PUTTING THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE

I'll admit it, I often can't help myself when it comes to accessorizing anything! As an Interior Designer I guess I've got somewhat of an excuse, but even when it came to fluffing up my Scotty, I just couldn't resist when I saw anything and everything aqua in stores like The Christmas Tree Store, Home Goods and Ikea (which all seemed to be overflowing then and now with fun things).  In fact, while driving in sleet and snow over three hours into the deep crevices of Pennsylvania to pick up Louis, while knew it would be a lot of work to get him camping again, I couldn't get my mind off of all the cool vintage items I could purchase!  Some would call this knick-knack equity, I call it plain ole fun stuff!  You've probably seen older posts where I found great re-usable wallpaper (which is still in excellent shape, even after a few leaks!), great rugs, inexpensive curtains, etc. and the hunting hasn't stopped!  While shopping for a design client the other day at Ikea in Paramus, New Jersey I stumbled upon the aqua metal vases in the top photo.  Priced from $2.99 in three different sizes, I thought these would be great for organizing kitchen tools, outdoor grilling items, bathroom necessities (the handle makes it easy to take everything with you to the camp bath) or just great decor for your picnic table!  The aqua folding chairs I found in the next aisle led to and A.D.D. filled craft project.  While I think these are great, paying $29.99 for a folding chair just doesn't seem right at this point (I mean, Louis needs tires and walls and....well, a LOT, so that money could be better spent.  Channeling my inner deal-finder, I stopped into an antique store on the way home where I found two similar chairs for $5 for the pair, zipped over to Ace Hardware for the right spray paint and in two shakes had to fabulous chairs.  Sure I've put the cart before the horse here, but finding great little treasures like these just inspire me to push on with my restoration project!

OH HOW I'VE MISSED YA!

Okay, I guess it's time for me to finally come clean.  Last year I had a total, nasty, horrific shame spiral after my first rally and subsequent road and towing mishaps with Louis.  Well, maybe I shouldn't be that melodramatic, but my frame of mind after watching Louis drop off the back of a tow truck was much like his frame..bent, battered and bruised.  Before I march on with this story, allow me to take a step back in time for just a moment...about ten years...where I was living in West Hollywood, California working as an Interior Designer and host of a design show on Lifetime Television.  I had finally landed the big gig of working on-camera in LA and reality was setting in..I was on camera! Oh dear!  It was time to hit the gym and get rid of a chin (or two).  Because everyone, EVERYONE in LA is either an actor or aspiring to be one (and ticked off that they aren't), they're all camped out at local gyms working their bodies into tight frenzies. I hate working out like poison, but was determined to jump right in and go for it, but also hate the sleazy, arrogant vibes of gyms, so went with the one that promised "No Judgements."  Well, that wasn't necessarily true.  From the moment I walked in, tripped up the stairs (tossing my water bottle into a spinning class filled with modeled bodies) I was greeted with nasty looks, cold shoulders and dismissive jerks..and those were just the employees!  I quickly decided to accept the me that was never going to have bulging biceps, adorn the cover of a fitness magazine or teach a spinning class.  I chose to spend less time trying to make my body into something it would never be, and more time enjoying life.  When I attended my first rally in Salisbury, Massachusetts in October of 2011 I felt judged once again.  Not by the other campers, but by those same nasty voices inside my head that destroyed my confidence in the gym so many years ago.  What will he, who has the perfectly restored Gaucho down the street think of my two-bit restoration?  What will the queen of the NSSO or the king of the SSCE think of my tacky store bought cabinets?  Would it be rude if I locked my door and hid during the tour of trailers, or better yet, leave in the middle of the night to avoid it all together?  Quite simply, I felt out of place and out of my league at no ones fault but my own.  The blowout on the way home only added to my overwhelming feeling of failure (any real camper enthusiasts would at least have a friggin spare and know how to change it!).  In a very strange way, however, watching Louis bounce off the back of the flatbed tow truck was very similar to the feeling I had when tossing a water bottle into a room filled with models...I just had to laugh at how ridiculous life can be sometimes.  As I pushed Louis back into his spot at home I realized the frame damage would most likely mean never taking him out on the road again (I certainly don't trust myself to a frame up restoration at this point).  Instead of crying over his jagged edges, though, I've decided to embrace them.  While he might not live on the open road again, he will always have a place in my home.  After all, we are kind of perfect for each other..every scratch, bruise and imperfection tells a story of where we've been and how we've gotten to where we are today and who knows where we'll go from here!  To channel my creative juices in the cold winter months following Louis' fall, I decided to write a book about these great little trailers and the people who own them.  In anticipation of the April release, I've decided to resurrect this blog and Louis once again..even if he stays still, he'll always be a Scotty!