Our 10 Days Near Detroit, Visiting the Family...

This video was made in Southgate Mi. just a few miles from Detroit. We were just on Fort St. last week on our way to my Father in laws house. a.k.a. Papa Jack. Detroit is what it is, but this is what is really going on there in the "Burbs" Nice people enjoying real life. This is the real Michigan. Enjoy the Video.

I'll be posting tid bits about our trip in the coming days, and believe it or not it's mostly positive and funny, except one incident. We were going through Ohio and we drove past a nuclear plant, and I asked my Grandson Corgan if he knew what it was and he said, "if it blows up we will all be killed!"

 Detroit's problems began decades ago with corrupt mayors and crooked unions. I was in the UAW, though I did not choose to be, I had to be. I worked at the Fisher Body plant in Ypsilanti, Mi. Yes, this is a real place, just outside Ann Arbor. The attitude of the workers in the plant was pure hatred and disdain for the company. They would do anything they could to impede production, or stop the line. I really didn't get it. I asked one guy," if we get more cars out the door isn't that a good thing". He told me to shut up, if I knew what was good for me. That was forty something years ago, and what happened in Lansing is the work of "paid thugs". You ask where are the cops?  Did you know that this type of union activity is not against the law? Google it! The car companies were Detroit and the Unions got anything they wanted or they went on strike and stopped production. The cars were crap but we all bought American back then. Now the #1 car company is Toyota.

Guess what, that was in 1968, since then almost a million people have left Detroit proper, and about a 1000 families a month are leaving currently. Michigan used to depend entirely on the auto industry to run their economy, not so today. Detroit as a city is just about finished, the latest idea floating around is to make it into a "Zombie Land Theme Park"  An added note, they added Casino gambling several years ago , with the usual promises, rebuild the city, improve education, blah,blah, blah. The real problem with Detroit is that all the taxpayers have left. The biggest Liberal City failure, ever is on its way to bankruptcy. This video is an example of what is happening in Greece. It's in the beginning stages here.

The City of Detroit, 1962
Play both videos at the same time
the effect is haunting.

The City of Detroit, 2014 Some homes can be purchased for less than a $100. but you have to live in them and take care of the property. This is a video of what's available. Copper plumbing, not included.

 

What's goin' on?

 

What Happened to my Truck?

My first new truck

Where do I begin on this one? I guess first things first. We were fortunate enough to buy a 10 acre farm in Temperance Mi. about 40 miles from Detroit. It had a brand new 10 horse barn and a new house. Could we, should we? Yessss! Let's get a new truck. Why get a Ford, we had horse friends, let's call them Betty and Tom, and every time we went to visit them he would always complain about the "GM POS," I was driving. He worked for Ford, and always told me to move up, get a Ford, they make the number 1 truck in the world.

I knew someone that worked at a local Ford dealership in Monroe Mi. (pronounced Munro) the home of Lazy Boy, Monroe Shocks and Jim and Sue Barton.

Uncle Everetts Rig

So I went out and looked at some trucks. I told him we were going to have a camper on the truck. A side note, my father in law is a very giving person and he thought we  were crazy for going into debt for a truck and camper. He said Uncle Everett has a pick up with the camper on it for $300. As you can see, "you get what you pay for" I told my father in law that we had to haul a horse trailer and Everett's rig couldn't handle it.
Back to the truck deal, I told the salesman what we wanted the truck for, figured out the GVW's, engine needs, towing ability, and the constant "Yeah, the truck we picked can do it all'
Then I got the usual "What can I do to get you into your new truck today?" The close was, "look, you're putting a camper on this "veeehicle"(that's how he said it) right? I said yes, he said forget the rear bumper, you can't use it anyway, hey, you save $400. bucks.
I think I had the truck for a week, everyone was happy, my wife, my kids even my Ford buddy.

That's not Rose

Rose and Razz Youth Equitation
Champion
EMAR

Rose, my wife Jackie's baby sister used to come out and ride the horses and sometimes stay on weekends. Sometimes we won some money betting on her, but most of time we lost. Just kidding, this was a typical weekend for Rose. Free horseback riding.  Look what "free" horseback riding did for her!  Remember the rear bumper I didn't have put on the truck? One day at work I was taking a break and happened to be looking at my new truck and noticed the whole right rear fender had vanished. I took a closer look and I thought, hit and run. Damage estimate $2500. The whole bed would have to be replaced. Then I noticed rust on the damage, this happened a while ago. I asked Jackie about it, she said, OMG, we wanted to get an ice cream at the corner store, we were in a hurry and something stopped us. It really sounded bad, but Rose got out and looked and said it was ok. What side did she look  at, oh, my side. No damage, the whole passenger side vanished underneath itself and you saw no damage? It seems they rammed a cement sign protecting post at full speed in reverse! That's what the horrendous thud was.

I think that's a curtain
rod hanging off the back.
They were watching
"The Price is Right"

Moral of this story, always have a rear bumper on your car or truck. Make sure you don't waste any of a $2500. dollar ice cream. A few years later we got another new pick up and as you can see by the picture,

I got the most durable and expensive rear bumper that was available, but this time I really didn't need it. She found another way. I think that's a window curtain hanging off the back, no one was hurt but changes of underwear were in short order.

I promised music critiques, I love Karmen, watch her band guys, they love her too! It's about time, something fresh and happy!         Enjoy the Video! Please comment, we would love to hear from you!