Monday, February 18, 2008

The 7th Day...

...and on the 7th day, she shoveled her ass off! Today the temperature was around 50 degrees, tomorrow, things will be frozen again. This was my only window of opportunity. I started shoveling at 9am and finished at 3pm. I took two breaks to change into dry clothes, eat a snack, and hydrate. I got out the hose and ran water down the driveway for hours, this melted through the ice to pavement, in some spots. Of course I was standing in water most of the day which totally wanked! I shoveled up about 2inches of heavy frozen slush, to reveal solid ice underneath, but with water and salt and sand, I was able to get down, and yes...back up the driveway!

Metal Snow Shovel: $24.00

Ruined Colorado Work Boots: $ 140.00

Calories Burned: (no one has ever counted that high)

Freedom: Priceless

During my confinement I rowed 82,000 meters, watched 14 movies, read 1 1/2 books, took apart, cleaned and reassembled the blower on my wood stove and watched way too much tv. I kept up with everyone's blogs, wrote 4 posts, played lots of computer games. I had to call and reschedule a few appointments, stress about money, stress about work, stress about the effects of stress, stress about rescheduling and telling people what a perfect retard I am, and how I'm stuck as a result.

Yesterday, around noon, I was down for a long row. I blast my ipod while I'm rowing and do it downstairs, so I'm in my own little world. I rowed for an hour and 15 minutes. When I was done, the dogs were going nuts, so I looked out the window, and there was someone standing there. I opened the door, it was my Dad. He said, "Call your mother, she thinks you've done yourself in."

I looked at my cell phone when I got upstairs, 10 missed calls! She'd been calling the whole time I was rowing, and sent him out to find my body, after about a half an hour, because it takes about that long to drive to my house from theirs, and he said it took him 20 minutes to get up the to the house from the road where he had parked.

After I talked to my mother, and she was calm, I went outside with my Dad and we discussed the options with the driveway. "Ya know...This is really a summer house." he blurted out.

"Thanks dad, That's helpful!" I answered. I can always count on him for gems like this. We talked about the possibility of heating the driveway in the future, that was also helpful, if I win the lottery! He brought me a square-ended garden shovel I could hack away at the frozen slush with, which was entertaining for about an hour after he'd gone. Then it started to rain and sleet, and I was frozen and getting nowhere so I gave up and went back inside.

Now, it's all behind me, and I have learned two valuable lessons:

  1. Plow pretty quickly after it snows, during, if there's a lot!
  2. Move back to California, you don't belong here.

23 comments:

kj said...

my solution: pay fifty bucks to get plowed out on a regular basis. it'll pay for itself and then some when you factor in your time.

so glad you are no longer housebound, rm!

RED MOJO said...

kj, Never! I bought a plow because that plan didn't work last year. I am much better at plowing my driveway than anyone I'd hire, as long as I do it, and believe me, I'll be doing it. Thanks!

tsduff said...

The moral of the story is...
Most of us can't depend upon bad weather to help us lose weight. But sometimes, you get lucky :)

How cool that you live so near your parents. And how even more cool that they worry enough about you to sent out the troops...

I'm glad to hear about your happy ending. Your endurance, independence, and plain ovaries are very inspring to this California wimp ;) BTW - hurry up home.

RED MOJO said...

tsduff, thanks for that heapin helpin of optimism! I'm glad my ovaries have accomplished something!

Debra Kay said...

Ah Freedom! Isn't it great to be OUT after being STUCK? And it's always a good thing to feel like you got yourself unstuck as opposed to being rescued. Let's all raise our glasses to RM for her escape from the ice palace.

robkroese said...

Glad you didn't have a heart attack or anything.

Thanks for the CP link!

Unknown said...

So when do you plan on winning the lottery? And can you get me any tips on how to do that? I could use a heated driveway, myself.

Anonymous said...

I'm just really pleased to have got here without finding you've starved! Next Winter will be better...

Anonymous said...

I am laughing my head off, but I am glad you are free at last. What a funny way of telling about the terrible things that happen over there. Those comments of your father....hahahaha! Well, you've learned your lesson, girl :-)

Ces Adorio said...

Thank God we are not reading your obituary girl. Look at that beauty. I don't blame you. Keep on living there, but next time, just stock up on on food and movies and let the dog out once in a while. A happy ending indeed.

RED MOJO said...

debra kay, Cheers, while I was out getting more sand, I stopped at my favorite pizza joint and got a couple of slices, and a piece of rum cake to celebrate!

diesel, me too! I thought about it, but it didn't seem prudent. You're welcome, it's a good mag.

Dorky, Don't worry, if I win I'll give you some tips on how I did it!

anon, you mean there's a winter every year???!!

wieneke, thanks for saying you enjoy my humor! I did learn my lesson!

RED MOJO said...

ces, It is beautiful up here. I am glad you're not reading my obit. too! It's a good thing I've been doing so much exercise lately. It really helped me get the job done, and not get crippled or dead!

Debra Kay said...

You mean to infer that there is a POINT to exercise beyond just the activity itself? Who would have thought-not me.

(Actually someone has-there's a new show called "fit to live" where it depicts people in life threatening situations-in the one I saw, no one was fit enough to climb out of a burning building)

Maybe you could sell tickets-get people to pay you to shovel your drive and get fit.

Ed & Jeanne said...

You should invite the cat in the hat over. He's got that VOOM stuff under his hat...works wonders on snow.

RED MOJO said...

debra kay, those same people might also like to buy tickets to watch my grass grow!

ve, That's what I like about you, always thinking outside the box. Finally, a suggestion I can USE!

heartinsanfrancisco said...

I'm glad your confinement is over and that you lived through it, Mojo.

I remember Northern New England winters vividly, but I do it from California now.

Debra Kay said...

Clearly New England is not going to work for you. On your way to California would you stop by the house and build a new set of stairs for my storm cellar?

Websketch (Web Sass) said...

Great Blog, thanks for the invite. Sorry for your troubles but sounds like it all worked out. Have a great week.

RED MOJO said...

heartinsanfrancisco, Thanks. I'm planning to do that too, at some point.

debra kay, Piece of cake. I'll honk.

websketch, Thanks for stopping in. Welcome! I like yours too.

TheWeyrd1 said...

AND that is the reason I haven't gotten around to building my house in the mountains. AND I'll have a short drive way. AND they property owners association actually plows the private roads. BUT not in a hurry to be stuck. I'm feeling for you! I recommend that you put in a parking spot at the bottom of your driveway and a small shack to store some ski's in AND then a rope tow. I'm sure you get the idea.

Unknown said...

Wow, you could have rowed to the Caribbean by now.
Be happy that someone's concerned about your well-being enough to come out and find your body.

Anonymous said...

"My confinement" that's funny. I'm glad you were able to shovel your way to freedom.

RED MOJO said...

theweyrd1, I did joke about putting in a tow rope when I bought the house, not so funny now.

Tinder, I have rowed pretty far, all within my walls! Yes, I am grateful for my parents, or anyone else who might look for my body!

citizen, Me too. I just got done cleaning up another foot or so of snow we get yesterday. Wow, it's like a full time job keeping the driveway clean. I hate it!