A friend recently posted on Facebook about the kindness of a stranger who saw her shoveling her driveway and used his plow to finish the job for her. Her husband travels a lot for work and her three kids are away at college, so the task had fallen on her shoulders. It's been a rough winter, between the constant snowfall and the subzero temperatures. Well, she managed to unleash all sorts of dire warnings with her innocent little status of shoveling her driveway. Things like this:
A snow blower is the only way to go.....especially at our age :) They call this heart attack snow, because of the depth and weight of snow....No workout is worth collapsing in your driveway!
Ok, seriously? She and I are the same freakin' age! And we're not overweight smokers. We both work out every day. Pushing 4 inches of snow around is not going to kill either one of us. Can you tell I took this a little too personally? I responded:
I always shovel and I'm your age. Snow blowers are a hassle to start, clog easily, make your hair smell bad and blow the snow back in your face. Just use a wide shovel and 'push it.'
The guy didn't like my comment and had to respond with how wrong I was. Suit yourself and use the blower, buddy, I'll stick with my shovel.
We actually own two snow blowers. One is a smaller model, which I will use if we get a foot of snow. The other is self-propelled and just too difficult for me to handle, especially since our driveway is steep. Now, THAT'S dangerous. But I do stand by my comment on the difficulty in starting, the bad smell of gasoline that envelopes you and causes a need for a shower immediately, and the fact that if there is any wind whatsoever, it's going to blow the snow back in your face. We bought a couple of 26 inch wide shovels and I can get our very long driveway done in a half hour, just pushing the snow to the side.
Many people opt to not do it themselves and hire snow plows and pay for the whole winter upfront (a gamble for both sides). Most of our neighbors do this, and I'm never impressed. They come at random times, long after most people have left for work, and never get the driveway clean down to the pavement. Then you end up with ice build up for the entire winter. On top of that, they have no where to plow the snow after a month of snowfall, so they end up partially blocking the people's garages with snow banks or plowing a good bit into the street. That's helpful.
I'll stick with the shovel.
"No, this is not a post on sexual activities. Sorry to disappoint!"
ReplyDeleteBwhahahahahahaha! OMG...that made me HOWL!
It's ironic you posted about this today because I was on the phone a few nights ago with a friend of the family who lives in COLORADO, where the snowfall this year has been tremendous. And even she said that she uses a shovel and not a snow blower because it's too much of a hassle. And this is a coming from a woman who does not work out AND smokes.
LOL.....well then, if she can shovel, I certainly can shovel!
Deleteyeah, the only folks I know who have trouble shoveling are those who use labor saving devices for every task. when that snow blower breaks down and he has to shovel he'll likely prove himself right! won't he be getting the last laugh then? huh? huh?
ReplyDeletei dunno of anyone personally who died shoveling but know of 2 who ended up in the hospital (1 heart attack, 1 undetermined) and both were that very same scenario, non-labor-participators forced to shovel.
next time just tell him you wanna test out the health care system and write about the experience.
BTW- I use a snowblower on my lawn tractor but then, I have 275 feet of drive and 100 feet of that is double-wide. ain't gonna be shoveling that!
DeleteWe have a single wide driveway here, so it does make the pushing from side to side a lot easier. Now I'm curious as to how long it is here.....longer than most since it runs entire length of house, otherwise it would be too steep, since we sit on a hill.
DeleteYeah, ours is wrap around with double-ups to fit 4 cars. And it's gravel. Makes for a lot of extra work but usually worth it and it justifies a better lawn tractor ;-)
DeleteSpeaking of which I need to go clear the first few inches of 6 or so we're expecting.
I'm with you about the shovel. While I haven't shoveled snow in 7 years, I used to love to shovel it and "prided" myself on having good looking driveways and sidewalks. We even would shovel for the older lady next door to us. We did get a snow blower, but I would always hesitate to use it because I'm not mechanically inclined, LOL, so when there was a lot of snow and hubby was home from work, he would crank it up. However, I do have to say I have typed several reports this season of people who had hand injuries from snow blowers (gloves caught in them). So yes, hand me a shovel, provided I have snow :)
ReplyDeletebetty
It's definitely a sense of accomplishment when you finish with a clean driveway. We've had no injuries, but my husband did lose the key needed to start the blower in a snowdrift once. Found it in the spring!
