and you don't feel silly...but I did feel a little silly since it was Charlotte's Web - I couldn't help it, it was so beautiful!)

Currently the world is peaceful, because I'm thinking of fond old books and listening to "Christmas is Coming" from A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack :) (it's not really Christmas music per se)

Go enjoy your bit of peace ;)

a lovely day

Today was lovely. It was the perfect sort of early fall day. There was bits of rain and bits of perfect blue sky with puffy clouds. The sun was mostly out and it didn't make you hot, but you just got to enjoy its warmth in between slight, soft breezes.

I love fall. I was so pleased to leave town a couple weeks ago and escape the heat. That was the first transition. Then when I was gone again last weekend that even progressed it. Then as I came home this week to off and on rain and a new second job...it feels as if fall is in full swing. I wish I had a fantastic poem about fall...if any of you out there do, please post it in the comment section. Surely Thoreau must have written something wonderful about this season.

Adding to the loveliness of the day was that I finally got to go down to the shop and do some work on my Studebaker. I've been doing some reading on restoring car interiors so that I can do some of that while the engine is being replaced. Today was the beginning of that project for me. I took out all of the seats and gave the inside a good washing out and scrubbing down with a wire brush. Now that it's generally clean and can do a rust treatment and then seal it off to prevent any further rust. (Top picture is the interior floor before cleaning and bottom is after...it may not look too clean, but let me tell you it's MUCH better and ready for the next step now!)

I had such a wonderful time just out there by myself. I'm glad the shop has that extra space on the side that provides me with space. It made me envious of people with their own nice garage that they could go to every day after work. How marvelous would that be! I suppose it's best this way...I wouldn't want to get TOO absorbed in the car world. But I do have a bit of a job on my hands...which are currently a wee bit sore and dirty from all the scrubbing today!

Other then that I've failed to mention the past two long weekends. First on a camping trip in Big Sur and then last weekend to Montana. (Unfortunately no pics from either, sorry!) Both were so wonderful - but it's really too late to expound on them. I returned this week to work every night at my new second job at a fifties-style cafe. It was either that or this other corporate restaurant. It's a gamble which one I would make more money at...but I definitely like the independence of the small cafe, and besides, I fit in nicely and think it'll be lots of fun.