Bad Economy Affects Corvette Production

Well, you know it's getting bad when the usually "recession-proof" Corvette suffers too-low sales. The Bowling Green, KY, plant will close for one week in October and then reopen with slower production.

My First YouTube

Well, it's not much, but if you have a minute and a half you can watch my very minimalist "Carbon Indulgence" (Soakin' up the sun while it's still free) in the name of Sheryl Crow, who (surely everyone has heard by now) has become a new preacher of the "green" AntiChrist. ;-)

Vintage: 1968

Usually, when we think of the year 1968 we probably think of assassinations (Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy), the Vietnam War, hippies, anti-war protests, and other social unrest. But just like any other year there were plenty of normal, peaceful, common events such as the birth of a baby. One of those babies was born to a happy couple on January 25 and was named "Rae Ann" a couple of days later.

By the way, why isn't my birthday listed in the Wikipedia article? ;-) I'm kidding, of course. But I am the number one (and two, at the moment) "Rae Ann" on Google even ahead of a Hospital named Rae Ann, which is really weird because I'm just some housewife in Tennessee. LOL But what is really weird is that most people I interact with in "real" life have no idea about this.

If you're curious about other products of 1968 here are a few things. If you like wine, especially pretty old wine, and have a lot of money you could try some of these. Apparently, 1968 wasn't a great year for wine though. Oh well.

It was a great year for music. My mom used to talk about how I'd bounce in my carseat to Marvin Gaye's "Heard It Through the Grapevine" which has been overlooked in the above Wiki article despite its being a #1 hit late in the year. Other favorites from 1968 are "Sunshine Of Your Love" by Cream, "Hello, I Love You" by The Doors, "Born To Be Wild" by Steppenwolf, "Hey Jude" by The Beatles, and "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding, among others.

If you like muscle cars then 1968 was a pretty good year. However, the best cars from that year are the Chevrolet Corvettes which aren't listed as "muscle cars" in the Wiki article because I guess they are more considered "sports cars", whatever the difference might be.

Well, it's a good thing that David is particularly fond of 1968 vintages. ;-) Several months ago he bought this:

Yes, it's a 1968 red Corvette.

"His and Hers", sorry that the garage is such a mess but the other detached garage is being finished inside and so a bunch of stuff had to be moved temporarily into the this garage.

When he bought this car it was in good running condition (much like me when he first "got" me, lol) but it is a "project car" and he has dismantled much of its insides so he can truly restore it. The car's insides are now about as bad a mess as my insides. ;-) But unlike me, it will be worth pretty big bucks after it is fully restored. To fully restore me to "mint" condition would probably be impossible, but if you tried you'd have to spend a whole lot more money than to restore this lovely automobile.

Here is a nice shot of the quintessential, iconic, curvacious shape of the Corvette that is probably what most people think of when they hear about Corvettes. This is the C-3 body style that was produced from 1968 to 1982, which is kind of a long time for a car to keep the same body style.

Well, it's tempting to ask myself, "When did I get so old?" But really, the answer to that question is pretty easy. All I have to do is look around at my life and see all the wonderful blessings that can't be any kind of "instant" results, but are truly the products of many years of hard work, struggles, and also good times. I have a really great life and for that I'm eternally grateful to the Universe and the people who have loved me. I'm happy to be beginning my 39th year, and I hope to have at least 39 more happy years ahead of me.

Dear Pope Benedict XVI,

I'm not sure of the proper way to address your Excellency or whatever. ;-) Please forgive my American informality. With all due respect I admire your intelligence, reason, faith, and diplomacy. If I may, I'd like to make you an unusual offer. In light of the recent controversy over your words about the nature of Islam and the resulting confirmation of your statements, I'd like to provide you with an opportunity to express how you really feel about the death threats and other nonsense in a personal and private way.

