Lexus ES350, as they say "You can't fix stupid!"

[runrun411]

This post seems to growing legs and is really fun to read. Maybe it should be called "the adventures of Mike". Your friendship with him sound like you two have alot of fun together. Just your description of him is very funny. I hope you have more Mike and car stories like this. Not to mention that your very informative in your other post. Thank you for all you bring to AG.

 

[Bill1234]

Im not being mean to your friend or you, but in this case, money bought him stupidity as he did not protect his investment



:buffing::buffing::buffing::buffing::buffing::buffing::buffing::buffing::buffing:

 

[dad07]

Man what a great read......laughed all through it!

I agree with some of the other fellas.....you got some mad writing and detailing skills,the car looks great,and I felt like I was right there watching the whole thing!


Great Job Tony, and thanks for sharing your weekend with us!

 

[cardaddy]

Yikes! It's hard for me to deal with people like that. I need to be surrounded by people who have passion and love for what they do or at least a will to learn.

At any rate, great job on the car even while being rushed it looks great.

Really enjoyed the story as well. Keep writing this way.

Well, I can't say he doesn't have the 'energy' to put into what he wants to do, which just happens to be work. He did speak before I even went up there that he could be able to describe the "detailing process" to her after seeing it first hand. It's just that he wasn't prepared (I guess) for all that goes into that process. :dunno:

I may end up writing something later along these lines, (seems to be at least readable). :laughing: I have a number of people in mind that just LOVE to make car payments, but have no clue how to make the car pay for itself.

I enjoyed reading this and can't help but wonder....

Is it possible that he has an interest that you could care less about?

For example, weightlifting - maybe he's posting on a forum related weightlifting how "stupid" his friend is for having no interest in working out (don't know if you do or if you don't, just using this as an example).

I don't publicly call my friends stupid, and when I do it in private, they're right in front of me.

No disrespect meant here at all, like I said I enjoyed the "read" but we all have different things that we're interested in - and just because he doesn't care to detail doesn't make him stupid.

Is it possible that he has an interest that he loves to spend hours on? No, not really. The one thing he has been known to do (in the past, before his shoulders went bad) is ride his Harley. I mentioned twice he got a tatoo while she was out of town. One other time he went on a multi-state ride and she flipped the freak out!!! So THIS TIME I thought it was about time he do something for HER that maybe, juuuuuusssssstt maybe, might help him make a deposit into the good will bank with her.

At his core, he is probably the laziest man I've ever known. Would that he could get away with it, he'd do nothing, sitting in the dark. This boy is lazy, and has 2 prior marrages to show for it. This one just calls him to task and quite honestly, it's been VERY GOOD for him! He is self distructive, and without her iron thumb he would likely self distruct.

Just doesn't have any gumption to do stuff on his own. As long as someone is there to show him the way, he'll do anything. Don't misunderstand that I don't know him, or that I don't feel where he is in life. Far from it.

Take TV or music for instance, I use it as entertainment, always have, most people do. He'll go for days without even turning the sound on a TV, (if it was on at all). And don't even think he knows how to adjust the picture. Oh, and he's tone deaf as well (well not actually, but doesn't care for ANY type of music).We recently had a discussion about how my wife will run our main TV for 18 hours (or more) a day on the weekend. Which when it was new I didn't have a problem with. But... it was new in 2004, and it's a 73", 3-gun 9"CRT RPTV that was $6500 in 2004. CRT's tend to have a life around 50.000 hours, after that you just don't know. So... we were discussing the TV getting long in the tooth and I was saying "Dude, you KNOW that I'm not going to put up with a 61" TV, just not going to happen". Remember that our entire lives I've been into the biggest TV I could find. HDTV was just icing on the cake.

Any-who... his reply to that (me not accepting a 61" TV) was, "Oh yeah, that IS A BIT LARGE." So I asked what size should the screen in your main system, the one you watch TV and movies be? Why not see just how big is "too big"? His reply, "Maybe something like a 42, that'd be pretty big." Needless to say he just couldn't fathom it when I told him the *new* TV will be at least 80".

You see, the thing is some people work to live, others live to work.

Gotta' remember, I know this guy. I know him better than his wife does. Even my wife knows stuff about him that his wife doesn't know, and THAT is what scares him to keep old friends away. He loves to do one thing, W-O-R-K. To the point where he's trapped by it.

