A Drive Down Memory Lane

As I was surveying a local cemetery close to home recently (i.e. snapping photos of tombstones for family genealogists to use at FindAGrave) I happened to glance off into the mature pinewoods and there was another kind of graveyard. I found old abandoned 'skeletons' of vehicles and farm equipment.

When I happened upon the Chevy pickup, a flood of memories hit me. It was the memory of my father and I building an antique 1949 pickup together.


Abandoned Chevrolet Pickup
In the early 1970's, while I was still in High School, my Dad bought two 1949 Chevrolet pickup's. One was for parts and one to actually rebuild. Previously, Dad had built a large workshop on our 1 acre of land, so, there was plenty of room. We pulled motors, scavenged oil soaked parts to find something usable, spent many an hour down at NAPA Auto Parts, haunted junk yards. Finally, it was ready for the finishing touches: the paint job. Dad took it somewhere locally and cheap and had it painted the original Dark Green.

Everybody in our small town of Titusville talked about Don Ackman's truck.

I quite often drove it to school. It was a pickle to handle too. The 3 speed gear shift was on the column. The starter was on the floor ... it was quite a trick to hold down the starter and crank the motor at the same time, it took a little finesse. There was no power steering or power windows. The seats were the hard, uncomfortable, bench-style. The windshield wipers were horrible. I recall driving home from a friends house one night in one of our frog strangler Central Florida thunderstorms and the vacuum-driven windshield wipers would slow down as I applied the gas! So, in order to see, when I thought it was safe enough I would get going as fast as possible then let off the gas and coast so the wipers would speed up, then I could see well enough to proceed a little farther.

It was an experience.

Then one day Dad just up and sold the truck many years ago. Just broke my heart.

I thought I'd had a photo of it but it must be hidden in some boxes somewhere. So here's one from the Internet that is similar:


216 C.I.D. V-6, 3 speed, 5 window
Source: Larry Chapman
The only difference between the one above and Dad's truck was he had an oval window in the back. It was quaint but rendered watching traffic behind you an exercise in futility.

It wasn't comfortable or really very practical, but, oh, if that old truck could talk ... it would have such happy memories of growing up to regale.

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Dream Vehicle Sporty Tag

I was tagged by my new bloggy friend Maria went to Chicago. Thanks Maria! She chose the Bugatti Veyron. Wow. Excellent choice there girlfriend!

Here's the rules:
1. Just state what kind of sports car will you buy if you have a ton of money at the moment.
2. Don't spoil the fun y'all, please get back to me if you are done posting it and leave a comment stating the name and kind of the vehicle.
3. If you could link me to the post, it would be awesome!

Here's one of my dream vehicle .... it's a motorcycle! DUH!! Sorry, I don't like or want any cars.

1959 Triumph Bonneville

Technical Data
Engine: 649cc (40 cu. in.) parallel twin making 46 BHP at 6,500 RPM
Compression ratio: 8.5:1
Ignition: Magneto
Front tire: 3.25 x 19 in.
Rear tire: 3.50 x 19 in.
Gas tank capacity: 4 Imp gallons
Oil tank capacity: 5 Imp pints
Wheelbase: 55.75 in.
Weight: 404 lbs.
Front brakes: 8-inch single-leading-shoe drum
Rear brakes: 7-inch single-leading-shoe drum

"Named in honor of Johnny Allen’s 193 mph run aboard a Triumph-powered streamliner at the famed salt flats in 1955, the twin-carb Bonneville was officially launched at the 1959 Earl’s Court Motorcycle Show in Great Britain.

The versatile and fast Bonneville was a hit from the start, and the nameplate would remain in the Triumph lineup until the company closed its Meriden factory in 1983. Following the company’s reorganization in 1991, the Bonneville returned in 2000.

Manufactured in October, 1958, this particular Bonneville features a host of details unique to the first series of 1959 models, including the distinctive headlight nacelle, a pearl grey and tangerine paint scheme, a two-level twinseat and tall touring handlebars.

Jaye Strait of Britech New England Inc. restored this bike using only refinished original or new old stock parts. The engine and frame numbers match. It was restored to be ridden and reliable. It is a strong-running machine that has traveled only 410 careful miles since the restoration.

This Bonneville has been owned since 1991 by Robert H. Whitney and has won numerous bike show trophies. In addition, it was featured in Lindsey Brooke's 2002 book, Triumph Motorcycles: A Century of Passion and Power.

