WHO TURNED UP THE SPEED ON THE TREADMILL?

I have a tendency to keep the treadmill going at a fairly good clip as evidenced by a full time job, this blog, a major book to research and write, promotion of other books, a bit of travel, and the general routine of life here on planet earth. With gentle assistance from my dearest friend, I have learned to scale it back just a notch or two with things like our Friday movie night (last evening it was another adventure with Wallace and Gromit).
In recent weeks my valiant efforts to alleviate my wife's worries by slowing the pace a bit have been thwarted by life. There is the return to a six day work week, home repair issues, getting behind schedule on the Route 66 encyclopedia and atlas, the need to prepare the Jeep for another California trip, escalating issues with mom that include boxing more than thirty years of living in the same house, a pending dental visit, a pending visit to have a troubling spot on my nose taken care of, a sister in the hospital, and a new grandson.
Still, I have no complaints. In fact I consider myself a rather fortunate fellow. There will be more on that subject in my annual Thanksgiving post.
With thoughts of Thanksgiving dancing in my head it is with eager anticipation I look forward to reading Dan Rice's new book, End of the Trail. Dan is truly a man that understands the meaning of giving thanks and I have little doubt this book will be a true inspiration.
It is is difficult to think of Thanksgiving without giving thought to Christmas. To that end we have joined with Cafe Press to create a unique line of gifts including mugs, travel journals, and calendars. If you want to give something unique this year, or simply wish to treat yourself with something special, check out the products at this link.
I have one more plug in regards to Christmas shopping. If you are looking for automotive or aeronautical books, current or vintage, from repair manuals to biographies you won't need to look further than Auto Books - Aero Books in Burbank.
This store is an endless source of fascination for me and as a result it is often one of our first stops when business takes us into the Los Angeles area. Recent purchases for the library include a reprint of a 1931 book on the complete care and operation of the Model A Ford, and a biography on the Crosley brothers. If you happen to stop by, please say hello to Tina for me.
If you happen to find yourself in the Los Angeles area around November 11 it might be a good idea to cruise out to Santa Monica Pier, the unofficial but long recognized end of Route 66, and join in on the 84th anniversary celebration being hosted by Dan Rice. All indications are that this will be an historic event.
For those unable to attend the event Dan has a great on line gift shop featuring travel guides and American made souvenirs. Here is a link.

WILL WRITE FOR FOOD

I suppose it could be blamed on the slight fever that has accompanied this cold for the past couple of days but that would be dishonest. The truth is I am a dreamer and it seems that with age the dreams become even larger.
That is really the only explanation there is for planning the promotion for Ghost Towns of Route 66, scheduled for release next June, when I am again eating a late lunch and am again looking at a postponed vacation. With uncertainty like this who else but a dreamer would be making plans to attend the big international Route 66 festival in Amarillo next June, make a Chicago to Kingman drive on Route 66 in the fall, and a European promotional tour with an accompanying photo exhibit during the summer? A dreamer or a ... Well, lets skip that thought. 
The reality is that I am grateful to have a job but am frustrated the job comes at such a high price. The reality is that such grand adventures are not exactly economically feasible.

Still, like the prospector of old that stumbled across the desert with his burro in search of the big strike, I can't help but feel that at some point the scales will tip in my favor with writing and photography being the primary job and a part time job will be needed only for incidentals. So, in the meantime the dreams flow freely.
They begin with grandiose plans for 2011. First is reorganization of the Kingman Route 66 Association and plans for the third year of Chillin on Beale Street, a key component in transforming Kingman into a destination rather than a mere stop. Continuing the tradition of themed events such as last years Topless Fun on Route 66 we will have something special for each month from April until October.
Ideas currently in circulation include Going Green (alternative energy vehicles of the past present, and future as well as home made), Mother Truckers, a salute to women and their trucks, the popular orphan and topless event, and An Evening with the Wildlife, a salute to the Impala, Cougar, Mustang, Bronco, Thunderbird, etc. To enhance the scope of there are plans to include movie nights in the park, arts and crafts, vendors, live music, new car model introductions, and even celebrity appearances.
The next item on my dream agenda is the launching of Destination Kingman. This one stop shop will coordinate tourism related events with other entities in the area, provide planning assistance and even special events for groups or individuals traveling Route 66, and complete travel packages. All of this will operate from a gallery, gift shop, and travel planning book store.

