The weekend is here, and we’re gathered at the bar to hoist a few and enjoy some conversation. We will do our best to incorporate Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt. Linda didn’t make it easy this week. Her prompt requires some work on our part:
“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is ‘flyer/ad.’ Look at the latest ad you got in the mail (if it’s a store flyer, choose the product right in the middle of the page) or choose the next online ad you find, and theme your post on whatever the product is. Do not name the brand if you hate it, unless you add that it’s an opinion/review of the product in question. You don’t want to chance getting sued. Have fun!”
Probably the last thing I got in the mail was an ad for Medicare Advantage, but since I mentioned that last week, I’m going to go with a flyer I get weekly, in the mail, in email and on the back of Parade Magazine in our Sunday paper. Perhaps you know them – Harbor Freight.
If we were having a beer, you’d have some questions for me.
“You’re late, Dan, and I bet I know why.”
“It’s three-o-two. I was here on time, but a hotel shuttle van was blocking the parking spaces in the lower lot.”
“I tried hustling those folks out the door, Dan, but they wanted to see the end of a touchdown drive their team was on.”
“What team, Cheryl?”
“LSU.”
“Go Tigers, I can understand wanting to wait. Anyway, David, where did you think I was?”
“In your happy place.”
“Whoa, he’s in his happy place right now. He’s about to order a Corona and if you suggest otherwise, David, you might end up drinking your bourbon without any cherries.”
“Yikes! Easy Cheryl. No offense intended.”
“That’s what people say when they’re about to offend.”
“OK, how’s this, I’m sorry, Cheryl.”
“Much better. Actually, I was just picking on you. So, do you want some bourbon?”
“Yes please. John Howell’s and…”
“I know, the normal setup.”
“So, David, let’s try this again. Where did you think I was?”
“Well, I drove by your house and saw that you had a dumpster delivered. I just assumed you were busy filling that puppy.”
“Here’s your beer, Dan, and here’s your bourbon, your ice and your seltzer, David.”
“No cherries?”
“Cherries? For the guy who thought Dan would rather be loading junk into a dumpster than visit my bar?”
“I see. Now I’ve offended you.”
“Uh huh.”
“I don’t think you’re getting any cherries.”
“I think you’re right, Dan.”
“In case you’re still wondering, I filled the dumpster yesterday.”
“With what?”
“The remnants of the old steps. I had stored them in my trailer for the past few weeks.”
“Your trailer – that’s what I wanted to ask you.”
“No, you can’t borrow it.”
“No, I saw the picture of you cutting that piece of slate, on your trailer, with an angle grinder. Then, I got this flier from Harbor Freight, and I wondered if that’s where you bought your angle grinder.”
“No, I’ve had my angle grinders since way before Harbor Freight opened any stores around here.”
“Angle grind-ERs? How many do you have?”
“Well, I bought one from Sears a long time ago. Then I bought a kit to turn it into a Biscuit Jointer. The kit said it was easy-on / easy-off, but it wasn’t. I didn’t ever want to dismantle it, so I bought another angle grinder.”
“Wouldn’t it have been cheaper to buy a biscuit jointer?”
“Actually, no. They were very expensive at the time.”
“Boys and their toys. Would you two like anything to eat?”
“I could go for some wings, Cheryl.”
“Ten or twenty?”
“David, are you hungry enough to eat ten?”
“I think so.”
“Then make it an order of twenty, Cheryl.”
“You want another round when they’re ready?”
“Oh yes. Please.”
“So, Dan, here’s a question for you. If you had all the debris from the steps in your trailer, why didn’t you just take it to the dump?”
“We don’t have a dump.”
“OK, transfer station.”
“We never had a dump, so we don’t have a transfer station, either.”
“Really? So, there’s no option other than renting a dumpster?”
“I could have cut the stuff up and put it in the wheelie-bin, but I figured that would have taken five to six weeks.”
“Still, it would have been free.”
“Yeah, but I would have had to cut it into much smaller pieces.”
“Could you pay to come to the transfer station in our town?”
“No. There is a commercial transfer station across the river. I could go there.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Com – mer – cial. I can just see me with my Kia Sportage and my utility trailer trying to unload in between a garbage truck and a dump truck.”
“Maybe you need a truck.”
“I do miss mine, but those days are gone.”
“Think of the money you’d save.”
“The dumpster cost less than one truck payment, and I didn’t have to drive anywhere.”
“Here you go boys, twenty barbeque wings, Blue Cheese dressing for David, Parmesan Peppercorn for Dan. I’ll be back with your drinks.”
“Thanks Cheryl.”
“What about a little truck, Dan?”
“This stuff wouldn’t have fit in a little truck.”
“OK, I guess you made the right decision. You know me, I just don’t like spending money if I can avoid it.”
“I don’t either. I really thought I could get this stuff out to the curb in the bin in a few weeks, but there was more than I thought, and it was heavy.”
“One Corona and her lime, and three fingers of John Howell’s bourbon.”
“Aww, you added cherries.”
“I did. I can’t stay mad at you, David.”
No Facilities 
Your retirement is starting out just as busy as your work life there Dan. What do you have planned for the next project – or do we have to wait for your next visit to the bar? Tell Cheryl I said hello.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I keep telling myself I’m just wrapping up the normal fall projects, GP, but I have noticed that it’s taking longer than normal. I now wonder how I did this while I was working. Then again, I realize I am taking more time to do these things the way I have wanted to do them. I’m not sure where things go after these projects are finished. I guess that depends on the weather.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nice shots. But a biscuit joiner? Who needs a tool to join biscuits when it’s easily done with butter or jam?
