Snow Blowers

The other day when we went to dig out I decided it would be wise of me to learn how to start and use the snow blower. Rick's back is still out and from what I could see it looked like they pretty much ran along with you just trotting after them. It looked fun even and I suspected that because you never have to ask men twice to go out and shovel out the drives when you have one. Men and their machines.

So we go out and Rick starts telling me the drill. What the heck? They do this crap deliberately. I was expecting a key. Turn the key, release the brake and hang on. Simple right? Wrong.

First he says you have to turn this lever here. The you have to twist this knob to open the gas, then you have to pump this thing a ma jig and make sure this lever is set to this setting and then when it starts to run turn this level to this line and pump the thing a ma jig again and make sure you holding down this clutch thing and making sure the augers are both turning.

What! Are you joking? You have to do all that just to start the thing? Oh.... I forgot. You also have to pull on this cord like the lawn mower, ( which I also can't start) until it catches. And I am suppose to remember all this? I swear men do this on purpose. A woman would have a button she lightly pushed and the huge machine would spring into action. Men like the ritual of STARTING OF THE MACHINES.

Deciding I would never ever in a million years remember this I captured the drill on video and will make a print out list of instructions in the rare event I ever decide to actually use the thing.

So anyway he gets it started and shows me the levels to press to get the monster to leap forward and the augers to turn. Not too deep so you don't fling the rocks he hollers above the noise.

Now I am not the tallest person and have to admit to having sore wrists and a gimpy shoulder. I did one sweep. Its harder then it looks. My wrists and shoulder took a beating. I kept forgetting to turn the lever directing the snow. Rick looked pretty funny with his face covered. Didn't amuse him though.

So that's it. Anything happens to Rick I have to either move or hire someone. And I couldn't get the snow off the roof with the roof shovel either. The snow was too deep to get close to the house and I was too short to reach it plus have I mentioned my shoulder isn't getting better as fast as I want and both my wrists are killing me.

Being absolutely useless in helping him move the snow around around I did tackle the vehicles and cleared the windows. And I gave him moral support. Applauded his effort. Go baby go. Because I sure don't want to do it ever again.