Max: Compost
Ever since we moved to this house, Laura's parents, who live just up the street, have been threatening to get a riding lawn mower for us to share. Today, they carried through with the threat and bought a shiny new John Deere. They brought it around to our house to give a trial run. Laura got the first ride, doing the front yard in a fraction of the time with a fraction of the effort it took me to mow it a couple of weeks ago. And while I was just short of killed by the effort I put out back then, Laura was more than capable of standing upright when she was done.
When it came time to do the backyard, we ran into a bit of a snag. The mower would not fit through either of our gates. So, my father-in-law - who seems to find the word "impossible" missing from his vocabulary - grabbed some tools and turned a section of our fence into a new gate wide enough to allow the mower in.
While he was doing that, I noticed some rather healthy looking vegetation growing in the gutters of our garage. Laura climbed up on a ladder and started pulling out what looked like dry compost. It was kind of nasty, but it came out pretty easily. Although my fear of heights means I am not normally a fan of ladders - or step stools or shoes with soles that are too thick - I volunteered to do the other side of the garage as we have a bit of a poison ivy problem over there. Laura is highly allergic to the demon weed while I have so far proven immune. Big mistake. The downspout on the other side had been well clogged. While Laura had pulled out dry compost, I was pulling out wet chunks of organic matter that would have made Swamp Thing gag. When I cleared the downspout there was a diluvian flow out of the opening.
I finished that just in time to start tooling around my backyard on the mower. I have been mowing lawns off and on for about 26 years. This is the first time I actually had fun. Once got the hang of the mower, it was like my backyard had become my own personal go-cart track.
The yard work finished, the day's filth finally showered off of me, I settled into one of the lawn chairs in the afternoon shade. I just sat, and thought and watched the dog run around like the hyperactive nutjob she is. For the first time in a long time I felt good. I felt at peace. Then Laura came out and reminded me about the argument we had last night. After a short reprise we made our peace and headed out to do some grocery shopping on the in-laws' dime. Have I mentioned my in-laws are fairly awesome?
We just got home. Laura is watching the great, prime time karaoke contest that is American Idol. So I figured I would share the details of my day with you, the vast fanbase that makes IWDC the awesome place it is. You two are great!
When it came time to do the backyard, we ran into a bit of a snag. The mower would not fit through either of our gates. So, my father-in-law - who seems to find the word "impossible" missing from his vocabulary - grabbed some tools and turned a section of our fence into a new gate wide enough to allow the mower in.
While he was doing that, I noticed some rather healthy looking vegetation growing in the gutters of our garage. Laura climbed up on a ladder and started pulling out what looked like dry compost. It was kind of nasty, but it came out pretty easily. Although my fear of heights means I am not normally a fan of ladders - or step stools or shoes with soles that are too thick - I volunteered to do the other side of the garage as we have a bit of a poison ivy problem over there. Laura is highly allergic to the demon weed while I have so far proven immune. Big mistake. The downspout on the other side had been well clogged. While Laura had pulled out dry compost, I was pulling out wet chunks of organic matter that would have made Swamp Thing gag. When I cleared the downspout there was a diluvian flow out of the opening.
I finished that just in time to start tooling around my backyard on the mower. I have been mowing lawns off and on for about 26 years. This is the first time I actually had fun. Once got the hang of the mower, it was like my backyard had become my own personal go-cart track.
The yard work finished, the day's filth finally showered off of me, I settled into one of the lawn chairs in the afternoon shade. I just sat, and thought and watched the dog run around like the hyperactive nutjob she is. For the first time in a long time I felt good. I felt at peace. Then Laura came out and reminded me about the argument we had last night. After a short reprise we made our peace and headed out to do some grocery shopping on the in-laws' dime. Have I mentioned my in-laws are fairly awesome?
We just got home. Laura is watching the great, prime time karaoke contest that is American Idol. So I figured I would share the details of my day with you, the vast fanbase that makes IWDC the awesome place it is. You two are great!
2 Comments:
Wow, I didn't realize that May 24 was scheduled as a "Day in the Life of Max" feature. Weird, guess I missed the memo!
That was actually quite cool. I don't mean the fact that you are upset and feeling helpless or that you had to do house chores - I liked seeing through your eyes for a day. I wish I wrote out here more often ... like that ... that was freakin' cool.
So, you'll be doing this twice a week, right?
As the mood strikes.
Feel free to give it a try yourself.
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