Men battle leaves, and neighbors battle noise
It is that time of year when man attempts to prove his masculinity. He straps his gas-powered engine on his back, and with the roar of a 747, he attacks the mighty leaf. With earplugs in place, he is oblivious to the rude and deafening roar that shatters domestic tranquility. With throttle wide open, he chases those mean and dangerous leaves all the way to the curb. He's outnumbered by thousands, but he is fearless in his unrelenting attack. Oops, one got away.
Do you think he would do hand-to-hand combat with this renegade? No way. Full throttle all the way to the curb again. What a man!
Ah, how I long for those quiet fall afternoons. I could hear my rake scratching leaves across the yard, and birds could be heard singing. But no more. Resonating across the neighborhood is the monotonous, obscene roar of the leaf blower. Sometimes three or four noise polluters competing at the same time. "My machine is louder than yours," they seem to scream.
Maybe peace and serenity will be restored when the mighty soldiers lay down their weapons and go to the gym for a workout.
Gene Lemons
Greensboro
Comments (14)
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I think this guy has issues. He's reading way too much into leaf blowing.
Posted on October 31, 2007 10:07 AM
This letter has more meaning than you may think.
It all started in the 1960's with the saying "If it feels good, do it"
Now it has got to:
" I have a right to anything I want to do and if you don't like it just leave or endure it. "
This encludes leaf blowers, loud exhaust systems and most of all "Boom Boxes on Wheels."
These and other noises are nothing more than rude behavior and a total disdain for anyone other than their ownselves.
Posted on October 31, 2007 11:18 AM
Gene cuts his grass with scissors.
The neighbors get irritated with the constant 'snip snip' coming from Gene's house.
Seriously, Gene, anytime you want to come rake up my leaves for me, I'd be glad to leave the leaf-blower in the shed.
Posted on October 31, 2007 11:25 AM
One last thing:
I do not cherish the same fond memories of leaf-raking that Gene does.
What I remember is an aching back, blisters all over my hands and countless hours bent over a rake during the most beautiful time of the year (IMO).
Only to have some idjut drive through the pile on the side of the road and scatter it all back on the yard....
Posted on October 31, 2007 11:28 AM
These gas powered, two-cycle exhaust blowing leaf blowers are used by republicans who show as much concern for their neighbors peace and quiet as they do for children's health care, conservation of water resources and the environment in general.
This contempt for a neighbor's peaceful enjoyment of their property is the same deranged mindset as shared by one out of three people in this country who still support Bush and his illegal war against a sovereign nation; And it's the same mindset that exposed CIA agent Valerie Plame and possibly risked our national security, not to mention endangering her life and that of her former Ambassador husband, Joe Wilson.
When you think about it, a leaf blower is just a substitute for a gun. The bigger and louder, the better for these people. These leaf blowing right-wing fanatics with the large blowers probably have .50 caliber rifles in their homes and defend their right to own one for "hunting".
Selfishness is their lot. Those blowers are not cheap and the leaves could easily be moved with a $10 rake. Better to spend hundreds of dollars on a gas powered, pollution spewing, two cycle maelstrom of environmental abuse than to spend that much for children's health care through a tax increase--That is what republican's do.
/LC aka Demon Deacon rant.
Posted on October 31, 2007 11:48 AM
Hugh, well done, sir!
I mow my leaf-strewn grass in concentric circles and rake up the pulverized leaves for mulch. Is that OK? Or is the presence of grass and the combustion engine enough to get me categorized as a low-down Republican?
Posted on October 31, 2007 11:57 AM
Thanks, Brian. After reading it again I realized I didn't make reference to Cheney and Hurricane Katrina.
Oh well, there's always next time.
Posted on October 31, 2007 12:27 PM
Oh, not to mention some of these blowers are probably made by subsidiaries of Haliburton.
Posted on October 31, 2007 12:29 PM
Dang, Hugh...I didn't know I was a right wing nut, but I guess I am... I am with Nit...if my leaf blower bothers you, you are MORE than welcome to come rake... I will house my riding mower if anyone wants to come use a manual push mower..
Also to the letter writer, just how much time is spent by the leaf blowing??? I'll bet there is still lots of quiet time for you to enjoy.
Posted on October 31, 2007 12:49 PM
Carol Dunn,
I wish you posted more often. And I'm not just saying that cause you said "I am with Nit".
Hope all is well.
Posted on October 31, 2007 12:54 PM
Kudos to Hugh. Not enough exclamation points, ALL CAP LOL's, and 5th grade locker-room insults, but quite entertaining on a Wednesday that feels like a Friday.
Posted on October 31, 2007 12:56 PM
Nit, it is fall, and the fish are biting...don't have much time to blog, but thanks for your good wishes.
Just got in from blowing a linear ton of acorns off the driveway. Where is the government grant to study the uses of acorns??? I could live like a king if they were valuable.
BTW, my neighbor also had his blower cranked up...so I guess I am OK.
Posted on October 31, 2007 4:41 PM
Hugh, you forgot to mention that these right wing "nutcases" who use leaf blowers are also narcissists, racists, and homophobes of the worst kind. LOL!!LOL!!LOL!!
I know you mentioned the environment in general, but you specifically didn't mention that leaf blowers are a major source of global warming and need to be banned now, or at least when algore tells president Hillary to do so while he's boarding a corporate jet.
Furthermore if we didn't have troops in Iraq then we'd have more people here to rake leaves instead of saving time with leaf blowers.
Not to mention that many leaf blowers are made overseas and thus take jobs away from Americans. AND, many illegals work in lawn care, thus use leaf blowers, and are denied health care benefits and other govt. goodies they justly deserve.
Other than that great post Hugh!!
Posted on October 31, 2007 5:48 PM
Can't afford a leaf blower, huh Gene?
Posted on October 31, 2007 9:55 PM