One of four meaningful projects to complete before first snow. Yes, it will eventually snow. It has been approximately fifteen years since I constructed the shed ramp. I would probably let it go another fifteen years, except every early winter I drive the garden tractor up and into the shed, and each year the odds improve that it will collapse under the weight of machinery and me…. and I. No,… me.
It’s not like I haven’t made any progress. I did strip the frame or rotten and ant infested board, and made it down to Lowe’s to pick up some deck boards. Actually, that’s a lie. I feigned a limp, profusely spoke of my recent surgery and used a large dose of manipulative guilt to get a friend to make the pick up, in my pickup. That wide angle lens gives the shed a bit of Lil’ Abner Dogpatch distortion. An over sixty five reference.
1″x6″x8′ and $8 a board, I’m not so sure the lumber going on is any better than the lumber I am taking off. Lots of end splits and piss poor milling, it will probably take half a day just to clean it up and make it useful. I guess that is what weekend are for. I guess by Monday we’ll all know.
Treadmill Sneakers
I have found that, as life becomes more complex, so do the numbers of pairs of sneakers I own. When I was young, and on my own, I owned one pair of black, high top Keds. They got me to school, got me through mud puddles, peddled my bike, and got me home. A pair lasted till holes broke through the soles, or the soles flapped at the toe with each step. There was no such thing as sneaker envy, because every kid wore the same.
When I am not wearing work boots, when I am out and about, I wear a pair of black on black New Balance sneakers. Very stealthy and they go well with jeans. When the occasion is more formal, or travel on an airplane is involved, I wear a pair of brown suede New Balance sneakers with my jeans. I can dress up.
I now spend a good deal of time walking on a treadmill that is located in the front room of the house, the home office. I can’t spend an hour on the treadmill with my slippers on. That kills my toes and poses more than one OSHA violation. I can’t wear my black or suede sneakers because they have been out and about, and carry remnants of tar, gravel and Maine dirt.
Between my home’s dining room and front office is an expanse of light beige carpet, bordered in contrasting sea foam green. It covers the living room and front room floors. A sea of wool that removes every foreign particle from the soles of whatever I am wearing on my feet, and turns it into something very similar to Friday’s footprints on the beach in Robinson Crusoe. Hench, the wearing of slippers around the house.
One or more sets of tracks on the carpet sends me to the basement for the Bissell carpet cleaner. Then onto half of a day moving furniture, hands and knees spot scrubbing, tanks of hot water shampoo and rinse, and another half day of doors and windows open, ceiling fans going, in hopes the carpet will dry. So it seemed prudent to have a pair of sneakers dedicated to treadmilling.
On receipt, I will be ale to enter the house, change out of my outdoor sneakers, slip on my indoor slippers, transverse the sea of beige and green, and change into a pair of dedicated treadmill sneakers. Then tax my old man’s stamina by burning up the treadmill for five or six minutes. It’s a working theory. Why did I buy a pair of Ebony/Cockatoo/Blue Sapphire sneakers, a much younger man’s shoe? Because no one will ever see them except me. Besides, and they were priced 27% off and free shipping.
A lot to be said for being a less than expansive thinker
Why are my thoughts so local and narrow in scope, when there is a big world out there? Well, I’ve seen “Out there”… more than a few times, and I’ve recently watched the news and one or two NFL games? No haters or malcontents here. No road rage, no violent political discourse. No one else’s ever changing rules to follow. I can watch reruns of old TV shows, sitting in my underwear, and eat dinner from a folding TV tray table.
Damn! It started raining… just when I was looking for my work gloves and headed out. Oh well. There is still Sunday.
Glad you seem to be doing well. I recently did a project for my dad, building a storage “not-a-shed-as-they’re-not-allowed-by-the-HOA” on his back patio for lawn stuff. We picked through LOTS of 1x4s and 1x6s to get boards with usably minimal warping. Some of the rejects looked like fancy Italian pasta they were so twisty.
Nice project and good approach. Sorting from the store pile is the way to go. I got lazy and placed the order online for pickup. So I suspect I got some of the boards you set aside as being unworthy,
Joe , Yes glad you’re getting along well. Sneakers, I have three pairs, an old yard pair that according to my Queen , should be tossed( “you have no support with those shoes”), another for casual wear , then the “semi fancy”Brooks brown suede walking pair, worn occasionally. I still have a couple ,oh okay, a few pairs of steel toe boots since retirement back in ’21 that I still wore for the sprotting about over at the farm, chasing small critters & varmints. But as of four pairs ago, I’ve gravitated to the newer combat boots that “Stormin Norman”
selected as the replacement footwear for our troops way back there. Lace up once for fit , then a side zipper from then on. Just right for “Geezers”! Yes & after hitting the front door (or garage) mat, unzip & slipper moc’s
for me too.
Yup, I think that “No support” translates into “Just broken in”. I need to check out the Stormin Normans, Martin.