Persistent Snow Removal

 

With the cold weather giving us a brief respite, I decided to take advantage and remove a "snow bank" that had piled up to about 4-feet high.

I started this project yesterday and put a MAJOR dent in it before the rain started to come down heavily, and before I broke my snow shovel.(I took that as a sign from God that it was time to stop.)

So, the first thing I did this afternoon was hit Home Depot to buy a new snow shovel, a half moon hoe a/k/a/ The Ice Breaker, and ice melt.

It was time to get back to work.

Three hours later, today, you see the finished project in the second picture.

While I still have some more snow to remove, looking at the before and after pictures makes me feel good about the 7-hours, in 2 days, that I've spent shoveling.


Now, I can enjoy the Superbowl and use the Big Shamrock-endorsed Icy Hot patches to soothe my aching arms and back!

But, I'm not complaining, seriously, because as my 90-year-old grandmother says, "Don't complain because no one wants to hear that shit!" And my response is, always, "You're right Grandma.....you're right."

Go Packers!

Worcester ANGEL

My faith has been restored in human beings and I'm grateful to know that there are good people out there that believe in God, and are willing to help a sister or brother in need.

Now, I'm not going to wax poetic and go all Mr. Softee on you, but I have to be the man that I am and that means when I see people doing right by one another, I have to let it be known, just like I would let it be known when people are messing up and put them on blast.

Let me begin by stating that my backyard fence was broken by a fallen tree branch and it bent the top-rail to the point that I needed to replace it. I tried to bend it back only to find out that it was going to snap and break even more.

So, as anyone would do, I ventured to The Home Depot in Auburn to purchase a new 21-foot top rail, only to find out that they don't carry them in the store and I would have to special order one. The gentleman working the special order desk couldn't find the proper booklet to order one, so he took my information and promised that someone would call me to take my order.

Being impatient and hoping that I would find the top rail in-stock at the the Lowe's on Lincoln Street, I ventured there and found out that they too didn't carry 21-foot top rails in stock and it would have to be special ordered. So I did.

Fast forward a few days and I received a telephone call from Lowe's stating that the top rail that I had ordered was ready for me to pick it up. There was only one problem. How was I going to get the 21-foot top rail from Lowe's on Lincoln Street to my house on the East-side of Worcester?

I tried tying it to the roof of my SUV, only to be worried that it wouldn't stay put and I would impale a pedestrian or, worse, spear a car that was either in front or behind of me.

After venturing into Lowe's to buy bungee cords and zip-ties I still didn't feel confident that I could drive on either 290 or back roads without the risk of loosing the 21-foot top rail.

As I'm standing along the passenger side of my SUV, looking at this 21-foot pole that looks even longer now, I hear a gentleman ask, "Where do you live?". I tell him that I live on the East side of Worcester and he says that he'd take the 21-foot pole to my house for me. ( I looked him in the eyes and immediately thought that he was sent to assist me. All I could say is, "God is Good.")

The man's name, Bernie LaPierre (sp). He's my angel. Thank you Bernie!
(If anyone knows Bernie, who happens to be a retired US Marine, know that you're in the presence of one of God's favorite sons.)