“She was big on patination. That was how quality wore in, she said, as opposed to out. Distressing, on the other hand, was the faking of patination, and was actually a way of concealing a lack of quality.”
— Zero History (William Gibson)
Author Archives: Steve Mays
George’s Jeep
My friend George has a 1982 Jeep CJ7 that he’s owned since high school. It’s been through a lot, including a tornado that destroyed his business. It’s being held together with ingenuity, determination, love and ratchet straps. He was working on it when I stopped by today. (video :90)
I noticed a tiny, rusted tool in the console which George explained was used to turn the wipers on and off.
Truck full of junk
I drive by this house two or three times a day. Yesterday I spotted this truck and the image has haunted me. A dozen question immediately popped into my head (in no particular order):
- Where did all of this stuff come from? This house or was it brought from somewhere? And why bring it here?
- When did the tire go flat? On the way to this house (unlikely) or after it got here?
- Did someone really drive down the highway like this?
- Is the thin strap really the only thing holding the riding mower to the tail-gate?
I drove by the house later in the day and the truck was parked in the same spot but with all four tires… and the bed was empty.
- Where did they take it? The dump? Someone else’s home?
- Were they really able to jack the truck up and change the tire without unloading all the shit?
- Not truck related, but what about that mailbox? It has been that way for years and I can’t believe the mail carrier hasn’t insisted they fix it so he/she doesn’t have to fall out the truck to put mail in.
Welcome to Mid-Missouri
