Prior to this summer, Steve Angiletti and his son cut my lawn for at least three or four summers. I loved it. They were reliable, reasonable and did a better job in half an hour than I could do in half a day. But as the recession set in at the end of 2008 and everyone looked for ways to cut costs, my family decided that “we” could cut the lawn ourselves. I didn’t like the idea because I knew it was going to take me three times as long to do a worse job than the Angilettis. The thought of driving around my half acre on a fancy new tractor was the only appeal.
By the time we started shopping for mowers in February and March the plan had been scaled back a little more. We would not get a tractor, but instead a self-propelled mower that you walk behind. The family also decided that instead of just letting the grass fall on the lawn, we would get bag attachment for the back of the self propelled mower. As the bag fills, it adds an extra 10 to 20 pounds to the weight of the mower.
When I started in the spring my family thought it was great, but my neighbors were concerned. Almost all of them have tractors and they were worried that I was cutting a good-size lawn with a walking mower. The offers came pouring in. A couple offered to let me borrow their tractor. One offered to cut the lawn for me and another said he could get me a really good deal on a rebuilt tractor. The reaction of one of my neighbors when she drove by as I was mowing summed up neighborhood feeling: “Are you enjoying that?,” she called out.
At first I have to admit I was a little bitter. Especially since the original family plan that “we would cut the lawn” morphed into yours truly cutting the lawn. My wife did do it once and I appreciated it.
By now I’m used to it and “enjoy “it because it allows me to get in about an extra hour’s worth of walking twice a week.
Let me know what you think.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
I did something daring.
I did something really daring yesterday and want to know what others think.
Pulling out of my cul-de-sac, I realized I had left my cell phone at home in the charger.
(Isn’t it interesting how quickly I noticed I didn’t have my phone. By comparison, it’s taken me hours to notice I’ve forgotten my wallet. The other day, I was supposed to call my wife in the morning and didn’t remember until she called me at 2 p.m. My wife asked me last spring to put a second coat of stain on the deck and I didn’t remember it until she mentioned it two weeks ago. But this is fodder for another blog).
Back to the cell phone. I’ve forgotten it in the house before and driven miles to retrieve it, but this time I hesitated and thought: “Is this thing that important?”
Instead of turning around, I continued driving. For the first mile I had an urge to return home, after that it was easy.
By the time I got home that evening, I had forgotten I had forgotten my cell phone. I chatted with my wife, did a few chores, changed and got back in my car to head out to the YMCA. I started the car and noticed the empty cell phone holder. This time I decided not to chance it. What if Mary wants me to stop and get a jar of pickles on the way home? (This was her last cell phone request. I hated having to go all the way to the grocery store for some stupid sandwich-size dill pickles that my sons need for their burgers. Another possible blog.)
Anyhow, I ran and got the cell phone out of the charger and went on my way, feeling a little more secure.
Did I do the right thing by leaving my cell phone at home?
Should I have left it again in the evening?
Let me know what you think.
Also please indicate if you are interested in hearing more about other things I forget and/or recent pickle requests.
Pulling out of my cul-de-sac, I realized I had left my cell phone at home in the charger.
(Isn’t it interesting how quickly I noticed I didn’t have my phone. By comparison, it’s taken me hours to notice I’ve forgotten my wallet. The other day, I was supposed to call my wife in the morning and didn’t remember until she called me at 2 p.m. My wife asked me last spring to put a second coat of stain on the deck and I didn’t remember it until she mentioned it two weeks ago. But this is fodder for another blog).
Back to the cell phone. I’ve forgotten it in the house before and driven miles to retrieve it, but this time I hesitated and thought: “Is this thing that important?”
Instead of turning around, I continued driving. For the first mile I had an urge to return home, after that it was easy.
By the time I got home that evening, I had forgotten I had forgotten my cell phone. I chatted with my wife, did a few chores, changed and got back in my car to head out to the YMCA. I started the car and noticed the empty cell phone holder. This time I decided not to chance it. What if Mary wants me to stop and get a jar of pickles on the way home? (This was her last cell phone request. I hated having to go all the way to the grocery store for some stupid sandwich-size dill pickles that my sons need for their burgers. Another possible blog.)
Anyhow, I ran and got the cell phone out of the charger and went on my way, feeling a little more secure.
Did I do the right thing by leaving my cell phone at home?
Should I have left it again in the evening?
Let me know what you think.
Also please indicate if you are interested in hearing more about other things I forget and/or recent pickle requests.
Friday, August 14, 2009
If you are stressed, read this blog
Sitting in the Wal-Mart parking lot last night with my son, I noticed a woman pushing a carriage returning to her older compact car. When she got within five feet she started talking loudly and waving her arms. Inside the car sat a teen-age boy and a dog. The teen quickly moved out of the driver’s side to help as she continued talking louder, getting more animated. I couldn’t make out every word, but suspect she was at least partly upset about finances because I heard her say “I don’t have the money” twice and “I don’t know what I am going to do.” She pushed the teen away when he tried to help, threw the bags in the back seat and continued ranting. She slammed the door, got in the driver’s side and sped off.
