Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Better Than a Three-Ring Circus

Thought for the day:  Life is a ticket to the greatest show on earth.  [Martin H. Fischer]
No, we didn't go to a circus when we were in Florida, but we did go to what has to be one of the greatest car shows on earth. Wait, wait! Don't run away. This wasn't just another car show...



What's this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare? [W.H. Davies]

Believe me, the show at Mirror Lake provided LOTS of things worthy of standing and and staring. [Sincere thanks to the loverly Mr. Charleston for writing about this cool show on his blog last year, and to the equally loverly Pixel Peeper for telling me it's a show well worth attending.]

First off, the location for this show is absolutely gorgeous... a picturesque lake with walking paths, green spaces and gardens all around it, and a pretty little town nearby. And the CARS!!! Just about any kind of car you can imagine... and some you can't imagine. They were all around the perimeter of the lake, as well as along the streets. If it had just been Smarticus and me there, I'm sure we would have seen every single one of them, but we had to consider the kids and grandkids, too, so we only saw about a quarter of them. There was also a bunch of beautiful wooden boats there. You know, like the old Chris Crafts? Lots of maintenance, but truly beautiful vessels. Throw in arts and crafts booths, a farmer's market, food booths, and swans, and what can I say? There was something there for everyone. Even balloons, which is what our granddaughters wanted more than any-thing. Natch, grandma got one for each of them, and natch, I tied them to the girls' wrists. The girls decided they were big girls and didn't need to have them tied onto their wrists. And natch, they wailed like banshees as they watched said balloons sail off into the ether. Oh well, they enjoyed 'em while they had 'em.

                                                    Okay, ready for some pics?


Bizarre-looking, huh? (Oh, and check out that clear Chamber of Commerce sunny day, wouldja?)




Yep, it looks just as weird from the front.




Now, that's more like it.





And THAT...



Yeah, this car show was so much fun, it was ...downright  scary.

But you don't just wanta see cars, right?

How's about a boat?

Here's a classic Chris Craft. She's a beauty, isn't she?

The other beauty in the shot is granddaughter Persephone, who was already begging for a balloon, like fifteen minutes after we'd arrived. (Well, she did see some other kid with one ...)

A bunch of the wooden boats did slow laps around the lake. What a sight! A couple boaters were more into speed, so they lapped the other boats, but for the most part, it was a stately parade of sorts.


I TOLD you there were swans there. Here's granddaughter Persephone again, taking a rest in front of this one. Yep, she's smiling now... she has her balloon.


There were real swans there, too. Black ones. Aren't they beautiful? I must admit, I spent a good bit of time standing and staring at them. At one point, a foolish egret tried to invade their space. Wow, I had no idea swans could be so feisty! Alas, the fight was all over with before I even got my trusty camera out.

So, there ya have it. The annual Mirror Lake Classic. Not just a car show... a three-ring circus of fun. I can hardly wait to go back!

The healthiest response to life is joy. [Deepak Chopra]

                          Until next time, take care of yourselves. And each other.

WAIT! Don't go yet! Two more things: First, I changed my mind about doing two Friday posts for the rest of the month. I'm thrilled so many people read and commented on last week's False Start, but alas, the other "regular" post didn't get much love. So, time to cut my losses. One post is obviously enough.

Talking about cutting my losses, is anybody interested in reading my long-suffering WIP? I've arrived at a fork in the road, and it's time to decide whether to keep pushing this thing for publication, (maybe with Outskirts Press?) or whether it's time to simply stuff it into the drawer under the old socks and underwear and move on to something new. I have edited and rewritten this book so many times, it's approaching idiocy. To this point, all my readers (except the agents!) have been cheerleaders, but what I really need is constructive criticism. I need people who are willing to crush my dreams  stomp on my ego spit on my so-called writing ability provide an honest evaluation. Hot Flashes and Cold Lemonade isn't a horror story, fantasy, or fast-moving thriller. It's more of a cozy book you can wrap around yourself and get all comfortable with. Might make you laugh a time or two; might even make you cry. Anyhow, if you're interested, you can use that nifty "email me" button in the sidebar to let me know. If you have a kindle, that'd be perfect. I could ship it right to ya.

Okay, NOW you can go. Thanks. Until next time, yadda yadda yadda.





32 comments:

  1. I loved the post. But is this about weird cars all around the world :) ... I liked the skeleton based car and the car with weird front :)

    Regards

    .A-

    auto transport companies

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    1. Thanks. Well, there were more gorgeous cars than weird ones at the show, but I've done so many posts in the past featuring beautiful cars at various car shows, I figured I'd highlight a couple weird ones this time.

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  2. Great pictures, and some of those old cars are just fascinating! Persephone is lovely, too!

