Whoa, Ten Years? Really?

I was working on another draft blog and happened to notice... it was ten years that I started this blog.

I don't have anything to write except WOW. That is a lot of me rambling on random things, talking about new jobs, my kids, complaining about the Betas, Open Complaint Letters to companies and lots and lots of posts about car projects. When I started my blog I was in the process of finishing up my project on my 1991 NX 2000. TEAM PLP!

Ten Years ago this was my post: Good Race Day and Mexican Food for Team PLP

Yeah I have been on memory lane lately... if you read my post yesterday about going to Iowa City... that was the summer before I started my blog. So I went and looked back at what I blogged about five years ago and nearly exactly five years ago I posted: It's Official

My blog the past five years has been slower than it used to be, but the post have gotten more important. New jobs, new baby boy, new house, new jobs...

So I guess here goes SALUD! To another ten years of blogging, and more big announcements, more photos, and probably more posts about my car not running... Ciao!

Beta Homeland Reflections

Its been two years since I was in Iowa City... I remember it was when Cruz was just a little man and we made it a family trip to Iowa. This trip I Facetimed with him in front of the Danforth Chapel, the site were our fraternity was founded. What was funny is that when we facetimed, in the background was the picture in our living room of the Danforth. Coincidence, I think not...maybe it was fate.

Cruz and I on Facetime

I have been in transition with the fraternity. It is now over a year that I have been the "Immediate Past National President". During this period I have been trying hard to stay out of conversations about what direction the fraternity has taken since I left. This year was the first year in nearly ten years that I didn't attend our summer leadership program... it hurt my heart not attend but I wanted to be sure I am giving space to the new board.

I am involved with the Sigma Lambda Beta Education Foundation and serve as a member of the Board of Trustees. It has been a role I also served on while on the fraternity's board, but now I can dedicate more time to the projects. I helped design and launch our new L.I.F.T. (Leadership Institute For Tomorrows Leaders) Endowment.The hope would be that someday, we have enough money that all our members could attend for FREE... lofty goal, but important goals are never easy.

Not normally a tank top guy... but no AC made me do it.

It was a good weekend... the weather was nice, and it was great Brothers coming together for our cause. I had some challenges on the trip... my AC recently went out in my Element... so it was to be a long hot ride. Then a big rock cracked my windshield... nothing was going to stop me from having a good Beta weekend. Shot out to Safelite and Liberty Mutual for getting it fixed for me while I was in Iowa!

I always get nostalgic or in Beta terms we call it "Neo Fever" when we feel like a brand new member all excited about all the little things in Iowa City. I took my nice camera for some shots around of the trip. I will get an album up soon when I get time. The chapel were our founders met, the campus and halls they walked when creating an organization that has now touched so many lives.

Like a Neo I popped my TeeKee on when I arrived!

I think this trip was important for me, a chance to talk fraternal business with long time friends and Brothers. It was a time to know what I am doing is making a difference, and a chance more importantly to refuel and engage again in this new phase of my volunteer involvement. It was good timing as Eddie Diaz a long time staff member is leaving the team and we had a little shin dig for him... what happens in Iowa City... stays mostly on Twitter but some just stays in the 319.

My TeeKee had never been to the Danforth.. there she is back home.

On that note... if any of you would love to give to a great cause... Our new LIFT Endowment was created to try and give more of our members an opportunity to attend out Leadership Institute. Right now cost is restrictive, and you could help... click here, make a profile or use your current one and make a gift.... L.I.F.T.

Mary Peterson on her famous porch...

Thank you Iowa City, thank you Mary Peterson, thank you fellow staff and other trustees... it was a great weekend. I needed that for this old Beta Soul.  Peace. /\B.

Daddy Daughter DIY Bench

If you didn't know, Novali and I like working on projects together. I think I have posted on here about the many projects that we do together. Well lately we have been working on a big project of redoing our breezeway. Heather wanted it painted, and new shelves, and maybe a bench... so I jumped at the opportunity to make a bench instead of buy one.

We embarked on the project, and started shopping for wood and ideas. We always try to find clever ways to use items and do something unorthodox, and save money along the way.

