Amazingly,
the table is fairly clear, but Thor’s garage is not. With the exception of the
stuff the boys identified as garbage or metal recycling, Thor took the majority
of the boxes and trays of junk home. AJ and Haley did pull out some things they
wanted, but not much. They kinda sorted through it, but when the garage is
heating up to more than 80 degrees, who wants to look at every single
screwdriver, drill bit, wrench, screw and nail. Whatever Thor can’t use or doesn’t
want, he’ll donate to a place down the street from where he lives.
We
didn’t haul any boxes out of the garage attic because it had to be more than
100 degrees up there. There’ll be another time for that. It’s really kinda
funny how I couldn’t do anything in the garage because it was too cold, and
now, I’m going to have to plan around it being too hot.
I
was very impressed by how Haley and her dad worked so closely together. They
almost didn’t need to talk. I guess after all the work Haley has done with her
dad on the ’57 Chevy pickup and her own truck, she’s come to intuit what her
dad needs or wants. Even more impressive (to me anyway), was her knowledge of
the tools being used and what was needed to break out the wood surround once it
was cut…she just took her foot and gave it a good kick.
It
was also good to see AJ and Thor working together. Sometimes AJ’s idea worked
and other times, it was Thor who provided the answer to whatever they were
addressing. They got the hot tub to the back-garage door. AJ had measured, but
it wasn’t going to fit. Thor took the door off the hinges…AJ was thinking he’d
have to undo the hinges. It still didn’t fit, so AJ used his Sawzall to remove
what looked like an X of fiberglas on the bottom. It was actually two pieces of
wood that had been covered by fiberglas. AJ sawed and Thor used a hammer to pry
the wood out. They work well together. It also does my heart a world of
wonderfulness to hear them laugh and joke with each other about stuff.
Finally,
it fit and they slid it through the garage to Haley’s truck. Then, they had to
figure out how to get it in the bed. There was a large board on the side of the
house they used to slide the tub up into the truck. Then, all the other bits
and pieces were tossed into the hot tub itself. The cover was then placed on
top and tied down. AJ and Haley took it off to the dump when they finished
looking at the stuff on the table. The way it was situated in Haley’s truck, I’m
sure people thought they were getting a new hot tub…and wondered why when it
was so hot.
Once
again, I really have to laugh at John’s inability to do stuff properly either
at home or when he wasn’t getting paid. I cannot remember if one of the boys
helped him, but at some point, he put Trex boards under the hot tub. I remember
when he had the boys help him put the whole thing on a four-wheeled dolly so he
could put the Trex down. I didn’t pay any attention…not my project.
Anyway,
once the hot tub was removed Saturday, there is an area in the middle of the
Trex that doesn’t have any boards, just the old decking. I don’t know why since
I know there are three long pieces of Trex on the side of the house. As per
usual, it was good enough for the purpose, no one would see it, and John was
done with that project. I told the boys I’d clean up the deck, but I think I
may have to have one of them come and cut pieces of Trex to fit in the empty
area…or measure it and ask my neighbor Dave to cut it for me.
So,
I’m making headway with the crap-fest, but just not as quickly as I’d like. I
talked to a woman on Sunday who has been a widow for five years. She understood
perfectly how much I’d just like to BE DONE, but encouraged me to take my time
and be patient with myself. Good advice I do believe.