Kentucky state Sen. Johnnie Turner dies after plunging into empty swimming pool on lawn mower
Kentucky state Sen. Johnnie Turner dies after plunging into empty swimming pool on lawn mower
Kentucky state Sen. Johnnie Turner was known for his staunch support for the coal industry and other causes in his Appalachian district.
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at 76 with a reasonable amount of wealth under his belt, I'm surprised he was even mowing his own lawn
"Now why would anybody do drugs when you can just mow a lawn?" - Hank Hill
On one hand, yep.
On the other, I usually blaze one before I start on my yardwork / landscaping.
Getting high and driving slowly in circles is the best. I miss my riding mower but do not miss having a yard that required one.
I bet, but I've only got a 1/4 acre, so I just push mow. Still makes a relatively relaxing task even better, though lol.
Is this how he ended up in a pool? Lol
tbh, my first thought was “oh that’s terrible” and my second thought was “maybe he was drunk?”. It’s also possible he had some kind of medical emergency and couldn’t stop for some reason.
Blaze it Raze it Praise it
I think for some people it's like a form of meditation, especially for those with a big lawn and a riding mower. I don't personally get it, but that's the vibe these guys give off.
I didn't get it until I lived it myself. It's a whole thing. Felt like a King of the Hill skit when the neighbors rolled up my 3rd weekend. We were all out doing the same thing so they came to say hello. Just three guys out sitting on riding mowers in the front lawn chatting and drinking beers in the early afternoon while we all take a quick break from our solitude. It's probably the most relaxing chore that still requires a lot of physical labor. And you feel good about completing it.
Although if I wasn't renting, all this grass would be gone in favor of plant diversity. American lawn culture is strange.
That makes sense. I also totally get you on the last point. As soon as I manage to own a house, the yard is getting planted with local flora, fruit bushes, and a vegetable garden.
For others it is a means of escaping their family for an hour or so.
I hate the time it takes. I'm HIGHLY allergic to grass and wear near hazmat level protection.
But it requires many different skill sets including driving. This is what makes it enjoyable. The challenge to get the best look, or the most efficient mow.
Plus instant gratification. Each line looks good as you turn and come back on the next pass. And when you're done, the whole thing looks 100% better so you get a big o'l dopamine push with your self gratification.
My wife's parents have a decent plot of land and always go out for a mow when they're bored of us. I guess it's better than staring at their phones.
Even more amazing: weeding. Some people go into the zone out there pulling weeds. To me it was always torture -- mental and physical.
ok so there's mowers you actually ride,... this makes a lot more sense
Not just ride, that doesn't encompass the relationship properly. It's nearly a sport or art form really. A man and his mower.
There's a skill to not just driving, but you also control the speed of the blade, the direction of the cut, your lines. You need to control the speed so you get a good cut, which means dropping gears when you run thicker patches. You can also adjust the height of the deck (the part the blades are attached to), the speed of the blade. There are different kinds of blades to attach and you need to change them depending on the task or season. Also the blades need sharpening, so you need to pay for that or learn to sharpen (and balance) the blades. Then you use all of those skills to perfectly navigate diverse and uneven terrain to achieve the best possible look for your yard (once you decide if you are mowing for street looks or mowing for views from the house).
And that's just cutting grass with a basic model. There are so many vehicle options that the equipment alone can be a huge part of riding mower life. You can have a basic no-name with two small blades that rattles your teeth while you hold on for your life wishing you had better hearing protection. Or maybe a nearly silent electric zero turn where you steer with levers and are practically sitting in a reclining chair with a built in insulated
cupbeer holder. And there's everything in-between.Mowing life is weird.
this is amazing. The US fascinates me from an anthropological stand point
It fascinates us as well. The diversity is pretty insane when you stop to think about it. And every different place has their own things that everyone else thinks is strange.
Lots of people love maintaining a yard or garden. It’s not work to them. It’s a hobby.
100% agree. I love putting on headphones and mowing my lawn. Somehow it's relaxing. Shoveling snow, different story...
I get it. We can easily afford someone to come mow our lawn but that’s quiet me time that I need so I’d much rather do it myself.
Quiet? On a motorized lawn mower?
My noise cancelling headphones work great and my mower’s electric. It’s not loud at all.
But I’m mostly saying “quiet” to mean being away from other people
Had a friend and his wife move in with us for a short time as they were moving to our city for a new job. They offered to help with chores and whatnot around the house, and he specifically mentioned he could help with yard work. I told him in no uncertain terms that that was my "me time" and he was to never intrude on that again. He chuckled knowingly.
Yup, I had a friend crash with us for a bit to get back on his feet and I had the exact same convo with him. Nah dawg, you can do the dishes… yards mine.
Electric is the future. They also don't rattle your body like a gas mower does. I'm not sure why this isn't used more as a selling feature.