Well our first find was the wood to use... our main wood pieces for the shelves and top and bottom of the bench... pine stair treads. They were a good width, bull nosed, and only $7 each. The pine is soft, but these will be decorative shelves so not worried about them, and the bench will get some wear and tear, but it is a small bench for the kids so it will be fine. We spent another $20 on some trim pieces, pine board for shelves inside the bench and a fiberboard backing to finish the rear. Then we used some oval end caps for stairs to cut in half for feet... In total, with shelves, the wood came to just about $50.

Selecting the best boards for our project.

Novali and I set about designing it. How high would we make it? How many shelves? We looked online at bench height, but wanted a little shorter for Cruz. We tested the height of a step stool he uses and ended on that number. Novali did the math, ideal height, minus thickness of top and bottom, height of feet... bam size of the side and support sections. I like finding ways for her to use math in the real world...

What, you can use math in the real world?

Our custom feet...

Measure twice, cut once... well sometimes cut twice still

Sanding and more sanding.

The hard work thought was in the sanding and staining. We got some Minwax stain, so tack another $15 on the project, but a few bucks for a bag of foam brushes and we were off and rolling. Novali was good at the stain process, got less drips than I did on my side. It took a lot of coats to get the color we wanted, but it helped us develop a nice surface as we steel wooled it in between coats and got it looking really nice.

Starting to stain...

Layer after layer to get it darker...

We wanted a dark rich color...

Novali was a trooper, and even when I could tell she was tired of steel wool, or one more coat of stain (we did 4) she powered through. Here she is proud of our latest DIY, a bench and shelves for under $75 made of solid wood and loved with some elbow grease.

Our DIY Bench.

It was a fun summer project... we wrapped it up a couple weeks ago... yes luckily before the heat hit! I am finally around to posting pics. We just need to finish up the rest of the breezeway and I will post those photos.

Letting Go

I have been thinking a lot lately about the act of letting go. Letting go of preconceived notions, letting go of what others think, letting go of fears...

Tire Rack Street Survival Graduates

Couple weeks ago was my tenth time serving as chair of a Tire Rack Street Survival School (www.streetsurvival.org). It is a driving school for teens, where they get to do very advanced driving techniques in the safety of the Tire Rack Test Track. We teach them about under and over steer, braking and turning at speed, get them on a wet skid pad, and hopefully give them confidence behind the wheel. At the end of the day, confidence is probably the most important thing they learn. They get to do it in a safe environment, a Test Track.

Over the years I have learned that confidence is usually the X-Factor in success. The cheesy quote, "Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right." As a famous innovator, Henry Ford knew that trying something was the key to finding out if you could do it. Luckily he lived in an era that taking risks, trying things, failing... were considered expected.

Well today we don't live in that era. People who take risks are seen as careless. People who take risks  are called crazy, odd balls, etc. everything today is about calculating risks and taking the easiest path. Working in higher education I see that... parents who don't let their kids take risks, don't let them explore, don't let them take time to see what they are capable of and more importantly who they truly are as they mature. Mostly because the parents, can't let go, can't take the risk of... What might happen if I they go....

Changing gears; my life application of letting go...

Novali couldn't ride a bike. She is 12, and never learned. She lives in a big city, isn't super active and also isn't a big risk taker. I knew that this summer had to be the time she learned. I did some research and found it odd, that despite the surge of bike use, many young adults actually can't ride a bike. I wonder if it has anything to do with all the millennial's parents who couldn't let their kid fall and get hurt... so they didn't push them to learn. In cities like New York they offer classes to teach adults how to ride bikes... and as you would except it is very expensive and probably not as entertaining as watching Sofia Vergara learn on Modern Family.

I told Novali this summer we would learn how to ride a bike. After she said she was worried about ruining our nice bikes (AKA didn't want to hurt herself), I told her we would find her a junk bike. After a few pawn shop runs, watching garage sales, I found one at a thrift store. Not sure the model, but it  is a Schwinn (has a 1972 MSU Bike License Sticker) and says "Co-Ed" on the chain guard. It looks like a Collegiate model but it is just a one speed. I got it cheap, and told Novali, if she learns, then this winter it will be our project to restore the bike.

I was fearing I would have to con her into trying to ride. To my surprise, the day after I brought the bike home Novali asked if she could try to ride the bike. So I dropped everything and took her out... it was rough, she didn't fall but I couldn't get my hand off the back of the seat. She peddled, she huffed and we talked about balance and momentum. At one point I let go... and she nearly fell and told me not to let go again unless she tells me she is ready.

