Well I havn't done much to the sol.. Well I havn't done shit actually seeing how I'm over in Iraq and she is at home. Stuck in her unit battery dead and god knows what else is now fucked up again. Some person had to go and back into the storage unit about a month of me being here. At least i know when I get back I now have some things to do and put on. she is going to be going the all motor root because the want to get into time attack and autocross. I figure its the best thing for that chassis and I love to go into corners with her anyways. I remember the days of chasing exotics down the 110 and the back roads of La Canada. As well as my wonderful drives to Jackie Robinson field along the windy road with the last corner reaching about 65 and just letting the car sit in it.. Then blasting out to a 100+ But anyways. Time for the update. I picked up this Sparco quick release if you couldn't tell. No saying if I'm going to be keeping the NRG short hub or not see how it feels and looks. I'm happy with it rare piece. Beautiful piece. Seeing how my birthday is coming up I'm going to be getting her more presents and what not have a couple things with my eye on time to talk to the buyer and get money in the right place.. and on with the pictures!
Well I'm gonna try and do my best to explain this place without breaking military rules or putting someone in danger by giving other things away. With that said as the first thing, let me know try to explain my first month of deployment, to me..
If the heat wasn't shock enough the culture will get you as well. The moment that you get to the deserst after stepping off the last comfy plane you just notice a totoally different atmosphere compared to a home station. You can really see it in people's eyes that there is a different tone, a different pace, a different feeling. That feeling is you pushing your wall every day, the idea of being tierd seems to be a lingering feeling in the back of your head that you fight every day. But you keep going because this is your job, this is your core task, and something even as simple as me fixing plumbing. To the way that people get there water and just flush there toilets makes an impact. To think of the Armed Forces to America would be looking at a well greased and oiled machine. I throw the greased in there because its that old and you have to tinker with it to work right. You have to be gentle with it to move in the direction or get the hours of operation out of that you need to finish the job. Just remind you because this machine really does have a face, actually many of faces from many of branches and walks of life. This base in its self... Just imagine a a small island in the middle of the desert though. Completely ran by generators. The black smoke bellowing out top of the field. All around you see nothing but a mix of T-walls and concrete buildings with blast roofs over them. The ARMY walking around at the ready of moments notice. The Air Force manning the buldings and taking care of the grounds. The sprinkle of a Navy or Marine here and there. Third Country Nationals and Local nationals all over, also doing there roles while being watch by Force Protection. Wether it be manning a post, or fixing a toliet right along with us. The presence of the Iraqi people and surrounding nations is huge on this base, and is only getting bigger. This base is going to close as Obama does say, I will not be here for that day. But I'm part of the process of making this happen. I am part of one of the last teams that is handing this base over to Iraqi military. Probably the last group of plumbers from the military that will be handling these systems, after this it should be gone to contract. With a small group of Civil Engineers to just maintain and make sure the contract is still seen threw. This is Joint Base Ballad. I invisioned to see nothing but dirt when I got here. But where we are as I peer threw the chain link and C-wire to see nothing but farmland. I mean were surrounded by mostly farmland. Later in the day you see kids playing in the irrigation river, doing there best to stay cool in this extreme heat. The days feel like that one scene from the Chronicles of Riddick, when there on that one planet that catches fire and the guy walks outside to his death. How that when you have a window open in the day, you feel as if the air alone is going to burn your face off. But don't get me wrong this is the desert and there are dust storms. Overall though this place is interesting to say the least. So lets see what I can make in the next 5 months to come and what I can learn.
But enough of my idealism. What have I done so far. As my mom would ask what shit holes have I been in.. Well sorry mother I haven't got in any wet one actually yet. And the one I got in I didn't get a picture of. I was in a communications box but it was on the flight line and there is no flash photography there unless permitted. But I'll get some before I leave. I have done many of small jobs in indoor plumbing. Lets just say that this is what I see all the time. Well not this bad but this is indoor. A lot of European shit all over the place none of it is the same. So your always just fiddling with shit to make it work.. Outdoor is a little different story. Replaced two tanks now, a pump, and built a whole system for the Iraqi Chow Hall..
Thats pretty much it for this first month of excitement. Haha. 5 more and I'll have the stories to tell when I get home.
