{"id":20939,"date":"2022-01-20T09:42:06","date_gmt":"2022-01-20T16:42:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rodbinder.com\/journal\/?p=20939"},"modified":"2022-02-13T11:44:17","modified_gmt":"2022-02-13T18:44:17","slug":"jan-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rodbinder.com\/journal\/2022\/01\/20\/jan-20\/","title":{"rendered":"Jan 20 The Driveway"},"content":{"rendered":"

My neighbor has a circular driveway… he can’t get out.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Steven Wright<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\nSo much to do today. First things first, cats fed and watered. Water-filled kettle on the woodstove.<\/p>\n

Woodstove wood added. Watch kettle till boiled. Soon to happen.<\/p>\n

I have yet to decide on the driveway. It looks like the freezing rain may yet arrive.<\/p>\n

If it does, decisions will be made according to the weather.<\/p>\n

I just checked out the driveway situation. I won’t lie, it’s not good but better than it might have been.<\/p>\n

I have 75 feet of driveway that needs shovelling. It’s about a foot deep. The rest was done by our grader last night.<\/p>\n

I have a snowblower, but something is jamming the auger drive. That could be a half-hour job or a hundred-hour job.<\/p>\n

I may have to just shovel two tracks in the snow. Great for getting out. Not much fun getting in.<\/p>\n

I have freight sitting at the post office. I need to go today or tomorrow.<\/p>\n

Well, I hauled my crippled ass outside and shovelled my driveway.<\/p>\n

I made it into the village on icy roads, picked up my freight at the post office. Went and bought a new chain at the place you buy new chains for a chainsaw. Even had the chain I broke repaired.<\/p>\n

Then down the highway on more icy roads to town to pick up a few groceries and most important my whole powdered milk which was hormone-free. I don’t consume much dairy, but made an exception for my coffee.<\/p>\n

I made the trip home and witnessed the freezing rain coming down.<\/p>\n

I made it to my driveway, where I saw a repeat problem from other years.<\/p>\n

It got warm today and snow from the balcony roof dropped in front of my garage doors.<\/p>\n

I thought old Grace would make it. I spent the next hour trying to get unstuck. I tried using wood pellets, shovelling then I finally got the backend in the garage.<\/p>\n

Only problem was the wet snow had bumped the van way too close to one wall. I tried using a floor jack I knew was dead.<\/p>\n

Then I hauled out my 2-ton engine hoist. I lifted the back end of the van, got it to move 3 inches over. Good, but not enough.<\/p>\n

This time I moved the engine hoist way over and secured it, to keep it from moving. I lifted the back end again and moved it over 10 inches it was enough. With a little creative driving, Gracie was inside.<\/p>\n

My garage was filled with exhaust. Shutting down the engine would have been a smarter thing.<\/p>\n

I went out and tried to shovel the wet snow away best I could, then secured the doors and went inside to sit by the fire and finish my Beyond Meat burger.<\/p>\n

I still have to move the groceries in and unpack, cut some firewood for tonight. Then bring it inside. Of course, after putting the repaired chain on.<\/p>\n

Fill and start the gen and go kill aliens or dictators.<\/p>\n

Would I be able to do all that? I will let you know.<\/p>\n

Groceries are separated, just need to put them on the shelves. I am afraid I breathed in a little too much exhaust. I was so sure I would have the problem resolved in minutes. I didn’t. Now I am dizzy and tired.
\nI don’t think running a chainsaw would be smart right now.<\/p>\n