The next day, we went again for a second ride. Her confidence was up, she asked me to tighten her helmet a little more in case she falls today, and we went to ride. I ran next to her, holding the seat, telling her to stop looking down and look at where she wants the bike to go. The bike is a tad big for her, so that doesn't help, but after a few laps I was letting go more and more. After a block I told her she nearly did the entire block without me holding on. She punched my arm, "Stop Letting Go". I told her that riding a bike doesn't include your Papi holding the seat forever. I had to let go...

We went for a few more rounds, and I let go, and just started running next to her. She rode, and she knew she was riding and didn't waiver. Bingo. She has a lot to learn... starting on her own, turning, stopping better, and most importantly a little confidence.

This past weekend in Saginaw we were at my sister Raquel's house. Her girls had their bikes out, and I hinted to Novali to try and ride one. Valerie's is smaller, has hand brakes and I thought Novali could master it easily. I didn't mention it again, and we had dinner, we lite a few fireworks... and Novali without saying anything snuck away and pushed the bike into the street... She called me over... I told her to use the rear hand brake, explained why, and without me touching the bike she started it and rode off. A few minutes later went on a ride around the block with her cousin, and told me how much fun that was.

She will need more practice. I taught her that anything she wants to be good at takes practice. I won't push it, but I hope she continues to ask me, to go for a bike ride. Now she wants a smaller bike to practice on... so I said we can buy her a boy bike that could be Cruz's someday, cause he will want to ride a bike just like his big sister.

Sometimes letting go causes scraps and bruises...
Sometimes letting go causes celebration and cheers...
Sometimes letting go causes risk...

But letting go can be the right thing to do, regardless of the outcome. Letting go lets you try something, lets you see what is possible, lets you see what you are capable of... just need to get over the risk.

Letting go of her bike seat will hopefully lead to Novali and I going for a ride around the neighborhood together, on our bikes. It also means we need to pick a color for transforming that Schwinn into a stunner this winter... I am betting she will want it to be teal...

Tweet #1986

Well Purple Nation, it happened... I am sending my 1986th Tweet... Many tweets have been sent from my Cruceno21 handle about my life, my job, my family, my little miniature maino, my Renaissance girl Novali, of course about my Brotherhood.

I am not going to get all April 4th nostalgic, not even all 4/17/99 teary eyed...

I have been thinking about this post for a while... knowing that it was coming, knowing that I wanted to say something clever. Often times when you want to say the most important things, you can't think of what to say. So is life huh?

A friend reminded me the other day of this post I wrote on our 25th: Presidential Letter

In keeping with that post, this isn't going to be about great SLB things I have Tweeted about over the past couple years, but a post looking forward to all the great things I will have to Tweet about in the future.

This weekend I head to Iowa City, the Beta Mecca, for a Foundation Board Meeting... expect good Tweets from them about the future of our Foundation. This fall I have some consulting trips to campuses with chapters (some without... yet), time spent mentoring younger Brothers, and Tweets of future milestones.

Brothers, celebrate our accomplishments, look to the future, plan for success and it will be yours... and subsequently your successes, will be ours, and the we will make our country and our world a better place... not for us, but for those who come behind us.

Peace.... /\B!

Pure Michigan Family

The American Centellas clan is spread around the country. We all converged this weekend in our old stomping grounds, Saginaw, MI. Raquel is the only one left in Saginaw, Andres is off in Philly, I am in South Bend, Miguel is down in Oxford, MS and my parents just returned from Bolivia and drove up to visit from their new place in Florida.

Welcome to Saginaw.

It was a good time to also try to see our Coates side of the family, as my mom grew up in Saginaw much of our family is in the area still or also happened to be visiting for the holiday weekend. Like any good Centellas vacation we had a lot planned in a short trip...

The Fourth was our busy day... my mother wanted family photos done, and we all scheduled to take pictures at a little park in Freeland. Kate served as photog, we all served as kid wranglers, and everyone served as master photo arrangement experts... ha. We got them done, and can't wait to see what they all turned out like! The kids (for the most part) behaved and posed well in groups!

