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Rjalex That was a great one! Very descriptive story. Here is another. We were having one of those late falls here on the West Coast, September, you know, high pressure ridge holding, and warm days and cool nights, heavy dew in the early mornings. I was in the shop spraying lacquer, not having a good day, something wrong with the mix, or the air content….. for the last half hour or so, there had been this bumble bee cruising around the shop trying to get out the windows. Now this was no ordinary bumble bee, this was a ten pounder, bouncing off the windows and BZZZZZZZZZZZZ all over the place, I was getting kinda crabby at the work……. Taking a moment, I took a wild swing at this creature, and luckily caught it with the end of my fingers, it hit the windowsill and dropped down into a small teacup full of ashes I keep there. While it was struggling to get back on its feet, I was making sure, of course, with a small screw driver, that this task would be as difficult as possible. By the time he got out of the glass and flew into the air, he was absolutely caked in ash, and looked like some prehistoric bee from Planet of the Bees or something. I opened the door, and he managed to fly outside, “see you†I thought . Forgot about this, closed up the shop, closed up the back doors of the van, and quit for the day. Three months later November 3rd week. Raining , low ceiling, grey skies temp. in the high 30’s low 40’s Bees can’t fly when the temp. is below 45 degrees Fahrenheit ok? I jumped into my van, leaving on a trip for work related issues in the Interior, probably a 4hr. trip up into the mountains. Being a full size cargo van, it does take a while for the air to warm up the entire van, and the back compartment. While going up one of the long hills I heard this small buzz, thought it was the radio fuzzing in and out…… couple of minutes later BZZZZZZZZ and up from the middle between the seats comes some insect and hits the windshield….. I am driving at approx. 75mph, and I thought instantly “what the heck is that?†Suddenly this thing takes a wild swing sideways, and hits the windshield right in front of my vision…. Then turns around a hovers right in front of my vision, a couple of inches away back and forth………… a ten pound bumblebee COVERED IN ASHES!!!!! I just about drove off the darn road. Hitting the brakes hard I opened the door as the van was slowing, almost stopped and set the park, and jumped out left the door open and ran. Came back a couple of minutes later and he was gone. I am better now……... Down to about one nightmare a month,……….. got an even better one about a squirrel……… if you want
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You guys are funny as heck.
I was driving down the highway one time, windows wide open happy as all heck, singing with the radio when all of a sudden SMACK! Right in the chest. I had a pretty good idea of what it was but, I wasn't positive and what was worse, was that I couldn't find where it went right off.
I also had a really good idea why too, as I"m pulling myself up off and away from the seat as far as humanly possible with a seat belt on and still drive.
Here she comes, (I know it was a she bee cause it wouldn't leave the vicinity!) crawling, slowing, trying to get "her" dare I say, "ball bearings?" Thank GOD it was knocked a little bit wacky! Well? Castors, have ball bearings, don't they and this is piano talk? Kinda..
Turns out, it was a hornet my LEAST favorite bee. You know how many times that thing can sting???? And where it was located??? OH MAN!
The damn thing had hit my chest and nose dived into my crotch and onto the seat beneath ummmm, well, you know!!! Now, do you suppose that it would be dead?? heck NO. Not there, no way... She's alive and well, sorta well anyway, and VERY P iss ED! Wings start flapping, stopping, flapping, stopping. She's turning circles trying to figure out which part of me to sting first! I just knew it. Manly instinct!
She's getting nearer and nearer to "thee" and I'm beginning to panic about to the point of wanting to drive into a tree to end it all before she gets to where she was aiming!!
I'm driving, almost standing up, wiggling all over trying to unclip the stupid seat belt which I couldn't find, and slap the bee away from you know what at the same time without killing myself. And you think talking on a cell phone and driving is hard? HAH!
Finally, she managed to crawl in the right direction where I was able to knock her onto the floor. I still wasn't very happy because God only knows she might crawl up my pant leg or something but, at least that got her away from you know what!!!
