Underground Car Guy

Last weekend was kind of an interesting weekend for me.  I have grown up around cars all my life, and with my dad moving to Chino Valley, I don't get my daily or week dose of car stuff like I use too.  So I kind of geeked out when I saw two cars last weekend.   On Saturday, I was out doing on of my weekly walks in the neighborhood, when I looked over and saw a AC Cobra in a garage.   The Cobra has a special place in my heart.  When we moved to Arizona, in 1978, my dad started up a company called Unique Motorcars , in which he build Cobra Kit cars.  One of the things he got with selling the company was 2 kits.  I think he sold one, but we had one in the our garage until we moved back to Tennessee in December of 1983.  I look at what Unique Motorcars now, and know that it all started with my dad.  There version of the history is a little off, but I can understand that, but I am glad that they do say it started with my dad.  O...

It is funny how some of things come to you in the shower.  I have a roommate, that her door is next to the bathroom and I do not want to disturb her with my singing.  But today, I was thinking back through my life, and all that has happen to me.  And how I have been pretty lucky.  On 12th of December, I will go into the hospital and have the sleeve operation for weight loss.  The only operation I have had was when I was 5 years old.  I had my tonsils out and tubes put in my ears.   The first bone I broke was my leg, the day before my 7th birthday.  I broke my first finger when I was about 9.  This was playing tackle town at cubs scouts.  Caught my finger in someones pocket. Broken many other fingers over my teenage years.  Cracked my knee when I fell of a rope swiping from a tree.  And tore all the muscles out of my ankle playing football with some friends.  And there was the go-cart accident when I was 11.  T...

I have been writing this blog since 2012.  It has been a place for me to come and write what is some what on my mind.  Sometimes it is viewed a lot and sometimes a little, but that is ok.  This blog is for me then it is for you. And I have used Facebook, to share my blog. So I started another journey a few months ago, and started another blog about my journey to my weight loss.It is about my weight loss and what I am going through to loss that weight,  I posted the latest Update On Nov 4.   So I posted the Update on Facebook, and got a message back that it was being removed from Facebook, because it violated Community Standards.  I did a little bit digging and it was pulled because it was abusive.  How is my weight loss abusive?  I hope that Facebook will read the post and lift the band. 

As early as I can remember, I loved spending time with my Grandma and Grandpa Hatch.  My sister is jealous of this because, when I was 8 and she was 3, my Grandpa Hatch died. So I have more memory of him them she does.  But all those stories are for another day. It the summer of 1974, and my sister birth was coming soon.  In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the children of the church attend Primary, until they are 12 years old.  So one of the Sundays before my sisters birth, I was sitting in Primary singing and listening to the lesson being giving that day.  The person giving the Lesson that day was Vie Polk, or as I knew her, Aunt Vie (Not really my Aunt but a good friend of my moms).  I don't really remember the detail of the lesson, Vie ask me a question.  The question was, "Billy, you will soon have a special person coming to you home.  Who is it?" With out giving it any thought, my response was,  "My Grandparents com...

Found this on Facebook the other day and made me think, what would my bracket look like or my friends brackets look like. So lets go to the first round. M&M vs Snickers:  I like both.  My favorite M&M's are the almond ones, but there are so many now.  Same thing with Snicker, there are so many.  If I had to choose a go to, it would be Snickers for the Win! Reese's Cups vs Tootsie Rolls:  I have to admit here, Reese's is probably my favorite of them all.  I am not a big fan of Tootsie Rolls, but I do like the favored ones.  They never have enough Banana ones, and to many vanilla.  So Reese's for the win! Caramels vs Bit-O-Honey:  Caramels are the favorite for Halloween time.  Have not had Bit-O-Honey a lot.  So Caramels for the Win! Candy Apples vs Payday Bar:  Caramel and Apples, ok.  But I find it a way to get you to eat more fruit.  Payday's have caramel and nuts.  Payday for the win! Skit...

If you think this about the Clash song, you would be wrong.  For months I have been thinking about going to my 30th High school Reunion.  When I found out about the event I was planning on going, and would have paid the attendance fee, but the event was planned in November.  This is a problem with work, because, at work we have to bid for our shifts, and the new bid starts in November.  So I did not want to pay for an event I would not be able to attend.  So last week I found out what my new schedule would be, and I can attend.   So on got on my computer and was getting ready to pay, when I started asking myself, do I really want to go.  The fee now to attend is now $15 more per person.  I could not pay early because I did not know I could go.  Plus, when I went to the 25th Reunion, I did not have to much fun.  I was in the process of getting divorced, and I was excited to go because I missed the 20th.  So I paid and found o...

While I was at dinner with my girlfriend last night, I talked to her about seeing all these pictures from high school online.  My 30th Class Reunion is coming up soon, and I still have not commented to going, because I do not know what my work schedule will be.   Looking back to high school, it will be hard press to find any pictures with me with my friends in them.  I only went to my senior prom and that was it.  My best friend from high school I have not seen in almost 20 years and he probably does not want to talk to me.  The last person I have had contact with from that time is probably Lydia, and that was probably around the time my mother died and my marriage fell apart.  Speaking of my marriage ending, that end a lot of long friendships because they back my wife over me.   I think back to my friend Andrew. who I have know since 3rd grade.  When I moved back to Tennessee for 9 months, Andrew was the only friend that wrote me d...

