FYI: I'm getting one assertive billy-goat station wagon!!

[elagache]

Dear mid-60s Buick caregivers who are a fan of a certain rascally wagon,

Last Friday, I had one more skin cancer surgery.  It was a Mohs procedure under local anesthetic to remove a small basal cell tumor on my scalp.  They were able to remove the tumor with clear edges in an hour and half and send me home.  There was one more surgery on my left ear in October to remove the remaining noninvasive melanoma.  I'm not doing as well on that one because a skin graft was necessary and the ear continues to be very tender.  Still, unless they find something new, I should be at the end of all these cancer surgeries.  I see my dermatologist tomorrow for another 3 month checkup.  We shall see . . . .   

On Monday, I took my trusty wagon to a shopping center that always has beautiful trees in the fall.  I couldn't resist taking a few pictures:



Here is one more:



The poor car hasn't been washed in over a year.  I hope to get around to it soon.

Edouard

[Blicj11]

Good to get an update Edouard. The car looks great, the cancer sounds like it's under control. What's the latest with your ability to breath through your nose?

[elagache]

Dear Blick and WeatherCat community,

Thanks for asking! 

The car looks great.

The windshield wipers still aren't fixed but I purchased the upgraded interval wiper kit when it was on a black Friday sale.

The cancer sounds like it's under control.

I hope so.  I am certainly being monitored much more carefully now so hopefully they will spot anything very early.

What's the latest with your ability to breath through your nose?

Unfortunately, that remains rather mediocre.  The left nostril basically remains partially obstructed.  The skin graft simply isn't a real replacement for nasal skin.  The right nostril is basically normal, but both sides still require a lot of nasal saline to keep open.  Oh well, it seems I'll just have to life with that way.

Thanks again for asking.

Edouard

[Blicj11]

Hang in there, my friend. You have been so helpful to so many for so long on this forum and we appreciate all you have done and continue to do to help.

[elagache]

Dear WeatherCat automotive enthusiasts,

Sadly, in addition to windshield wiper issues, my trusty wagon has problems with her HVAC system.  As a result, the heater is constantly on.  Not the most comfortable situation during the summer!  Nonetheless, I do try to get Biquette out when practical.  I needed some hardware items and now Outdoor Supply Hardware had one of their "pay the sales tax" weekends.  It was as good an excuse as any for an outing:



Sadly, the sun was in the wrong position for a very good picture, so I compensated with this second photo:



Mission was successfully accomplished and wagon is back in her corner of the garage until the next opportunity for an outing presents itself.

Edouard

[Blicj11]

Thanks for sharing. Glad you got out. And let's get that heater fixed so you can run the air conditioner this winter. 

[elagache]

Dear WeatherCat fans of a certain rascally wagon,

I finally had a good reason to run over to a local museum that once was a Southern Pacific depot.  As part of their display they have preserved a caboose which makes a perfect backdrop for a car from the 1960s.  I have photographed Biquette there before, and of course, she still fits the scene perfectly:



As before, this is a perfect excuse to do some digital aging to create an image with the look of photos taken in the 1960 or 70s.  Here is my recreation of a black and white print from that period:



Prefer a color recreation?  Here is a slide as it would have faded from the 1960s to now:



After all, variety is the spice of life, so enjoy this slice of autumn before winter finally sets it!

Edouard

[The Grand Poohbah]

Edouard, it's always a pleasure to see that you and Biquette are well.

[Blicj11]

Edouard, it's always a pleasure to see that you and Biquette are well.

Amen! Love the aging photographs from the aging Edouard.

[elagache]

Dear WeatherCat fans of a certain rascally wagon,

It is winter in the northern hemisphere and large tracts of North America are in blizzard conditions.  However, in mild California you can drive a classic car most of the year.  There is a greet and meet tradition called "cars and coffee."  There was one this morning in an unused parking lot.  The sponsor champions import and exotic cars, but welcomes classic American cars as well.  Next to my trusty 1965 Buick Special wagon, a fellow parked his 1967 Chevy El Camino:



If they look familiar it is because they are built on the same chassis.  That's a good thing for my wagon - another source of reproduction parts!

Stay tuned for more photos - assuming I can manage to keep my wagon from getting any more spoiled then she already is!! 

Edouard 

[Blicj11]

Edouard:

It's great to see another photo of Biquette after a 16-month hiatus. I hope you are in just as good shape as that 61-year-old automobile.

[WCDev]

Looking good Edouard - lovely colour as well. And the age certainly puts our 20 year old Land Rover into perspective - had to have the alternator replaced a few weeks back, cost an arm and a leg, but what can you do?

[elagache]

Dear Blick, Stu, and WeatherCat fans of a certain rascally wagon,

It's great to see another photo of Biquette after a 16-month hiatus.

The good news is that indeed she looks really nice.  I just hope she isn't getting spoiled!!

I hope you are in just as good shape as that 61-year-old automobile.

Well, I guess so, but the supply of reproduction parts just isn't as good!!   

Looking good Edouard - lovely colour as well.

You aren't alone in noticing.  Actually her "seafoam green" is one of the reasons Mom wanted to buy her all the way back in 1968.  There was a battle for unique car colors and most of the US companies had unique formulas like this.  It still turns heads.  Biquette needed gas the Saturday before the show and before I could finish filling the tank two people came by asking if if they could take her picture!!

Of course, it does take a  L O N G  to fill up her gas tank!! 

And the age certainly puts our 20 year old Land Rover into perspective - had to have the alternator replaced a few weeks back, cost an arm and a leg, but what can you do?

    How about replace it with a chrome-plated alternator!!!   

Edouard