Sweat pouring off from my forehead, actually, fear, really, I quickly pulled off the road and looked and looked to find that little sucker and couldn't find it anywhere. I think I looked for 10 minutes before I felt safe enough to get back into the car. Even at that, I never did feel really comfortable for the rest of the day. I expected at any moment to hear this bzzzzzz or see it flying around my car. I never did find it. I guess SHE must have flown out when I wasn't looking.
I lucked out big time on that one!
Ok, tell the squirrel story now Dan!
Jerry Groot RPT Piano Technicians Guild Grand Rapids, Michigan www.grootpiano.comWe love to play BF2.
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Yep, let's have the squirrel story Dan!!!!
Jerry, you were indeed lucky. Or maybe that hornet hit the "man of steel." hehe
----------------- Ron Alexander Piano Tuner-Technician
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Iffff, you're the only 3 people Ron, Dan, and me.....Looks to me like we're the only few people in here that has the guts to own up to some funny stories here huh???
How about it guys??
Jerry Groot RPT Piano Technicians Guild Grand Rapids, Michigan www.grootpiano.comWe love to play BF2.
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Content deleted by author due to not being relevant to pianos.
Part-time tuner
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Ok you guys give me a couple hrs. and I will word process and post it ........bear herding??? yeah I want this one with pictures ok Tooner??
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Content deleted by author due to not being relevant to pianos.
Part-time tuner
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We want the Squirrel story AND the Bear Herding Story!!!!!! We want the Squirrel story AND the Bear Herding Story!!!!!!!
I would say herding bears is about as tough as herding a pack of bulldogs!!!! And much more dangerous!!!!!
----------------- Ron Alexander Piano Tuner-Technician
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And the pics too, Tooner!!!
----------------- Ron Alexander Piano Tuner-Technician
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One last one from me today. . . It didn't happen to me, but happened to a tuner friend who has since passed away. Here is how he related it. A rainy day. It had rained all day and the day before too. A steep dirt drive up to the lady's house. His car stuck up to the axels half-way up the hill and he walked in the mud the rest of the way. Couldn't get one shoe out of the mud a couple of feet from her door so came to the door with one shoe, one sock. . . Tracked mud on her white carpet. Then sat down on her claw-foot spin-top stool only to hear. . .craaaaack! It broke in half! He told me it was NOT a good day!
Dennis C. Kelvie Piano Tuner/Technician since 1976
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Sorry folks, this isn't the place for campfire stories, AND it is not good for me to dwell on those years that I miss so much. Besides, how could someone ever herd bears? Must be a typo for hoard beers.
Part-time tuner
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Good one Dennis. sounds like a pretty good day to me... he he Tooner you are absolutely right. While the bee stroy was work related the squirrel story is not. So Ron, Jerry, and Tooner id you would like to click on my web site and send me an email ping, I will share this with you off line to be fair..... beside if I tell this story on line here it will surely ruin my chances for presidency
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Otherwise, just start a new thread Dan. Name it something squirrely...
Jerry Groot RPT Piano Technicians Guild Grand Rapids, Michigan www.grootpiano.comWe love to play BF2.
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All this serious piano stuff, kind of gets boring after a while...at least to me. So tell the story Dan...you too Tooner. If one does not care to sit around the campfire, they dont have to...hehe
----------------- Ron Alexander Piano Tuner-Technician
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Ok, just for you Ron.
I was living in a small town with only one beer distributor. When it changed hands I found out that they wouldn't be getting any shipments for a month. So, every day after work I would stop on my way home and buy a few cases. When they ran out of beer, people would come by and visit me to drink some beer. I could at least pretend I had friends. And that's how I hoarded the beer.
Sorry, no picture. You'll have to use your imagination.
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Sorry, double-post. I guess I was seeing double!
Part-time tuner
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Yes, I have visions of hoarded beer. Stacks upon the wall. Fridge loaded. Why is it that hoarded beer brings out the friendship in all of us...lol
Hey Tooner, dont worry about posting non piano related stuff. There's plenty of piano discussion, and a laugh now and then is good too!!!!
