Oh my aching back!

So much for Labor Day being a day of rest! Wow, what a day. Started off allright, slept in till 7ish, made a pot of coffee, checked email, etc. Then went out to start my list – install a pump for the pool cleaner, wash SU’s car, wash the Beast, wash the motorcycle, go with Pop to the hospital to visit a member, then chill. Well, that was the plan.

Got the pump all lined out and decided to use a couple of 90’s instead of straight fittings to make a cleaner install. Went in and told SU I was headed to the hardware store, back in a few minutes. Just going to the little store down the street. Should have known the day wasn’t going to go as planned when she says, hey, do you mind if I go with you? I want to get a few patio stones for the walkway and they have them at the other store. Okay, I say, still not comprehending that SU has planned my day differently. So we head out, passing the little store that had what I originally intended to pick up but hey, it’s not much further, no problem.

So we get there, I find what I need and go find SU. She asks the old guy that was helping me if they would match Walmarts price on the stones, they had them $0.17 cheaper. No, they won’t. I’m thinking, hey, what’s 17 cents when gas is $3 a gallon. And time is wasting. But off to Walmart we go, the bigjolly still not comprehending what is happening here. Get to Walmart and SU orders up 60 paving stones and 10 bags of mulch. By now my eyebrows were raised but at this point there wasn’t much to do about it. In reality, there wasn’t much I could do at any point of course.

So off to the house we go, by now the cool morning has faded into full sun and the area I was working in now has zero shade. Whilst I boil as I finish the install, SU starts moving some of the stones. I finish the installation and get the cleaner started, then go to help with the stones. We’re not talking little bricks here folks, these are the big concrete stones that weigh about 13 lbs each. By now it’s really hot but we keep trucking along. Only a few left on the beast. And 10 bags of mulch but hey, that’s lightweight stuff. All of a sudden, SU pipes up with, hey, do think that we could go back to Walmart and get the balance of the pallet? I’m thinkin’…….oops, can’t print that, might get fined by the FCC. So, I remind her that I had promised Pop that I’d go to the hospital with him but the look on her face told me that wasn’t the plan. Off to Walmart I go, 100 degrees out, sweat soaked, cinder soaked, mulch for a necklace. So much for SU’s desire that I stop looking like a redneck.

Get to Walmart and the pallet has 97 more of the $%#@. Get the guy to load the whole dang pallet with the forklift, the beast sinking lower and lower. Good thing I bought new tires Friday. Or maybe not, I can just see them exploding. I get him to push the pallet as far into the bed as he can to balance the weight. Pick up 10 more bags of mulch, but hey, that’s lightweight stuff, right?

By now the sun is blazing and the temp is about 140 degrees with 200% humidity. SU has her gloves on ready and waiting for me. By now I had given up on my hands and just started picking one stone up with each hand. Went much faster this way – go figure. Of course, the webbing between my thumbs and index fingers is now mush. Oh, did I forget to mention that I didn’t have gloves? Well, to be honest, I didn’t think I needed any to install the pump or wash the vehicles, therefore I didn’t bring any home. You know, planning. Continuing on, we finish up, I hop in the shower, go to Pops, go to Ben Taub, take Pop home, come home.

And feel like $%#$. Back hurts so bad I’m nauseated. SU goes to the store and gets Pepcid for me, good stuff. Couldn’t sleep, no way to get comfortable. Can’t walk this morning. Can’t climb stairs. Nauseated.

But dang our walkway looks good. Late.