Sometimes it's necessary to express our displeasure through some form of empathic projection or other therapy. I realize that you have a real close relationship with God and that He sustains you in all the ways you need, but I think God would not be too upset with you if you joined me for a little joyride. Sometimes when I'm feeling put-upon I'll get in my (red) Corvette convertible and drive around playing some loud music. This is a "safe" way to express the thoughts and feelings I have that I can't otherwise fully express in good conscience.

What in particular I have in mind is that we could listen to "Ridin" by Chamillionaire and sing along but change some of the words if you'd like. The first part is okay as is (actually it's the best part):

They see me rollin'
They hatin'
Patrollin'
And tryin' to catch me ridin' dirty
Tryin' to catch me ridin' dirty
Tryin' to catch me ridin' dirty
Tryin' to catch me ridin' dirty
Tryin' to catch me ridin' dirty
My music so loud;
I'm swangin'
They hopin'
That they gon' catch me ridin' dirty
Tryin' to catch me ridin' dirty
Tryin' to catch me ridin' dirty
Tryin' to catch me ridin' dirty
Tryin' to catch me ridin' dirty

Well, don't you agree that it fits with your situation? Those crazy Jihadists love to try to catch you ridin' dirty (criticizing Islam). In this next part you can think of the "police" and "law" as the Jihadists, and you can think of all the other stuff as just 'fluff' that makes you feel like a badass, kind of like all the papal vestments and all that. ;-) The parts that I've made bold type are parts that I think you'd really appreciate.

Police think they can see me lean;
I'm tint so it ain't easy to be seen.
They see me ride by, they can see the glean
And my shine on the deck and the TV screen.
Ride with a new chick, she like "Hold up."
Next to the Playstation controlla;
well have a full clip, in my pistolla
that I'm a send a jacker into a coma.
Girl, you ain't know, I'm crazy like Krayzie Bone;
Just tryin' to bone, ain't tryin' to have no babies.
Ride clean as hell so I pull in ladies.
Law's on patrol; you know they hate me.
Music turned all the way up and to the maximum;
I can speak for some niggas tryin' to jack for some.
But we packin' somethin' that we have
And, um, will have a nigga locked up in the maximum
Security cell. I'm grippin' oak.
Music loud and the tippin' slow.
Twins steady twistin' like hit this dough;
Police pull up from behind and I'm sittin low.
Windows down, gotta stop pollution.
CDs change; niggas like "Who is that producin'?"
This the Play-N-Skillz when we out and cruisin'
Got warrants in every city except Houston
But I still ain't losin'.

But really, the content of the verses is kind of hard to understand, and it might be better if you didn't understand them anyway. ;-) But the chorus is great and sounds really good in my car. The point is to allow yourself to temporarily feel the indignation and redirect it through the music and the wind blowing past you. It will make you feel better. I call it Corvette Therapy. :-) (for a preview, click here)

And I totally respect your oath of celibacy and all those other concerns. You do not need to worry about being in a fast sports car with a hot-blooded American woman. I promise I won't put a move on you or anything. You'll be perfectly safe. (you're a little 'mature' for me anyway) ;-)

So just think about it and let me know if you think you'd like to try it. I might even let you drive a little, which is a huge thing because I don't let anybody (except grudgingly my husband sometimes) drive my Corvette. But if you can't trust the Pope then who can you trust? Do you know how to drive? It's an automatic so it's easy, but don't let that make you think it's not powerful and quick and very responsive. It is. Very.

I'd be most pleased to be able to fulfill this offer. Thanks. And stay tough and hang in there.

Most respectfully and sincerely,

Rae Ann (a.k.a. Vicious Momma)


PS If you like "Ridin'" you might like Snoop Dogg's "Drop It Like It's Hot" too.

PPS Just last night I heard Weird Al's parody of "Ridin'" ("White and Nerdy"). Visit Weird Al's MySpace Page to hear it. It's hilarious!

But of course!

(Saw this at Kat's.)

I'm a Chevrolet Corvette!

You're a classic - powerful, athletic, and competitive. You're all about winning the race and getting the job done. While you have a practical everyday side, you get wild when anyone pushes your pedal. You hate to lose, but you hardly ever do.

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.