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Grill Talk => Weber Grill Forum (Grills, Accessories) => Topic started by: Winz on February 10, 2015, 07:41:17 AM

Title: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: Winz on February 10, 2015, 07:41:17 AM
     I was driving through some of the back roads in my area yesterday and spotted a nice looking brownie on the porch of a run-down house.  I turned the truck around at the first opportunity and doubled back to try a “cold call” acquisition.  The dirt driveway was about 300 feet south of the house and the gate was closed.  Wanting to get a closer look, I pulled off the 2 lane road directly across from the house, walked across the road and scouted.  The house was set back 100 feet from the road and appeared dark, however there were 2 trucks parked near the house.  It did not look like anyone was home, so I turned around, crossed the road and got back into my truck.  I just started the motor when this guy comes walking across the road:

(https://dl.dropbox.com/s/c2cfuqmr00fhvwo/banjo.jpeg?dl=0)

I shut down the motor, got out and engaged in the following conversation:[size=78%] [/size]
Me:  “Hi, is this your house?”
DG (Deliverance Guy):  nods yes
Me:  “I was driving by and saw that brown grill on your porch, is that a Weber grill?”
DG:  no response
Me:  “It looks like a grill my dad used to own and I was wondering if you might consider selling it?”
DG:  “Nawwww”.  After a long, confused pause, “Why are you looking at my house”?
Me:  “As I said, I saw that brown grill as I drove by and was interested in seeing if you would consider selling it to me”
DG:  Long, uncomfortable pause while looking my truck over: “What’s your name?”
 
I realized at this point that I was not going to get the grill and furthermore, needed to do something to reassure this guy that I was not casing the place for a future break-in.   It was eerie and I had the feeling that this guy was just looking for an excuse to exercise his right to bear arms.   I handed him my card and told him to give me a call should he change his mind and drove away.  It was a very uncomfortable encounter – I think I am going to stick to craigslist for a while (unless of course I spot a MTH - some grills are worth getting shot at…).


Winz
 
Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: 1buckie on February 10, 2015, 07:52:42 AM
Come down out of the woods....Texas Onion just sent me this:

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/for/4884992363.html

Of course, I do know some people have banjos down here too..... :o 8)
Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: Jeff on February 10, 2015, 08:07:24 AM
A brownie isn't worth risking my life for...now a yellow, baby blue, or Wooddale???  I'll have my WKC approved bullet proof vest on for!
Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: Jammato on February 10, 2015, 08:23:46 AM
A brownie isn't worth risking my life for...now a yellow, baby blue, or Wooddale???  I'll have my WKC approved bullet proof vest on for!

remembering the movie, you think the vest protects enough, do not want to hear about you squealing like a pig
Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: Harleysmoker on February 10, 2015, 06:06:23 PM
Been there, kind of... I had my eye on a red head for along time now. One day I drove down the ally behind the house, figured out which door to knock on. There was a bunch of Hispanic kids in the front of the house, so my wife knocked since I don't speak Spanish. I was watching her the whole time, she came back to the car and said the woman answered the door with blood on her face, and said, I don't think he wants to sell his grill.

I have passed this house many times in the last year, and it is still sitting in the same spot, like it never moves.

For all I know the bottom could be rusted out. I am still thinking of stopping by again, maybe take a couple of my Mexican Male friends this time.
Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: MrHoss on February 10, 2015, 06:19:28 PM
I'd have stopped for a Brownie too. Take care out there Winz.
Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: mirkwood on February 10, 2015, 06:36:36 PM
That area has more than a few working meth labs so yeah you really need to be very careful..
Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: Winz on February 10, 2015, 07:13:35 PM

remembering the movie, you think the vest protects enough, do not want to hear about you squealing like a pig

The image of Ned Beatty in his underwear haunts me to this day.  That is something you can't un-see. 

Winz
Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: crumbsnatcher on February 10, 2015, 07:39:14 PM
And that's why I don't go knocking on doors. Be safe out there @Winz and everyone else.


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Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: 5280Jeff on February 11, 2015, 07:06:41 AM
Good thing you didn't ask to see his "cooker"!
Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: SixZeroFour on February 11, 2015, 07:33:20 AM
lol - I can just imagine that strange uncomfortable pause while he checked out you and your vehicle! All I'm envisioning is this...

(http://i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/010/319/almostpolitically.gif)

About 6 months ago I was on the way home from picking up a brownie of all things! when I caught a glimpse of a red kettle in some guys side yard. It was about 10:30 am and I couldn't wait any longer before heading home so I decided to go for it and knock on the door. Some dude answers with no shirt on and is clearly not impressed. After a few min of explanation and trying to talk him into consider selling it he finally says "OK, come take a look." I walk around the corner and in front of me stands a beat to hell Happy Cooker  :o ::) I then had to tell him I was no longer interested then more or less dove into the Jeep and got the hell outta there ;)
Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: MartyG on February 11, 2015, 07:54:40 AM
Good story Winz! Reminds me of the first MidAtlantic meetup last year where more than a couple members felt a little uneasy coming to my place, and for good reason. Although we're close to civilization, we live along a gravel road with a steep winding driveway (no escape!) leading to our house. Plenty of no trespassing signs up, and an iron gate near the bottom of the drive. If it weren't for the hastily made WKC plywood sign pointing up the hill, I doubt anyone would have showed up. Had it been someone else's place, I'm pretty sure I would not have made that final turn, and I guarantee my wife would not have even come down the gravel road.

