Yesterday started out as just another day in south Texas. Temp was up to bout 75 degs, no wind and a slight chance of sunshine. And then it turned into hell. Ya see, me an' nephew Joseph began pull'n 200 feet of "00" service wire out of underground conduit for the new "Sally da house" camp site. Somewheres underground, that conduit is either crushed, broken or pulled apart. The wire, all 4 of 'em, was stuck. Think'n I was "wild man Billy Bob", I reach down, grab holt of them wires and give a hard pull. Oh Oh, something is wrong......I cain't straighten back up. I hobble over there to the closest sit down place an I sit down, swaller 1000mg aspirin and try to relax for a few.
After a "few", me an' Joseph, with the help of a end loader tractor, has got a great big pile of "00" service entrance wires all tangle up lay'n in the front yard. Then we head off to Home Depot to buy up materials. Since Billy Bob was in the service business for many years, he knowed what to buy an' a pretty good idea how much it all gonna cost. Hmmmm, bout the same it would cost for a months rent at a cheap Rv park ($260). Now we got a pile of 1 1/2 inch conduit and 160 feet of 3/4 inch water line lay'n in the yard. Along with a big box of fittins an' stuff.
Project is on hold for today 'cause the old Billy Bob is broke slap down. May be down for a couple three days. And somebody has got to dig some ditches for the conduit and water lines. Ah ha!...."Bubba" gonna be out of school all of next week. "Bubba, grab holt that shovel and dig some dirt".
So who is Bubba? Bubba is nephew Joseph's step son. He's 14 year old and build like a suma wrastler. Lift 200 pound weights, football player, shot put thrower....he a BIG boy. When Bubba speaks, other kids listen.
Ok, I got things to do.....if my back will allow.
12:30pm...."Well shoot Billy Bob, don't ya know nuttin"? The wire we pulled out of the ground yesterday was not "oo" like I was say'n. It's #4 stranded.
Ok, I thought maybe do'n a little manual labor would be good for my back. You betcha a dollar it were. I done run 80 feet of 1 1/2 inch conduit with all them wires inside. Made a bend up to the main breaker box. So that end is finished. Well I could hook up the breaker and close up the breaker box.....but why?
Ok....back to work.
Sorry to hear that you got a hitch in your git-a-long! Makes those chores just a little harder, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteAhhh great opportunity to teach a strong young 14 year old boy the value and rewards of hard work! and maybe learn a little bit about plumbing and electricial to boot!
ReplyDeleteHope your back straightens out and you can get limber and lithe and loose.
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Karen and Steve
The USA Is Our Big Backyard
http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com
Hope your back gets to feeling better but in the meantime you have Bubba to help you all out with the digging and trenching.
ReplyDeleteHe is a BIG guy for sure...what are the odds I can find my "tall weathered cowboy" and he have a son like Bubba? Could sure use him at my house :D
Well like someone said, getting old ain't easy and definitely is not for wimps. But why does it have to bash you upside the head or in the back every time we try to do something that was routine and easy ten years ago.
ReplyDeleteWhen your back goes out more than you, ya know you're getting old.
ReplyDeleteMine does that way to much any more.
Hope it gets better soon for you.
Looks like you have some good help thou.
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