CLANGING BELL
By Russ Heaps

(April 17, 2013) My philosophy is that one can never have too many little respites from the drudgery of earning a living — or in my case, almost earning a living. It was in that spirit that I escaped to the ocean for a couple of days. Although the weather wasn't particularly cooperative, just being next to the ocean calms my spirit.

CLANGING BELL
By Russ Heaps

(February 26, 2013) I was in Austin a week or so ago for the third time in six months. I like Austin; I like it a lot. Its tee-shirts read: Keep Austin Weird; and it is. Weird enough, in fact, that I couldn't live there but, man, I love to visit.

My reason for being there this time was to drive the redesigned 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It made the jaunt to Austin all the better.

CLANGING BELL
By Russ Heaps

(January 28, 2013) Even as a writer — of sorts — attempting to describe the stunning beauty that is America's Southwest is simply beyond my limited talents. I'm going to give it a go anyway.

During my days with the TV series "Discover America," I was lucky enough to honcho a number of shoots in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah. Covering the automotive beat and attending carmaker events for nearly 25 years added to the depth of my Southwest experience. Of course, that's in addition to visiting family in New Mexico, and friends in Arizona.

CLANGING BELL
By Russ Heaps

(December 6, 2012) Southern California is known for, among other things, sunshine and balmy temperatures. I saw no evidence of either on a recent trip to the Golden State. Volkswagen chose Santa Monica to introduce its redesigned Beetle Convertible to the motoring press. (Doesn't "motoring press" sound elegant? Almost as though we are doing something worthwhile.)

CLANGING BELL
By Russ Heaps

(November 14, 2012) Toyota invited me to drive its redesigned Avalon at a shindig it threw in San Antonio recently. San Antonio being the location of the iconic Alamo, as in, "Remember the..."