This whole thing started last week when we got six inches of snow. We started talking about getting a blower or a plow, but since we have been spending so much money on house stuff we decided we would wait it out until next year. Shoveling is good exercise and we could handle it. We only have one shovel right now so when we got home from work last Monday, Dave suited up and went out in the storm. He shoveled for an hour and half and finally came back in to get warm. We were both surprised how long it took, especially since our driveway isn’t that big. He didn’t mind it though, it was good exercise.
Flash forward to Friday afternoon. Dave came home from work and told me he had been thinking about buying a snow blower or plow. He thought about how much time it took him to shovel and how convenient a snow blower or plow would be. He contemplated between the two all night long. By Saturday morning he decided hands down he wanted a blower. Here were his reasons for not wanting to get the snow plow for his four wheeler:
– side walk plowing might be a problem
-Taking the plow on and off of the four wheeler would get old
-it would be less expensive to buy a snow blower
There you have it. He made up his mind. We had lots to do on Saturday, so we got at it bright and early! We woke up, worked out and were on the road. We drove 45 minutes to SLC to pick up a couch and chair for the front room (yay)! We were rushing like crazy to get to my nieces birthday party on time so we completely skipped lunch. We made it to the party late, but with plenty of time to have fun and enjoy. Dave ate a piece of cake, but I held out for real food that I PLANNED on having once we got home.
When we got home we unloaded the couch and chair and began setting up the front room. By the time we were done arranging and re-arranging, we needed to hit the road again to run more errands before it got to late and snowy. I grabbed a few almonds and we jumped in the car. I figured we’d stop and grab some food very, VERY soon.
Our FIRST stop was Lowe’s. Dave looked around for over an hour trying to figure out what snow blower was just right. He looked at me reluctantly and pointed to the most expensive one. REALLY??!! You really want that one? He gave me his reasons and I shrugged my shoulders and told him to do what he thought was best. LOL. By this time I was more than hungry. All I had eaten the entire day was 1/4 cup yogurt and a protein bar with a few almonds….and it was nearly 6:00pm. Since he liked the most expensive one best, he decided we needed to drive 25 minutes to Sears to see if they had any better deals. I agreed since my favorite restaurant was right around the corner from sears. We called and made reservations on the drive…finally there was an end in sight. I was a happy camper!
We made it to Sears and Dave did his thing. We looked around for 20 minutes and finally he made a decision. He chose a less expensive one and we were ready to go…what could be better?? He found what he wanted for the price I wanted to pay…and most importantly I was going to get to eat very very soon! The salesman came over and almost killed me when he said…we don’t have that model in stock. Knowing Dave, I knew he did not want to wait until next week for delivery. I about fell over because I was 1. hungry as a hippo and 2. sick of snow blower shopping. eeeeeeeekkk!! It had now been 2 1/2 hours since we started and I was pretty much done. Dave paced back and forth trying to decide what to do. He really wanted to get the snow blower RIGHT THEN since the weather man had called for a blizzard the next few days. If sears didn’t have it in stock…would Lowe’s? He called Lowe’s and low and behold they did. What did that mean? That meant we had to drive 25 minutes in the opposite direction back to the store we started with and pick it up there. After another 10-15 minutes of trying to figure out what to do…we decided to make the haul back. I was delusional and giggly by this time. It felt like a nightmare where you just can’t make what you want happen, happen.
We canceled our reservation at the restaurant and started the drive back to Lowe’s. We got to Lowe’s about 8:30, bought the mother of all snow blowers (commercial grade you guys) and packed it up on the trailer. At 9:20pm we walked into the restaurant. When my food came out I ate it faster than you can imagine. I had to cover my mouth while eating the salad portion because I couldn’t eat it fast enough and still be polite. I scarffed my food and wished for more.
As soon as we got home, Dave turned on the blower and cleaned off the drive way. He was having a riot. At one point I looked out the window and saw him snow blowing the street! Boys and their toys..I tell ya.
While Dave was blowing off the Drive way, I went to town setting up the new rug that we bought from my sister. I can’t get over how expensive rugs are and had pretty much boycotted buying one. Luckily Erin told me about a rug she had bought that she would be willing to sell to us. It worked out perfect. It was the price I felt comfortable spending, and you would have thought it was made for our house. I love it!
Sunday morning we woke up to more snow, and the sound of a four wheeler riding around. Dave ran to the window only to see someone on their four wheeler plowing the sidewalks and driveways. He motioned me to the window and showed me what he was looking at. “I guess they can plow sidewalks”, he said. He also mentioned how fun it looked to be out there riding in the snow. Since we woke up late we were rushing to get to church so that was the end of that conversation…………….so I thought.
An hour or two later while in church, Dave tapped me on the shoulder and gave me a childish smirk. I asked him what was so funny and he said…”do you think Lowe’s will take back the snow blower if I’ve already used it?”….OMGOSH…are you serious? He was people…serious as a heart attack. He proceeded to tell me that he thinks he changed his mind and that a plow is really what he wants. Since he bought the top notch blower, the plow would not cost any more and he would have so much fun with a plow. He now knew that the plow could fit down sidewalks.
He had made his mind up (again)…the blower was going back to Lowe’s.
I called Lowe’s Monday morning to make sure they’d take it back and they said yes…as long as there was not gasoline in the engine. Dave had stopped by the gas station on the way home from buying the blower on Saturday so naturally it was full of gas. He decided to run the gas down, he’d plow the drive way one last time. After he spent over an hour blowing the drive way, the gas tank was still half full, so what did we do next? Any guesses? Yes friends…..we syphoned the gas out of the snow blower with a garden hose. I did not know this was actually possible. With my help and utter disbelief, I stuck one end of the garden hose filled with water in the snow blower gas tank. Dave stood at the other end of the driveway with the other end with the hose in his mouth, he began sucking on the hose trying to get the water flowing. Once the water hit his lips and he spit it out and the hose started sucking the gas out just like a vacuum. I busted up laughing.
(after we syphoned the gas)
A few minutes later I got a text from one of my neighbors saying “what in the world are you guys doing out there?”
I can only imagine what she must have thought when she looked out her window!
So to make a long story short, the monstrous commercial strength snow blower is now back at Lowe’s, and a wench and plow for a fourwheeler are on order.
Conclusion….Dave is happy
Which means I am happy.
And hopefully after reading this story, you are happy too!
QA: Is your husband WAY into his “boy toys” too?
nat & dave 