----------------- Ron Alexander Piano Tuner-Technician
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I agree. Strictly piano is boring after a while.
Jerry Groot RPT Piano Technicians Guild Grand Rapids, Michigan www.grootpiano.comWe love to play BF2.
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Ok you guys…. Against my better judgement……. The backyard faces south, on the west corner is a black locust tree, next to that, going east on the property line, is the garage. The driveway I built beside the garage, so that I can load my tools and supplies direct without being in the service alley behind the property. Beyond the driveway going east again are the flower and veggie beds, the eastern corner of the property has a large cherry tree. On the west side of the property there are two 75ft. red cedar trees that line both sides of the side gated entrance, this is where the squirrel used to start his journey. Down out of the cedar trees across the small apple tree and onto the garage. From the garage he would run up and over the roof, down onto my van rooftop, into the cherry tree and on his merry way. We had only been here a couple of years, maybe the first two summers… now I don’t know why this particular kind of (clearly intentional) trespass started to get under my skin…… I usually have a broken tennis racquet or two in the yard. Being an avid player, the sun damages the glass fibers, and the older racquets eventually crack. I use these when I get the chance to swat the cabbage looper moth who likes to leave eggs in my growing salad. So one day we are sitting on the patio beside the gate with the twin cedars and having some guests over in the summer shade, a little wine, a few figs, a little ouzo, some music …. And I noticed that Mr. Squirrel had just started his afternoon constitutional. Ok, so I jump up thinking, (and probably not very clearly), that today is the day to call in all the markers on Mr. Squirrel. Racing off the patio I picked up the strategically placed broken racquet and raced to the back of the van parked in the driveway beside the garage. Clearly I had been studying his path of travel and was meaning to cut him off. Crouching, cat-like, beside the back left side of the bumper, I waited listening intently for his tiny claws to start tick tick ticking across the top of the van. It came! First the jump down from the garage roof a loud click and scrape chalkboard like then the exciting tick tick tick. Closer and closer I had it timed perfectly…. When he made his jump across to the cherry branch I made my move leaping forward Bruce Lee- like…. I use my tennis arm to fling the racquet at this trespasser …….. the racquet glanced off the branch and, catching some air on the broken strings, sailed horizontally across the alley and through the bedroom window of my neighbors place, the same neighbor who was sitting on my patio!!!! These are old houses around here. All built between 1904 and 1930. All the windows in this place were the old wood frame with the six 10 X8 inch glass panels all putty. Well the velocity of the racquet took out most of the wood work and all the panels like some kind of really impaired bowling tournament, the glass and wood shattering in against the sheer curtains and crashing to the floor. Everyone froze, complete silence………. I stood there too…… my heart beating rapidly as I felt the smallness of my brain suddenly becoming a sad but predictable issue. Well, the neighbor’s wife had just had a baby maybe three or four months before. I guess the hormone thing had not died down and she just took off. Lighting into me verbally she ripped me horribly, stringing profanity into whole sentences… …..I was very impressed with her ability to perform this without taking a breath………. among other things. I managed to get a glass repair man, carpet cleaner and house cleaning crew out to clear up the mess the next day, even on a Sunday….cost me a bundle O yea and the squirrel? He got away scot free… dancing down the top of the fence and on his merry way Things are better now. This was all ten years ago. I don’t see Mr. Squirrel anymore, just his ancestors I guess, they don’t live very long maybe 4-6 years. When I see his ancestors I use the hose nozzle on jet to shoo them away. This helps me to water the garden too. While I am doing this I recite the Man’s Prayer. You don’t know the Man’s Prayer? quote “ I’m a man……but I can change……..if I have to………..I guess………†credits to Steve Smith…..The Red Green Show.
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The squirrel story is much better than the bear, uh beer story.
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Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:34 PM
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Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:23 PM
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