Oh yeah and one small joke. Army learning colors. It was outside there finance office. Now that is a reassurance
Well I must say that it was a splendid World Cup.. For once I had a chance to watch many of the games at a decent time, not having to stay up till the middle of the night to see just a piece of one of the two half's. As for the U.S. we are clearly still no were there. Great effort but the team is just not there yet. Horrible offense it was a surprise to me as to why we got so far. If anything are midfield could be giving all that credit. They were the ones scoring goals to get us back in the game and get us ahead. Not to sound like I'm bitching but they just didn't live up to the hype of there play at all. Very sloppy to me and they did the typical American thing of just sending the ball long and having someone run upon it. Now to my favorite team. Germany! What a great World Cup. Absolutely wonderful movement of the ball. Can't wait to see with what they come with in the next Cup. I mean there only going to go up. With such a young team and such smooth ball movement. The more they get to play together the better. Just wonderful to watch. Just exactly what my dad always said beautiful soccer looked like. Funny how he learn the game so well so quick for me.. haha. But in the end Spain won. They played wonderful. They did such a great job of getting teams out of there game plan and out of there tempos. Such wonderful disruption. There ball movement was wonderful as well. They really moved a a team. I see why people say that the final was such an "ugly game" but its what I would want to see. Both teams struggling to hold and create a pace. Sure Spain held the ball for the majority of the time. But both team had wonderful build ups, shots on goals, and big saves. I personally love the final. Dramatic as all could be coming down to the final minutes there in the second overtime period. Not going to PK's. and yes the better team all the way threw the cup won but not without one hell of a fight by a strong defensive team. Congratulations Spain. Germany will be there next time around.
Well I’m only starting this now because I’m stuck on the side of the round damn near super hours after I broke down waiting for my little brother to graciously show up and save my motha fuckin ass. Lets say the trip just had that feeling I forgot my BBerry charger and my toothbrush just to name a couple of things that I forgot to bring with me. I guess you can say I was such a hurry to leave the Vegas area that I wasn’t careful. I checked the oil level before I got on and top off the tank. And then I checked the oil level again at Primm.. Did fine didn’t hear anything till Yermo then well here I am. And here are the pictures since I was killin time.. Was trying to get one how Chris (Sarge) always get with that silotte feeling guess it can’t really happen when you have a white car. Or I’m just not there yet with camera skills. Plus it wasn’t the best sunset but you deal with that you got. Enjoy This was what it looked like after I moved my car a couple feet for these pictures..
I mean what else you gonna do out in the middle of no were for 4 hours So I got it home thanks to my little brother who drove all the way out there and then we towed the bitch all the way back to our house in Pasadena.
Friday Took the car to Pit Crew Went to the cemetary after that put flowers on the family graves. Saw my fathers grave again. So weird to think that it has almost been 10 years. After that mother took me and we went and picked up the new pieces to my car so I could get the trunk and garnish off so I could preserve the signatures on them forever. ( I forgot to have Lane and Sean sign it ) Flowers
Saturday. The car was done.. Went and got her and thank god. It was the car wash and wanted to pay my respects and show up for the sols. The rest of the day just spent drivin around and waiting for the night. If you follow my twitter you alerady know what happend and saw and heard all the stupid shit I did. But I had a damn good time at Avalon.
Sunday. Lane and Sean came out from AZ for Juans viewing. Pretty calm day in that sense. Went to the viewing that was the crushing moment hard as hell to see that guy laying there and knowing that he is only 1 year older then my little brother. That process is still very hard for me even after all the times that I have done it in my short life. Went and had a good dinner with those guys and we just went back to the pad and drank and had a good time.
Monday Sean and Lanes tour de LA. I'm just gonna let the pictures talk. Questions just ask
Then we went to Vience Beach.. LOL
Tuesday. Was Juans funeral. I have never seen so much love in my life. HIs mother is so strong. My heart goes out to them every day. I know the feeling of waiting for your loved one to come walking
With three sol and 5 members we were like fuck it were gonna go to Northwood Pizza. OMGayed what a drive. LOL It was worth it though good time. From there everyone went there own ways Came home racked out for a couple of hours, packed Then Alicia and I headed back to Vegas
Well finally I think I can write about this After a shit ton a liquor and half a day I think I suppressed my feeling enough to get this off and go to sleep.
Juanito, Were to begin. I met you before I walked into Pit Crew. I read about you before your sol got stolen for the first time. I'm pretty sure I started talking to you soon after that. We were both going threw stolen rebuild at the time and comparing stories. My sol in all the 9 years I have owned her was never and I quote "never" on your level.. Your love your expertise, your knowledge, you drive to DRIVE! Remeber that one time before I went in the Air Force and Alica came down from Vegas and you and Johnny came over after we went to the club. We were all so shit faced.. But man was that some funny shit. How you ended up with Alicia's ID and credit card. Juanito I envy you! I looked up to you as a person, owner, and car guru.. You knew your shit and helped everyone out. A perfect example of what a true enthusiast was.. It didn't matter if you had the most rictastic car out there. If they loved it you were there. And that was a true example of your heart. You never cared you never passed judgment you just put it out here for everyone to see. That is why so many people love you. And truly my brother I love you. For everything you are. To think that instead of the driving force behind us on the road pushing us to be that much faster threw that corner. Your now are angle guiding us threw the day is baffling. But you are that angle now. You are that guiding force to so many people. People you don't even know. You were that big my friend. It has only been a week since we last hung out. Hours since talked. I have cried but it's not the last of my tears. When I see your sol roll again and your not behind the wheel with that smile of bliss that, and that, will be the time when I personally shed the biggest tear. I may own the plate that says IloveMYSOL but brother you were there with me. You loved it. When she was clean it was like your smile full of love, and out there for the world to see. I end this with pictures and quotes from the man himself I will hold you in my heart and remember you every time I turn key. I love you, your loving family, and all those that love you! You are my friend, a close and dear one! Juan, I love you mang!
