A few weeks ago now, we had this wicked wind storm. Why, some of them gusts were “kill-a-witch” strong. Meaning strong enough to pick up our double-wide and drop us off in Oz! Charlie and me hardly slept all night. Thank goodness Scamp isn’t anxious in a wind or thunder storm. He saves his Nervous Nellie act for when we’re in the car.
‘Course once things settled down, the yard was a mess. Thankfully, that’s Charlie’s department. See, we have a
separate but equal approach to chores. For the most part, I take care of the inside of the house and Charlie takes care of the outside. There is a little crossover. We do the dishes and pay bills together. Charlie takes care of any repairs or emergencies (plugged toilet, leaky faucet, that kind of thing). I plant the annuals, tend to the potted plants, and do a little weeding from time to time. But by in large, the house is my department and the yard is Charlie’s.
Every time I start feeling guilty when we get a big dumping of snow or something, I have to remind myself that I clean the house every week all year round. Sure, Charlie mows the lawn weekly, but that’s for what? A third of the year? Tops. The other two-thirds is on a case by case basis. He can go weeks without having to do any chores outside.
Still, if we get a big hoo-ha like that wind storm, I take pity on Charlie. I may not lift a finger to help, but I cook him a special dinner and make sure I do some appreciating.
How Blowdown Blew My Weekend
A great, big wind blew through last week
It kept us up all night
What a terrible racket it made
Come morning, what a sight!
With blowdown scattered everywhere
And yes, a limb or two
The weekend’s shot because I knew
Just what I’d have to do, I’d have to
Pick up sticks, pick up the pinecones
Pick up sticks, pick up the pinecones
Pick ‘em all up, drop ‘em in the bucket
Drag it to the woods, find a place to chuck it
All the weekend long
I’ll be singing this sorry song
Could’ve gone down to the transfer station
Hung out with the crew
Could’ve gone off 4-wheelin’ with Bud
If he weren’t busy, too
I could’ve watched the Bruins, ‘cause
They play this afternoon
I’d rather be doing any ol’ thing
Other than what I’m doin’
Pick up sticks, pick up the pinecones
Pick up sticks, pick up the pinecones
What an frickin’ chore!
It’s one, enormous bore
And following this, there’s so much more
Look at this mess of busted branches
Man, we got a lot!
And I could tear right through it
If my chainsaw chain weren’t shot
But I know Agway’s got ‘em
So that’s where I gotta go
And while I’m out, I’ll stop downtown, ‘cause
I could use a doughnut and a cuppa joe
Fortified, I’ll continue
Work’s much better with a cup or two in you
I can tell, I kinda got a rhythm
Branches, well, I’m nearly done with ‘em
Oh, I’ve had my fill
But from here, it’s all downhil
And there’s pork chops on the grill!
That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side!