Are times THAT tough??

By now you'd have to be a hermit not to know that the economy sucks these days. Layoffs and unemployment are at record levels, the banks are in trouble, foreclosures rising, stocks a'tumblin . . . bla bla bla, right?

So it shouldn't surprise anyone that pawn shops are booming thanks to all this turmoil. Folks looking for that extra cash are pawning everything from lawn mowers and CDs to mink coats and wedding rings.

But Orange vehicles?? Are things really that bad??

I am sad to report that indeed it seems to be so. Check out the above photos. The little Orange ATV I photographed in January or February in front a pawn shop on University Boulevard in Jacksonville. Cute and decently Orange, for sure.

Times-Union photographer and UF fan Bruce Lipsky e-mailed the truck to me on Sunday. "First or second year Chevy Blazer K/5 in front of a pawn shop on Blanding Blvd. Saturday," he said. Definitely True Orange.

It's not clear the Chevy was for sale, but that doesn't keep me from fantasizing about owning it.

Jeff




First or second year Chevy Blazer K/5 in front of pawn shop on Blanding Blvd. Saturday.

A (Orange) sign from God

So the other day, right, I get a FaceBook message telling me I have to let go of this Orange obsession . . . referring, of course, to the BOVB.

Blasphemy.

Of course, I never gave it serious consideration. I was at the YMCA at the time and just giggled and thought about all the different witty responses I could respond with.

But when I exited the Y this awesome 1956 Chevrolet was there to greet me. It was parked right in front of the doors. I was stunned by the timing of it and by the fact that I had never seen this beautifully-Orange vehicle at this Y the three years I have been working out there. So the only logical explanation is that this is a sign that God approves of the BOVB.

It's owner welcomed the timing as well because he is trying to sell this gorgeously-Orange classic. Anyone interested in purchasing it should call Larry at (904) 388-6558, or e-mail him at larymore@juno.com. He said it's going for $5,000 OBO.

O man I'd definitely buy it if I had a few extra Gs laying around.

Larry said he bought this Chevy in 1963 and that it's got close to 97,000 miles on it. The inside is a bit beat up. "That's my security system," Larry said. Spare parts are readily available online and it's a joy to drive.

Whoever buys it, I hope they keep it in Riverside so I can see it for years to come.

Jeff

The United States of Orange

Unity. It's a word we heard a lot during the presidential election and we're bound to hear it a lot more in the coming years. Hopefully, political rhetoric will become social reality in our nation.

Fortunately, we the people of the Orange Nation know what being united means. We came together as UT's greatest quarterback ever, Tee Martin, led the Vols to a 13-0 and undisputed, unchallengeable national championship in 1998. Today we are united in hope and enthusiasm as Lane Kiffin builds a football team worthy of leading these United States of Orange.

Let us dwell in unity by gazing up on this totally badass van operated by United Electric Company of Jacksonville. I spotted it this month (January, 2009) in the San Marco area of Jacksonville. It's high-vibrating hue cut through the mist of a gray, rainy day and drew me right to it. Seeing it brought cheer to an otherwise gloomy day.

Jeff

PS -- if you're wondering why the bottom image looks more like the light red of Florida, it's because I shot that image through the tinted window of my SUV. Rest assured the top image, with its mood-enhancing Volunteer Orange, is what it really looked like.