About a week after we moved, we decided that a new snowblower was in short order given the size of Howie's new driveway ( or runway, as our builder liked to remind us ). Our old one was on its last leg, and we weren't sure that it would work here even if it was up and running. My brilliant idea was to wait til after the first of the year, as we usually don't get that much snow before Christmas, and we were waiting for some rebates that were coming to us from Home Depot for the purchase of the W/D and Fridge.
Fast forward to last Sunday, and 6 inches of drifting of snow. Our first inclination was to send the boys out with shovels, however we forgot that we left our shovels at the old house. Howie managed to get to the old house and get the shovels, and sent the boys out again while he tried to get the snowblower started. No such luck.
Guess which store in Northwest Ohio has snowblowers on December 16th, after the first real storm of the year? NONE! Not Home Depot, Lowes, Andersons, Tractor Supply. Not even on-line. I question the wisdom of retailers who don't stock merchandise in real time need. (Ex.. when I tried to buy Halloween candy at Target ON Halloween and they were stocking Christmas candy. I had to resort to buying all of the leftover crap in the clearance aisle.)
We finally found a store over by my parents house in Oregon called Maumee Bay Turf that had two snowblowers left. However it was 4:45 pm and they closed at 5:00. No way we were getting to Oregon in 15 minutes, it takes 20 with clear roads. We had them hold it til Tuesday, as Howie worked til 7:30 on Monday.
Murhy's law that Howie didn't get home til 9 pm on Monday, and got stuck in the very unplowed driveway. How embarassing in a new neighborhood where everyone's driveway is plowed within and inch of it's life. I imagined people peeking out of their windows and laughing us as we spun tires and blew smoke trying to get his car out. Luckily a neighbor did finally come out and help, and we ended up using my Pilot to push his car out onto the street.
Tuesday ( Which incidentally was my birthday, but I find comfort in the fact that Saturday we went out for a very nice dinner and I got a very nice gift, but still, it was my birthday). I got E ready for her christmas party, and left early to drive out to Oregon to get the blower. We were running late, and drove through Wendy's for lunch. ( I am convinced that people gain weight over the Holidays not because of cookies and fudge, but because of the drive thru as we are all too freaking busy to eat normal meals ) . Got her to her party/ pageant in which she refused to sing, and got her home. Howie was supposed to be home at 3:30 so I could get to a Dr. appt for a neck strain. However, Howie didn't get home until 5:30, which meant I had to take a 3 kids and the snowblower to the appointment. Got back home around 6:00, and met a very irritated hsband who couldn't get the snowblower started for lack of a key. The key which they forgot to give us. That was back in Oregon at the shop that closed at 6:00. Howie called the shop, and the very nice owner said that he would drop the key off at my parents and Howie could pick it up. So he loaded E in his car and off to Oregon he went. This was a man on a mission. I took M and H to basketball practice at 7pm. At 7:30 Howie called me to say that the guy never showed up with the key and he was leaving to come home. We met at Applebee's at 8:30 for a much too late, very depressing dinner.
Yesterday , the owner called me to profusely apologize about forgetting the key. It seems that his wife was irate with him because he was running late he had promised her they would get a Christmas tree that night. ( They probably stopped at Wendy's for dinner. )
I ran out to Oregon once again to get the almighty key. Key in hand, was sure that a clear driveway was in the imminent future. Got home, and the boys got off the school bus. This was the last day before break, and M left his boots at school. Loaded all 3 back into the car to get over to the school before it closed for 2 weeks. Got the boots. Howie called to say he might be home before 10pm. He got home at 9:45 and crashed.
I might have a clear driveway tonight.
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