During his last shoulder surgery I went up to visit him (the week after). He was on pain meds and pacing the floor worrying. His doctor told him he needed 5~6 weeks AND physical therapy to get back to where he needed to be. When 3 weeks was up he begged his doctor to go back to work, BECAUSE he is an old man in a young mans game. He was scared that a young kid out of college would take his job.

As it turned out, they took his job anyhow. His shoulder wasn't anywhere NEAR healed and they gave him the one he has now. (Where he is away from home every other week MINIMUM.) Yes, he got a raise, (about 10K) but took a HUGE hit hourly. (His old job he traveled away from home overnight about once every 2~3 months.)

The thing is... he's a good guy, but doesn't have ANY hobbies. He'll clean house I'm sure, (exactly like she tells him to). Time to work in the yard, then it's time to work in the yard. The ONE thing that he's spent about 52 hours on in the last 2+ years (as shown on the meter in the Polaris) is riding in the woods. THAT HOWEVER IS SERIOUSLY COOL!

As for *him* being stupid, no... I didn't say that. What he was doing was, and is indeed stupid, when it comes to taking care of the 2nd most valubable investment he/you/I will ever make. Given proper instruction, and perhaps insight into how it does indeed affect 'value' (likely real over perceived). Then AFTER there is approval from the 'powers that be' he may just indeed shine a different light on the entire thing.

As for stupid...There is a fix fo that, IF you are willing to do it. If not, then as it was said in probably my favorite movie of all times, "Stupid is as stupid does, SIR". Man do I love Forrest Gump! :dblthumb2:

 

[cardaddy]

This post seems to growing legs and is really fun to read. Maybe it should be called "the adventures of Mike". Your friendship with him sound like you two have alot of fun together. Just your description of him is very funny. I hope you have more Mike and car stories like this. Not to mention that your very informative in your other post.

Now that's a thought... "The adventures of Mike!". :laughing: Im the MAN:laughing:

Shoulda' seen hime when we were riding the trails. The new windshield he had to have so bad, (which WAS something he had to work on for a few months with the wife) did indeed keep the air off. But HOLY JESUS was it hot! The seat was so hot I kept standing UP!!! :laughing:

Later Kim called and asked him how it went. Although I had tried to tell him when we were installing it to move it up a bit off the hood to get some air under it, OH NOOOOOOO that wasn't gonna' happen. Anyhow, he was heard telling her that it is just too hot to ride now. Early Sunday morning he totally removed the bottom part, opening up about 8" of space to keep from suffocating.

"Thank you for all you bring to AG."

Well I don't know about that part, but I'll take whatever this old cripple can get.
You, my friend... are certainly welcome.

 

[cardaddy]

Im not being mean to your friend or you, but in this case, money bought him stupidity as he did not protect his investment

I am afraid you're right. Until this wife he never had anything, I mean really. Now they through working together have a nice home, nice cars, spend money however they want. Not rich by any means, but comfortable (as long as the both work). The problem with surrounding yourself with all the trinkets, is you have to keep your trinkets shiney. IF not, then they stop being an investment in happiness and turn to a weight around your neck.

Man what a great read......laughed all through it!

I agree with some of the other fellas.....you got some mad writing and detailing skills,the car looks great,and I felt like I was right there watching the whole thing!


Great Job Tony, and thanks for sharing your weekend with us!

Boy I tell ya' what... it'd been NICE to have some of you guys there, that's for darn sure. Woulda' been a 'coup boy, I mean a 'coup I say! (In my best Foghorn Leghorn voice.)

MIKE, go get us more beer!

Mike, don't rub that dirty rag on the car! (Did this one actually.)
MIKE, go wash these pads! (Actually I *DID* do this one too, SEVERAL TIMES!) :buffing:

 

[runrun411]

Wow, the more you post about Mike, the funnier it gets. There's something about him you have me a little confused about. You say he's very lazy but then you say he works a lot. So what kind of work does he do? Also, you're absolutely right about having all those toys. Like the saying goes: "with great power comes great responsibility". To have all those toys means to keep them all maintained and shiny.

 

[Bill1234]

I totally agree with cardaddy, I feel I could buy a 20,000 dollar car and keep it nice or a 200,000 dollar car and not care for it. Puts a different perspective on things

 

[rms64]

Is it possible that he has an interest that he loves to spend hours on? No, not really. The one thing he has been known to do (in the past, before his shoulders went bad) is ride his Harley. I mentioned twice he got a tatoo while she was out of town. One other time he went on a multi-state ride and she flipped the freak out!!! So THIS TIME I thought it was about time he do something for HER that maybe, juuuuuusssssstt maybe, might help him make a deposit into the good will bank with her.

