Writing Boots

On communication, professional and otherwise.

America, the beautiful

03.16.2009 by David Murray // 6 Comments

So this big rusty hulk has been parked around the corner from where I live for years. It always cracks me up because it's always parked in front of the tidiest little condo building I've ever seen, and I can imagine the neighbors cursing.

Uglycar

Of course, I appreciate this rig, being a four-wheel-drive kind of guy myself.

Scout

So one afternoon a couple of years ago, this guy and I happened to be at the local Marathon, pumping good gas after bad. I gave him a little nod and a grin. His contemptuous return stare said, "As if."

Categories // Uncategorized

Comments

  1. Ron Shewchuk says

    March 16, 2009 at 9:19 pm

    I would love to haul a big rolling barbecue pit behind that truck. Beauty, eh.

    Reply
  2. David Murray says

    March 17, 2009 at 9:05 am

    Cristie saw this picture and said, “Oh, the guy fixed the truck. It used to be, like, scary.”

    Reply
  3. Susan says

    March 17, 2009 at 10:09 am

    Gonzo, As a guest passenger in Scout, I take serious offense to the guy giving you a contemptuous stare. How dare he!!!
    And Ron, it would be cool to haul the BBQ pit behind it, but on principle, I say “no”, in honor of the Scout.

    Reply
  4. Joan H. says

    March 17, 2009 at 12:19 pm

    Well, Susan, I don’t know–remember, when David was driving us around Chicago (emitting a vaporous brake fluid fume in our wake), those kids pulled up beside us and asked if we were on some kind of tour!
    That truck belongs in the Mat-Su Valley. It’s our kind of trash. The guy is our kind of guy. This is Palin country, and you have a transplant right there in your neighborhood. Get yourself some of those stick-on bullet holes, David, and he’ll think twice about scorning you.
    For those who like Palin country updates, I have one. On the radio this morning, the DJs did their weekly “Craig’s List Price Is Right” in which they find Alaskan Craig’s List ads and then try to guess what people are asking for their odd goods. On today’s list was, straight from Palmer (the town neighboring Wasilla) this entrepreneurial breakthrough: toilet seats painted with landscapes. Doesn’t that sound beautiful? Makes me so proud to be one of the Valley Trash! It’d be a true accent to my trailer house, don’t you think?

    Reply
  5. David Murray says

    March 17, 2009 at 12:36 pm

    I’ve decided to create a shitty-car contest, via the Huffington Post:
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-murray/chicago-cars-which-is-the_b_175559.html
    Maybe this will go viral, and nationwide. In which case, Joan, keep your peepers open in the Mat-Su Valley.

    Reply
  6. David Murray says

    March 18, 2009 at 10:19 am

    My pal Tom Gillespie writes about his own Scout, a Mad Maxian rust-bucket with a hilariously incongruous bumper-sticker that says, “It shouldn’t hurt to be a child.”
    “It’s getting uglier by the day and by that I mean better looking,” Tom says.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to David Murray Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Now Available

An Effort to Understand

Order Now

SIGN UP TO RECEIVE BLOG UPDATES

About

David Murray writes on communication issues.
Read More

 

Categories

  • Baby Boots
  • Communication Philosophy
  • Efforts to Understand
  • Happy Men, and Other Eccentrics
  • Human Politicians
  • Mister Boring
  • Murray Cycle Diaries
  • Old Boots
  • Rambling, At Home and Abroad
  • Sports Stories
  • The Quotable Murr
  • Typewriter Truths
  • Uncategorized
  • Weird Scenes Inside the Archives

Archives

Copyright © 2025 · Log in

  • Preorder An Effort to Understand
  • Sign Up for Blog Updates
  • About David Murray