Just Walt's Mental Meanderings
Walter Blevins
- Location
- Vista, California, USA
- Birthday
- August 22
- Bio
- I'm a 58 year old guy from Southern California by way of the Midwest. I've lived in Southern California for 11 years and spent the 30 years before that in Iowa, Wisconsin and North Dakota.
Professionally, I am a Trainer/Consultant in the automotive industry which as everyone knows is troubled right now--perhaps the reason for my current unemployment. Before becoming an automotive trainer I sold cars for 6 years. Before that, I was CEO/COO of several Chambers of Commerce in the Midwest and worked in economic and community development for the States of Iowa and North Dakota.
I have a MA from the University of North Dakota in Political Philosophy. 2 grown children, a son and a daughter live in Nebraska and Missouri. I have a 19 year old step-daughter and a 18 month old grand daughter.
I like to write about a whole variety of things from my kids to cooking to politics to the car industry to my status as a "Cheap Bastid" and "Old Fart" and just random thoughts--I call my "Mental Meanderings". Please join me, comment on my ramblings, argue with me or even tell me I'm full of it.
(just-walt.blogspot.com)
By the way--all the crap that I write is my crap and you can't use it without my official OkeyDokey
MY RECENT COMMENTS
- “Torman, what a terrific
love story. And, I'm really
impressed
with the
reactions…”
11:43AM - “Yep, I've got the sound
of those rim shots
reverberating in
my ears! This
was a…”
11:39AM - “I never got past the
title (well I looked at the
screen name
too). My
conclusion…”
7:42PM - “Makes me want to rush
out and get a haircut!”
7:37PM - “Bill, what I really like
about this post is that it's
from
this thoughtful,
artic…”
November 22, 2009 01:41PM
Walter Blevins's Links
- New list
- just-walts other blog
Kapowee! God I Wish it Were that Damn Easy
It’s been a little over a week since I went to work at a car dealership in Carlsbad, CA selling new vehicles. An interesting week.
First, the schedule can be a little bit brutal. Today from 2 to 8:30 I’ll be on my 6th consecutive scheduled day. A 6 ½/… Read full post »
Cheap Bastids Foodie Tuesday--Carrots in the Drain Pipe
No cooking or recipe today, just a little piece about...well I'm not totally sure what it's about but I hope you enjoy it.
The economy has people across the country going back to doing their own home maintenance from cleaning to lawns to car washing in order to save money. I&r/… Read full post »
Cheap Bastids Foodie Tuesday-Thanksgiving Cornbread Stuffing
Hey everybody! Thanksgiving is just around the corner—although it’s kind of hard to tell with all the Christmas advertising that’s going on. That means we’re going to be getting ready to make our annual Thanksgiving feast for our family and friends. So, I tho/… Read full post »
I Gotta Go To Work Today or Selling Azteks for Fun & Profit
Today’s the day. After 9 months of being unemployed, I’m going back to a “sales line” at a local car dealership.
I haven’t sold cars since May, 2003. Until January of this year I was a consultant and trainer to car dealers. I represen/… Read full post »
An OS Post for the Amazing Ms. Emma Peel
Yesterday I unwittingly got sucked into a discussion on “stupid people” from a comment I made to a post from Emma Peel. My bad. I should have kept my big fat fingers from the keyboard or, as my Dad used to tell me, I let my mouth overload the seat of/… Read full post »
Big Kid Toys & Little Kid Toys--Hall of Fame Adds the Ball
A short article in today’s newspaper with the Strong National Museum of Play’s new “inductees” into the National Toy Hall of Fame is a welcome diversion from other more pressing and urgent news events.

I don’t know about you but I was not waiting wi… Read full post »
Cheap Bastids Foodie Tuesday-Beans (aka Bean Soup)
It’s November. And in some parts of the country that means that it’s getting cooler, the leaves have turned, nights are longer and there’s even been some snow. That makes it time for “comfort food”. Well, here’s a one pot meal that will warm you up and/… Read full post »
Panda's Wuss-Name Will Get His Lil' Butt Kicked
OK, so today I’ve got more than a little bone to pick with the San Diego Zoo. Yep, those guys who used to love getting on the Johnny Carson show with Joan Embry and baby critters from all over the world.
You see, 3 months ago or so there was a… Read full post »
Watching "My Dog Skip" & Getting a "Boo-boo face"
It's been a slow Sunday especially with the change to Standard Time. I'm cooking something for Foodie Tuesday and trying to follow the Chargers game on TV (big yawn).
So, I noticed that about the only decent movie on TV is "My Dog Skip" on ABC Family. (Interesting 2 Kev… Read full post »
WOW! Incredible Image of NY Skyline by Autistic Artist
Real Men! He-Men! Pictures! Who's the Manliest of Men?