At his core, he is probably the laziest man I've ever known. Would that he could get away with it, he'd do nothing, sitting in the dark. This boy is lazy, and has 2 prior marrages to show for it. This one just calls him to task and quite honestly, it's been VERY GOOD for him! He is self distructive, and without her iron thumb he would likely self distruct.

Just doesn't have any gumption to do stuff on his own. As long as someone is there to show him the way, he'll do anything. Don't misunderstand that I don't know him, or that I don't feel where he is in life. Far from it.

Take TV or music for instance, I use it as entertainment, always have, most people do. He'll go for days without even turning the sound on a TV, (if it was on at all). And don't even think he knows how to adjust the picture. Oh, and he's tone deaf as well (well not actually, but doesn't care for ANY type of music).We recently had a discussion about how my wife will run our main TV for 18 hours (or more) a day on the weekend. Which when it was new I didn't have a problem with. But... it was new in 2004, and it's a 73", 3-gun 9"CRT RPTV that was $6500 in 2004. CRT's tend to have a life around 50.000 hours, after that you just don't know. So... we were discussing the TV getting long in the tooth and I was saying "Dude, you KNOW that I'm not going to put up with a 61" TV, just not going to happen". Remember that our entire lives I've been into the biggest TV I could find. HDTV was just icing on the cake.

Any-who... his reply to that (me not accepting a 61" TV) was, "Oh yeah, that IS A BIT LARGE." So I asked what size should the screen in your main system, the one you watch TV and movies be? Why not see just how big is "too big"? His reply, "Maybe something like a 42, that'd be pretty big." Needless to say he just couldn't fathom it when I told him the *new* TV will be at least 80".

You see, the thing is some people work to live, others live to work.

Gotta' remember, I know this guy. I know him better than his wife does. Even my wife knows stuff about him that his wife doesn't know, and THAT is what scares him to keep old friends away. He loves to do one thing, W-O-R-K. To the point where he's trapped by it.

During his last shoulder surgery I went up to visit him (the week after). He was on pain meds and pacing the floor worrying. His doctor told him he needed 5~6 weeks AND physical therapy to get back to where he needed to be. When 3 weeks was up he begged his doctor to go back to work, BECAUSE he is an old man in a young mans game. He was scared that a young kid out of college would take his job.

As it turned out, they took his job anyhow. His shoulder wasn't anywhere NEAR healed and they gave him the one he has now. (Where he is away from home every other week MINIMUM.) Yes, he got a raise, (about 10K) but took a HUGE hit hourly. (His old job he traveled away from home overnight about once every 2~3 months.)

The thing is... he's a good guy, but doesn't have ANY hobbies. He'll clean house I'm sure, (exactly like she tells him to). Time to work in the yard, then it's time to work in the yard. The ONE thing that he's spent about 52 hours on in the last 2+ years (as shown on the meter in the Polaris) is riding in the woods. THAT HOWEVER IS SERIOUSLY COOL!

As for *him* being stupid, no... I didn't say that. What he was doing was, and is indeed stupid, when it comes to taking care of the 2nd most valubable investment he/you/I will ever make. Given proper instruction, and perhaps insight into how it does indeed affect 'value' (likely real over perceived). Then AFTER there is approval from the 'powers that be' he may just indeed shine a different light on the entire thing.

As for stupid...There is a fix fo that, IF you are willing to do it. If not, then as it was said in probably my favorite movie of all times, "Stupid is as stupid does, SIR". Man do I love Forrest Gump! :dblthumb2:

Great points above and I sincerely hope you didn't take offense to my comments. Sometimes I can't help but go into "Devil's Advocate" mode.

Sounds like you know this guy extremely well and you're right, you didn't call him stupid so I stand corrected on that point for sure.

Being honest, I get annoyed about people with cool cars that I don't even know that obviously don't take care of then (random cars in parking lots, for example) so I surely can't criticize your passion for detailing - I've got the bug too!

Great reading here....shine on!

 

[dad07]

Boy I tell ya' what... it'd been NICE to have some of you guys there, that's for darn sure. Woulda' been a 'coup boy, I mean a 'coup I say! (In my best Foghorn Leghorn voice.)