Everyone lived to tell the tale, but I'm already thinking about how to make the place friendlier for this year's meetup. Maybe I need to learn me some banjo...
Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: MartyG on February 13, 2015, 01:49:49 AM
My advice? Never knock - always use the door bell:

(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8591/16331842810_f6500554a0_z.jpg)
Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: zach1234 on February 17, 2015, 11:10:29 PM
haha, funny story.  So what you're saying is that freestyling picking is not as glamorous as Mike Wolf and Frank Fritz make it appear on American Pickers?
Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: Winz on February 22, 2015, 08:41:32 PM
I drove past deliverance guy's house again today.  Here is the brownie I was referencing in my original post:


(https://dl.dropbox.com/s/06yuf11zgosnrky/banjo%20brownie.jpg?dl=0)


Sorry for the image quality - I was going about 30 mph.  I don't dare stop again...


Looks like it has a really nice fade.


Winz
Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: 1buckie on February 23, 2015, 09:11:37 AM
"Looks like it has a really nice fade."


....or, it could be a tree limb?
Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: Ted B on February 23, 2015, 11:59:58 AM
(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/02/23/2bce6145099104be8fca084bbfa988de.jpg)

This may be an awkward encounter but think it will be worth it. Just need backup first, then I'm knocking. In a potentially bad area. Never know who you will find.
Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: charred on May 22, 2015, 10:09:16 AM
Oooops... i was confused. :o

So many grills in the wrong hands...
Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: 1911Ron on May 22, 2015, 09:46:53 PM
Paddle faster i hear banjo's!
Title: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: DTrainMike on May 23, 2015, 01:57:06 AM
"He gotta real purdy weber ain't he!"


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Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: Jeep on May 23, 2015, 11:44:42 AM
There will be no free-styling for me!

Yikes
Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: DTrainMike on June 04, 2015, 02:00:42 AM
I read this post even and still just had a scary run in. Looking for hand planes on CL. Ended up at a hoarder's place.  An older gentleman greeted me at the door. House was a wreck. Stacks and stacks of anything and everything. He said the planes were in the basement. I really wanted to see them and couldn't think of a polite way to run out of there without offending. I followed him out of the foyer past a living room to the left. A man had been standing there quiet during the hellos that I only just caught out of the corner of my eye as I passed. Long straight black hair, un kept beard. Maybe 6'1", 220. I said hi and he managed only a creepy grin. I made it to the end of the hall and turned to see him quietly walk to the front door, exit and close the door tightly behind him. I followed the man down the basement steps to find every square inch of the place stacked to the ceiling with stuff. Only walk ways that were only passable by turning your shoulders sideways. And there was an inch of water covering the entire floor. He said the planes where way in the back.  He headed that way. I stayed at the steps wanting to get some distance between us. Then I see the feet and legs of the other man walk by the basement window toward the back of the house.  At that point I had enough heebeegeebees to get the heck gone. I said I had to make a call right away and sprinted up the stairs, out the front door and down the short drive. As I turned to my car I saw the other man walk around the corner of the house into the front yard. I just quickly and calmly kept walking as if I hadn't seen him. I think I had my car moving before i had my door shut all the way.!  Chances are they weren't out to get me but it ain't fun feeling like your about to be chained up in someone's basement.

Meet in a parking lot!  I will be from now on.


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Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: addicted-to-smoke on June 04, 2015, 06:22:01 AM
Yowsa Mike, that's got Stephen King written all over it! Even if benign, it's just common courtesy to have your shit ready and nearby when people come calling, so they don't have to traipse through all your junk.
Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: Mark Schnell on June 04, 2015, 07:08:09 AM
Dang, Mike! You might have been thrown on their Weber!!!
Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: JDD on June 04, 2015, 07:57:42 AM
LMAOL - That's some funny shit!!  But glad you made it out of there!
Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: Hell Fire Grill on June 04, 2015, 08:11:17 AM
I think you guys should just stay home...or take your wife's purse with you for protection.

(http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w129/americanwest/A_bald_chicken.jpg) (http://s175.photobucket.com/user/americanwest/media/A_bald_chicken.jpg.html)
Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: DTrainMike on June 04, 2015, 08:19:22 AM
More like.......(http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/06/04/5741e49535b4cd727548fa0b2c64b9ad.jpg)

You are what you eat I guess!


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Title: Re: An uncomfortable encounter.
Post by: Josh G on June 04, 2015, 09:22:43 AM
"Come down to my basement.  They're back here, come on, all the way in the back"  Yea your definitely getting cut up and buried in the yard.