All last winter I used a broken snow shovel. It had a crack, but if I treated my snow shovel right, it kept on working. The way I would "treat it right" was to get out and shovel snow while it was only a few inches. No matter the storm size, if I did this, this helped me stay on top of my walks being clear. It would also help ease the burden put onto my sweet snow shovel. I would also spread some Ice Melt and that would help as well.
Yesterday it snowed off and on pretty much all day. We didn't get nearly the amount of snow that other cities in Utah County did. Harold kept calling me all day long, "How much snow do you have?" "Is it snowing there now?" "You should see the snow here, I bet we have a foot now!" He works in PG, so is 30 miles north of us.
I was locked inside all day having to work and do various other projects. I am fine with that. I don't mind staying indoors on days like yesterday. Too cold, too wet, too many crazies on the road and I don't want to add myself to the mix. Every time H. would call I would have to 1. Put the phone down, 2. Go upstairs, 3. Pick up the other phone, 4. Look out the window, 5. Give the weather report, 6. Possibly put the phone down again, 7. Walk to the front door, 8. Visually assess the number of inches on the ground, 9. Walk back to the phone, 10. Give the revised weather report to H.
After I FINALLY showered yesterday, I got myself ready to go shovel the walks. We had about 5 inches. And the snow was WET. And my poor shovel....the crack had advanced and the heavy snow was weighing it down. I had to basically bend over at a 90 degree angle to get only so much snow on the shovel and heave it to one side or the other.
I'm a 39-year-old woman. I expect that one of these days while shoveling snow I will throw my back out. And, if my shovel is any indication, that day is coming soon. How much stronger can my back be than a snow shovel, right?
The clincher is this.....after I finished shoveling (I actually did a pretty pathetic job, but I blame my tool!) I went to Wal-Mart where I proceeded to purchase a few things I needed and FORGOT to get a new shovel. (I forgot the hair spray, too.) It's a good thing I live so close to WM....or a bad thing.....I go there almost EVERY SINGLE DAY. On the other hand, I take one look at the price of a snow shovel and I can't bring myself to buy one. I know, $12.87 isn't that bad. But when I buy stuff at WM my mental limit for a single item is probably $3. Any more and I get a little skeptical. I stop and ask if I REALLY need this item. The answer for the hair spray (3.48) is yes. The answer for the two-pound block of cheese (5.97 on sale) is yes. The snow shovel.....well it can last a little longer, right?
5 comments:
We have two shovels and I'd love to give one to you if we were closer. How about I send you the money? :) Our driveway is so large it's nice to have two so that two people can do it together. Dane and Bill have been out three times to shovel so far. We're part of the " Artic Blast" Merry Christmas!!!
Janet-I don't need the money. I just have a quirky mental block to spending money. :) But, thank you for being nice enough to offer.
Glad Dane and Bridget made it home okay. Is everyone home? Say hello to one and all!
I'm lucky enough to have a husband that LOVES to shovel snow. HE lucked out that we have some elderly neighbors that not only let him use their snowblower anytime that he wants, but they recently had a snowblade put onto their ATV....he was in heaven yesterday. So much so that he actually did it once in the morning and once last evening. the only payment that the dear elderly ladies across the street want is clear sidewalks and driveway too...
You are too old to be shoveling snow....:) That's what kids are for.......
You will not regret buying the new shovel, just take the plunge. My dad spent $55 on a shovel the other day and I will tell you it's like cutting butter with that thing. It was a pleaser to shovel with... I would NEVER spend anything close to that. You get what you pay for and if you don't pay any thing... well, I guess you get back problems. I got my shovel for free last year when I stole it off the neighbors porch while they were gone, and then they came home when I was walking back over to return it. It was a little embarassing, but a small price to pay. They said they just got a new one and I could keep it.
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