May 2008 – Page 2 – Guardian of the Non Sequitur

Mr. Shirley and Big Al.

May 13, 2008May 13, 2008 by bshirley

Mr. Shirley and Big Al. Originally uploaded by tgernand Here’s a nice shot. One of the Dancing Sisters took this one. Not sure who had the camera at this point.

Pre-Parade Photo from The Chron

May 12, 2008May 12, 2008 by bshirley

Allen and I are number 11 in a collection with 50 other photographs from the Chronicle. The photo is as we were driving into the staging area of the 2008 Art Car Parade. About one third are from this year, one third from 1988, and the rest of various other places and times: last year, … Read more

Tragic Ending – Art Car 2008

July 30, 2008May 11, 2008 by bshirley

Well, it was a fabulous day of Art Car Parading, but unfortunately it ended tragically. Becky, Tricia, Al, and I were returning in Versatile to pick up Tricia’s car from the Art Car Museum.

Just prior to our arrival, Tom and two others were sitting on the curb, just having locked up the museum. A car struck tricia’s, and sent it 3-4 car lengths, hitting all three guys, but pinning Tom.

He was conscious when he left, and we did not learn of his death until the following day.

Some corrected facts that I’ve seen misreported, misinterpreted, or unmentioned:
The car was parked legally.
The street was otherwise empty.
The car was lifted with a rescue air bag.

On to some of the fun from the day (which Tom would not want us to forget!):

Art Car Parade Prep – Allen OldiesMobile

May 14, 2008May 9, 2008 by bshirley

Whew! I’m still breathing hard. Just got back from the beer run for Saturday morning.

I usually have regular thursday night and friday night plans. I bailed on both of them. No thursday games with friends. No friday running sound for the Ringwalds.

I helped out Allen Hill in preparing the OldiesMobile for the Art Car Parade on saturday. Lot’s of starts and stops, and success and failure, as art cars are want to be. But I think we’re ready for the morning.

I borrowed a generator from our service department. It is built to support an ambulance, so it’s totally over engineered for running a band. Loading into my car with a fork lift was the first warning – this things gonna be heavy.

Thursday, Allen and I moved it from my car, tested it, it worked great. We moved it into the Mobile. Friday I get home, he’s in my driveway, we move it from the Mobile, it’s a no-go. We call Sir Henkel and with three, we 1) pick it off the ground to a table, 2) off the table to the hood, 3) off the hood to the roof. Job performed, Sir Henkel retreats.

We Want to Help You Stimulate US

May 6, 2008 by bshirley

“Enclosed is an important message from the IRS on the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. Do Not Throw Away!” That’s a quote from the back of the envelope from the United States Treasury. A paraphrase of the inside text: we consider you below the poverty line, you have zero adjusted income last year, and still … Read more

Art Car Season

May 5, 2008 by bshirley

This motley group can only mean one thing. Okay, it can mean many, many things. And most of them are dubious. But not this one. It means it’s time for the Art Car Parade. (This photo is from the parade 2007 – photo by Virginia) I’ll be driving the Allen Oldies Mobile this year.