I have to be one of the finalists if there is ever such a contest. Sorry but I have to vent out some of my problems.
My financial situation would take more than an hour to explain, so I will go ahead with the last couple of days. I had SHIT thrown at me a few times last week by inmates at Georgia State Prison where I work. Ohh, and some urine too. So, after exchanging some words with the inmates, I told one that If I get my hands on him I would kill him. Well, the warden of the prison took out 5% of my pay for threatening a death row inmate WHO GAVE ME 3rd DEGREE BURNS IN MY BACK 2 MONTHS AGO with some hot urine.

My wife went into minor surgery and my insurance says that I have used too much of it already, so I will have to wait on a emergency room bill on the mail. (she is doing better now).
I go to the Atlanta Police Dept job interview (4hour one way trip) and I got rejected because they rather have an applicatnt who smokes weed or crack than one who used steroids during his youth. They actually told me that If I had been smoking weed up to 60 days ago, it would have been fine.
I finally got some money from Veterans Affairs (have been waiting for over 2 months) so I decided to go to the junk yard to get some parts for my vehicles. There was a 74 VW bus with all the cabinets, bed, A/C console, and everything you can think off. I asked around and it was crushed last week. The F-150 that I needed parts of...was crushed too. OH!!! I had to drive 65 miles to go to the junk yard...
I found one bumper laying around for $20, so I slapped it on the F150 and was happy with it. There was a 80's Vanagon with only the A/C console, so I took it just for any possible project.
On my way back, I am listening to music and happy with my bumper, and a group of birds flies out of nowhere and one hits my windshield and cracks my whole passenger side. I called my insurance company and it so happens that it is cancelled because my wife forgot to send the payment. So my $20 bumper turns into a $120 windshield.
I get home and my wife is crying because she has trouble walking around the house and she is frustrated.

That is part of my story, I can tell you guys more after some beers.

Hmmm-
You got reprimanded for threatening a deathrow inmate with.........DEATH?.
Weren't you just telling it like it is?

The vehicles are fixable-no one knows that like we do here. Friends and family are priceless.
Take care of the wife- and yourself, thats what is important.

I have to fight to be optimistic myself-
9 years college (A degree and a half+ some grad work), 17 years custom painting/airbrushing, 11 years teaching school- I'm unemployable and don't qualify for unemployment.

WTF?

Keep the faith- and I'll 'join' you for a beer......then I'm gonna go downstairs and work on a painting.
The 'dubs at the shop, or I'd work on it to feel better

Well Don, I was unemployed for 6 months and I was under so much stress that I started losing my hair. Hope you find work soon.

Man always look on the bright side of life, your young, have a vw and married. I have been unemployeed for maybe 9 months now, no benifits or check, but hey it was my choice and I do what I need to do. In my case parts, toys and ebay. Put your angst into something productive, if you sit around and mull over it it will only get worse. When I feel bad about my situation I think of a way to change it. I have free time so fix my dub and hit the woods for a camp-out. Go somewhere I have no phone reception, so its just me, a six pack and a campfire.

When your feeling down about your situation sing this in your head or play it on the radio. Always makes me feel better and guess its become my theme song...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHPOzQzk9Qo

No mix up on owning a vw and being married. My dubs are my first wife, the others, well they are seconds in the stew of life. Make me happy yeah, but my first love is my dubs. No lies, no infidelity, they are mein all mein....Untill I need money then they are easy to move. Sometimes I make money when they do, with a wife its usually a payment plan on my end!!!
check out the vid, it is my theme song......and should be anyones that dives a vdub.........

Thanks guys, I was outside working on the Bus and even with the truck and broken windshield across from me, I was feeling better with my VW. It is funny, because I sat in the drivers seat and started day dreaming of the things I would like to do. But at the end, I was feeling better. I do not know what it is about VW's and making your life happier.

I enjoyed spending the afternoon painting. Got a lot done- should have this one finished soon-

That is awesome work. I see pictures like this all the time in Hot Rod Magazine, Popular Hot Rodding, Street Rods, etc...
Do you sell this paintings? You should send some samples to this magazines, I am sure that you can find some business through them. Good Work!

wow . i wish i could paint that good. atleast there are no VW's in that junkyard portrait, lol.

Hey Don,
Can you PM me a ball park price to airbrush a canvas like that of my SP2 if I provide a pic to work from?
It would look great in the man cave.

Brandon