The Arrival of Our Wood

Wow, if you can believe it, we actually got our firewood. I couldn't believe it finally happened. I've never bought such large quantities of wood in such an unfinished state, and tackling it will be yet another step in my quest to be a real man. Now all I need to do is grow a beard and eat pancakes for breakfast. Whole wheat ones, of course.

I got a call early in the AM yesterday from Andy, who was coming through with the wood. Being the neurotic nutcase that I am, I was beginning to wonder if we'd ever get the stuff because the roads to our house are in pretty bad shape and I wasn't sure if a huge truck could get here, much less make it down our driveway. I have to confess to being in awe of those truck drivers, they are fearless and take those things into places I wouldn't even walk to. They are that adept and confident in their abilities, but I guess that comes with experience.

Either way, I had to drive over near Britton's Lumber to show the guys how to get to our house, which was a little strange, but I think it's standard M.O., not that I would know. I did worry that he'd have trouble with our driveway, which is a bit narrow and muddy, but the guy didn't blink and eye and just drove right in, no problem. You should have seen where the truck was at the sight where they loaded the wood, it was like threading a needle. I asked the driver (for the record, his name was Lance Simons, and he did a stand-up job) to load the wood in a space near the wildflower patch. Actually, it's right on top of the wildflower patch, and though we'll miss the flowers, we had to put the stuff somewhere. My biggest concern was sparing Marty's daughter's tree, and I asked Lance if he could spare it's life, and he said no problem. I marked it with red surveyor's tape to be sure.

Then the fun began. N quickly got dressed and joined me outside to watch, and it's pretty cool. I have to confess, I thought Lance was very conscientious about how he loaded the wood, more so than I thought he had to be. Then again, it ties in with the New England hard work and honest day's work ethic. You do a good job and take pride in what you do, not necessarily just to make money. Sure, money's important, but so is doing the job right. My point is, I wouldn't have known one way or another if he'd just dumped the wood on the ground and left. Instead, he took measures to preserve the integrity of the wood, and again, this could be standard M.O. for loggers, but it impressed me, nonetheless.

Now I figured they'd come with a dump truck and just leave the wood in a pile, but they actually use a large hydraulic arm to lift the logs out of the truck and onto the ground. Before he got too crazy, he fabricated a makeshift pallet out of a few logs to protect the wood from the ground. For those of you unfamiliar with using firewood (I just learned this a couple of years ago, the hard way!), you can't leave it in contact with the ground or it will rot. There were even a few times where the wood slid off the pallet and Lance stopped to pick them up and put them back. Somehow this just impressed me.

After all was said and done, he took off and we got to stand around and admire the pile. It's a lot of wood, and now I've got to cut the stuff up and then split it. They say wood warms you twice, once when you stack it, once when you burn it, but I've found, at least with me, it warms you at least four times, maybe more.

Either way, thanks to Andy and Lance. We got our wood, one less thing to worry about, and now I can focus on tuning up our lawnmower, fixing the house, and getting the garden ready for Spring. Oh, and most importantly, being a real man for my wife and kids.

Until the next time, thanks for reading.

Everyone in Vermont Needs a Truck and Blue Belt Responsibilities

After all is said and done, I'm still not sure if I'm ever going to get my firewood, but I'm not going to stress about it. For whatever reason, PD said that it's now or never, and I'm not sure why. Whatever be the case, now I'm all neurotic about whether or not my firewood guys is actually going to come through. It's hard when you're so dependent on other people, especially ones you don't even know and have never met.

So I sit and wait. I have other options, albeit more difficult ones. I really wanted to just have them deliver the logs and I could cut them at my leisure, but we'll see where this one goes. In the meantime, GS said he'd have plenty of wood, just no means to transport it, so I need a truck. Who in Vermont doesn't need a truck?

That said, last night at karate, my sensei said if he gets his dump truck up and running, I could borrow it to haul wood, just fill the tank. It's got a 454, so that could be an expensive proposition, but very doable. He also said he's got a logging job coming up and might have a line on some wood, so I asked him to keep me in mind. This wood gig sure takes some thought, though only when you're trying to save money.

Last night in class I had to fulfill some of my blue belt duties and actually teach a new student about what we're all about. I never know what to say, but just went over the basics and it seemed to go well. The girl in question is a natural, BTW.

Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to Andrzej Pobiedziński for the pic.

Careful What You Wish For continued

I got a message from PD that our firewood was coming this weekend, and it kind of took me by surprise. On the one hand I'd like to get the wood and know that I have it in my possession, on the other hand, it means I've got to deal with it, which means getting the chainsaw, the chaps, the boots, the helmet, and all that good stuff. Up to now it's just a been an abstract concept, but eventually I've got to turn it all into a reality. And then I've got to actually cut the wood.

