redneck

Almost the end of 2020. Will we make it?

~ Ron Walker ~ 15 Comments

I hope this post finds all of you on the recovery side of Christmas. It was a relatively quiet one for us, the kind I like where you’re not in a gathering of many people you don’t know or recognize. Too many time we celebrate Christmas, and the majority are friends of the kids, or cousins thrice removed that you only see once, when it’s time to feast.

This year, we didn’t have to follow that crowd since the mother-in-law passed (rest her soul). In the past, her side of the family who are involved in the drag-racing circuit, would host a Christmas feast, and we would have to take her. It was more of a redneck event. People getting too much Christmas spirit in a bottle. Ex-husbands bringing their new girlfriend, or whatever title everyone gave her. Who the HECK invites an ex to a family gathering, especially when they are not on good terms. Someone would feel sorry for Bubba Redneck, and invite him. One year, they had the bright idea of hosting the Christmas gathering at a local bar/lounge. We refused to go. Later we heard of the 70-year-old granny table dancing. Too much excitement for me.

Michelle and I sat and sipped hot chocolate, watched the fire in the fireplace. Earlier on Christmas Eve, we had gone to Steven’s home for some snacks. It was just 5 of us there, then two guests of Steven’s came by. Nice quiet gathering. No drunks, ex-whatevers, no cover charge!

We had the tradition of watching Lampoons “Christmas Vacation”. Everyone quoted lines along with Chevy Chase in the movie.

Here’s hoping, 2021 will be a smoother year. Bless you all, and happy blogging!

Fleeing Rednecks and crashing Contraptions. (Trailerhood)

~ Ron Walker ~ 19 Comments

I haven’t had anything to post about lately regarding the Trailerhood. That changed last week with a couple of incidents that were rather exciting.

Not sure what to call it, but the fence stopped it.

After finishing building my new computer, I was busy installing software. Hearing what sounded like a lawn mower running out front, turned out to be David’s girlfriend learning to drive his “Contraption”. That is the only description I can think of. It looks like he welded the frame of a bicycle onto a flat plate of steel, to which he installed two electric wheelchair wheels.

On the flat plate, he has a 10 HP gasoline engine that powers the rear wheels. A US flag on a long slender plastic stick. On the handlebars, a small black LED flashlight is attached with plastic zip ties.

She had just turned around and headed back towards my direction when I grabbed my phone and snapped the first shot from my office window. I thought it a great opportunity to share with you his Contraption. She had gained speed, as evidenced by her hair blowing back from her face. As I composed and fired the next shot, I realized the look on her face, and could hear “Oh Shit” being screamed over and over.

Notice her panic and hand open on the handlebar.

I should have kept taking pictures, but at that moment, she gained more speed and veered straight towards me. At about 20 feet away with legs kicking and repeating her expletive over and over, she veered to her right, barely missing the large railroad timbers used to protect the yard.

My money on her impact zone, was for the firewood pile. I would have lost the bet. By some miracle of panicked luck, she missed the woodpile, missed the Harley under the blue cover, and ran squarely through a 2.5 foot space into the fence (such as it is).

She wasn’t injured, and we extracted her and the “contraption” from between the woodpile and Harley. Odds were against her to start with. On a contraption with 10 hp, one front brake, that she didn’t even have her hand on (as seen in the picture). The throttle was a homemade one so you pulled the handle grip (right side) outward as if pulling it off, to accelerate.

Fleeing Rednecks

If that wasn’t enough fun, two nights later I walk into the office and glanced out the window due to a weird screeching noise. Passing by on the highway out front, was a pickup truck scrapping along on it’s frame with 2 police units close behind. They had used spike strips and blown out his front tires a long time ago. He made it about another 100 yards to the elementary school and pulled off the roadway. They apprehended him, and his truck exploded into flames.

Looks like things are looking up (or blowing up) around here. I’ll see all of you later, with hopefully new material. Until then, stay safe.

Comments welcome,