Friday, October 30, 2009

Weekword TRANSPORTATION



Boats in the harbor--watercolor sketchbook



Freight wagon--pencil sketch                                        Farm tractor--watercolor


Peruvian taxi                                                 Reed boat--Lake Titicaca

PLUS--a true story

Automobile Accessories    or    What Did You Think I Meant?

For fifteen years I commuted fifty miles round trip to my job as a graphic artist in "The Big City." In the winter the guys with the snowplows kept the highway clear, and when it was icy they sanded the roads for better traction. I appreciated the sand, except it contained pebbles that were randomly flung at my car by passing vehicles. The flying pebbles left stars on my windshield and dings in the car’s paint.

After a few years of this drive I bought a brand new Geo Metro (okay, laugh, but it got forty miles to the gallon—even if I DID have to turn off the a.c. to make it up a big hill, and it bounced around in the wake of passing trucks.)

I told MyFriendFromWork that I was going to ask DH to get me a bra for Christmas—a big vinyl one. You know, one of those custom covers for the front of the car that protects the paint from flying rocks.




Sure enough, on Christmas morning I opened a box that contained the biggest black bra I had ever seen. The weather was extremely cold so DH and I borrowed a neighbor’s heated garage where we figured out how to put on the bra. It fit like a glove.

Fast forward to a warm day the next summer. I was preparing to wash my little Geo in the parking area beside the house when the phone rang. I went inside and was soon involved in a fun conversation with MyFriendFromWork. Being the gentleman that he is, DH took over the car wash job.

I was chatting with my friend on the phone while at the same time giving instructions through the window to DH with the background sound of splashing water.

“Use lots of soap and work up a lather, Dear.”…

“Oh, you’d better take off the bra.”…

“There’s a strap that goes around there. See if you can find the hook.”…

“Just put your hand under there. Can you feel it?”…

“Okay, just pull it off.”…

“Now suds down the whole front. Yeah, that’s nice.”

For some reason my friend on the phone was complaining about soda pop coming out of her nose.

For more Weekword Posts about Transportation vist these great blogs:  Linda Sue's-All I Ever Wanted, Anne's-frayed at theedge, Flea's-Flea's World, Laura's-Wisconsin Bound, Elizabeth's-probably but not likely, Anairam at fra(a)iing and possibly Pat at Weaver of Grass

11 comments:

Anairam said...

Great paintings! And a hilarious story - I have coffee coming out of my nose ...

Linda Sue said...

I can not imagine you in a geo- so worth it for the story HA!hilarious! Your paintings are amazing as always...I want your eyes and your sensibilities, please. Thanks for the great word!

● Sandra Dieckmann Illustration ● said...

and me ;-)
I did manage it in the end !!!

DayPhoto said...

WHAT A GREAT story! I loved having a morning laugh!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/

Anonymous said...

That is a wonderful story!! Switching off the ac to go up a hill ..... that reminded me of one of my cars - I used to say that I could only pass another car if I was going downhill and had the wind behind me!!! I love your work!

Renee said...

Hi Leenie, you have a lovely blog and that pie looks delicious.

The painting you asked about, I don't know who painted it, I wish I did.

I don't do any art so none of the pictures on my blog are mine, I just do the writing.

Renee xoxo

Janie said...

Hilarious story. Second hand, that sounded pretty racy...
Beautiful transportation paintings!

Laura said...

What a beautiful watercolor of the boats in the harbor, and I really like the penciled wagon, now is that tractor a John Deere?

Loved the bra story too!

Leenie said...

Laura, the tractor is probably a Massey Ferguson or, maybe, an International Harvester. All the John Deere tractors I know about are emerald green.

The Geo is still running and tricked out with chrome hubcabs and fancy interior thanks to its third owner, our oldest son.

rebecca said...

that made me laugh really hard. we call it a car mask around here to avoid any confusion.

Lotte said...

Oh..I´m far out once more...I did not know who had weekword...and been busy...but I´ll see if I can do something about transportation sooooon...:)))
Nice watercolour and story :)