The problem we have is that to transport the wood, they've got to drive down our road, and it's been posted because it's a mud pit. Almost impassable for our tiny car, so I can't imagine what an 18-wheeler would do. They'll have to move the wood during the early AM when the road is still frozen, but we shall see. Just goes to show you, be careful what you wish for. You just might get it.

Until the next time, thanks for reading, and thanks to Hans Thoursie for the pic.

Firewood Karma and Mud Season

I took my first steps at being an assertive homeowner and community member by reporting a local road that was in disrepair. I even used that word, that sounds a bit pretentious in retrospect, but I didn't want to seem overbearing. It also might have seemed self-serving because the road in question just happens to be the one our house is on, but what are you going to do? Mud season is peaking it's head around the corner, and though we have our share of cold days still, it's been hovering around the high 40's on some days, and the mud is pretty serious.

Our road gets to be a swamp, and since we're one of the few families in Vermont that doesn't have 4-wheel drive, there have been a few instances when it wasn't for certain that we'd make it through. Fortunately the really bad sections are right in front of our neighbors, and since our neighbors are all true Vermonters (not necessarily natives), they have tractors and trucks, and have in the past bailed us out when we were stuck. Even still, best to avoid those situations.

I was told to call the town center and let them know about the problem, it's the only way they know, so I did. I spoke with the town manager, B, who is kind of like the mayor, and he knew who I was. That was kind of cool for a Flatlander. I've met him on a few occasions, and he's a great guy, but never figured that he actually remembered my name, but such is the way of small town life. You've got to love that. He said he'd put the road on the list and they'd take a look at it. I'm sure they're inundated with complaints, and at some point they'll probably re-surface our road with hard pack. The temp has dropped so it's probably more manageable, but in the next few weeks it'll be a disaster.

In fact, looking around our house, I can't help but think that this mud season is going to be a whopper. Last year we lucked out, Spring was short and dry, just right if you ask me. I'm guessing this year we won't be so lucky, but you never know.

I was talking to my friend, P, about firewood and he's a true Vermonter. Of course I was curious about where he got his, and he told me he buys several cords a year, up to six, at $200 a pop. I was floored, that's expensive for so much wood, and later realized that he might have been yanking my chain in an effort to be coy about his source, much like I've been in the past about mine. So my firewood karma is coming back to haunt me, but I guess I'm getting what I deserve.

Either way, I don't know that's what he was doing for sure, and in the end, if and when I get my chainsaw, it will undoubtedly open up more options.

Until then, thanks for reading.

Wood Options and Be Careful What You Wish For

I've been searching furiously for wood, and though I know I have some time, it's important to bear in mind that Spring is here and Summer will arrive before you know it, and you really need those hot summer days to dry the wood. That is, until I get my act together and have two years worth sitting around the property, I need to burn semi-dry, semi-green wood. I know, however, that one day the wood will be dry and crisp.

The problem I seem to run into is where to get the wood, the biggest problem by far being how to transport the stuff, you need a serious truck, and not the kind you can ask a friend to let you borrow. After all was said and done, I did find someone who would deliver tree length logs, but only if I buy 8 cords. I have no problem with that, except for the minor inconvenience that I don't have a chainsaw, but I can't let that stop me, can I?

So I told him that I was interested, and didn't hear back for a few days, so I started getting nervous that I waited too long and hadn't made the list. That's how my neurotic, Flatlander mind works. I didn't want to hound him and piss him off, but I also didn't want him to forget about me. Well, by the time had I worked myself into a frenzy, the guy called, and indeed I had made the list. We talked, he was very cool, and he said he'd deliver the wood in a couple of weeks.

What? Now I've never done this, and had to take a moment to consider if I was ready to buy 8 cords of wood, and where the heck I was going to put it. I can't use the old space because we are still planning on finishing the barn, and that's where the septic system is going to be-more on the barn later.

I finally decided the wildflower patch would work, because it's far enough away to not ruin our front yard, there's a road there (though it's covered with wildflowers, which we'll miss), and there's the issue of M's trees. She put her darn tree there, the one she planted for her daughter's birthday, and I think there's enough room, but really hope that in the process of unloading the wood, he doesn't level it. That would really suck.

So I think I've got my wood. I won't say for sure until it's sitting on our property, but at least I feel relieved that I don't have to keep searching for it. Of course I managed to find a way to still worry about it, because I want to maintain a connection with this guy, but I don't know if I'll buy 8 cords every year. In fact, I know I won't, but think I may have a way to work around it.