Then we had breakfast at the Riverside restaurant and I think we had 30 people! I will be honest I lost count... My Coates Grandparents came, both my uncles, cousins, and tons, like TONS of kids running all over. My grandparents are from the generation of hard work, ingenuity and family. My grandpa owned his own garages (Coates Tire) and grandma worked at a bank. I got to ask my grandpa what his favorite car he ever owned was... his reply, a 1960s white Oldsmobile convertible that he he bought new and paid cash money for it. Then my uncle John took it to Homecoming, sprayed temp paint on it to decorate it... except the paint wasn't so temporary... he laughed. (I need to find a photo of that car).

Freeland for breakfast

Grandma and Grandpa Coates and family (John, Bev, Ed)

Then it was a trip to Pratt Lake in Gladwin, MI. I spent hours and hours up there as a kid, learned to swim, learned to fish, learned to water ski, learned about the importance of sun screen and much much more. My cousin Cathy and her husband bought the place a few years back and I am glad we still have it in the family. On my streak of grandpa questions I asked him how he got the place...

They used to go camping up on the lake... and one day my grandpa thought he saw a for sale sign. So they turned in, and saw the place. Weirdly he said when they returned they never saw the for sale sign on the main street... so something drew them to the place. They checked it out, and my grandpa gave the guy a low ball offer, and of course, in cash money. He told me as they negotiated, he told grandma to write a check (my grandpa didn't write well) and he handed it to the guy. Said take it or leave it, check will be good on Monday. The guy took it... and then asked about when to get his furniture out of the house, grandpa said, I bought the place and all its contents... have a good day. Cash is King. My grandpa worked hard to always be sure he was on the King side of a negotiation.

Grandma and Grandpa Coates with Gael.

That evening Miguel and Kate took their kids (Javi and Zoe) to the Bay City fireworks.... I haven't been in years but I was spent and Cruz knocked out. Novali went with them and enjoyed the show.

Friday was another busy day. We started it with our first event Centellas baby naming ceremony. When we welcome Kelly Quaye into the family we knew we would be getting some Manx Gaelic traditions. Andres and Kelly gave their intentions for the baby, explained the name, and named the guardians. My mother, and father read something as well. Then grandpa Coates closed with a prayer. I think everyone got emotional, everyone knows I always do... my grandpa reminded us about when we first moved to the states that him and grandma took Miguel and I in and helped start us on the right foot in the states... now look at our little family and where we are today.

All the grandkids (7) at the naming ceremony.

Friday included a trip to the Saginaw Zoo and even more pool swimming, Cruz is really brave in the water, Ayanna is nearly ready to swim on her own, and everyone else caused a ruckus in the pool... mostly lead by grandpa Centellas.

Novali at the Zoo.

Cruz and Grandpa

Friday night it was Fireworks and KFC at Raquel's house. Her and Craig hosted us, we burnt some of their grass with fireworks, made a mess in their kitchen, and all the cousins rode their bikes and scooters. Novali the eldest, got to light from of the fireworks on her own... the perks of being the oldest have finally come in her favor.

Novali and her fireworks!

It was a great couple of days... long and tiring... but packed with fun and adventure, memories and sun tans (I have nearly perfected my farmer tan now). I loved some much needed one on one time with my grandparents. I am looking forward to visiting Florida this fall to chat more.

My grandparents and I at Gael's naming ceremony.

I wish we could all get together more than once a year or so... but I am not sure how many times I could handle that many kids all over... but I am sure Grandpa and Grandpa wouldn't complain, just a sleep a lot afterwards....

~ Para Los Primos en Bolivia, permiso por no escribir en Español, la proxima!

Transitions and Trust

This past weekend I was a facilitator for Alpha Sigma Tau as they hosted their second Recruitment Boot Camp (recruitordie.com). 

I was privileged to have been there for the first one, and honored to be welcomed back. My friend Jim is their ED and it was great seeing what he has done for AST. It meant I was in Indy for nearly a week (two days for work and three days for AST) so I was tired but ready to work! 

It came at a great time for me... I didn't attend my national retreat for the first time in many moons. As the former national president I thought it best that I sit one out... Allow transition from my style of leadership to another. Show a little trust. 

Transition isn't easy... 

It was great to see the progress so many chapters made since their first RBC. They had to deal with difficult transitions as they implemented our program. Loved hearing news from the groups I worked with last time. 

This weekend was long nights, great students, an amazing group of small group facilitators and fantASTic staff and volunteers from a TAUsome Panhellenic group. 