Best of all, you can win this Triumph and a new 2009 T100 50th Anniversary Bonneville in the Museum's raffle."

Now all I need is a Sugar Daddy to pay for it or excellent luck in the raffle ... I bought two tickets! Y'all can't enter the contest. It's mine, I tells ya, all MINE!! LOL

It doesn't designate how many people I should pick on, uh, tag. So I'm tagging just three victims ... friends:

JBA at In Good Shape
Lanny at It's The Dirt
Li'L Cindi at Muse Swings

I gotta see what they will do with this. Visit their blogs as they'll have you rollin' in the aisles before you leave, guar-an-tee. Enjoy!

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Wordless Wednesday (02/11)

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Of Abandoned Homes And Such

We live way out in the country. I'm amazed at how many abandoned barns, farm houses, Vehicles and buildings in general are still standing here. I look at these former homes and I wonder: who were they? Where they happy? Was there a lot of love in the house once? Why did the families seemingly walk off and let these nice old fashioned homes collapse into the ground. The structures are kind of artistic, really. Since I'm not good at drawing, I started taking digital photos of these places.


The land where this old home resides is very lovely. It's only 1 mile from our home, on slightly hilly ground (for southeast Georgia), has mature pine and oaks, and a fair size pond. Big Plus: it's on a paved road!

I waaaannnnttt! [lol]

I've been coveting this parcel for about a year now. My husband and I are avid motorcyclists and riding out on our one mile of dirt road gets kinda dicey.

Must be human nature ... just never happy.

Well, it's fun to dream ... and like my step-mom would so wisely say, "If you get eveything you want, dear, you'll be so bored." That's so true Myra. So true.

Have a great day y'all!

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Funny Motorcycle

In 1974, Steve rode his 1973 BMW R75/3 to the Daytona Bike Week (Daytona Beach, Florida). He noticed the motorcycle below and snapped a photo. I wish he had obtained the fellow's name who owned the bike but alas that is lost to history.

Front

Back
Oh, and the bike is a Harley Davidson Electra Glide, year unknown. I wonder how the guy could see where he's going!?

Ride safe y'all! :o)

**UPDATE 19 February 2009: We are now famous!! Costas Schuler "The Pen Man" at Art Car used these photos in one of his posts. Check him out! He has a wonderful site. I plan on also making a small donation to keep him on-line. ***


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Just The Tax Ma'am

Since it's officially tax season, and the cross-hairs are on us all here in America, unless you're a politician, I guess they're exempt now ... I thought I'd get y'all in the mood.

To quote the great Bugs Bunny, "Ain't I a stinka'?"

And just remember ... if Obama's "Stimulus Plan" passes (i.e. bribe paybacks to big corporations for being elected), what's below will get a whole lot worse!

By the way, I didn't write this poem.


Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table
At which he's fed.

Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.

Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for peanuts
Anyway!

Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.

Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.

Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.

Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax him fast!

Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.

When he screams and hollers,
Then tax him more,
Tax him till
He's good and sore.

Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid.

Put these words
upon his tomb,
'Taxes drove me
to my doom...'

When he's gone,
Do not relax,
It's time to apply
The inheritance tax.


The Taxes Referred To Above
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges, IRS Penalties (tax on top of taxes due)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Privilege Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge Tax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Sales Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Use Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax


Also, now that we are retired, this season I learned that up to a certain percentage of earnings from Social Security income are now taxed (per former President Bill "Cantkeephispantszipped" Clinton ... Hello AARP, where's your outrage for the elderly and on fixed income??!). Social Security is a tax to start with. The Gangster Government sticks a gun to our head and demands we "Pay up or else", then doles it back piecemeal "per needs" when 'they' consider you old enough AND taxes you again for that!!?

HUH?!?


There is something very wrong with this picture.
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What in the world happened? Can you spell 'politicians'? And that's Republicans and Democrats alike.

And I still have to 'press 1' for English!?!?

We put animals and plants on Endangered Species Lists.

Maybe it's actually we Americans that are truly endangered.


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Chrome Won't Help

This blog is temporarily on Auto-Pilot. I am still recovering from surgery.

Please feel free to leave a message. I've left that option working but I probably can not respond just yet.

Have a wonderful day y'all! Thanks for stopping by.



UPDATE:
Everybody has been so kind to ask how I am doing since surgery ... well ...



I think I'm looking pretty good ... don't you?!?


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