And then there's the issue of the chainsaw, but that can wait. At least until tomorrow. For now, let me relish my small victory, because they are few and far in-between.

Until the next time, thanks for reading.

Yanking My Chainsaw and Searching for Wood

I've been shopping around for chainsaws, and as I stop in the various stores in the area, I get the distinct impression that people are trying to sell me more than I actually need. The story I keep hearing is that I need at least 50cc's and 18 inches or more. While this is true, I am also aware that their impression of cutting wood and mine might not be the same.

Here's my dilemma-I am once again on the search for wood this year, and think that this will be an ongoing gig until I inherit 100 acres of prime hardwood forest to cut and split my own trees. Unfortunately, landowners don't take credit cards, so that's not going to happen any time soon.

As I may have mentioned, my previous source of wood has upped his price to the point where it's may be beyond our reach. Sure, we could afford it, but do we really want to spend that much money on wood? We need heat, no doubt about that, but we have some time. Not a lot, but some, and I figure we can shop around for a few weeks and at least see what's out there. I've been told that wood should be going down because there are a lot of guys who want to sell it, but I've yet to see this. I have seen that prices have dropped slightly from last year, but my goal, in the end, is to find a reliable source that I can turn to each year.

So far, I've yet to find it, but what do you expect from a Flatlander?

In the meantime, I'll keep shopping for my chainsaw. It looks like I'm going to drop about $300-400 easy, but that's what everyone tells me. My good friend Jim said spend at least $500 and get one that will last you a lifetime, but I don't know if I'm ready for that.

I'm looking at Stihl and Husqvarna, and maybe one of the Japanese models, but the Euro models seem to be the ones to get. Everyone I know has Stihl, and I am having a hard time locating someone who sells Huskies (listen to me, so pretentious) nearby. They say to get one from somewhere that will services it, but I don't know why you couldn't buy it somewhere else and have them service it. Then again, I'd like to support local businesses, and as far as that goes, so far, Joe's has my loyalty. I love those guys, but I'll still shop around.

More on my chainsaw odyssey later. For now, I'll investigate my wood options.

Grounded and Back in the Firewood Hunt

A question was posed to me by my wife that really forced me to take a step back and take a good look at my life-how could I justify going skiing as much as I do while there are so many projects that lay around the house unfinished?

My answer?

I can't... so I won't. Total bummer. We were planning on going skiing this Sunday, had it all planned out, and were ready to hit the slopes right after breakfast when my wife posed the fateful question. Part of her complaint was that it meant that she would be at home all by herself because after a hard week at work, she not only didn't feel like rushing out the door with all of our ski equipment, but that she wanted us to spend time together, as a family. Now how could I argue with that.

The ski season winds down to an end, and we missed out on a prime skiing weekend, but such is life. It's more important in the end to spend quality time together, and though skiing can be a family gig, it's not exactly warm fuzzy time playing games and being together. So we can take a break. Besides, I get a sense the kids were wanting a break, anyway. Boo-hoo!

Then again, it is snowing, so maybe it's a sign.

I am also being punished for my complacency and selfishness in the firewood department. I got a great deal last year on firewood, kind of fell in my lap, actually, and I, like the people I was disdainful of, guarded our secret source like gold. I figured this year would be easy, I'd just give a call, get our six cords, and be on our way, but it was not to be.

I put in an order for six cords, and our man got back to us, but the price had gone up considerably. So much so that I'm wondering if it's even worth it. Not six cords, at least. I was bummed, once again, and figured I was getting what I deserved for being so clandestine about it all. Just goes to show you, you can't go through life without dealing with it like a real man.

Now I'm once again in the firewood hunt, and life is no longer so simple. I do have some leads, however, and this could very well be the year that I get my chainsaw, because I may very well need it.

Until the next time, thanks for reading.

Crazy Weather and Coming Through For My Mentor

Sometimes you just can't explain things to certain people, and I don't mean this with any disrespect. Yesterday I took GL's truck in for his yearly inspection because it had been expired since October, which meant that driving it was running the risk of being pulled over and busted. I told GL that I'd be happy to do it since it was parked at our house, and making it legit meant that, in the event that we needed it in a pinch, it would be road ready. The guy at the shop couldn't understand why I would be doing something for GL without him paying me, and the funny thing is, my perspective is the exact opposite. It's not about the money, because there is none, but because GL is our good friend and my mentor for becoming a real man. I guess you just can't explain these things, but our friendship has grown to the point where I don't want GL's money because he's come through for us in so many ways that I'm happy to help him.