My son called her a freak. Although I didn't agree with how she handled the situation, I felt sorry for her.
If you read this blog regularly, you may remember I listen to a lot of audio books on self-improvement. The current one (I’ll supply the title and author if anyone is interested) emphasizes finding success within and not looking for it in your bank account, job title or other material things. It also makes the point that in difficult times you have to recharge your batteries regularly. Because of the economy, a lot of people are spending more time working and worrying. This is admirable and may seem necessary, but it’s not healthy.
Here is a small piece of advice from the book I’m listening to now. If you dread getting out of bed most days, think of the last time you were really excited to start the day. The time you just couldn’t wait to get up and get at it. Think of what you did that particular day and then plan a similar day. This is not going to permanently solve difficult financial or personal problems. But it will bring you some relief. From that relief, may spring a different approach to each day. Solutions don’t come through constant worrying. They come from inner peace.
Let me know what you think.
My son called her a freak. Although I didn't agree with how she handled the situation, I felt sorry for her.
If you read this blog regularly, you may remember I listen to a lot of audio books on self-improvement. The current one (I’ll supply the title and author if anyone is interested) emphasizes finding success within and not looking for it in your bank account, job title or other material things. It also makes the point that in difficult times you have to recharge your batteries regularly. Because of the economy, a lot of people are spending more time working and worrying. This is admirable and may seem necessary, but it’s not healthy.
Here is a small piece of advice from the book I’m listening to now. If you dread getting out of bed most days, think of the last time you were really excited to start the day. The time you just couldn’t wait to get up and get at it. Think of what you did that particular day and then plan a similar day. This is not going to permanently solve difficult financial or personal problems. But it will bring you some relief. From that relief, may spring a different approach to each day. Solutions don’t come through constant worrying. They come from inner peace.
Let me know what you think.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
More Pool Stories
Speaking of pools (also the subject of my last blog), I’ve noticed an increase in critters in my in-ground pool this year. It started in early June when I walked out on the deck around 8 a.m. and noticed a sudden ripple in the water. I thought it was just a combination of the wind and a leaf that had fallen in. When I moved closer to give the pool a morning skim, I noticed a live frog floating in the shallow end. When it spied me, it dove to the depths of the deep end. The next time it came up, I scooped it with the skimmer and deposited it outside the pool fence.
That evening I found what I believe to be the same frog floating around. This time I released it farther from the pool.
As June progressed, more and more beetles showed up, especially after dark. After skimming a bunch off the top of the water, I would find plenty more in the skimmer basket. The frogs also returned periodically.
Somewhere around the end of the month, I was startled to find a live mole on the top step leading into the pool. He was about three-quarters submerged. I heard that one of my neighbors had recently treated his lawn for a serious mole infestation and I suspect the poor creature had surfaced and headed toward the pool to escape all the gas and chemicals being poured underground. I gently lifted the mole and placed him on the concrete. He scampered into a nearby crevice between the concrete and the fence and I never saw him again although his fellow moles, also fleeing the adjacent yard, wreaked havoc on sections of my previously mole-free lawn. They didn’t stay long, however, because I treat regularly for grubs.
About four hours after I found the mole, I was giving the pool a mid-day skim and smelled something rotten. I looked in the crevice between the concrete and the fence and found a large, mangled, dead bird. A few days later, my son found a dead mouse in the pool. Actually, my wife discovered it and told my son about it and he removed it.
In early July, I was headed to give the pool night skim and when I stepped within a foot of the edge I heard a noise and then a plop. When I looked down I realized I had frightened a very large frog sitting near the edge of the pool. He was able to avoid me longer than his smaller friends, but eventually I scooped him and dropped him outside the pool area. The next night the large frog was back. This time I dropped it over the six-foot high fence that runs the length of much of my yard, making him the neighbors’ problem. I know I shouldn’t have done it, but at this point there were more reptiles using the pool than humans and I was growing a little frustrated.
A couple of days later, I found a bunch of baby frogs in the pool and another in the skimmer basket. One was dead. The rest were scooped up and left far away from the pool.
As I mentioned in my previous blog, this is only my second summer with the pool. Last year, no frogs, moles, mice, birds and just a few beetles. I suspect last year’s hot, dry weather kept the critter population down. My wife grew up with an in-ground pool surrounded by woods. She says they found frogs in the skimmer basket almost daily. I grew up with an above ground pool so critters in the water were not an issue. My property is not bordered by woods, although about 50 feet from my property line is a creek that runs along a small wooded area next to I-91. I suspect it is the source of my frog problem.
Let me know what you think, especially if you have a pool.
That evening I found what I believe to be the same frog floating around. This time I released it farther from the pool.
