knightfan26917

It's just about an annual event for me (starting in August 2003) ... a "major" road trip to see the sights, have fun and meet people... Oct 2004: http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/0410/0410.html Aug 2005: http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/0508/0508.html Oct 2006: http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/1106/1106.html For 2007, since it is late in the year, I head to sunny Florida! I missed several Monte Carlo-, heart-, and family-related events this year (no vacation until October); so, NOW ... it's time to cut loose, relax ... and DRIVE! My itinerary [2nd part (from Birmingham AL to home) is tentative, depending on who is available ... and where ... to meet] is below, including traveling through/stops in Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri and Illinois ... AND an ALL-INVITED BBQ in TALLAHASSEE FL on TUESDAY night, NOVEMBER 27. If interested in meeting along the way (breakfast, lunch, dinner, THE BBQ, or the evening, or whatever), let me know, especially if you're not on my list already.... Either Email me (faithcubsmc2691 @ aol.com) or I've "imbedded" my cell ph# in my signature below.... * FRI,NOV 23 (day after Thanksgiving) / ELGIN IL - INDIANAPOLIS IN - LEXINGTON KY * ROUTE = RT 47 S ... SR 24 E ... I-65 S ... I-64 E ... SR 27 S > leave Elgin about 8am (earlier?) > stop in Indiana somewhere in the SR 24/I-65 area [and/or] near Indianapolis > stay in Kentucky (near Lexington) VISIT/MEET {Indiana ... ANYONE...?? {dinner, Lexington-area restaurant TBD ... Wise (vr); bigkat (mcss); Dino (nmcoa); Jeff D (mcml); YellowJacket (c&g); ...ANYONE ELSE...?? [Janet (mcss)???] * SAT,NOV 24 / LEXINGTON KY - KNOXVILLE TN - CHARLOTTE NC * ROUTE = SR 27 N ... I-75 S ... I-40 E ... I-77 S > leave Lexington by 9a (earlier?) > stop near Knoxville TN > stay in Charlotte NC VISIT/MEET {Knoxville TN, afternoon stop for break/lunch? ... Andreas (1gmc); ...ANYONE ELSE...?? {Charlotte NC, evening ... dinner? * SUN,NOV 25 / CHARLOTTE NC * > stay in Charlotte NC VISIT/MEET {late lunch/early dinner, restaurant TBD ... Jay (mcml); Steve (acha); Future Of GM (C&G); Bryan (Racing1); scc24540 (mcf); likearock (GMI); Spider_carb (mcss); Heather; ...ANYONE ELSE...?? [Falcon (carnuts.us); Donald T (mcss); Tweak (2kmc); members of SMCC???] * MON,NOV 26 / CHARLOTTE NC - ANDERSON SC - ATLANTA GA * ROUTE = I-85 S ... SR 28 (Anderson SC) ... I-85 S > leave Charlotte NC about 8a > arrive in Anderson SC about 11a > leave Anderson SC about 3p > arrive in Atlanta GA about dinner time > stay in Atlanta GA VISIT/MEET {Anderson SC, lunch ... Jared (1gmc); Kevin (1gmc); ...ANYONE ELSE...? {Atlanta GA, dinner, restaurant TBD ... Danny (vr); Drachen (carnuts.us); Brian (carnuts.us); Larry (mcml); ...ANYONE ELSE...?? [Chris (ecml); Bonnie (vr); 87_lt1_ss (mcss)???] * TUE,NOV 27 / ATLANTA GA - ORLANDO FL - TAMPA FL - TALLAHASSEE FL * ROUTE = I-75 S ... tollway (arg) ... into Orlando ... tollway (arg) ... I-4 W ... I-75 N ... I-10 W > leave Atlanta 5a > arrive in Orlando around 12 noon > leave Orlando about 1p > arrive in Tampa around 2:30p > leave Tampa about 3p > arrive in Tallahassee around 7:30p > stay in Tallahassee VISIT/MEET {Orlando FL, lunch, restaurant TBD ... Justin (mcss); LaFemme (acha); ...ANYONE ELSE...?? [Dalt (mcss); hExx (2kmc)?] {Tampa FL, break ... Ian (1gmc); Fly (c&g) ... ANYONE ELSE...?? {Tallahassee FL, TUESDAY NIGHT ALL-INVITED BBQ ... Jeff (mcml); Ken (mcss); ...ANYONE ELSE...?? * WED,NOV 28 / TALLAHASSEE FL - DE FUNIAK SPRINGS FL - MONTGOMERY AL - BIRMINGHAM AL * ROUTE = I-10W ... SR 331 N ... I-65N > leave Tallahassee FL 8a > stop near De Funiak Springs FL > leave De Funiak about noon > arrive in Montgomery about 3:30p > leave Montgomery about 4:30p > arrive in Birmingham around 6p VISIT/MEET {De Funiak Springs FL area, break/early lunch? ... Ann (vr); ...ANYONE ELSE...?? {Montgomery AL, break ... 76ChevyTrucker (c&g); ...ANYONE ELSE...?? {Birmingham AL, dinner, restaurant TBD ... Brandon (mcss); ...ANYONE ELSE...?? * THU,NOV 29 / BIRMINGHAM AL - NASHVILLE TN * ROUTE = I-65 N (or) ROUTE = I-59 N ... I-24 W > leave Birminham AL between 10a and noon > stay in Nashville TN VISIT/MEET {LUNCH, place TBD.... {Huntsville AL ... 256pimpin (mm) ... ANYONE ELSE...?? [or] {Chattanooga TN ... jlb/mizz jlb (Racing1); ... ANYONE ELSE...?? [and] {Lynchburg TN ... knightwing (mcss); ...ANYONE ELSE...?? {Nashville TN, dinner, restaurant TBD ... Stephen (mcss); blue02ss (2kmc); Kevin/Lori; ...ANYONE ELSE...?? * FRI,NOV 30 / NASHVILLE TN - BIG SANDY TN - JACKSON TN * ROUTE = I-40 W ... SR 641 N (to Big Sandy) ... SR 641 S ... I-40 W > leave Nashville TN about 8a > leave Big Sandy TN about 2p > arrive in Jackson TN about 4p > MAYBE leave Jackson about 6:30p > MAYBE arrive in St Louis area around 11p, after stopping briefly in Marion IL VISIT/MEET {Big Sandy TN ... family friends for lunch {Jackson TN, dinner, restaurant TBD ... Richard O (mcml); ...ANYONE ELSE...?? {MAYBE Marion IL ... Mark T (mcml) * SAT,DEC 1 / Jackson TN - ST LOUIS MO - CENTRAL IL - CHAMPAIGN/DECATUR IL - HOME/IL * ROUTE = RT 45E N ... I-24 W ... I-57 N ... SR 24 W ... IL RT 47 N [or] ROUTE = RT 45E N ... I-24 W ... I-57 N ... I-64 W ... I-55 N ... I-39 N ... SR 64 E [or] ROUTE = combo of above ... I-55 N ... I-70 E ... I-57 N ... combo of above > leave Jackson TN about 5:30a > stop in St Louis MO about 10a > leave St Louis about 11a > stop in Champaign IL about 2p > leave for Elgin about 3p [or] > leave St Louis about 9a > stop in Champaign about noon > leave for Elgin about 2p VISIT/MEET {St Louis ... Joe (CT's TooMany2count); ...ANYONE ELSE...?? {S IL ... darndot (gmi); Mark T (mcml; Marion IL) ...ANYONE ELSE...?? [otto (carnuts.us, S IL)???] {Champaign/Decatur IL, lunch, restaurant TBD ... montecl (nmcoa, Ashburn IL area); 2manymontes (nmcoa, Champaign IL area); Derek/Janie A (nmcoa,mcss,etc.); ...ANYONE ELSE...?? [Alex (1gmc)???] COMING IN 2008: Since several people have _already_ asked.... I will skip the annual "long" road trip, in favor of a few shorter ones ... namely to several gatherings I missed in 2007. I don't have time to attend EVERYTHING I want (who does?), so I had to pick'n'choose.... April 11-13 ... Michigan ... Monte Carlos @ MIS June 27-30 ... Pennsylvania ... NMCOA MC Nationals August 8-12 ... Indiana / Ohio / Pennsylvania / New Jersey / Maryland / Arlington VA ... family reunion in PA (Aug 11) and "side trip" September TBD ... Sandwich IL for the annual CHD Quilt Project/Golf Outing October 3-5 ... Missouri/southern IL ... Midwest Monte Carlo gathering *sighs* One of these days, I WILL get to MN, Boston and farther west than I went in 2004.... Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker WRMNshowcase.847.lego.337.HO.9897.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "The life I love is making music with my friends" ... Willie Nelson ... 'On The Road Again'