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    1. Thanks. Glad ya liked 'em... and her. She's a real sweetie.

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  3. It's nice to have something else along with the cars....usually one party is car crazy and the other is just tolerant.....

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    1. You're right. The setting of this place was so gorgeous, it was have been an enjoyable outing, even without the cars and boats.

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  4. Well, when you mentioned the cars I couldn't imagine, I grew very, very curious. Then, you gave us pictures! That first one looks like it's wearing head gear.

    And, actually, I did know swans were feisty because one attacked my (quite dignified) grandfather once!

    (I love the name Persephone.)

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    1. That first car was probably the strangest looking car we saw there. The idea of a swan attacking your grandfather reminds me of some scenes from one of my favorite old movies, "Friendly Persuasion". Only instead of a swan, it's a feisty goose, the "pet" of an Amish woman. Only thing it, it has a definite aversion to her son, and is forever going after him.

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  5. I love her name too and it is clear that you had a wonderful time at this show.

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    1. Yes, ma'am. It was totally neat. Nice to know some of y'all like Persephone's name. It's certainly "different".

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  6. I love your granddaughter's name! Beautiful name to match a lovely little girl.

    BTW, re. your book. I can't help you now because I'm totally slammed. But if the middle of January rolls around and you're still looking for an opinion, let me know.

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    1. Thanks so much. How sweet of you. I'll keep you in mind if I'm still floundering in January,

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  7. Bizarre-looking, huh?

    I remember reading old books from the early 1960's and late 1950's that predicted jet-powered cars that would zip along the interstate road system, then in the planning and early building stages, at hundreds of miles per hour.

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    1. Absolutely. My favorites were the ones that were not only cars, but were (ta-DA!) airplanes as well. By the way, we've seen some of THEM at various shows, too. REALLY bizarre-looking.

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  8. Awesome pics; that first car was crazy!

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    1. Isn't it? Looks like something the Jetsons would drive.

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  9. The cars are great; the grandchildren are even better. Have you ever had an editor go over the book? Janie Junebug might be available.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. A very smart friend did a teensy bit of editing in the beginning. Mostly I've done the dirty deed. Multiple times. Multiple, multiple times.

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  10. Oh I love Persephone's name real or not it is very cool.
    I love your pics. Good luck on your book I am sorry I have been writing and editing my own book about the old house for my sisters. I don't think it would make a kindle read you are lucky to have an editor. Take care. B

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    1. Thanks. That's her name for real. A lot of our grandchildren have unusual names. Good luck with your book, too. (Although I've seen samples of your writing; you don't NEED luck.)

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  11. Holy cow, classic cars And boats! There is nothing, nothing on earth like a wooden boat. Beauty.
    And I too have learned that a child and her balloon are soon parted. With wailing to follow.

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    1. I KNOW! It was amazing! Glad you appreciate wooden boats, too. One summer (a million years ago, it seems) my hubby had a summer job with a boat builder, and he put coat after coat of lacquer on those wooden boats. Just gorgeous.

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  12. Ah, so you did go to the car show! :-)

    Glad you liked it! I got some pics of that weird car in your first picture, too, though I didn't post any of it. I think it was from Australia. I did post one of the Buick next to it.

    I think next time around, you and Mr. Charleston and I need to have a get-together!

    And yes, I looked at all your pictures to see if maybe, just by fluke, I was in it. (I wasn't)

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    1. Yes, and we LOVED it! It would be totally cool if we could all meet up there next year and munch a hot dog together or something. I was kinda "looking" for you both while we were there this year, but I could've been standing right next to you, and wouldn't have known.

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  13. My car (The compact Royce) gets plenty of attention when parked outside the shops. No-one's really sure if it's been put out as scrap or not!

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  14. What fun! I love car shows. I always wonder why they don't bring back a retro car -- you know, make it with the conveniences/legalities of today but with an older-style body. I would so buy something with fins...

    Pearl

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    1. Actually, there are already some totally cool-looking retro cars out now. The Camaro and Challenger both look (and sound) terrific, but they have some pretty hefty price tags, too. Even so, I considered buying a Camaro ... until I saw how itty bitty the trunk space is. (No can do... gotta have room for groceries!) Mustang is coming out with a retro model, too, if they haven't already. Alas, nothing with fins, though. (Only way you can drive a car with fins is if you wear cat-eye glasses, too. They kinda go together.)

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  15. Um, no. Last I heard, I think that's out in Arizona.

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  16. It's true that a few of these cars do look like they are right out of The Jetsons! Your granddaughter is adorable! I love the title of your book! I would be happy to read it if you don't mind that I'm a sloooooooow reader. Julie

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    1. Yeah, some of those cars are something else. Glad you like the book title... hope ya like the book, too. I'll send you an email. Happy weekend!

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