While we were discussing some of the unusual and humorous incidents that have happened to us while collecting insulators over a period of seven years, it seemed that every recalled incident brought another one to mind, like the following. 

Your wife didn't really appreciate the sacrifice you were making in getting out of a nice, heated automobile to collect some insulators in January until you brought back an ice cold CD 127 and accidentally(?) touched her neck with it while showing it to her. That caused instant cold goosebumps and some very heated language. 

Along the Baltimore and Ohio tracks in southwestern Ohio, it was necessary to walk over and around a large dead snake while checking the overhead lines. On the third trip that you made past him, the 'dead' snake decided to move, and so did you ! 

Somewhere in the bushes along the Big Four right-of-way near Loveland, Ohio are several beautiful No.20's (CD 133) and a couple of nice olive green CD 152's that fell into the bushes and three trips back to the same area have failed to uncover them from their hiding place. Why didn't you get them the first time? Easy, they were in a patch of 'jiggers' and it was mid-August. 

In the town of Stone Mountain, Georgia a general store owner tried to be very helpful and upon being asked if he had any insulators, he replied, "No, but could you use some good ground wire?" 

By the way, wouldn't you like to have the portable potty concession along the railroad tracks? 

You thought that you could easily acquire an opened railroad lock from the old station mailbox by slipping it out of the hasp and quickly putting it in your pocket. It sounded very easy and you did it, but unfortunately the lock had just been freshly painted with Rustoleum aluminum paint and wouldn't be dry for several hours yet. 

Isn't it disappointing when a line of 'carnival' insulators turn out to be just clear ones covered with Alabama red dirt?

And when you are skulking around where you really shouldn't be why is it that each little sound is highly magnified -- like the terrified little rabbit who sounded at least six feet tall as he scurried away through the bushes. 

The wooden Coke cases that hold twelve big bottles are great for carrying insulators to and from shows and sales, so it was a disappointment as you had your eyes on a couple of cases to add to your collection when a little tyke darted out of a nearby house, ran through the frigid February evening air, snatched up the cases and dashed back into his house where his father was anxiously awaiting to use the cases -- for firewood! 

Didn't your fellow club members razz you something terrible when you displayed a small portion of an apple green "teapot" which you had purchased at a recent show? Of course, they changed their tune at the next meeting when you produced the Boston Bottle Works, CD 158 with 'Patent Applied For' and four segmented threads that you had gotten in full trade for the piece of a never before seen "teapot". 

How come the neighborhood dogs don't understand that it is not their duty to protect all railroad property near their house? 

Your friend apologized when he asked $10.00 for a small ribbed and paneled lightning rod pendant in flashed red color. "That's rather steep, isn't it?", you replied, but happily paid him knowing that if there is another one like it anywhere, it would probably cost about $350.00! 

Which is more likely to make you look innocent while on the railroad right-of-way, carrying a camera or walking a dog?

Out for a ride near Old Venus off of U.S. 27 in Florida, you checked out likely looking spots near the abandoned Atlantic Coast Line right-of-way. Nothing worthwhile on the poles but just where you stopped your car -- a brand new one dollar bill you don't know where it came from but you sure know where it went! 

We feel that reliving some of these things that happened to us are part of the great times in our fascinating hobby of collecting insulators and we hope that you will tell us about some of your favorite times, places and incidents. So long!