not robust enough: the time my internet search skills failed me

today, i saw the largest automobile funeral procession i have ever seen in my life. it was going westbound (i was just grateful they were headed the opposite way than i was) on Rosecrans Ave. in Sante Fe Springs, La Mirada or Norwalk...i'm not sure...between Carmenita and Valley View.

there were at least 200 cars, led by about two dozen rebuilt and restored classic 1950s era Chevrolet cars. by the time i figured out what was going on, and got my camera out to take a photo, the Chevys had all driven past...and then a pod of Harley Davidson motorcylists followed, with the entire procession for miles down the road. it required three sets of funeral escorts on motorcycles.

so, i tried for about half an hour to look for information about whose passing would have been memorialised and attracted such a large group on this day. i couldn't find anything. i tried everything, from your usual search terms, all their synonyms and the date. i tried looking up mortuaries and their schedules. i tried online maps, newspapers, blah blah. no dice. so i'm posting here so that maybe i'll remember to look again someday.

SAM MAYNARD wants to teach you how to fix your car!

Mr. Maynard is available to teach you basic automotive repair skills...And he's in L.A.!

The 70 year old mechanic says there's no place he'd rather be than under the hood. "Oh, it's my passion, it's my passion!" i wonder if he'd teach a small group class of us...?

Listen to the story here. And, read a little more about Mr. Maynard, too. Photo via NPR/Christopher Johnson.

The Soup & Cupcakes & Hamburger Mary

i attended a taping of the Soup with some friends from work. i learned some things (real quick): 1) the laughter is really from a small studio audience, that we were a part of, but a LOT of the fake laughter originates from the stage director and camera guy. kinda unnerving/ disconcerting/annoying. 2) Joel McHale was lent a freaking AUDI R8 but usually drives a Subaru STI. sweet! 3) Joel McHale drinks scotch (the crew gave him a bottle for his birthday). 4) Joel McHale's birthday is 20 November. 5) Joel McHale's Subaru guy is also named McHale. 5) gourmet cupcakes are kinda overrated but good nonetheless, cos i really like the variety factour. my proof: we had cupcakes before the show from Jean's on 3rd thanks to a friend who works at E! (thx for the pumpkin one, CraBo!) and then the store Sprinkles brought in cupcakes for the entire audience (red velvet wasn't too shabby).

then it was off to Hamburger Mary's in Hollywood for a meal and some drag queen-hosted karaoke...VERY fun, but i hate to sing in front of people i don't know, so i didn't. But, our waiter Jerry was a cutie.

anyway, be sure to watch the episode that airs this week!!!

Obama '08 Vinyl Car/Window Decal

instead of going for those tiny overpriced paper things on eBay, check this out:
MAX GRAPHIX will make you a large vinyl window decal for your car, postage included, for ten dollars. he/she is also an OBAMA SUPPORTER so some of the funds will go to the campaign.

he ships very quickly and it arrives in a paper tube so it doesn't get damaged.