When I was a teenager (I actually was one, a long time ago!), I thought the word “umbrage” was hilarious. People took the Chevy or the Pontiac … but I wanted to drive the Umbrage. I figured it would be the perfect car to drive in a thoroughly annoying world.
“Would you like a taxi, madam?”
“No thank you, Jeeves. I’ll just take Umbrage!”
Is this a classic Umbrage or what?A classic hot rod Umbrage
Off I would drive in my Umbrage. No matter how fretful, disgruntled, and generally pissed off at the world I was, my Umbrage would always understand.
An Umbrage that looks like an Umbrage should
Nonetheless, despite my entreaties, no one has had built a driveable Umbrage. These days, I think a self-driving Umbrage would be even more satisfactory.
There’s always the Oscar Meyer dog-day Umbrage special
Given the state of the world at the moment, I believe now is that perfect the time for a mobile Umbrage. Everyone is so stressed and mentally messed up, the moment may finally have arrived.
For the executive taking Umbrage
“Madam, we are offering the Umbrage in dark blue, silver, beige, black, and of course the ever-aggravating orange.”
Not exactly an “open-air” traveling day. Very bright outside, but also, very cold and colder is coming. It seems winter will some. It’s been creeping up on us, little by little.
The pictures are mostly Garry’s, but a few of mine made the cut!
The lonely cyclist – Photo: Garry ArmstrongPhoto: Garry ArmstrongPhoto: Garry ArmstrongPhoto: Garry ArmstrongA car and bike showKaiti on her own bike – a motorcycle — with four wheels!Horse (fake) and carriage (real) in Gettysburg
Old fashioned taxiSlow moving coach on a hot day in Tombstone
I have a few interesting ones and I am delighted to find something interesting for which to use them. Engines and technology. Power and tiny AI motors …
Hoisted Plymouth Prowler – a very rare car!More Plymouth ProwlerEngine block cum end tableGarry surrounded by equipmentWorking!And it all needs power!
Not much traveling this month. Just one short visit to Connecticut. I don’t think the grocery store really counts, but maybe our driveway does?
It has been raining more days this month than it has been clear. Forget about sunny. If it hasn’t been raining or snowing, it has been gray and gloomy.
Not great photography weather and not very inspiring for getting out there and shooting.
Leave covered driveway in early NovemberCrossroads of Chestnut Street and the Worcester-Providence railroadPhoto: Garry Armstrong – The road from the elections homeward boundPhoto: Garry Armstrong – The last of autumn in early NovemberChestnut Street as autumn endsThe wet and rainy ride to vote – Photo: Garry ArmstrongStuck in traffic on the way to Connecticut
Haven’t been out on the road much, but I did manage to take a few shots when we were on our way back from Connecticut. I knew I would need some road pictures. And here they are.
We got stuck in a couple of hours of non-moving traffic which always gives me time to take a few shots. Not great shots, but … a little something.
If ever I run short of oddball photos, remind me to visit my car dealer. The guy who owns it is a collector. He collects a lot of stuff for charity, but he also collects things all kind of car-related stuff. He sells almost everything that could be considered an American car, and a few things that aren’t. He has to have the most entertaining interior of any car dealer anywhere.
The Blues Brother, hanging out
He also collects a lot of movie star life-size period images. Elvis and the Blues Brothers. The Sinatra band. Cars that were made to order and have nearly disappeared.
Plymouth Prowler from belowPlymouth Prowler, up in the air!
The last time I was there for any length of time, we were buying a car, so I was a bit distracted, but this time — back in hopes of getting that all-important second key for the car, I was ready to do a little shooting.
An engine in use as an end table in the loungeKammie’s Oddball Challenge
There is no free parking in Boston. There is no free parking in New York either. I don’t know about the rest of the big cities, but I’m betting it’s pretty much the same. Assuming you can push your way through the traffic and actually get to the city … what do you do next?
Alley behind the Massachusetts Statehouse in Boston
Weaving through Boston traffic on any given day can be a traumatic experience. Cars and trucks pop out of side streets, apparently without so much as a glance for possible other traffic. If you can find a parking place (good luck with that), it will either cost you a fortune … or pretty much the same amount for a parking ticket.
I have stood there, calculating which is going to cost more — the ticket or a legal spot. The legal spot is usually not only more expensive, but it’s much less convenient than parking wherever you happen to be.
My first car experience in Boston traffic was waiting at a light and getting hit by a car leaving a parking space. I got hit by a parked car standing still. At a light. Welcome to Massachusetts.
How about the people leaving illegally parked cars and stand there with their doors open, waiting for you to knock it off the frame?
I do not know if all cities are as bad as Boston, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they are. Of course, now people lurch wildly through streets talking on the phone. Blind and deaf to traffic, at the very least can’t we ban cell phones in cars? AND while walking on the street?
Walkers who have parked are the terror of the roads.
Considering how often we stand at an intersection waiting for the driver in front of us to get off the phone and drive, it’s hard to tell who is parked and who isn’t.
Out here, in the country, the roads aren’t as packed with traffic as they are in town. You can generally find a place to park — at least in the village. Out in the country, it’s perfectly legal — but the odds are very good that someone — texting or talking — is going to come around a curb and whack your car.
Remember TV shows where the cop or private detective could park anywhere? There was always a spot for him, even in the middle of Manhattan or Los Angeles. I want to see more realistic shows where the guy misses his appointment because the IS no parking. And he doesn’t have $120 for two hours of downtown parking.
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