There’s been a lot of speculation among readers and friends that, in the last eight months since moving from metro Detroit, I’ve transformed from a rust-addled, grime-covered, shitbox-owning, junkyard-touring, poor-fashion-having engineer/wrenching machine into something a bit more…hip. More “metropolitan,” if you will. There was the purchase of the BMW i3 electric car followed by the purchase of a nice-condition open-top Jeep (pretty much the same one from the movie Clueless), there was all the caviar I ate at Pebble Beach last year, there are the Birkenstocks currently on my feet, there was that art Gala I attended recently, there was a recent trendy community theater showing in someone’s backyard, there was my recently-picked-up affinity for Açaà bowls, there’s the fact that I just used that weird “ç” just now while spelling “AçaÃ,” and you could go on and on. I’m basically on an IV-drip of bubble tea, which I’m realizing wasn’t a smart call, as boba is getting stuck in the tubes. Still, I’ve been in denial for a while, but then last week it hit me as I told my friends that I was standing just a few feet from The Rock: Maybe I have gone Hollywood?
I haven’t wrenched in weeks. I’m going to trendy events, eating vegan things (I had a jackfruit taco the other day; it wasn’t nearly as good as a non-jackfruit taco, but it wasn’t bad?), attending hippy-ish craft shows, getting massages (OK, I only got one), hanging out with folks who do “Reiki” healing and who believe in crystalline energy and astrology, considering attending burning man, and on and on. I cannot express how much my life has changed since moving to LA. I mean, check out what my life was like in Michigan:
I know, pretty great, right?! No responsibilities other than wrenching. Cheap rent. Car parts stores everywhere. The greatest junkyards on earth just a short drive away. Truly heaven.
But I have to say, I’m enjoying LA, too. People out here are a bit nutty, so I kinda feel a little less like a weirdo. The off-roading is actually amazing (even close to LA). The traffic isn’t as bad I thought it’d be, and even though space is a bit of an issue and cost of living is absurd — not to mention that the unhoused situation here is unacceptable, and honestly the feral cat situation is pretty horrible, too — I’m enjoying California.
Anyway, let’s get back to The Rock.
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The absurdly handsome and charming actor and former wrestler was picking up his Ford F-150 Raptor R, a 700 horsepower monster that I reviewed a few months ago. It sounds awesome, and just is awesome:
Ford CEO Jim Farley just happened to be there on his EV road trip in a Ford F-150 Lightning, so the two had a chat. The Rock had some nice things to say to factory workers:
You never know who you'll run into on the road… @TheRock picked up his new truck from @galpinford and had a special message for the @Ford + @UAW team back in Dearborn. Thanks, DJ! #BuiltFordProud pic.twitter.com/LZvvIBmUVw
— Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) August 14, 2023
Here he is talking with Jim Farley:
And here’s The Rock signing a technician’s shirt.
The top image shows him taking a photo with technicians.
Though I typically like to meet people, I didn’t introduce myself to The (that’s his first name, right?), as the man was on a mission, and also I had been told by a video producer to step away upon filming that little Instagram clip above. Still, it was cool to see Mr. Rock up close, and to see the joy he brought so many people just by being there and being a decent human being. Ditto with Jim Farley, who seemed genuinely interested in learning more about how things worked at the dealership level, especially in the service area.
Anyway, that was a cool experience. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to finish up this kale salad and head to Goga class.
WTF is a “jackfruit”?
It’s considered a sibling of a “jillfruit”.
I had drinks and biccies with the King last week ( No, no that one, the one who recently got a sparkly hat one). The The ( yes that is his title) might be more fun.
It’s ok to enjoy yourself David. I’ll quietly judge you instead of judging myself as I consider outsourcing some wrenching I was planning on doing myself.
It’s probably already been addressed, but I’m guessing the introduction to caviar means there won’t be any more wheelbarrows of shrimp.
Also, jackfruit tacos? Hmm. Try some barbecued jackfruit…the texture is nice, and the flavor is a perfect complement to a variety of barbecue sauces.
Carolina BBQ sauce! I make a pulled jackfruit with pineapple & whiskey and it’s right up ther with pork in my opinion. Plus: zounds! cheaper.
I’m fairly convinced the rock is going to spearhead the Maui rebuilding and use it as a springboard to the 2028 presidency – it just feels like the trajectory to me. Good to hear your Hollywood dream has come true David – Just don’t ditch the jeeps for a tacoma.
The Rock ? heck I had The Police show up at my workplace once
Anyone else getting serious Fancy Kristen vibes from the new version of David Tracy?
I can’t decide if that is a good thing or not. I loved reading about David’s rusty adventures but I also enjoyed Fancy Kristen talking about how to enjoy the finer things in life. The fact that the two personalities are merging into one person is making my brain hurt. I need to go for a drive to clear my head.
Fancy Kristen was great! I was sad when she left the lightbulb company.
Fancy Kristen would not be amused by your comparison of her to Hollywood David. She would never stoop so low as to eat something as common as caviar. It’s preserved Dodo eggs or nothing for her. 😛
Fun fact: I also stood just a few feet from “The Rock” – in a basement full of cloudy cigarette (and perhaps other) smoke. This was in the late 80’s when he and his friends stopped by a house party I was at. My friend’s little brother was on the HS football team, and he invited a posse of his teammates to the bash – one of those guys was the latter-day Rock. Lots of acid wash, puffy white shirts, chains, mullets…you get the picture. Saw those guys a couple more times after that, they were fairly typical of HS jocks back then, but were generally OK. Can’t say that I remember anything specifically about him, mainly because he was a friend of a friend’s little brother.
Yeah, no one’s accusing you of going Hollywood, dude.
While your Detroit antics certainly made for good content, they bordered on…concerning.
As long as you’re not hurting anyone, do what makes you happy.
I expect professional writers to know their terminology. Maybe being a professional writer just a façade? It’s called a “cedilla”, Dave.
I am honestly happy he still doesn’t know what a cedilla is
yet.
Good for you, David. Perhaps you have overcorrected a bit from your previous hovel and lifestyle, but you will soon find the center. Rock on, and enjoy your life!
NGL I would have preferred if you stayed in Detroit or Michigan. I feel like the autopian is missing out on an auto heavy area. If the film incentives would not have gone away when a new administration took over maybe the Rock could have filmed in Metro Detroit.
David, blink twice if you are in danger…
Well, you do try to keep things as trashy-loosery as possible with that red undriveable Jeep rotting in a parking lot, infested with all kinds of animals, so there’s that 😉
No smelling like an old Jeep that day?
Wait, I’m confused–Does David have a job?
Kitten Wrangler
Yeah, he washes the Fords.
something, something, California tourist board, something
They keep him in the garage section of the safari zoo like a modern day Ota Benga.
Of course he does. Do you think he could afford that fancy new California lifestyle without one? Unless he is secretly independently wealthy and his lifestyle in Detroit was a combination of long con game on us and rebellion against his rich parents. If that’s the case at least he avoided the typical trust fund rebellion of doing coke off Instagram models and just dove headfirst into a rust addiction instead.