The police have closed the report, labeling it a "hit and run". The gal who backed into my '87 MC LS has hung up on the police officer and has managed to (so far) elude responsibility, since she never gave me her last name (despite also giving me the name and ph# of her insurance agent) and is now not answering her phone, or hanging up on people.... Arg. And, of course, the van she hit me with has not returned to the scene. My insurance company tells me they are "investigating".... Meantime, the '87 MC LS goes in tomorrow (Wednesday) for repairs. Estimate is about $150; but, that could easily go up, depending on what they find "underneath" the bumper when they go to re-adjust it to where it is supposed to be. And, that doesn't include painting, which, for now, I've declined. Anyway, I'll get stuck with the bill, since I have a $250 deductible. I sure hope that once it is fixed and the insurance company pays out the rental reimbursement, they kick their "investigation" up a notch. It's just frustrating ... the damage IS minor, but I'm stuck paying for something I didn't do. Plus, as I noted before, this is the first time in 3 "hit and runs" that I've experienced where the person has actually left a note ... and I still feel like I'm getting the raw end of the deal. I don't want to play hardball, since it is minor damage, and, sure, I could let it go (i.e. NOT get my '87 MC LS fixed) ... but, I know the damage is there ... and it bugs the crap out of me. Course, if we do "catch" this gal ... and she pays ... chances are, if she hits someone like that again, she won't leave a note.... Irony rocks. Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "Surely this can be explained" ... Lonestar ... 'No News'