I decided to do a post on real men. There's all kinds of stuff out there about manly-men, real men, sexiest men, etc. And we can go all the way back to the 40's and the "original" "He Man Woman Hater's Club" founded by Spanky and Alfalfa.
So, let's take… Read full post »
A Totally Honest Car Salesman--Honest!
Selling cars for a living is one of the hardest, most stress filled things I’ve ever done. Straight commission. Monthly minimum quotas. Oh yeah, if you don’t earn enough in a given month to cover your time, you get paid “hours” which means minimum wage for yo/… Read full post »
Cheap Bastids Foodie Tuesday: Lazy Dad Lasagna (Baked Ziti)
Now that fall is here and it’s getting cooler in a lot of the nation, it’s time for some dishes that warm you up as well as fill you up. That’s what we’re cooking today. Lazy Dad Lasagna or Baked Ziti.
Back when my kids were in elementary school in Iowa,… Read full post »
When Did Men's Skivvies Become "Unmentionables"?
I switched from tighty whities when I got in college. Not because of college mind you but because that’s when Hane’s Slim-Guy Racers came out. Tapered, cotton sheeting boxer shorts that were more “manly” than the briefs I had grown up wearing.
&n/… Rockers Pissed at Guantanamo Bay Music. Playlist Open Call!
From the AP wire and Yahoo News today:
Rockers including Pearl Jam, R.E.M. and Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails have joined the National Campaign to Close Guantanamo.
They’re angry at the continuing existence of the prison and the ongoing holding of “detainees” at the facility… Read full post »
Just for Fun--"Rappers Delight" is 30 Years Old! Enjoy
My wife and I were driving home from a weekly pilgramage to Costco and all of a sudden this familiar rhythm came out of the radio. We were rocking with the volume turned up.
Yep, I can still get that old white-guy, chicken-neck-bobbing thing going on in the car. I know… Read full post »
He Ain't Heavy, He's My 'Tater
We’ve got a grocery store we go to just for produce. Their produce is fantastic. Their prices on other things tend to be high because the place is kind of a cross between Trader Joe’s and Henry’s. It’s called Frazier Farms.
Cheap Bastids Foodie Tuesday--Chinese Steak
Fall is here and we’re cooking more inside. I’ve always loved cooking in the wok. Wok cooking is simple. Typically the hardest part is the prep and having everything ready to go before cooking. But that’s simply a matter of “slicing and dicing”.&n… Read full post »
Gaaaack! My Wife Tried to Poison Me!
Gawd, I love my wife but sometimes I think she’s trying to “do me in”, “knock me off”, “rub me out”, “off me”.
You see, I’ve got this favorite glass. It’s the only one I use. I don’t wash it. I might rins/… Read full post »
Something to Think About--The GFW Equation
I wrote this about 6 years ago. It's one of those true stories that might just make you think a bit. I hope you enjoy it.
&nb… Read full post »
UPDATE--Colorado Balloon Kid FOUND! Hiding in the Attic!
(CNN) -- The 6-year-old
Colorado boy who is believed to have set adrift a helium balloon
Thursday, prompting ground and air searches, has been found alive,
authorities said.
He was found in a box in the
… Read full post »Freshmen Don't Win the Heisman But Obama Wins Peace Prize
Freshmen don’t win the Heisman Trophy do they? Well, it’s possible but hasn’t been done. From time to time there is a freshman who sets NCAA football on fire his first year but no freshman has ever won the award. And only 2 sophomores have done it.
%IM… Read full post »
For Barkinglot4 et al--my funeral song selection
OK, I saw Bobbot's posting on this request from Barkinglot4 and thought I 'd chime in. Here's a couple of numbers that I guess I've always thought summed up the bulk of my life and which I have always enjoyed:
The Office's Jim & Pam Niagara Wedding's Barf-O-Rama
Carolyn and I have been eagerly awaiting the Office’s episode featuring Jim and Pam’s wedding. If you didn’t see it, it's worth watching on Hulu.
This was a wedding in the grandest tradition of this quirky sitcom. Every cast member’s character was tru/… Read full post »
Amazing Reactions to Obama Peace Prize Announcement
Reaction to the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to President Barak Obama has startled pundits and journalists across the nation and the globe this morning.
So far quotes have been received by the media from Rahm Emanuel, Congressman Joe Wilson, pundit Glenn Beck, former VP Dick Cheney, Nobel Peace… Read full post »
Walter Blevins's Favorites
Updates
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Possible MS Cure Doesn’t Thrill MS Societies
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Pro Donkey Basketball League to Tip Off in 2010
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A Shift in the Cosmos
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Civil War Cooking
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Art from Photos: Florence and Rome
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"Loving Her Was Easy." Pt. 2 of our story
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Thoughtless Mothers & Other Misdemeanours
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Borscht Belt Memories (And 20 Classic One-Liners)
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