There are so many more.. I chose these three because 1) that was his sol before it got stolen #2.. I remeber he made a shirt of that shit to. 2) His sol the last time I saw him and it at Eibach '10. 3) Well if you had to have personal shot that would be it. Or #4. I miss you mang! Del Sol's are only gay if you make them gay!
First off if your reading this and you want a bunch of pictures of the cars that were there. You might as well just meander back to nwp4life.com Because I didn't take any.
But my Eibach experience on the other hand started while I was still at work Friday night. I think that is when I truly got excited for the event to finally be here, to the tone of a Greek man telling me fuck work and get the fuck over here. He wasn't alone in these commands. Let just say I was thrilled to be out of work at like 2. To bad it took me over an hour to put my side mirrors back together, probably would have gone faster if I didn't receive a text message every couple minutes telling me to hurry, James is intimidating, and lane is just mean. So long story short I make it down to the Monte Carlo and I'm walking up in uniform and first thing I hear "Nice uniform Dick." At that moment I knew it was going to be a great weekend. So went in the Monte Carlo and started drinking. At this point I could tell I was behind but meh. Times were perfect right Lane..
My thoughts exactly. But what I really need a picture of is Lanes grouping of receipts. Shits about the size of a baseball. Probably totaling close to 175 Shots of SoCo and Yager happened and then.....
And what everyone is talking about.. your seriously gonna watch it twice.
Well come to about 7 in the morning Lane's dry heaving over a trash can. Chris, James, Alicia, and I are still at the bar. Motherly instincts kicked in for Jen. Alicia was fuckin WASTED! Literally no lie sitting at the bar and then BAM! Face to bar just missed the arm support in all. I think that's when everyone decided time to turn in for a hour. Went our separate ways at that point.
Day before Eibach
I went back to Cali trying to catch up to all the LV people but in the end didn't so meh. Went home. Pretty slow day just checkin up on friends just drivin around. Saturday Night was a little different pace. Sean came over around like 8 or 9 something around that time.. I hadn't eaten and was like fuck it let go to Yardhouse. Good food had a couple of drinks and then got ahold of Cody who was out in Riverside. So Sean and I were like fuck it. Headed down to there. Went threw the worst, I mean the fuckin worst parking lot ever. I mean the pavement was nice but the bumps fucked the shit out of me.. Literally. Finally though we made it to the hotel and made it to the room. Honestly it was like dank city with crumbs on the ground (if you smelled his trunk on Sunday that was nothing compared to this room.) There were fuckin wrappers every were. Medicinal caramel must be the shit. Decided I wanted to party to so Sean and I picked up a 20 rack. Got back and then just started throwin them back
Went to take a piss and found this out
Some good laughs right there. Sean went to sit down and the whole floor shook type thing. Everyone died of laughter. Cody threw a check's mix square at his girl, it landed like a 1cm away from her eye. Some how got on the conversation of Domo decided to take a look at it. This also happened
2 o'clock rolled around and everyone was pretty tired so we left Cody's room, Sean and I went to grab stuff out of our car and noticed a window open with just a screen seperating us from a bed. Sean with out a beat got that beast out and jumped threw the window. Yes Sean jumped threw the window. Opend the door and in I went. Of corse I was going to take a bed over someones floor.
Eibach Day.
Breakfast
Thanks Sean. I mean thats some balls right there. I guess the person asked him how his stay was as well. I'll I can do is still laugh. Finally Jen and Chris rolled in. They looked like shit, sorry had to say it, but it was understandable being up all night and driving that last bit. They took a shower and then we headed out. Did I mention that Dragon Ball is a horrible movie. A white Goku seriously WTF! Finally found a place to wash there cars. Chris got dirty with the Mexican's while Lane, Cody, and I warreded off the bums. Until Cody and I dipped leaving Lane to have a 10 minute conversation with one. Oh I should have took a picture. Dude lip was all fucked up. Dirty dirty dirty. Oh and Sean and Jen. I dono Finally made it to Eibach and the rest was magical
I mean seriously magical. Like ponies and shit. I mean there is just to much funny shit that happend right there. I can't wait for Chris's pictures of the vampire girl, man she was white. I saw one of the great tits but buterface out there. But all good things must come to an end. Great laughs and all. Thanks to Juans family for the BBQ and hospitallity after. Thanks to all the sol owners for such a great time. We must do this again. MUST! Now we all must go to Greece and do this on James terms. haha.
I seriously love the trunk and garnish. I will hold onto that forever hopefully I can get more sol owners to hit it up as time goes on.. Now just to buy another one so I can mount that on my wall..
