The old smokehouse was given to me by the new owners of the property--only thing was that I didn't know it at the time. The folks that lived on the farm, in a rental mobile home, claimed ownership and said I had to deal with them. I said "ok" and we proceeded to haggle. They were puttin in a new mobile home at another location and needed a meter loop built up and installed. I was contracting electrical work back then and told'm I'd build it for'm if they bought the stuff I needed. We agreed and I built the loop inspite of their constant advice on how to do it properly.

A couple weeks later I got the building ready to move with 10" surface pipe's under it for skids. Hooked a big Case Diesel tractor on it and away we went. Got it home---about 4 miles--without mishap or any problems. All was well---or so I thought!

First--a man noticed me movin it past his house and "turned me in" to a friend of his who pumped oil wells in the river bottoms close by. The pumper was at my house the next day wonderin about those "stolen surface pipe skids" that he owned. Said if I returned'm to where I got'm that he wouldn't turn me in to the law! I informed the gentleman that I had NOT stolen'm but rather had talked to HIS boss and got his permission to use'm. I did take'm back that day tho--just in case somebody else stuck their big noses in where it didn't belong!

Second--the real property owners seen me a few days later and asked about the building. I told'm I'd dealt with their renters for it and the deal I'd made with'm. They laughed--said they didn't know anything about any "deal" and I could've had it for nuthin!!!! Said they told the renter that I could have it and he was supposed to've told me.

This happened about 15 years ago or so, I guess. The old smokehouse finally met it's doom when we bought the new Amish built modular because we needed the room. [I don't cut trees in my yard for ANY reason.] The folks who "took" me on the meter loop later divorced, the man who turned me in to his friend, the pumper, was later almost killed stealin firwood from big brushpiles in the bottoms. He was busy cuttin wood when a dozer pushed timber over the top of the brush pile and the trees rolled over on'm. The pumper---he had a massive stroke a few years ago and is unable to work at all. The pumpers boss who gave me permission to use the pipe got caught in a pumpjack and almost totally destroyed a leg. The friend of mine who loaned me the Case Tractor died shortly after also. I think the only one who escaped from this ordeal unscathed was this old hillbilly and I don't really know why either. I'm not ANY better than anybody else---maybe it's because I'm so dumb that He has to kinda "look out" for me a little more than some!

The moral of this little story? Again, I don't have any idea unless it means to "tend to ya'lls own business and that'll be more than ya'lls can manage"!

The business that I like to "stick my big old ugly nose in" is my Fathers business. Sometimes it isn't smooth sailin but that's ok. He takes care of His own. I became one of "His own" way back in 1961 in a little country church under the banner of Southern Baptist! I'll stay "His" as long as I live--and that is FOREVER! Glory to God. Are ya'll tellin other folks about Him? Old hoot gibson. Matt.24:44

-- old hoot gibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), February 25, 2002

Answers

There is always a moral. Judging from all the bad luck those folks had after dealing with you, it might be, stay away from Hoot, he passes bad luck.

-- Redneckin WA (nospam@aol.com), February 25, 2002.

I quote, "just in case somebody else stuck their big noses in where it didn't belong!"

That is called Neighborhood Watch here. I would call someone about what appeared to be a theft as well.

You seem joyful at their demise. I say they were good neighbors and community members to check on the legitimacy of someone "borrowing" some equipment. If you had been a theif they would be hailed as a community hero.

Sometimes us honest folk have to be ready to put up with inconveniences such as airport searches and yes, this incident, to keep everyone else honest.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), February 25, 2002.

I don't see how anyone would've saw that and thought it was stealing. Theft is usually more discrete than dragging a smokehouse 4 miles down the road.

Glad to see you posting around these parts Hoot. Did you put that smokehouse to good use when you had it?

-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), February 25, 2002.

Gee, if you dragged my neighbor's building away using the equipment from an itinerant work crew, I might question you. See? Neighborhood Watch.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), February 25, 2002.

Hey Dave, SOmewhere.com exists, but I can't find you....why is that?

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), February 25, 2002.

sorry about that Anne. I never use email on message boards because of the hassles with spam. I already spend alot of time with email addresses but I guess I should have one here too so people can yell at me lol.

-- Dave (multiplierx9@hotmail.com), February 26, 2002.

Grandpa Hoot, another good story! Moral of the story - stay on Hoot's good side because He is looking after him! God bless.

-- Michael W. Smith in North-West Pennsylvania (kirklbb@penn.com), March 03, 2002.

Well. I thought Jesus said to bless them which curse you. Love your enemies, that you may be the children of your Father in heaven.

None of us deserve blessings. That's why they are called blessings. Otherwise, they would be called Divine payments.

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), March 03, 2002.

Ddyllady, so waht do blessings have to do with this story anyhow? Hoot seems more interested in the negative aftereffects than any positives (except for himself).

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), March 03, 2002.

I don't normally answer people who attack me but in this case I'll make an exception. Anne, it's apparent you don't approve of much of anything I do, say or believe. If my posts make you so uncomforable then why bother reading them?

Before these followups dip into the mud any deeper, maybe I'd better explain a few things to those who wanna rip my throat out. I am NEVER amused or happy about somebody else's misfortune. I was really baffled by all the negative and horrible things that happened to these folks.

This is in a small community where everybody knows everybody else-- like it or not--that's the way it is. Some folks strive to take advantage of others with a certain degree of amusement. I don't have time to go around causing trouble for others even if they are attempting to cause me problems. I know these people- almost all of'm are good folks that will help out anybody at the drop of the hat. I don't hate anybody and will not cause anybody any problems. I leave people alone. I also am not the only one who has tasted the hatefulness of a troublemaker or two.

I don't know what somebody meant talkin about somebody I mentioned-- maybe the tractor owner? The Tractor owner was a good friend of mine and never hurt anybody! He planted sweet corn by the acres and let folks pick all they wanted---for FREE!

Jesus Christ is MY judge. He is also yours! Old hoot. Matt.24:44

-- old hoot gibson (hoot@pcinetwork.com), March 03, 2002.