It reminded me how much I miss being on my SLB board and seeing my undergrads more often. I had a great talk with their national president, who will be transitioning out of her term soon. 

Transitions are important...

Sometimes it might not be what you want... But you have to let the process that is leadership play out. You have to do your role, whatever it might be.  

At the end of the weekend I did my speech about closing your eyes and ignoring distractions to be successful. It's a tip I sometimes forget to take myself... It also means closing your eyes and trusting that if you do your thing, others will do theirs... 

Transitions are change...

When working with undergrads I used the example of a bitter ex girlfriend... As an example of what not to do after you stopped being president. Don't meddle, don't talk junk, don't allow friends to draw you into things where your nose doesn't belong. 

Transitions need trust... 

I hope my AST RBC group trust that things will work if They follow their plan. I hope I can trust the processes my fraternity has in place and I trust as well. 

Transitions mean progress and movement if you close your eyes and trust. 

As Betas say, TRUST. 

4 Towns, 6 Days, Summer Begins

I slept in my bed last night.

In the past 6 days I spent nights in Bad Axe, MI, South Bend, Indianapolis, and then Chicago... now I am finally home, and home for a while actually. Nice.

Last weekend was the Bad Axe Dance Recital for The Anita DeCourval School of Dance. It was a lot of fund as usual, and Cruz had another cameo appearance. We also had a car show, that Cruz missed due to a messed up nap schedule. He enjoyed chasing Kiel the Kitty, wrestling on the lawn with Papa (Grandpa D) and getting stickers on the iPad with Mimi (Grammie D). He saw Greg and wished him a happy birthday, not it wasn't, but he always says Happy Happy Greggy when he sees him. Cruz also got a spend time with his great grandmother, read her a book, played catch, and showed her his cool Yoga moves.

Photos of our Pure Bad Axe Trip:  Bad Axe Dancing and Cars

Then Monday/Tuesday I was in Indy for work. Nothing majorly exciting, but it is fun when the Directors of Student Life from around the state get together. I enjoy working with that group, I guess whenever liked minded people get together it is good for the soul. Speaking of that, before I left I had a quick lunch with Jim a good friend and colleague in Greek Life. We talked SLB, AST, and personal lives.

It was back home for a day, and then off to Chicago... Thursday was Novali's Beach Day for the last day of school.

It was FREEZING... we didn't stay long, but we had a good time talking to her teachers, wishing folks a good summer, and then off she came to Indiana for her summer vacation.

Today, TGIF, and Novali's first day of summer vacation. Cruz thoroughly enjoys having his sister around, and I am glad when we get more time together.

So while worn ragged, today is pretty cool as we have a kid in each bedroom, additional requests for dinner options (luckily Cruz and Novali eat about the same things still)... and here comes summer, and a weekend with no travel.

Tonight I sleep in my bed again, two nights in a row! Yeah!

So Time Flies

So Time Flies... we have been in our house nearly 5 years, and this spring I am really into birds. We keep up our bird feeder and it attracts a wide range of birds. I remember when Cruz was first born, that spring we had a nest outside our window but I didn't pay a lot of attention (and we were sleep deprived and changing mucho diapers).

This spring we are blessed to be hosting a fine young family of cardinals in our shrub outside the dinning room window. It reminded me to keep the bird feeder stocked to Mama wouldn't go hungry on breaks from the eggs, and that they would be healthy.

I tracked it, watched it, and was impressed. Mama would sit on those eggs, through some majorly cold dogwood nights, she sat. Through a couple serious storms, she sat, didn't budge, and I like to think didn't complain. She did her mama bird job, put the eggies first.

Cruz enjoyed looking at the nest, and watching Mama and Papa freak out if we got to close. I swear a couple of times Papa Cardinal was prepared to enter a death match which Cruz... 4 oz bird vs 30 pound toddler would be a tough match up. However, it appeared that Papa Cardinal was ready to enter the ring should the need arise.

We left town for three days, and on our returned we were greeted by multiplied tweets. Three small, ugly, wide open mouths shouting for food gave us a well received welcome home. Cruz loved it, and I enjoyed trying to snap a few good shots through the foliage of the shrub.

We check the birds each morning, and when coming home (shrub is between driveway and house). Our second day back, two of the babies we found out and about. Clinging for life to a branch, one hiding in a hydrangea bush, and Mama and Papa freaking out each time we got close. Cruz would say hi and bye to his baby birdies.

