11 May 2011
The “day” started at 2:30 am when I awoke with the realization that I had written 65 inches when I meant to say 6 feet 5 inches on some important design drawings that I had done last evening. Got up for good before sunrise, as today’s schedule (planned, of course, to the minute) was very full. Took all three vehicles into Middlebury in the morning (Delores has been whining about being parked at Fern Lake all the time and never getting to go anywhere.) First trip (in the van) was to Junction Auto to discuss some auto body repair work that is needed. On the way back south picked up the rebar cutter/bender at Taylor Rental and Perry’s hammer drill at his job site. Then spent a strenuous hour cutting and bending rebar and attempting to drill five ½ inch holes in the shed footers. Whoever ordered 3,500 psi concrete for those footers should be taken out and shot! I don’t think a direct hit by a nuclear missile would even chip the surface. Got one hole drilled and then my drill bit said, “That’s it, I’m done!”, and broke in two. Second trip (in the pickup) was to return the rebar cutter / bender, then pick up a quarter ton of ¾ inch stone at Carrara Concrete. I think they’re used to slightly larger orders, as I could have parked the pickup in the bucket of their loader. When I went in to pay, the dispatcher said, “Have a nice day.” Per the scales, they actually gave me 720 pounds of stone… which you can see is not a whole lot in terms of volume. But for the rest of that story, read on! Stopped at Goodro Lumber on the way back to buy a new ½ inch masonry drill bit and the epoxy needed to secure rebar into a drilled hole. Next I took Delores up to Agway for another 17 gallons of propane. She’s now a happy camper. Then the real fun started. Completely destroyed the new carbide-tipped drill bit… and Perry’s hammer drill probably will never talk to me again. Me, I doubt very much if I’ll even be able to walk tomorrow. The person who ordered 3,500 psi concrete should be slow roasted over an open fire… then shot! The bad news is that the five 3-inch deep holes that were critically needed today are only ⅓ of the number that will be needed in another month. The lesson learned here: place rebar into concrete BEFORE it sets! By 7 o’clock I had the footer forms in place and sooooo needed a hug. Settled for a frosty cold gin & tonic and Chef Boyardee right out of the can. Dee Lush Us!
P.S. The FBF were horrible all day; took two thorough dousing of Deep Woods Off to even keep the bites to a reasonable number per minute.