DeleteI won't even ask which sexual activities I'm supposed to be thinking of when I see 'shovel'. . .
ReplyDeleteNever owned a snow-blower. Not even Up North, where I might've wished we had one. Besides, I've got eight more years of teenage sons. . .
I'm kind of surprised that you need an explanation AND you've never owned a snow blower in MIchigan!
DeleteWell, I've only ever shoveled and I don't think a snowblower would go over well in Brooklyn. The houses are so close you'd probably hammer your neighbor's home.
ReplyDeleteI recall hearing once that men will get into trouble shoveling when they try to lift too much snow. I think pushing is probably the best bet.
Now about those sexual activities...?
The lifting of the snow is definitely the issue. I don't have much upper arm strength, so once the snow is already two feet high on the sides, I can't do much more than push it.
Deleteyou could have been pulling my leg that there is such a thing as a 'snow blower' - i had to google it to see what it was. looks like it would be fun to use but i'm sure the novelty would soon wear off.
ReplyDeleteit's making me laugh to picture the good folk of the US getting up in the morning and all cleaning their driveways with those things - don't know why, it just is.
It's hard to believe you've never heard of a snow blower, but I've never seen anyone surf in real life, so we are certainly on other sides of the planet. I think I'd like your side better!
DeleteIt hasn't snowed yet here in England. It's been forecast a couple of times though! Plenty of rain though!
ReplyDeleteThank you. Love love, Andrew. Bye.
Unfortunately, it seems either overcast, rainy or snowing here. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteHardly any snow in the UK this winter. When there is, like most people I usually just shovel it. I've never even seen a snow blower round these parts, I guess because snowfalls are never that heavy.
ReplyDeleteBe glad you've never seen one. I forgot to mention how noisy they are too!
DeleteI wish we lived in an area where a snow blower would be looked upon as a wise investment! As it stands, I'll stick with the shovel for the few times we actually get measurable snow.
ReplyDeleteI'm worried that with climate change, you may get your wish. Seriously, it's a pain in the ass to deal with for five months out of the year.
Deletei shoveled snow today and always worry about collapsing. i'm well built and in decent health, used to run regularly and now work out when i can. the heart has a funny way of giving out even on people who are healthy. makes me think of people who can swim, some of the best swimmers, who drown. i don't get that, but it happens. i rather have a snow blower myself. if i have to lift, i rather lift weights. i hate freaking snow. HATE IT!!!!!! have a nice day. ;)
ReplyDeletei should say the heart gives out on people who think they are healthy. sometimes there's a problem but people don't know it. i'm just going to move and not deal with a blower or shovel. that settles it. i'll probably die while running.
DeleteSnow sucks, there's no two ways about it! I can't tell you how many times in my life that snow has ruined plans.....childhood birthday parties to Spring break trips! BOOOOOO
DeleteI have to say this might be the ONE (and I mean one) reason I enjoy living in an apartment! My landlord does all the shoveling! Since I moved out of my parents many moons ago I have not had to lift a shovel other than to free my tires if I got myself stuck somewhere. I am glad this is not a debate I need to deal with just yet.
ReplyDeleteYES! I loved that about being a renter, although I also didn't have a garage, so there was the de-icing of the car issue.
DeleteI think we pretty much to a combination of everything. I always shovel the back patio and the I (or the boys) shovel the front driveway if it is just a little bit of snow. If the snow if a heavy few inches I will use our small snow blower. If the hubby is home (not at work or up north) he pretty much ALWAYS uses the riding blower/plow. He not only does our driveway but three of our neighbors and his mother's as well. And they are all VERY large U shape or VERY LONG driveways. Our neighbors owe him BIG TIME because before he offered they all paid a service to plow.
ReplyDeleteYou do use everything! How many inches of snow have you gotten this year? We are at 58, but it's snowing right now!
DeleteSnowblowers contribute to pollution and are loud! I don't mind people using them when they are truly necessary, but most people could use the exercise.
ReplyDeleteWe think alike!
DeleteI come down firmly on your side! If you are fit and healthy, get out there and enjoy the therapy (and bonus exercise) of shoveling...and keep the oil and fumes inside the blowers, not out in our air. Amen, sista!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jocelyn!
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