Sunday, July 20, 2008 ... Bug Convertible

Behind the VW Bug convertible, you can see the green wall of Elephant's, with a banner that advertises their Garden Party Room.

I believe it would be great fun to drive this car. LeRoy and I had a VW Bug for a couple of years before he died; he used to drive it to work when we lived in Houston, Texas. I can remember how much Lamont and Leland enjoyed riding in it with him.

Do you have any VW stories to share? Or any sleek cars you used to know/have/love that you could tell us about? Eventually I know I'll find a 1955 four-door Chevrolet, a 1966 Chevrolet Impala and a Chevy II, maybe a 1962--Mama and I have FMD about that date, failing memory disease! Goes with age.

Saturday, July 19, 2008 - VW Squareback

Found this beauty near the apartment. The young man who owns it came over when he saw me taking photos of it and gave me this information--1971 Volkswagen Squareback Type III. He didn't mind if I used the photo of the whole car as long as I blurred the license plate. It took some time, rubbing that little iPhoto retouch brush over and over and over that Oregon plate, but I did it because you really need to see the whole car. Plus that building in the background, where you can see the red letters and the green symbol--that Elephant's Delicatessen. Sunday's sleek photo comes from one of their parking lots, out of sight to the right.

Friday, July 18, 2008 ... What is this cute car?

I don't know what it is, but I believe it fits right in with sleek week. I'm hoping someone can identify it for me. Walking along SE Hawthorne one day, there it was, toddling along in the sunshine, one of our prettier March days.

Thursday, July 17, 2008 ... Volkswagon, Redux

Sleek? You betcha. Remember, the definition of sleek, having trim graceful lines. Here's trim, as an adjective, from Merriam Webster Online: exhibiting neatness, good order, or compactness of line or structure. Need I say more? OK. I can't help myself. Graceful--pleasing or attractive in line, proportion, or movement.

You're with me now, I feel it.

Wednesday, July 16, 2007 ... ABC Wednesday, Z is for Zing

Several Saturdays ago as we walked along NW 23rd, my rolling black bag and I, we spied this orderly row of Harleys. Immediately, my rollin' black bag noticed those two travel bags standing proudly attached to the first bikes in line.

Ah, to speed over hill and dale, the wind rustling your whatever-denier-nylon-self. Zing went the strings of my rollin' black bag's heart, contemplating a life on the road, at speeds much greater than my feet or mass transit afford. That's the life for a travelin' bag!

Not. I see no motorcycles in my future, although there is a romantic British racing green Triumph in my past. Alas, my rollin' black bag wasn't even a twinkle in my eye back in 1972! Holding tight to LeRoy, the reason for the zing in my own heart, lent a brilliant sparkle to my eyes.

Yes, I've gone bonkers here, stretching for this Z, but I had fun. Hope you did, too!

If you're of a mind to, please go to Mrs. Nesbitt's Place for loads of other ABC Wednesday blogs! Look at the list of links per Mr. Linky.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 ... Alfa Romeo

In a comment about the Karmann Ghia--thanks, Snapper of Gabriola Daily Photo, for the correct spelling of that neat little vehicle--Steve from New Orleans Daily Photo asked where I'd found the Volkswagen product. One block from my work is Bright's where I often photograph autos left there for their services, like this Studebaker Avanti. The sleek factor certainly shows up in these two beauties.


Here's the same Alfa Romeo outside Bright Auto Upholstery.

Monday, July 14, 2008 ... Carmen Ghia?

Do I have it right? Is this a VW Carmen Ghia?

Look closely at the corner of the building on the left, and you'll see the Oldsmobile.

Sunday, July 13, 2008 ... Oldsmobile

Here's what I'm thinking I want to do, Sleek Week. As in having trim graceful lines, according to Merriam-Webster Online. As in the chrome grill and front end of this Oldsmobile. I am excited to see other sleek things I've already photographed and/or what I might come across around Portland. Knowing me--and Mama would say, "Yep; you always go overboard!"--I just might come up with more than a week's worth. Hope y'all don't get bored with it/me. Let's just say that if something non-sleek rears its interesting, beautiful, quirky, whatever, head, I shall interrupt my self-proclaimed Sleek Week and then return to it, posthaste.