I was out getting Olive (My sweet, green Ford Ranger) serviced today

[MrScorpio]

Last edited Thu Feb 23, 2017, 03:33 PM - Edit history (1)

The Works dealie, as recommended by The Rock. I saw his commercial last night and it reminded me that it was close to oil change time.

By the way, it was all good with my sweet vehicle.

Link to tweet

The strange thing is that, while waiting in the service area, it was strangely quiet. About 10 other folks were there, all subdued, no one saying anything to anyone. Mind you, I'm talking about a room full Of mostly older white guys here in good old Macomb County. Trump voters.

To me it was strange because, under normal circumstances in this area, small talk about the important issues of the day with a collection of strangers is pretty much to be expected. More so than just about weather, which was all of what I chatted with the staff about, other than Olive, of course.

Now, in spite of this being Macomb County, Trump Country, the last thing that these guys wanted to do, perhaps, was to get into a political discussion in the dealership waiting room. There was no TV turned to Fox News blaring its standard BS, so I guess that everyone was happy to take a break.

Although I didn't mind the break from politics, I did think the general silence was odd.

The old white dudes were looking beat down and it was the first thing in the morning, not very conducive to small talking. Here it was a beautiful, sunny morning in February and everyone was gloomed out. I was a little disappointed.

Anyway, before long the nice service lady called me over to tell me that Olive was all done. Over an hour there, no one had said anything to anyone else in that waiting room. Quite eerie. So, I paid my bill and left.

Can you just imagine four more years of this stuff?

FDT. Killing everyone's vibe.

[Wounded Bear]

1. Sounds like a lot of....

"oh shit, what have we done" going on there.

[Blue_true]

32. They hated Top 12 Best President Obama so much.

That the decided to cut their own throats, and unfortunately, ours (with help from Stein and Johnson voters and Bernie writeins).

[murielm99]

2. My husband is noticing that

in the coffee shops in our rural area. The loudmouth republicans are oddly quiet.

[blm]

3. I think the Russia story is starting to hit some of these people who voted for him.

Inwardly you would be somewhat aware that your vote for Trump enabled treason.

[safeinOhio]

4. I'd have to ask them

"How about that Putin guy". Just to get em started.

[Motown_Johnny]

5. I took my Taurus in for the same deal about a month ago, Also Macomb county

and nobody said anything to each other while I was there either. Of course I walked across the street and had a nice breakfast to kill most of the hour or so that the servicing took.


I was at Roy O'Brien a 9 and Mack.


P.S. I sold my purple Ranger in December of 2015. Never did name it though. I also have a green Explorer, not named. I guess I could call it Olive but it is more of a Kelly.

[MrScorpio]

6. And Spring Training opening day is today

And not even one word about The Tigers.

Shit's pretty weird, with that no chatting.

[Motown_Johnny]

7. I guess everyone just plays on their phone now.

The new normal.

[yuiyoshida]

8. I know it was spring training ...on my twitter feed was a few photos

of the SF Giants in Scottsdale throwing and catching...It was great to see, I think that perked me up a bit!!

Link to tweet

YES INDEEDIE!

[itcfish]

9. It sounds like

a normal day in NY LOL

[MrScorpio]

10. Around here, people conversate with strangers. It's normal

When I moved around while in the service, I found out the hard way that some folks aren't used to talking to strangers.

That freaked me out at first. I thought that people were just being rude. I found out later that strangers talking about whatever wasn't universal.

If you come here, that might freak you out, but there's nothing wrong with it. Must be a Midwest thing.

[itcfish]

15. I Know I

was just teasing. New Yorkers are friendlier than most people think. We do talk to people and start conversations especially in waiting rooms and on long rides on the railroad. We stay away from politics even though it is a liberal city, there are a lot of rightwingers so the conversations are usually neutral.

[Blue_true]

33. What I have seen about Northeast people.

Is that they are very family and nuclear community oriented. But once you become friends with them, they are very loyal.

[irisblue]

11. trump harshing everyones mellow.

[LS_Editor]

12. Naming cars...

[MrScorpio]

17. You must not be from Detroit.

[logosoco]

24. We name the cars in our family!

My mom would always call hers "Bessie" no matter the car. I give each one their own name. Right now I am driving Penny. It's a 1997 Voyager mini-van. My son said he wanted to name his "White Lightning" but I call her Roz (because that is on the license plate).

I don't know how people could NOT give their car a name! After a long drive, I always say "Thanks, Penny!" or if I am tired and going back home I get in and say "Let's go home Penny". I guess that will take on new meaning someday!


(Also, in a red area outside of St. Louis folks don't seem as happy as one might think they would be!)

[Blue_true]

34. Big time car people do that. My dad named all of his cars and trucks. nt

[Fast Walker 52]

13. maybe they are just tired from all the winning

[oasis]

30. Lol

[Squinch]

14. And yet, we've got a poll going in an OP here that says 75% of polled Republicans are real proud

of their tiny Hitler.