MIKE, go get us more beer!

Mike, don't rub that dirty rag on the car! (Did this one actually.)
MIKE, go wash these pads! (Actually I *DID* do this one too, SEVERAL TIMES!) :buffing:

Boy look at me....boy I say look at me when I'm talking to ya.....LOL! Oh yeh...it would have been a all nighter if I was there....then Sunday would have been play time!

 

[cardaddy]

Wow, the more you post about Mike, the funnier it gets. There's something about him you have me a little confused about. You say he's very lazy but then you say he works a lot. So what kind of work does he do? Also, you're absolutely right about having all those toys. Like the saying goes: "with great power comes great responsibility". To have all those toys means to keep them all maintained and shiny.

Oh my... as Deb said tonight (when I was reading all this to her), it's a good thing Mike can't see this! :laughing:

When I say 'lazy' I'm talking about when he's at home. He just isn't focused.... not in his DNA. When it comes to knowing how to do stuff around the house he just never learned, or didn't care to learn. (That is till this wife, which I've said is the best thing he's ever had.) Although.... there is a beautiful block retaining wall in his backyard they built. Most stuff he just doesn't do though. Not a handyman I guess is a way to describe it. Doesn't cook, but has LEARNED to clean!

We grew up together in the grocery stores. He left the labor union to go to Co. Manager levels/ I stayed in (with the protection of 40 hour weeks and higher hourly pay) to do Department Manager, all the way to Assistant Manager levels. I figured out way back then that I would rather work a 40 hour week and be home. He otoh got used to pulling 60+ hour weeks and never stopped. He left that and went into visual merchandising, retrofitting old stores and such. Now he's basically doing the same thing, sales, merchandising, just at a higher level.

So yeah, he works a lot, and DRIVES a WHOLE LOT MORE! Even when he's in town for the week he's driving all over Georgia. If he can get there in 2~3 hours he'll drive, spend 10 hours at the store, then drive home. That's one reason he had the 2012 Ford Flex sitting there. He has been on the road so much last week, this week and the next that they rented it for him. Oh and I get it, I *really* get it....when he's at home now he just doesn't WANT to work. (UNLESS.... it's something he just has to do.)

Don't get me wrong, me and the ol' boy have gone down some shall we say "very trippin" roads together. Not much we've not done over the years. Did I say we were trippin? Shoulda' been there... 80's were an amazing time. Never did see another red-n-white checkerboard tablecloth dance around like that again. :nomore::laughing:

I'd venture to say I know him better than I knew my own brother. (fwiw My brother was 11 years younger and for all intent and purpose.... was a bonifide loser. Stayed in trouble his entire life, drugs, cops, stupid stuff (no felonies) just stupid stuff. Died from druge abuse, massive infection shut down his organs.) Mike otoh, I know that fella', good bad and ugly (proclivities and all). Psssst, that is some scary stuff there my brother! :laughing:

Not that anything has to do with how many hours he or ANY OF US are working. Not at all.... buuuutttttt.... for the love of God, don't let your stuff just rot because you're too lazy to either HIRE someone to take care of it, or FIX IT yourself. Claiming you don't know how to do it, therefore it just need not be done is just "stupid you can't fix".

Now I'm no stranger to working long hours, in the Towing Business I didn't even feel right if I left home after 6:30 and got home before 7:00. :dunno: I remember when I turned 40 I was working 14~16 hour days, 6 days a week and was happy as could be. Didn't have to answer to anyone else (except the IRS) and had no problem busting my hump till the cows came home. Lord knows if we were making any money, but by George there was some serious cash flow going on!

Said a prayer one day, the day I turned 45... "Lord, if you'll let me keep doing this for just 10 more years, I'll be OK and stop, stay at home more and be a better Dad." Funny thing asking God for stuff; He has HIS OWN timeline! You see, I said that prayer because I'd been fighting some little back problems on and off for 25 years, then neck problems over 10 years and thought I had my own plan for old age. "Uh HELLO..." (that was what he told me one morning), "You will stop when I say you'll stop, mister smarty pants!" I had developed a number of discs that were degenerating, causing severe pinching of my spinal cord at L4 and L5 (and now S1). Add that to the old problems at T6, T7, & T8 along with C5 & C6 (which means my neck doesn't turn to the left too well) and I was in deep SNIT! Sure enough, by the time I turned 46 I was no longer able to drive a truck, no longer able to even sit for but a couple hours at a time. Get up, lie down, ice, heat, here a doctor there a doctor, everywhere a doctor-doctor. Oh crap, that's Old McDonald!

