Monday, April 28, 2008

where the sidewalk ends

One thing about being home in West Virginia is that there is always some random project going on or something to keep Dad busy in the garage, yard, etc. My dad is one of those handymen who can do what seems like anything. For example, once our waterline busted and I came home to find Dad headfirst in a hole he had dug in the mud while coming up with some kind of thing to fix the leak.

This time I came home to the sidewalk in front of the house being destroyed. I guess some kind of thing needs to go in front of the house so it doesn't collect water every time it rains. When they tried to pull out the sidewalk, they found out it was much thicker than a sidewalk really needs to be. For a few days they tried different methods of tearing out the sidewalk. Jared even got into the action. It seemed like the most effective, but very tedious, way was hitting it with a sledgehammer a million times until a chunk fell off. Good exercise, but come on....

Then Dad got the idea to just pull the whole thing up with his vehicle. This not only provided a quick result for the sidewalk dilemma, but entertainment for the whole family!
How thrilling to look out the garage and watch the sidewalk get pulled into the air! And oh, the suspense - wondering if the concrete slab would go flying backwards, through the front door and into the house! Or possibly the metal pole would shoot out and break a window. The possibilities were endless.
The new, experimental sidewalk removal method was successful. Now that it is broken off, does anyone want to come lift the hunk and move it out of the way? Will be a great way to build muscles!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

and YOU pick on ME about being from Vermont!! 1/2

I am Megan said...

What in the world does Vermont have to do with anything????

Anonymous said...

haha..... I hope to meet your dad someday.... maybe we can swing a sledge together sometime..... :)

Anonymous said...

HOW IN THE WORLD WOULD WE HAVE THESE EXCITING PROJECTS RECORDED IN THE ARCHIVES WITHOUT YOU AND YOUR TRUSTY CAMERA.....

Anonymous said...

What a mess!!!!!! Give your family my best wishes, and that I say hello.

BStiles

Mary Ann said...

Nathan always tells me how your dad can fix anything. Now I have proof in these pictures...although that last picture doesn't look like he's fixing anything. I think we need to see the after pictures too!

Ben said...

I think the shorts Jared is wearing used to be mine.

R. J. said...

haha! my dad does the same thing. There is always something crazy going on, and it always seems like a project that could end in someone's death or dismemberment!