Ludlow, California

The book store and gallery will provide authors, artists, and photographers with access to an international market. In addition to seasoned artists my vision is to provide a step up for the starving artist much like what Bob "Croc" Lile has given me through exposure at the Lile Gallery in the Sunset Galleries of Amarillo.
Road trips will be an important part of 2011 for us, at least as I envision it. There will be numerous small trips to Prescott, California, and exciting places such as Amboy, Holbrook, and Ludlow.
The first big adventure will be a drive east to Amarillo on legendary Route 66 with stops at a few of our favorite places - the Wigwam in Holbrook, Cuervo and Endee in New Mexico, and the Midpoint Cafe in Adrian for pie and a visit with Fran. Hopefully, we can repay Croc by helping to put his gallery on the map with the introduction of a new series of Route 66 ghost town prints that will accompany the release of Ghost Towns of Route 66.
After spending time with legends of the modern era on Route 66, folks like Ken "The Landrunner", Laurel Kane of Afton Station, Melba from 4 Women on the Route, a few dozen others we should be amply stoked with enthusiasm. Hopefully, we can carry that glowing ember back to Kingman and ignite a fire of revival. 
The year will be seasoned with visits from friends from all corners of the earth - Dale and Dave from Australia, Dan in Santa Monica, Dries and his dear wife from Amsterdam, and, perhaps, Chris Tres from France. Of course, as this is a dream, if they are unable to visit me in Kingman then we will have to take the visit to them.
The European adventure is the biggest dream of all. Through book signings and the accompanying photo exhibit, as well as speaking engagements, I hope to share the excitement of an adventure on Route 66 to such a degree people are enthused with wanderlust unequaled since Jason set sail with the Argonauts. 
During the last weeks of September, my dearest friend and I will head for Chicago via Amtrak. After a tour of Route 66 in Chicago led by Dave "Windy City Warrior" Clark, and a visit with Cort Stevens and my dad in Michigan, we take to the road gathering photos for the latest book, a Route 66 encyclopedia and atlas. 
The year ends with a contended sigh of relief as the polish is added to the new book and the deadline is beat by two weeks. Now, a year like that is the stuff of dreams!
Meanwhile, I wonder if it will be possible to squeeze out the vacation in installments. Lets see I can take the 25th of November off, the 25th of December off, ...

THE CROSSROADS

Have you ever been at a point in life that with clarity you can see it is a crossroads? Well, that is pretty much where I stand today.

However, my crossroads is more an interchange than a crossroads and the choice of right or left are but two of at least a dozen options that includes a serene two lane highway, a bustling traffic congested freeway, a graded dirt track, and at least one road that even with the Jeep leaves me just a bit apprehensive. The only option that does not seem to be available is to continue much further on the road currently being traveled because it looks as though we are nearing Santa Monica Pier.  
Okay, this is a bit cryptic. In all honesty, perhaps this analogy, this sense that a change in direction is imminent, is resultant of the convergence of a multitude of life changing events in a mere six week period. 
On the writing slash photography front success is so close I can touch it with my finger tips. However, it is like Jello. I can feel it. I just can't get a grip on it and when pressure is applied, it slips away.
I should explain my view on success. In my world, a successful writer is one who derives his entire income from the written word and still is able to eat every other day.
Ghost Towns of the Southwest, Route 66 Backroads, and Backroads of Arizona are all selling well. In fact Ghost Towns of the Southwest is selling extremely well and continues to receive excellent reviews such as the one that appears in the latest issue of True West magazine.
My book profiling the Checker Cab Manufacturing is now in a long awaited second printing. Discussions are underway to revive The Big Book of Car Culture as a second printing. All of this is just in time for a scheduled interview with Jay Leno for the book club section of his website.
With cessation of publication of Cars & Parts, the monthly income took a hit. It also meant an end to one of my more enjoyable endeavors as a writer, the penning of the monthly column The Independent Thinker profiling men like Ralph Teetor and Milton Reeves.
With the Route 66 encyclopedia and atlas I have the largest, potentially most profitable, and without a doubt, the most enjoyable project to date. I also have a great day job that supports the writing habit but it looks as though we are back to a six day schedule for an indefinite amount of time. It also looks as though there may be a postponement in the vacation, again.
On the photography end we are tantalizingly close to a semblance of success. Our prints are being sold through the Lile Gallery in Amarillo and one went home to an international collector. Additionally, a number of our photos were selected for inclusion in Ghost Towns of Route 66 scheduled for release next June, a major corporation has commissioned us to supply photographs for their forthcoming website, and others were used to promote a program on the KNAU website. 
Today is a birthday milestone. My grandson is two weeks old. Another milestone looms on the horizon as it seems my mom's string is about played out.