As June progressed, more and more beetles showed up, especially after dark. After skimming a bunch off the top of the water, I would find plenty more in the skimmer basket. The frogs also returned periodically.
Somewhere around the end of the month, I was startled to find a live mole on the top step leading into the pool. He was about three-quarters submerged. I heard that one of my neighbors had recently treated his lawn for a serious mole infestation and I suspect the poor creature had surfaced and headed toward the pool to escape all the gas and chemicals being poured underground. I gently lifted the mole and placed him on the concrete. He scampered into a nearby crevice between the concrete and the fence and I never saw him again although his fellow moles, also fleeing the adjacent yard, wreaked havoc on sections of my previously mole-free lawn. They didn’t stay long, however, because I treat regularly for grubs.
About four hours after I found the mole, I was giving the pool a mid-day skim and smelled something rotten. I looked in the crevice between the concrete and the fence and found a large, mangled, dead bird. A few days later, my son found a dead mouse in the pool. Actually, my wife discovered it and told my son about it and he removed it.
In early July, I was headed to give the pool night skim and when I stepped within a foot of the edge I heard a noise and then a plop. When I looked down I realized I had frightened a very large frog sitting near the edge of the pool. He was able to avoid me longer than his smaller friends, but eventually I scooped him and dropped him outside the pool area. The next night the large frog was back. This time I dropped it over the six-foot high fence that runs the length of much of my yard, making him the neighbors’ problem. I know I shouldn’t have done it, but at this point there were more reptiles using the pool than humans and I was growing a little frustrated.
A couple of days later, I found a bunch of baby frogs in the pool and another in the skimmer basket. One was dead. The rest were scooped up and left far away from the pool.
As I mentioned in my previous blog, this is only my second summer with the pool. Last year, no frogs, moles, mice, birds and just a few beetles. I suspect last year’s hot, dry weather kept the critter population down. My wife grew up with an in-ground pool surrounded by woods. She says they found frogs in the skimmer basket almost daily. I grew up with an above ground pool so critters in the water were not an issue. My property is not bordered by woods, although about 50 feet from my property line is a creek that runs along a small wooded area next to I-91. I suspect it is the source of my frog problem.
Let me know what you think, especially if you have a pool.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Everybody In the Pool!
My wife called a little after 4:30 p.m. to tell me that Danny had more friends than she could count splashing around our in-ground pool.
“There has to be about seven boys and two girls. I wanted to call. I knew you’d be happy.”
“You made my day,” I told her.
I had the pool installed at the end of the 2007 swim season, so last year was really our first year. The weather was hot and there were a steady stream of kids using the pool from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
This year the weather was cool and rainy. The pool was empty all of May and much of June and July. Of course, the pool still needs daily skimming and other primping along with weekly vacuuming and chemical check. There’s also a fair amount of lawn and other work.
I learned this summer that the only thing worse than doing all the pool chores myself was doing all the pool chores and not having anyone actually using the pool. It got me down. I also thought about the payments I was making on a pool that wasn’t getting much use.
Monday was a big day. Before Danny’s friends’ arrived, Michael and a couple of his friends had been swimming.
I’m actually excited to go home tonight and do my chores. It will probably require some extra skimming and I’ll need to set the filter on “super chlorinate.” It’s the special setting required after you have a bunch of people in the pool. Last year I used it several times a week, this year only a couple of times all season. As I walk around the pool in the warm night air, I can imagine all those teen-agers laughing, splashing around, drinking all my soda and not leaving me any hamburgers or hot dogs. I’m sure I’ll find a stray potato chip or two. That’s OK. I’m glad they are enjoying it.
Let me know what you think.
“There has to be about seven boys and two girls. I wanted to call. I knew you’d be happy.”
“You made my day,” I told her.
I had the pool installed at the end of the 2007 swim season, so last year was really our first year. The weather was hot and there were a steady stream of kids using the pool from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
This year the weather was cool and rainy. The pool was empty all of May and much of June and July. Of course, the pool still needs daily skimming and other primping along with weekly vacuuming and chemical check. There’s also a fair amount of lawn and other work.
I learned this summer that the only thing worse than doing all the pool chores myself was doing all the pool chores and not having anyone actually using the pool. It got me down. I also thought about the payments I was making on a pool that wasn’t getting much use.
Monday was a big day. Before Danny’s friends’ arrived, Michael and a couple of his friends had been swimming.
I’m actually excited to go home tonight and do my chores. It will probably require some extra skimming and I’ll need to set the filter on “super chlorinate.” It’s the special setting required after you have a bunch of people in the pool. Last year I used it several times a week, this year only a couple of times all season. As I walk around the pool in the warm night air, I can imagine all those teen-agers laughing, splashing around, drinking all my soda and not leaving me any hamburgers or hot dogs. I’m sure I’ll find a stray potato chip or two. That’s OK. I’m glad they are enjoying it.
Let me know what you think.
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