Holy cow! That Caddy is simply GORGEOUS! Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "Some things just glitter and shine" ... Confederate Railroad ... 'Daddy Never Was The Cadillac Kind'

cub Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "Nope, sorry, nothin'" ... Jo Dee Messina ... 'My Give A Damn's Busted'

Indeed. And, in some ways, sssoo hard to put into ACTION. But, it really boils down to ... do you want to be happy or take on everyone else's garbage? Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "I see the way out and I'm gonna take it" ... Carrie Underwood ... 'Wasted'

Family is pretty much the only good reason why I'm still in IL. That, and a few other things, I suppose. Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "I don't know where we'll go, but it beats where we're at" ... Lonestar ... 'What About Now'

pavement Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "How much longer will they be around?" ... Don Williams ... 'Old Coyote Town'

And, in some cases, the camera doesn't really matter.... I know people can take great pics, no matter the camera with which they have to work. And, vonV ... whole-heartedly agree about BV! Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "I wonder if it's too late" ... Nickelback ... 'Photograph'

How often DO we let the attitudes of others affect our mood? How many arguments/"flame wars" would be prevented if we stopped to THINK before we typed/posted or spoke? --- "The Law of the Garbage Truck." How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day? The mark of a successful person is how quickly she can get back her focus on what's important. Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson in the back of a New York City taxi cab. Here's what happened.... I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car's back end by just inches! The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So, I said, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!" And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck." Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be happy you did. I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: at work, at home, on the streets? Now, I see the load people are carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And, like my Taxi Driver, I don't make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on. What about you? What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by? Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So ... love the people who treat you right; forget about the ones who don't. Believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance, TAKE IT! If it changes your life, LET IT! Nobody said it would be easy...they just promised it would be worth it. --- Someone asked me recently how many posts I have made over the years. By my calculations ... well over 35,000, spread over many different boards and groups, not including the boards that have been replaced with newer versions (where old post counts were erased). Sometimes, I find myself wondering why I even bother to post, but I continue, NOT because I lack a "real" life (believe it or not, I DO have a life outside of online boards), but because it is a great way to keep up with most friends and family. Yet, at times, the attitudes of others leave something to be desired. Sometimes, no matter how hard I try not to, I find myself letting others' attitudes affect how I feel, partly because I'm increasingly "less tolerant" of things. I try not to, of course, but sometimes something someone has posted online ... or something someone has said in real-life and in-person conversations ... gets to me, admittedly, a bit too much. More and more, though, I realize that it doesn't matter what others say or think or do ... and, for the most part, I stay as positive as I can. The above-quoted "Garbage Truck Law" sure seems to be a good way to "keep tabs" on attitudes.... Ssssooo...do you agree? Disagree? Thoughts? Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "Why are we so blind to see that the ones we hurt are you & me" ... Coolio ... 'Gangsta's Paradise'

search Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "Someday you will find me" ... Oasis ... 'Champaign Supernova'

Oh SWEET! So cool that they are still using those El Caminos! He he ... I gotta make a trip to that place sometime I'm in PA ... maybe next June or August! Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "I'm about to put the hammer down" ... CW McCall ... 'Convoy'

*nods* Right there with you ... I've been thinking something similar the last month or so. Can't seem to shake the feeling that I'm "missing" something.... As for your decision ... no idea what to tell you, except ... perhaps you should do a "pro vs con" list ... and go from there...? Either way, GOOD LUCK. Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "I can’t take anymore" ... 3rd Eye Blind ... 'How's It Going To Be'

Hmmm.... I like those Chargers ... but, not too keen on that commercial, though it is cool to see the older commercials ... no matter how "dorky" . Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "Hood slidin' like Bo Duke"...Dierks Bently...'What Was I Thinking?'