In a more perfect world where roses don't have thorns and fish don't smell funny my dearest friend and I would settle out on a small ranch in southern New Mexico along the Mimbres River or find us a little place along Route 66 such as the Painted Desert Trading Post (but with doors and windows). Then we would welcome folks who come to visit or that need a place to camp, let the grandson run wild, pay the bills through writing and photography, and have a garden where fresh melons are found less than five steps from the back door.
I am quite sure that which ever route we choose it will be a grand adventure. After all, adventure is the essence of life and one of the keys to enjoying the journey is to pick a road, don't look back with regret on the path chosen, trust in the good Lord, and always look for a quiet place in the shade for lunch.

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM AN INDEPENDENT THINKER

If you are out of style long enough there is a pretty good chance you will be in style. That is another adage I have lived long enough to prove true.  
I have seldom had the patience to profit from this bit of wisdom. So, unlike the old hermit that provides a nice retirement for his grandchildren by living in absolute poverty while hoarding everything, I have a day job, a pretty good chance of having a day job in ten years, and a number of stories that begin with, "I had one of those ..."
As an example, old trucks have been a part of my life for about as long as I can remember. When I first starting driving legally, thirty or forty year old trucks sold for less than ten cents a pound.
No respectable collector sought trucks. In fact, pick up trucks were the choice of contractors, cowboys, carnies, and goofy teenagers on a tight budget that thrilled at the adventure of following rutted trails across the desert, not respectable society folk.
That was then. Now, an Advance Design series truck from the period 1948 to 1953 in respectable condition will fetch somewhere around $10,000. About ten years ago, I sold a '51 model that was a daily driven Arizona truck even though it burned a bit of oil for the princely sum of $2,500.

Today the lowly pick up truck is proudly displayed at the most prestigious automotive events. Hit a local car show or major collector car auction anywhere in the country and look at how people flock to trucks.
For me it was a logical progression from pick up trucks to station wagons. Almost from the moment the drivers license was obtained, I enjoyed the practical utility of the station wagon in spite of the derision and jokes that were an accepted part of ownership for an 18 year old kid that drove a '64 Rambler wagon on purpose.
My how times change. My son was the coolest kid in town when he got his drivers license and cruised the streets in pop's '88 Crown Vic wagon. Now, the wagons I drove out of a frugal love for practicality sell for astronomical sums and are consistently listed among the most sought after collector vehicles.
I never got around to painting my old vehicles and the upholstery usually consisted of a saddle blanket. My pleasure came in keeping them on the road and in driving a time capsule. Now these type of vehicles are considered "survivors" and entire car shows are built around unrestored vehicles.
I have always found a raw beauty in vintage vehicles abandoned under a desert sky against a backdrop of buttes and mesas. Of course, twenty years ago these were known as eyesores and blight. Now they are the subject for artists and photographers in the United States as well as Europe.
As evidence of this changing point of view, consider a new book by Veloce Press of England,
Sleeping Beauties USA. This stunning pictorial portrays some of Detroit's finest against backdrops of rural majesty and urban blight.
One aspect of this book I found intriguing is a bit personal. I have photographed a number of the vehicles that appear on these pages and some of the photos on my office walls seem to have been lifted from these pages!
So, for those who thought I was a lost cause a few decades ago, do not give up hope. After all, the evidence is mounting that you are coming around to my way of thinking. Now, if you can just learn to relax and enjoy an old truck for its rugged simplicity and not see it as an investment.