Tonight, walking on the side of the house Papa card flew over me, pissed... so I knew... a baby was close. I looked around, trying to look while a pissed little red bird swirled over head... and there it was... as exposed as ever so I had to shoot a few shots. I managed to get two or three pictures when Papa Card had enough. He flew right over my head, I turned and trying to see if I could get a picture of him... gone... so then I turned back around for one more shot of the baby... GONE.

Papa did his job, he attacked something 50 times his size, knowing if it came down to it he would probably lose, but he didn't lose, and secured his sons safety and freedom.

So Time Flies... Babies went from egg to flight in days.

So Time Flies... Tonight I drive to Chicago, and tomorrow is Novali's last day of the 6th grade... then she comes to Indiana for the summer. So time flies, she is at the top age of all summer camps, baby sitter certified, she can nearly fly now. With Father's Day coming up, I hope I am as good a dad for her (and Cruz) as Papa Cardinal. Prepared to remove distractions in their lives, handle challenges 50 times my size, and knowing that no matter, kids come first.

So Time Flies... Thanks for the lesson Mr Papa Cardinal, but man your babies are ugly.

Facebook Album: Ugly Cardinal Babies

Happy Mother's Day

I have a lot of Mother's in my life that I need to thank... my grandmothers that did a great job raising my parents. My abuelita is no longer with us, but luckily I get to share some of her story lately when I public speak and it keeps me connected to her. My Grandma Coates is in Florida and I hope to skype with them on Sunday, I lived with my grandparents when we first moved to the states, so she was there for my first American school experience and got me hooked on Friday night pizza (we still do it!).

My Mom, I wrote some sappy blogs before, for her birthday, etc.... not much I can say that I haven't said before except that each year as we get older, and our kids wear us down more... we realize how much our parents really went through to help us get where we are... thanks Mama.

Tamara, Novali's mom, we got another stellar report card from our little Nini (I think the knickname Cruz gave her is gonna stick). We make this interesting relationship work, and I thank you for the flexibility, and honesty and dedication to being a great mom to Novali. Thanks.

Now to Heather, well I will be honest and say I don't have enough time in the day, or the next week, or the next month to write all the things that I can thank her for... I guess I can share publicly that I travel a lot, and work a lot, and when people hear my schedule and all the things I do, they say, man you must have an understanding wife back home. I sure do, and I am thankful for that, and thankful that Cruz is getting the best any kid could ask for from his mama, especially when she has to do double duty while I am on the road. He is a fantastic ball of energy, and I am so glad you are able to tuck him in alone on the nights I am not there, and that you still find time to do so many other things.

Happy Mother's Day to the mother's that are involved in my life directly, a shot out to my sister who is a mother, and both my sister in laws on being great moms. Can't wait for July when the Centellas clan will all be together again.

Ciao.

I Got An A

Took my final last night... I had to put Piston Rings on, check end play on a crankshaft, check clearance on bearings, give the firing order for our International 345 engine, show I could look up torque specs for bolts on the engine we rebuilt, and then name a series of service parts... flex hone, ridge reamer, valve spring compressors, etc.

It was a fun semester. I have really enjoyed learning a lot more about engines and mechanical items. As a car guy I "know" a lot about specs and basics and can do brakes (thanks to Hermen) and other simple items like oil changes and what not. As an engineer I know the theory behind combustion, understand the physics of torque, chemical reactions in a motor, strength of materials... but never had a chance to apply it in such a specific field, and more importantly to a field that I enjoy.

This semester we rebuilt an International Harvester Scout. It was a fun project, I posted a lot more photos of our project in a Facebook Album ('77 Scout).

We pulled the motor, tore it down, tested it, and rebuilt it. We replaced all the bearings, honed the cylinders, rebuilt the head, valve grind, the works. Throw a little orange paint on it and got her back in the car. We hit some snags, had some fun, and it was a nice weekly time for me to take my mind off work, get dirty, and use my hands and my head to solve problems. Sometimes in a world where we work with theory, and solve problems without immediate results (ie. the future of education) I need something that we can just FIX and are done. She runs, she drives, she needs some paint...but we fixed it.

Here is a pic of a finished product: no we don't have a body shop, no this isn't our truck, but it could be! It was a really cool truck to work on, and I wish once its done I got to ride in it with the top down...