Oh boy.
Do I have stories for this one!

Nurse Ratched's parents were a bit older than mine, and had both gone through the Great Depression as children. I'm sure that many of you have grandparents of that age, so you'll have noticed how that particular generation is marked by a kind of thriftiness that borders upon obsession.

One day her dad was out mowing the lawn and the ride-around mower flung a piece of gravel from the edge of the driveway and took out the glass globe on the coach light at the end of the driveway.

A new one cost around $50 or so, he found out that afternoon.

When next we came to visit I noticed that it looked a bit odd and wandered over to take a look.

He had taken a large pickle jar, painted the inside white and put it upside down on the light.

Why yes, it's quite clever! No, I never would have noticed a thing! It looks quite... errr...

Fuck. I got the giggles and couldn't stop.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Thu 23 Oct 2008, 18:50, 4 replies)

Seems familiar
Have you posted this before?

Still a cracking story :)
(Jester_, Fri 24 Oct 2008, 9:50, closed)

I probably have.
It's one of my favorite stories on him. Ever seen those "redneck" pictures, where people have taken things and put them to uses they were never intended for? Like the redneck barbecue which was an old toilet full of charcoal? That was him in a nutshell.

I swear I threw out a hundred Pringles cans after he died...
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Fri 24 Oct 2008, 14:11, closed)

Yay, one for the DIY outdoor-lighting nuts!
*clicky*

PS: pics please...?
(lanternchikk hat eine schwere Bohlenallergie, Fri 24 Oct 2008, 12:22, closed)

Sadly
I have none- this was back in the 80s, and after he died Nurse Ratched's mother remarried to a man who believes in doing things properly. The lamp is long gone.

Too bad, really- it was fucking hilarious.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Fri 24 Oct 2008, 14:12, closed)