Point is, I'm the type that would rather do it myself. Not much I can't do. Studied drafting & architecture in school so I can design and build a house if I want. (Not able to anymore, but at least I know enough to keep from getting ripped off.) Know enough about electrical to wire anything I'll need done. Would (if I could) build hotrod engines, WHICH is how I met my wife! We both were into 70's street rods and could build engines in our teens. Did I tell ya' how special a girl she is? Back then, 'wax on, wax off' was the only way to go. (And no, not a Karate Kid either.)

Mike on the other hand, bought cars, wrecked cars, and SOMETIMES, just sometimes.... washed them too!!! :laughing: Never learned 'wax on, wax off'. Had every opportunity I did, but.... let's say it just one more time.... awwww.... comon' guys.... "Because you can't fix stupid!"

 

[runrun411]

Again let me say, you are a great writer. And the way you tell these stories and describe Mike is really interesting. Maybe you should profile Mike on AG w/pics and all. LOL With all your injuries you still have this passion for detailing. I feel your pain. I'm middle aged as well and need hip replacements in both hips so believe me I know what pain is. I ran a marathon back in 2001 and wore out my hips. Sometimes when I get into detailing my car for those moments my mind is off the pain and then a couple of hours later I'm reminded of my ailment. I could not imagine for the life of me detailing for a living. But anyway maybe in a few weeks Mike's other cars may need detailing. LOL

 

[cardaddy]

I totally agree with cardaddy, I feel I could buy a 20,000 dollar car and keep it nice or a 200,000 dollar car and not care for it. Puts a different perspective on things

You sir must have been reading my mail! Tis' better to love and and not received than to never have loved at all. In other words... love that paint and it'll love you back. :laughing:

Great points above and I sincerely hope you didn't take offense to my comments. Sometimes I can't help but go into "Devil's Advocate" mode.

Sounds like you know this guy extremely well and you're right, you didn't call him stupid so I stand corrected on that point for sure.

Being honest, I get annoyed about people with cool cars that I don't even know that obviously don't take care of then (random cars in parking lots, for example) so I surely can't criticize your passion for detailing - I've got the bug too!

Great reading here....shine on!

No problems dude, didn't take offense at all. I do realize I likely said more than I shoulda', but then again.... what are freinds for?

Finally got a text from his wife tonight.
To quote:
"Of course I couldn't see the car the evening I returned. it was late, dark, and the garage light did not provide good lighting to view the BEAUTY. (Remember me telling you all that his garage was dark as a cave?)
It looks new, and feels new too!
I appreciate the attention and efforts put forth!
I know you guys invested a lot of time and it shows. Remember to alway look at what you accomplish, no need to point out the things you didn't. You know... the glass half full."
(This was likely because I had apoligized to her for not completing it to my satisfaction.)

So yeah.... her comments are saying and seeing what "Mike" never even caught on to in the first dawgone place. And HE WAS THERE!

Boy look at me....boy I say look at me when I'm talking to ya.....LOL! Oh yeh...it would have been a all nighter if I was there....then Sunday would have been play time!

I say Hey there boy.... get to work boy.

If you look close, you'll see the lil' red G sittin' there. Trunk is full, back seat is full, back floorboards, even passenger seat was full of detailing supplies! Betcha never seen a 'mobil' detailing rig that that one! :buffing:

I say Hey there boy... put down dat' dagum' coffee and we might get dun fur' dark BOY.

Psssst.... hard to get any work done when one hand is holding a teeny-tiny coffee cup and the OTHER ONE is constantly wiping up spilled coffee on my detailing job!

Notice how big that Polaris is compared to the CAR! Pretty kewl diggin' around in the mud with that puppy!

[NOTE This was before it was compounded, hence the tag still being on it. AND.... all the pads and supplies still in my trunk!!!!]

And just to add something nice and sweet....
She also said this;
"Thanks again...and know that Mike is always doing things for me, probably more than what is returned."

I say I told ya' so Boy!

Diidn't I tell ya'... Yup... figured it out....YesSir,Eee In-Dee-Dee!!!
Long as that fella' does EXACTLY what she tells him to he's good to go. (No wonder he doesn't have time for anything else!) :laughing: