Friday, February 15, 2008

Diary of a Demented Snow Shoveler

The lady in the black coat and white scarf is Grandma Mae. This picture was taken the winter of 1955-56. She shoveled the path from the back door to the right of your screen to the 'road' so she would have a place to walk.
Diary of a Demented Snow Shoveler


December 8

It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses print. So romantic we felt like newlyweds again. I love snow!




December 9


We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the whole world? Moving here was the best idea I've ever had! Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snowplow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life!




December 12


The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment! My neighbor tells me not to worry-we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man, I'm glad he's our neighbor.




December 14


Snow, lovely snow! 8 inches last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way. I wishI wouldn't huff and puff so.




December 15


20 inches in the forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska, after all.




December 16


Ice storm this morning. Fell on my butt on the ice in the driveway putting down salt.. The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel.




December 17


Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room.




December 20


Electricity is back on, but had another 14 inches of the stuff last night. More shoveling! Took all day. The snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying .Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying.




December 22


Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white fell today, and it's so cold , it probably won't melt till August. Took me 45 minutesto get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to pee. By the time I got undressed, peed and dressed again. I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter, but he says he's too busy. I think he is lying.




December 23


Only 2 inches of snow today. And it warmed up to zero. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she, nuts?!! Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she's lying.




December 24


6 inches - Snow packed so hard by snowplow, I broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If Iever catch the the man who drives that snowplow, I'll drag him through the snow beat him to death with my broken shovel. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was too busy watching for the snowplow.




December 25


Merry Christmas! 20 more inches of the slop tonight -- Snowed in . The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. The wifes ays I have a bad attitude. I think she's a fricking idiot. If I have to watch "It's A Wonderful Life" one more time, I'm going to stuff her into the microwave.




December 26


Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves.




December 27


Temperature dropped to -30 and the pipes froze; plumber came after 14 hours of waiting for him, he only charged me $1,400 to replace all my pipes.




December 28


Warmed up to above -20. Still snowed in.




December 29


10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am?




December 30


Roof caved in. I beat up the snow plow driver, and now he is suing me for a million dollars for the beating I gave him. The wife went home to her mother. Nine more inches predicted.




December 31


I set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling.




January 8


Feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed?




Last night, the construction neighbor across the street brought home a Bobcat and shoveled his entire yard. His driveway had gotten so bad he had to back into our driveway and make a run at his. He dumped all of his snow on the west property line, shall we go sledding; there is a hill!




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