MaineCourse

Travis

Travis, from the time he was sixteen, spent part of every summer at our house. We worked together at Channel1, where he would write code and I would surf porn sites. One summer, the last one, he helped paint my house. Then he went away to college and like the successful athlete who outgrows his old stomping grounds, he turned his back on us. We saw him briefly, a year and a half ago, when he stopped by on his way to the Caribbean. His only comment. “Firewood should be stacked closer to your house.”
Tomorrow: Torroemore, in total (more or less).

I don't know if that's really fair. That doesn't sound like something I'd say, not that you'd remember my last visit. It was probably something more along the lines of 'You should stack the firewood closer to the house.'

Posted by travis.

And you know what? We now stack most of our wood on the porch, next to the swing hanging from climbing rope.

Posted by Michael.

And isn't at least one of us so happy to hear about the new wood pile spot (if it's true)!

One morning, not so many years ago, but pre new boiler, I was alone and totally freezing at 136 Central. I decided to reve up the wood stove before even getting dressed. There was no wood at the ready. So, out I went to the back of the property in my nightgown, feet shoved sockless into sneakers, to get some wood.

By the time I got back to the porch with my supply, the self-locking door had slammed shut and done what it was supposed to do. Shivering and looking damn stupid, I waited on Judy's stoop for her to get home from taking kids to school or somewhere and give me the extra key to the Canning-Miller homested held safely in her keeping.

Having the wood closer, I admit, would not have prevented the door from slamming shut or the self-locking mechanism from self-locking. However, with wood nearby, someone might have been tempted to replenish the indoor supply, thus eliminating my need to do my village idiot impression in the first place.

So, if Travis' suggestion really did result in the wood pile being moved, Allah be praised. Also Travis.

Posted by Cinderella.

All of Travis's suggestions, save one, have been instituted. And that one - get rid of the phone because we don't answer it anyway - was perhaps his best.

Posted by Michael.

I have been stacking wood all day today, all day yesterday, all day the day before...you get the picture.

I am glad for anything which lessens the need to carry firewood from one place to the other. Good job on moving it.

Posted by sherpa.

Think how much easier all that stacking would have been with another pair of hands.

Posted by Michael.

Posted by Michael at August 28, 2003 06:23 AM