HAPPY (belated) BIRTHDAY! Hope you celebrated appropriately . Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "The journey's been etched on your skin" ... James Blunt ... '1973'

storm Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "I'll meet you in between" ... Tanya Tucker ... 'Lizzie And The Rainman'

Eve Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "Get to what's real" ... Van Halen ... 'Jump'

Same here ... for the MOST part, anyway. I do admit to being a bit "unbending" for certain cars out there.... Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "Play with the fire, and your gonna get burned" ... Steve Wariner ... 'Some Fools Never Learn'

Hey ... that's COOL! Sadly, I'm not in the market for a new Saturn, so I won't get that. But, it is awesome to know that is "out there" for new owners!!! Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "We're outta here" ... Steve Azar ... 'I Don't Have To Be Me 'Til Monday'

SO much Swearing in here ... very unbecoming of ya'll..... *grins devilishly* Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "I see something that I don't like" ... Sheryl Crow ... 'Real Gone'

*nods* This is exactly what I'm afraid of. Aye. See ... that's the problem, as I see it, anyway. People are "too afraid" to take ownership of their mistakes because of the consequences. I just have this feeling that you're right on this one ... she's "learned her lesson" about "doing the right thing". *sighs* As one of the gals at my insurance office noted when I spoke to her about the estimate I received, I'm in an almost impossible situation. I _want_ to be kind about this ... and NOT be too "hard nosed" to work something out, especially since she left a note. BUT ... given some events today (including the gal's SUPPOSED insurance office noting, in so many words, that my car "isn't worth fixing") it is becoming increasingly hard NOT to turn hard nosed.... After all, I'm not too keen on the idea of my hard-earned money paying for damage I did NOT create.... *rolls eyes* Right now ... waiting game. Arg. Oh, and Oldsmoboi ... no, it was a dark green Dodge Caravan ... heh. Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "I should ask, but I won't" ... Rebecca Lynn Howard ... 'Forgive'

Wow, Camino ... lots of progress! I've been following this since "day 1" ... enjoy what I see, even if I don't post . Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "I can’t stop driving" ... New Radicals ... 'Someday We'll Know'

blinker Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "It could've been different somehow" ... Doug Stone ... 'Why Didn't I Think Of That?'

CONGRATULATIONS! VERY cool birthday present to yourself . Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "It's a freedom that we all want to know" ... Restless Heart ... 'Wheels'

CONGRATULATIONS! VERY cool birthday present to yourself . Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "It's a freedom that we all want to know" ... Restless Heart ... 'Wheels'

...instead, like 2 cars of mine previously, being parked was what got my '87 MC LS hit. [My former "Silver Bullet" '88 MC LS was backed into on the street in front of our house; my former "Green Hornet" '00 LS was hit in the parking lot outside of the HardRock Cafe in downtown Nashville ... both with NO note left.] *sighs* I took my usual walk about 11 this morning. As I head back to the building, I pass by where my car is parked. This morning, I noticed that the license plate didn't look quite right. I walked closer ... and found a note tucked under the driver's side windshield wiper. Arg. Apparently, a gal backed into my '87 MC LS as she was leaving earlier in the day. The car is NOT damaged all that much; most people wouldn't even know it had been hit, except for the folded up license plate. But, a closer look reveals that the lower bumper is pushed in slightly...and who knows what else underneath (if anything at all, of course). So ... I called the number ... and only got music. Hmmm. I then called my insurance company and they advised I file a police report. In the meantime, the person that hit my car called me back. A brief conversation with her ... and it was clear this was going to be interesting. She told me she only damaged the license plate and that she would have to tell her Dad. Oye. I advised her that the license plate was NOT the only thing damaged and that I was filing a police report; she wasn't happy about that, but too bad. When the police officer arrived, I felt like I was the one on trial. He asked me if I was sure I hadn't caused the damage...I was stunned. I showed him the note and advised him that, indeed, I had not caused that damage. He then asked if I had talked to her. I told him yes. His response? "So, why are you filing a police report?" Again, I was stunned. I told him I was filing a police report because my insurance company advised me to ... and because she told me she had to talk to her Dad ... and that she was claiming that she had only damaged the license plate, which I know not to be the case. Finally got the police report completed and called my insurance company back. They gave me a list of places to take it, one being a Chevy dealership in the area. I spoke with a guy in the body shop there; I might just stop there on the way to work in the morning. We'll see.... In the meantime, I got a Voice Mail message from the officer.... Turns out, he tried to call the gal to talk to her. The first time he spoke to her, she HUNG UP ON HIM. Ohhhh my. He noted that he tried to call her a few more times, with no answer. So, it sounds as if he sees now that it was a good idea to file the report. Now, I just gotta finish the paperwork and send it in. Hmph ... if I had had a winter beater by now, this wouldn't have been that big of a deal. But, ya'll know how much of a stickler I am with my Monte Carlos.... And, yes, I know ... I should do the kind thing and let it go ... but....well, I don't know..... Cort:34swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker WRMNshowcase.lego.HO.model.MCs.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort "For a moment you can hardly breathe" ... John Mayer ... 'Dreaming With A Broken Heart'