Before our trip to Ireland, my girlfriend was asked at work if we were going there to get engaged or married.  The answer was always no. For weeks she would be asked this question several.  So this became the running joke, as we started our trip. On one of our days in Dublin, we were meeting up with some friends that I had not seen for almost 30 years.  We had lunch at a local mall, and one of them had to pick up a package at a store.  So we went into the store, and we are looking at the books they have on sale there.  My girlfriend find this book that says, Marriage Guest Book.  At the time we look at this and we think, we need take a picture of this.  Why not, we have people with us who can take the picture. We walk just a little further in the mall and come across a jewelry store,  Again we think, wouldn't it be fun to post a picture or pictures of us in front of the jewelry store.  The sales person sees us out side taking pictures ...

Took this picture on our way home from Ireland.  I would have to say this is some where over Texas or New Mexico.

I know that it is now September, but back in July, I was passing all the fireworks stands and it made me think of going to Scout Camp back in Tennessee.  I know you are asking yourself how are the two related,  you just have to read to find out.   Going to Scout Camp in Tennessee was much different than going to scout camp in Arizona.  For one, we were the only Mormon troop there.  In Arizona there would be several other troops that were there that were Mormon.  So  this made the troops in Tennessee more diverse.  There many more other religions there and even a black troop.  But we did stand out. I think it was either day two or day three, and I really can not remember how it started, but we were in the mess hall and we started  a massive food fight.  After all was said and done, we were in big trouble.  So much trouble they talked  about kicking us out of camp.  But they didn't and we cleaned up the mess, ...

For a long time, I had no need to go to  Starbuck's, until I started to see my girlfriend. I don't drink coffee or tee, so what do they have for a person like me.  Well they do have lemonade and some fruit blended drinks.  I first posted this on Facebook, and was shocked at the response I got.    It seems like everything we say or do, turns into, "You most be this if you like this... or you most not really be this because you do that...,:  Why can't we like people for who they are instead of who they vote for, where they go to church, go to school, or where we shop.   It took me a while to stop judging people on how they looked,  or what they did.  And I found out I am a much better person for it.  And I really enjoy the people that I have meet because of this. Enjoy life and quit judging!

Today I had an appointment with my doctor to go over my last test.  I was told they were normal, but what does that really mean?  When I went to see him, when I had pneumonia, all of my numbers were way off.  I was put on some medication to control the mount of insulin, because my body was making to much.  So the doctor wants to take me off the medication and see what the numbers will be in 3 months.  He wants to see if the insulin has changed because of the drugs or my lifestyle changes. I am all so down 6 lbs since the last visit.

Me and Adam Calrke with the Kids of Southill 1989. This last vacation to Ventura, I got to meet up with my 2nd companion on my mission to Ireland.  He found out, on the day we were leaving, that we were just down they way from where he lives, and said if we come back again to give him a call and we could meet up.  So when I found out when we were going to Ventura, I texted him.   Me and Adam Clarke, Ventura July 24,2018 It had been 29 years since I last saw Adam on the mission.  In missionary terms, I killed him off.  So we talked about the mission.  He wanted to know what the mission was like under President Martin.  Who I served with once he left.  I told him what it was like when he and Elder Carrigan left that day to go home.  You see, we were in a four man flat (apartment), and we were all together for four months. So when Adam and Carrigan left with Carrigan's parents, me and Elder Hunsaker, kind of sat there and said, now wh...

Fun with the Vending Machine toys at Duke's Moon over the Ocean Our Daily Visitor 2nd Missionary Companion, Adam Clarke.  Have not seen him in 29 years! My Beautiful Girlfriend playing in the Ocean! Fun at the Beach! Another Beautiful Sunset!

July 21 2018 View of the Beach for our Hotel Room!!!

Boise, ID June 2017 The past nine months have gone by way to fast.  I am lucky that Alicia Garino walked into my life back around Easter.  I ope we have a long life together.  I Love her with all my heart.  Here is to many more months of Love ! Ventura, CA July 2017 Ventura, CA July 2017 Ventura, CA August 2017 Boise, ID June 2017 Salt Lake City, Ut December 2017 Airport Salt Lake City, UT December 2017 Elf the Misical, Boise,ID December 2017

Ventura, Ca Aug 2017.  It was my Birthday Vacation

Took this on a photo shoot, doing my best friends Christmas Card pictures.  This is a neat park in Gilbert, Arizona.  If you look to the left the building is a Library.  December 2015 My Best Friends 3 year old son at the time.

Our trip to see the Temple lights on December 12 and 13.  I wish there was snow, but it was still beautiful.  We meet with my one of my girlfriends sisters and a high school friend and there husband at Cheesecake Factory.  First time eating there.  

I know that it has been about a year an half since I have wrote any thing here.  So I think it is time for an update. Health I had been in and out of the hospital in May and July.  Came home with oxygen.  My goal was to get off the oxygen as soon as I could.  I started walking August and build up my strength.  By December I was given the OK to stop using the oxygen everyday, but at night.  At this point I don't use it unless I am sick. I had really turned things around health wise, but by January I started to slip.  Slow started to stop walking, drinking more soda, and not eating right.  In August I started watching what I ate and started to walk again. Kind of slip after Thanksgiving and December, but getting back on track.  (You will see why all the up and downs later.) Work Work is going good.  Still working for the airlines.  I have been working on the same desk for 2 years now and love it.  I like booking flight...

Picture I took of the LDS Temple in Mesa, Arizona on Dec. 20, 2016.