I'll believe that the Trump voting assholes are coming to their senses when they damn well start speaking up about the horrors that man is inflicting on people.

[kiranerys]

37. Might not be registered Republicans?

Lots of folks got sick of the GOP and became independents, but are still on the right.

[heaven05]

16. if they have one brain cell working

they now know they got conned. Many will never admit it though I am sure because of their irrational hate and blindness toward 'others' that the boy-potus puppet and his handlers have tapped into.

[llmart]

18. Here's my Macomb County story of today...

I live here too. Was walking at Stony (could you get a nicer day in February???) but early and there was an old white dude (and by old, I mean probably about my age), a bit portly walking towards me with a cane. The closer he got I could see he was wearing a baseball hat with some text on it. At first I thought, oh brother, probably a Trump voter (yeah, I was profiling him). When I got closer I saw it said "Dump Trump". I couldn't help myself and I said to him, "I like your hat" to which he responded "Yeah, I do too." Then I chuckled and he said, "Most people I meet say the same thing, 'tho there are a few who don't like it." That was the end of our conversation and I went on my way, but had an epiphany that I really shouldn't profile old white men in Macomb. LOL

My thoughts are that there are probably a lot of people who voted for him that will never admit it and that just shows me that after only 5 short weeks in office he is already tainted to the point that not too many people want to be associated with the orange freakshow.

[MrScorpio]

20. There's a lot of religious bumper stickers around this area

Must be the proximity to the $250,000-$300,000 homes and the fact that this is where the GOPr congressional district lays. Down around Warren or even Mt. Clemens, I know the crowd and sentiment is quite different.

[HipChick]

28. I was in Red,Red Virginia today and saw this bumper sticker..

[img][img]

[MrScorpio]

35. That's a hopeful sign right there.

Like the first sign of Spring.

[LisaM]

23. Is everyone from Macomb County?

Funny! I used to live in Mt. Clemens and my family has deep roots there. Our cousin's family still lives in the same house that's been in our family since it was new.

There is a kind of Kid Rock faction out there, but I wonder if the DeVos nomination stirred peoples' consciences a little? A lot of people I know from Michigan - even apolitical ones - were begging that this nomination get derailed. It didn't, and I think people were shocked that even with all the information and warnings, she still managed to squeak through. They foresee her doing to the country what she's done to Michigan.

[Leith]

19. I Would Have Thought It to Be Peaceful

I've had the experience more than once where a casual chat about what's in the news suddenly turned into a hateful rant from a previously easy-going person. These days it's hard to know where the mines are.

That being said: there's something about southeast Michigan and cars. I've been in dealerships around the country and never saw vintage cars on display in a showroom, yet there was one right there for you to admire. I'm from Flint and the most common school field trip was to the Sloan Museum. One beautiful Sunday afternoon, I saw about 50 (no exaggeration - fifty within 10 minutes) Rolls Royces driving along I-75. Some of them were old enough to need cranking to start. We figured it had to be a local RR enthusiasts' club.

[MrScorpio]

21. I should have snapped a pic of the vintage GT on display

That one was sweet.

[MineralMan]

22. Your car has a name. You must like Olive.

I've only had one car that I gave a name. It was a 1959 Triumph 10 (Standard 10 in the UK). It was this adorable little 4-door sedan, smaller than a VW, with an 948 cc engine, and a beveled glass rear view mirror. White over Baby Blue, it was. It ran like a top, and was neatly appointed inside. I added an inside light on one of the window pillars that was a miniature cut glass lamp I rewired and connected to the dome light.

That car was an absolute magnet for girls, oddly enough, and I was a young single guy. Tiny and possessing a cute little boot, it managed to disarm most young ladies just by existing. I loved that little car, and named it Mabel. Here's an ad for that model:

[MrScorpio]

25. Out of all the vehicles I've owned, Olive is the only one with a name

And I didn't even name my '79 Benz in Germany.

Olive is special indeed.

[MineralMan]

26. Yeah, Mabel was the only car I gave a name, too.

I had it when I married my former wife. She thought it was very cute, but then, I thought she was very cute, herself.

[jpak]

27. Pod People

yup

[Blue_Tires]

29. kick

yeah, I don't even bother to stay at the dealer anymore, and when I do I'm in the showroom pawing all the new models...

[Blue_Roses]

31. I've always had a name for my car

My dad owned a used car dealership when I was in college and it seemed I always got the dud cars. (I really wanted a Firebird, but dad said no) One car I had was a Ford LTD named, Louise. That car literally would "sing" when I stopped at red lights. One of my friends riding with me one day asked, " is this car singing?"
I said,"yes, yes it is!"

Come to find out, Louise had some problems that caused her to "sing".

But, yes living in the south I have always named my car and started conversations with strangers. It just feels natural.

[MrScorpio]

36. Beautiful!

👋🏼👋🏼