Either way, it's personal, and because of that, cannot be fully explained to someone on the outside. Maybe that's just the way it's supposed to be.

For the record, the process of getting the truck inspected was a complete rigmarole, even though the thing is practically new and in good condition. The main problem is that some of the paperwork was missing, and I had to sit there and wait until the offices opened up so that the inspectors could get proper documentation. Sometimes even the most competent of people need a little hand-holding. I finally ended up just driving over to the office and getting a hard copy by hand. The person behind the desk was one of those nervous, easily flustered types who panics and shuts down. As she explained to me in detail why she hadn't faxed the paperwork over, I kept thinking, it doesn't matter, just give me the paperwork and let me be on my way.

Just goes to show you, sometimes you have to do the legwork yourself to get things done. Otherwise you just sit around relying on other people while you twiddle your thumbs, and nothing gets done.

BTW, what's up with this crazy weather? It's as if Spring were on it's way... but wait, it is. And it's showing. It's supposed to be in the 40's today, w/rain, and all of our beautiful snow will be compromised. Total bummer, but the idea of warm weather and sun and grass is appealing, even if I'm reluctant to say goodbye to skiing. Such is life, I'm grateful for the season we had, and the kids just took off. You don't get opportunities like this too often.

Now that the weather is getting warmer, I can take on the home improvement stuff that had to wait until the snow cleared, including fixing the clapboards on the back of the house (a gargantuan job), painting the trim all over, painting the two south facing sides of the house, repairing the gables (I love sounding like I know what I'm doing) on the front dormers, and of course, the barn.

For now, I'll try to finish the bookcases I started last year. They're just sitting there. AND, I've got to get firewood.

Life in New England, the fun never stops, and you've got to love it.

Until the next time, thanks for reading.

Preparing for Spring and Karate

Since experiencing the relief of finishing my blue belt test, I have to admit that I felt a bit of a letdown and dropped the ball completely by sitting back and doing nothing, but at class last night, I felt that it was a bit misguided on my part. Not unlike going to school for me, where life was really about just passing the time in between tests, when in fact learning should be a lifetime endeavor, filled with magic and reward. I.e., it shouldn't be about the end result, but about the journey, and rather than wait and sweat over intermittent milestones like exams, immerse yourself in the process and celebrate each and every day, especially when you're learning.

That's why we homeschool.

In all honesty, I don't think I'm approaching karate like that, it's just that after a particularly brutal week, it was nice to take a break. But like our sensei said last night, when you get a new belt, it is the end of one journey and the beginning of another. Our class was a little different last night in that it was led by the Grand Master, as Chip had family obligations to attend to, and it was a fun class, though we always miss him. As JH commented on, we have a good core group of people in the class who are serious about learning and make the experience rewarding and enjoyable. I feel lucky to be in there with them.

I also had a chance to bond a little with JH, and he's such an interesting person once you scratch below the surface. So many layers to the guy, besides that fact that he's a 5th degree black belt who could kill you with his pinkie nail.

The weather is getting into that crazy Spring state of indecision, with wide fluctuations from warm to cool. It makes life complicated because we tend to get that freeze-thaw thing going, making travel difficult, even for a real-man in training. Needless to say, it messes with the skiing conditions, and our time in paradise is clearly coming to an end, so we'll have to make the most of it while we can. I think there's still a good month to go, but you never know. It could go either way, so we won't fret over the future and we'll just live in the moment and enjoy what we can.

Still have to contact MJ about wood, and straighten out the our propane for the end of the season. Got another contact for log length wood from PD, but that would require me to get a chainsaw, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Until the next time, thanks for reading.

Resting on my Laurels and Spring is in the Air

Wow, since the big blue belt test, I've completely forsaken my karate and haven't given it much thought. Bad behavior, and very reminiscent of school and test taking, not to mention counter to our philosophy that life is about the everyday moments and not just waiting around for the big milestones. Even still, it is nice to take a break. Today I'll go through my katas to keep them fresh in my mind.

Spring is most definitely in the air, even though it was really cold yesterday, so much so that we actually bailed out on skiing because we were freezing our tushes off. It was that darn wind. I think we're slated to get a big load of snow in the coming days, so Winter is not done with us just yet.

In the coming weeks, I'll have to address the delivery of our propane for the next year and firewood, the ever present concern for us. I may have found alternate sources for the wood, though I'm thinking MJ is still our man. Not sure when I should give him a call, but I'm guessing the time is soon.

Until then, thanks for reading.