Having settled into our house for a year, we have identified some work that we need to do and have put into motion a plan to improve our house. One of those things is spray insulation under our great room. It gets really cold up here in the Ewok Village, and we were sick of freezing our butts off in our favorite room in the house.
We called a few places for quotes, made our decision, and made our appointment for them to come do the work... this morning. They were to arrive between 8 and 9 AM, so I was ready for them. At around 8:30, I heard a horrifyingly familiar noise... the BEEP, BEEP, BEEP of a truck backing up, followed by the revving of a large diesel engine, quickly followed by the loud scraping noise of metal on pavement.
Yep, you guessed it, my internet friends, the truck got stuck on the driveway, just like our U-Haul did last year when we moved in. After a few hours being stuck and doing all of the futile things we did last year to get our truck unstuck, they finally gave in and called the boss and for a tow.
I wandered down there when I saw the tow arrive to find two of my town cops blocking off traffic in both directions (I think it might have been everyone on duty this morning), and the tow truck driver putting a chain around the tree. At this point, all I could say to myself is my God, they're going to pull down a tree. I was also fighting the urge to laugh my ass off in front of them. Anyways, when the truck driver turned on the winch, all that happened was is that the TOW TRUCK STARTED GETTING PULLED TOWARDS THE TREE!! No truck rescue, no downed tree, just a sliding towtruck, chocks and all. After a little more finagling, they managed to get the truck free.
This is where it gets good...
At this point, I expect the owner to tell me that they'll be back tomorrow with a different truck, but no... He says this: "I'm getting that goddam truck up that driveway." He jumps in the truck, backs up the street at the proper angle, and guns the thing. One quick scrape, but the truck cleared it... until the wheels started spinning on the leaves on the steep part of the driveway. He backs down the driveway, cutting his wheel at an angle that made us think that the truck was going over on its side. I swear that truck was nearly at its tipping point. Admit defeat at this point? Hell no! He backs up the street more, guns the truck even harder and goes for the driveway. He clears the steep part, gets stuck a few times, adjusts, spins his wheels, adjusts, spins some more making smoke like I've never seen, and then HOLY CRAP, he makes it up!!
While this is going on, I turn to the two workers who were staring at their boss in disbelief. "He's a stubborn guy, eh?" "Yep." "Does he do crazy stuff like this often?" "Yeah, but nothing like this." The guy who was driving the truck when it got stuck in the first place, looking terrified, says "I'm afraid to go back down." I can't say I blame him. The boss tells them how to drive the truck back down and leaves them to do the job. They two workers were sweet and polite. I offered to buy them lunch, but they wouldn't let me. I'm going to have to write a nice letter of thanks to the company.
How did they do, getting down the driveway, you ask? I'll have to let you know... they're still here working!
UPDATE: The guys finished and got the truck back down the driveway with no issues. The way down is always easier. I bet they're glad that this day is over!
On Saturday, while The Boy toiled away at his adjunct gig, I jumped into my car to go grocery shopping. I headed out to the main road in my town (the one that contains our only traffic light). I was surprised to see traffic backed up a ways on the road. Concerned that there was an accident up ahead, I crept up the road in my car. Much to my delight, I see the cause of the backup... a horse drawn carriage headed up the road. As I took my turn passing the carriage, I was awestruck by the horse. It was a huge, HUGE black horse that could probably crush my little MINI with its hoof. It was unbelievable, actually. This is just not the sort of thing that you see in the suburban paradise where I grew up.
On a warm Fall morning with all of colors of the season, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect thing, traffic backup and all.
I'm completely adventurous, passionate and neurotic...I have been accused of preferring the company of animals to people...I am a newlywed, married to the most wonderful boy in the world who loves me for who I am...I'm adjusting to my new last name...I cannot take a compliment very well...I worry, and I'm good at it...I love the way snow packs down under your feet when you step on it...
