Souvenir Photo Studio, by Al Bourassa: April 2015

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Tuesday April 28, 2015 Pavement

Please see more of my artworks for sale at http://saccc05.tripod.com

Welcome….. Please note that you may SUBSCRIBE below to this Blog.

Comments or purchase requests are graciously accepted at souvenirphotostudio@gmail.com.

NOTE that you may click on any photo for an ENLARGED VIEW.

Tuesday April 28, 2015

I am such a happy camper today. The road crews only did a small section yesterday as they seem to sit around for hours just waiting for a truck of raw asphalt to arrive. I was anxious as the actual paving machine sat parked in front of my house overnight while my car was again parked across the street, in view of my window.

This morning an asphalt truck finally showed up, then another, and another, and the crew was able to continue paving our entire street!! And the height to the curb is very slight, to enable easy parking of the car in the garage where it seems very content and safe.

I took the car to my mechanic for an oil change, even though it did not need it yet, but I want the car ready for sale at all costs. Now the only thing I need is to wash it, if I get any contact from a prospective buyer.

I hope you enjoy the photos. That was the day's excitement, Cheers, Al

Yesterday the crews stood around, waiting for an asphalt truck

Finally they got a load and did one small section more

This morning I feared more of the same

My spirits lifted when they prepared my section of the street

Then the asphalt trucks started arriving

Getting closer and closer. Excitement!

My gosh, they did my whole section

And they continued east to the end of the street.

This was only siesta time today, as they were actually working

The Optra is so much happier locked inside.

Monday April 27, 2015 Optra For Sale

Please see more of my artworks for sale at http://saccc05.tripod.com

Welcome….. Please note that you may SUBSCRIBE below to this Blog.

Comments or purchase requests are graciously accepted at souvenirphotostudio@gmail.com.

NOTE that you may click on any photo for an ENLARGED VIEW.

Monday April 27, 2015

Great Car For Sale

Red 2008 Chevrolet Optra 1.8 Limited, LOADED. Only 102,000 kms.

Powerful 1.8L engine. Air-conditioning, tilt + telescopic steering, Power windows, power door locks, power mirrors (incl power retraction), automatic delay wipers, pop-up or power sliding sunroof, power 4-wheel disc brakes (all good), leather seats with driver side lumbar control, AM-FM+CD Radio, split fold-down rear seats, new spare tire, On-Star available, Matricula is due in July.

I have invested $16,000 in it, driven 6 months,

Maintenance done: New 15” tires, aligned & balanced, new serpentine belt, new timing belt, new water pump and seals, new transmission seals, Tune-up and all fluids changed.

Selling solely for financial reasons. This is a $23,000 car new, and it is like new. Sacrifice at $14,500 and I will throw in a Garmin GPS for Ecuador.

Contact me at aljbourassa@gmail.com if interested.

Cheers, Al

Monday, April 27, 2015

Sunday April 26, 2015 Roadwork/Cris

Please see more of my artworks for sale at http://saccc05.tripod.com

Welcome….. Please note that you may SUBSCRIBE below to this Blog.

Comments or purchase requests are graciously accepted at souvenirphotostudio@gmail.com.

NOTE that you may click on any photo for an ENLARGED VIEW.

Sunday April 26, 2015

Ecuador never ceases to amaze a person with their odd ways of doing almost anything... Who would have expected the road crews to show up on a Sunday morning (in such a Catholic country)?? They actually had a truckload of asphalt that they laid down at the west end of the street. Then they were gone by noon, so I still can't get into my garage without dragging in a bunch of oil and tar onto my nice tile floor. Then they put a little security shack across our sidewalk so we can't even walk in that direction.. Hopefully they will continue this work quickly this week.

Also, other events tend to shape your life in unexpected manners and another shock has been added to mine. After a large disagreement with her boss, my girlfriend Cristina managed to lose her job, her lodging, and her income in one fell swoop. So now I have a roommate who needs work soon, somewhere. If work is not forthcoming soon she will no doubt return to Colombia, so if anyone has any ideas, we are all ears.....

As such, another Oldies But Goodies dance will probably be scheduled very shortly.

I hope you enjoy the photos. That was the day's excitement, Cheers, Al

Our Sunday morning surprise

This is looking promising....

Lots of equipment on hand

Hey, a truck with asphalt !!!

A little strip is laid at the west end

This is a good start

My new roommate...

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Saturday April 25, 2015 Joe's Secret Garden

Please see more of my artworks for sale at http://saccc05.tripod.com

Welcome….. Please note that you may SUBSCRIBE below to this Blog.

Comments or purchase requests are graciously accepted at souvenirphotostudio@gmail.com.

NOTE that you may click on any photo for an ENLARGED VIEW.

Saturday April 25, 2015

French Onion Soup, Beef Tenderloin Stroganoff and Grasshopper Pie had everyone raving tonight at Joe's Secret Garden. A small but warm and congenial crowd was on hand for the great meal.

I hope you enjoy the photos. That was the day's excitement, Cheers, Al

150425 JSG # 01

150425 JSG # 02

150425 JSG # 03

150425 JSG # 04

150425 JSG # 05

150425 JSG # 06

150425 JSG # 07

150425 JSG # 08

150425 JSG # 09

150425 JSG # 10

150425 JSG # 11

150425 JSG # 12

150425 JSG # 13

150425 JSG # 14

150425 JSG # 15

150425 JSG # 16

150425 JSG # 17

150425 JSG # 18

150425 JSG # 19

150425 JSG # 20

150425 JSG # 21

150425 JSG # 22

150425 JSG # 23

150425 JSG # 24

150425 JSG # 25

150425 JSG # 26

Friday April 24, 2015 Body Shop

Please see more of my artworks for sale at http://saccc05.tripod.com

Welcome….. Please note that you may SUBSCRIBE below to this Blog.

Comments or purchase requests are graciously accepted at souvenirphotostudio@gmail.com.

NOTE that you may click on any photo for an ENLARGED VIEW.

Friday April 24, 2015

Not much happening this week except that I am trying to prepare myself for at least another year in Ecuador. Since the exchange rate on the Canadian dollar is almost 30% at the moment, it is not the time to be converting to US currency. And since the bank account is running on empty a few hard decisions must be made... the first being the sale of my wonderful car.

I had to take it in to Apolo Body Shop to get some panels repainted because some a-hole keyed both sides of my car at the bank. It was not worth putting it through the insurance and I spent extra to get the car polished, again. The shop is right next to the airport runway so it was a bit of a shock when a jet zoomed by at eye-level, just over the brick wall!

I am no body shop expert but they definitely don't have "dedicated benches" and laser alignments for crash repairs. There was this huge Hino truck there with damage to the front left corner and they had welded on a plate to the corner, attached it to a a hydraulic hoist and chain to pull the corner out. It will probably drag the whole truck a few feet. It is no small wonder that we see so many vehicles dog-tracking on the roads here, there seems to be no enforceable standards for such repairs.

They called me at 5pm to pick up the car by 6pm, or wait until Monday. They had said they would need 2 days for the work and they took 3 days, but I had expected that.

My street is still a mess of tar so the poor car has to sit outside, and naturally it rains right away...

I will probably post full info on the car on Sunday. I already have a potential buyer who has promised to get back to me on Monday. He has driven the car and both he and his wife love it. If you know of anyone in the market for a great car for us larger expats, have them contact me please.

I hope you enjoy the photos. That was the day's excitement, Cheers, Al