Everyone has challenges. Me, you. You, me. And when crap comes up and the stress is peircing you like a red hot poker, …if you get through it, you grow.

My wife Kathie has grown so much in the near 20 years we’ve been together. Far more than me. She’s had to overcome things I never have, jump hurdles that were insurmountable and come out the other side like a rose. Putting up with my “pleasing personality” ain’t easy. I, on the other hand, come out smelling something like a turnip. Not bad, as in rotten, just kinda there. Know what I mean?

Anyway, just a note of gratitude for this little girl right here. To say I was lucky to have her would only dilute how I really feel. What she’s faced and accomplished reminds me of a statement by Edgar Guest…

“You can do it as much as you THINK you can, But you’ll never accomplish more; If you’re afraid of yourself young man, There’s little for you in store. For failure comes from the INSIDE first, It’s there if we only knew it, But you will win, though you face the worst, If you know that you’re going to do it.”

Bug, the party spotted CockerPoo is 18lbs. All muscle and has no idea how to use it. Sammy, the girl (weighing in at 10lbs) is highly emotional, but one of the fastest dogs I’ve ever had. A greyhound in CockerPoo clothing.

Yea, I like fast things. But where Sammy is fast, Bug makes up for it in strength. He even grunts like he’s just deadlifted 300lbs. Sammy whimpers as if to say “What about me?”

It’s nice to have small dogs. The poop is small. They can finish off one can. They fit in the car. They’re easy to kick. (The official joke part of this post.) And if you have to pick them up quickly like I did on the beach the other day when some moron let his Rottweiler loose to roam with the little kids, it’s easy to scoop them up.

The big dog was ok, just an excessive amount of slobber.

My wife wants to dress Bug up like Rambo for Halloween. Lame, but maybe he’ll get me extra candy when we take them out? Hm. Could work.

So, I guess the movie HANGOVER is doing well. That’s a good thing for us. It’s tough to create cars for movies and have the movie tank like a P51 in flames, but it happens all the time. KNIGHT RIDER, MYSTERY MEN, etc… BAM! CRASH! KAPLOW!

But when a movie does well, then it feels good. Everyone’s work is rewarded. The shop here employs a lot of talented craftsmen. About 40 right now, but 100 when we’re rockin.’ Mechanics, painters, fiberglass doods. Motorcycle Rick, in our graphics department is awesome, Bob and Oscar in the front office constantly on the phones with the studios. (Doin’ 24 Season 8 now.) Fun stuff.

But what’s cool is the fact that the shop itself is like a living breathing creature. Cars are moving in and out all day. I come in one day a week and there’s all new stuff to see. Like going to Disneyland once a week and there’s an all new ride. Cars below are from THE FLINTSTONES, STREET TUNER CHALLENGE, CHARLIE’S ANGELS, GET SMART, FAST & FURIOUS 4. Next week, there will be all new stuff.

It’s a blessing to do what you love. People waste a lot of time not taking action in that arena. Life is short and you MUST get out there and enjoy it. If you’re in a job that you don’t like, just ask the question, “What DO I like?” And then let that stew. Then, when it comes, AND IT WILL, get into action. One step a day is all it takes to make your dreams a reality. And stop blaming others for why you don’t have what you want. It’s you. And since it’s you, only YOU can fix it.

And get to working on that car in your garage. It’s cool and needs to be finished. I’m just sayin.’

<br/>Fireball+Tim+causes+havoc+at+the+MALIBU+CONCOURS!

Yes, check out the goods! CVS is now on Facebook with a cadray of coolness! It’s MOVIE CARS up the wazoo! Become a fan so that you get the skinny on what we’re up to ala “behind the scenes!” Cool.

This week. Curves.

A hot Plymouth Concept from Michael Leonhard, posters for Quenten Tarantino’s “Inglorious Basterds,” “GI Joe” and some weirdness from Peugeot. (They’re always weird, but cool.) Plus, a “Pimped” Batmobile I did for an upcoming book.

I get sent so much to consider for the “Weekly What’s Cool in Design” that I can hardly choose. A lot of great designers out there creating neat stuff. I really like poster design too, ’cause there’s a science to a successful poster. Done well, they can lead the viewer’ eye exactly where they want them to go. Just look at the GI Joe poster and keep your eye on the logo. Yea, right. Now go take a cold shower.

Speaking of Fireworks!!! OMG, check out the dew I had back in ‘80. Pretty sure I was nesting Ostrich in that mop. Why’s my Dad smiling? As Mike Myers said in “So I Married an Axe Murderer,” “LOOKS LIKE AN ORANGE ON A TOOTHPICK!”

Wanted to send good wishes out to everyone on this great July 4th. A time to be proud to be human. Doesn’t matter where you’re from, who you are, color, creed or toenail size, it is our God-given right to be free. All of us. So celebrate that freedom this weekend with passion. Be safe, be smart and live to celebrate many more just like it. Every day should be July 4th, really.

And my mop? The Ostrich Farm is doing well, thank you.

Challenges are abundant. This I know. But it’s not the challenge itself, but how I deal with it.

Impatience. This new show I’m doing is right on track. Only, that’s too slow for me. I want it to happen yesterday. (Maybe the day before…) But, in my infinite non-wisdom, I make my situation worse by creating my own frustration. …And that’s when I turn inside.

People laugh when you mention the word “meditation.” But I just look at it like this. It’s been around since like, FOREVER. Thousands of years. (Take a look at the David Lynch Foundation to the right) So, there must be value in it. And all IT is, is closing your eyes to the noise of the world in a quiet place and calming things down. Then, and ONLY then, do the answers you seek come.

And boy does it work… Inspiration, Intuition, whatever you want to call it, is trying to get to you. But, YOUR’E SO DAMN LOUD THAT IT CAN’T!! So? Go into the silence and calm things down. Remove the frustration so things can flow.

And when they do, I play with cars. See? Told you it works. Now try it for yourself. BOOM. Time for coffee…