LikeLiked by 5 people
Haha – and I do love biscuits.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those steps look really nice! Even the animals approve.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The animals certainly have figured out the true purpose of the steps. Sitting, for Maddie and begging for Sammy and friends. Thanks Pam.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those steps looks nice, and it must have felt great to heave those old ones into the dumpster. We are fortunate that we have a recycling center about three miles away. We have to pay for what they term construction debris, but I write that check with a big smile on my face just happy it is all gone. I do pretty good backing up with the camera, but I can’t imagine how many tries it would take me to get that utility back in its space. :-) Yesterday, I took everything out of a closet, bagged stuff up and will be headed to Goodwill this morning with a full load. Have a good weekend, Dan, and I hope you and Maddie can sit out and enjoy those steps without having to lift one hammer or driver. :-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Judy. Backing up to the trailer is easy. Backing up with the trailer can be a nightmare. It has such a short wheelbase, it’s hard to keep it straight. I had to back it up to a loading dock once, in between two tractor trailers. I can only imagine what those guys were thinking.
It is handy tossing everything in the back of a truck. I do miss mine on days like this. I’m still working on getting the cars inside. I hope you have a great weekend.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It appears the sidewalk project is complete and you can spend a little more time at the bar with David and his cherries. Calling in a dumpster was a very smart thing to do…easy peasy done. I would have done the same if I knew how to make steps and use a biscuit jointer, whatever the heck that thing does.
Have an awesome Saturday and stay away from Harbor Freight, Norm.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Thanks Mary. Harbor Freight is a dangerous place for me to go. The dumpster was an easy decision. I will be at the bar on time today. I hope you have a great weekend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sometimes it’s cheaper in the long run to pay someone else to do it. You made the choice I would have made, Dan . . . the right choice!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Sandi. It’s always tempting to save some money, but this was a good choice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very good choice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, you had far more rubbish from the old stairs than I imagined. Too bad you don’t have a transfer station. Here, we don’t have any town trash pick-up. You either hire a company to do that (very expensive) or take it to the transfer station. Great post, Dan. Love the photos.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Jennie. We do have weekly pickup in town, and I could have put this out over time. I managed to get the two smaller steps out in the bin, but this would have taken way too long. I would have ended up with trash under snow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Judging by your photos, it definitely would have taken ages to cut it up and put it in the trash. Trash under the snow is no fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My worst fear was if I needed the trailer, I’d have to unload it and reload it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, that would be a fear!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Going to the dump was one of hubby’s justification points for buying a new truck, Dan. Nice that you have such a service.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If I had to go on a regular basis, I’d have a truck, Maggie. I understand the justification (perhaps a little jealous ;)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I drove it for the first time last week, Dan. It was a fun ride. I do like being up off the road. (He still has his old Ford Ranger btw. The new truck has not been sullied by trash!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember when I got my 2nd truck (big Dodge 4×4) my wife loved driving it. Up high, invincible 🙂
LikeLike
When we first moved here we needed to make a dump run to get rid of all the cardboard boxes I couldn’t give away. I was able to give about half plus the filling and wrapping paper. Anyway, we drove up and down the road looking for the sign and turn off for the dump and couldn’t find anything that said Dump or Garbage Disposal anywhere.
When we got home we asked the neighbors and they said it’s called…The Transfer Station! WHAT?
We found that the next day quite easily because there is a sign for that. Neither one of us had ever heard of a dump being called a transfer station. I’m sure there’s a reason it’s called that, but I don’t know it.
You made the right call renting that dumpster you had a lot of big pieces of wood. It would have been worth the money for me to be rid of it rather than cutting up finer and getting rid if bit by bit weekly.
The steps look great, and the sun on Maddie’s coat looks lovely.
I hope you are relaxing this week-end and all the projects are completed before the first big snow!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Deborah. My (real) friend David lives in England. He was talking about “renting a skip” which is what they call dumpsters. I had no clue what he meant. I do like the term.
This will be an easy weekend. I have some light work left to do, but I f’ing mind. I hope you enjoy yours.
LikeLike
Harbor Freight ads hit our mailbox often – Mr. finds plenty of toys from there which do come in handy for DIY projects. I love that you took photos of the guy delivering the dumpster. And Maddie looks so happy on the new deck steps. Nice work – it looks like retirement is treating you well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Shelley. If your not going to use the tools professionally, Harbor Freight has some great deals. That guy has dropped dumpsters here before. I’m always amazed at his accuracy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome. Why do you say if you’re not going to use them professionally? Quality issues? I’m impressed with drivers that have to deliver big containers, etc. They get lots of practice I guess.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m going to answer your question about Harbor Freight tomorrow in my post. You know, tune in at eleven 😏
This dumpster was little, but they’ve been as accurate with the big roll off jobs as well. This guy said “I’ve dropped so many of these, I could do it in my sleep.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent answers you shared – Mr. agrees with your philosophy on tools! He even has one of those biscuit tools too!
Goes to show you – practice makes permanent. :-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like the short haul use of that little trailer Dan. I have not seen a multi color back up camera like yours. A couple more generations and those cameras will have rainbow colored aiming boxes. Now that the clean up is done you can really relax and enjoy the end of your project.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks John. This is my first car with a backup camera. The last of my neighbor’s oak leaves fell overnight in a storm. I need to rake them and clean the gutters – then I’m done.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Harbor Freight–they put an ad smack in the middle of the Sunday comics–which I promptly pull out! One Sunday I became totally undone. The printed the darn ad right on the comics page! Ruined my day. What does Sammy think of the new steps? Vulture kitty–too funny!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sammy has adapted to the new steps – fully. Whatever ad they wrap around the comics is dead to me. Print it over the comics? A pox upon you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me: Ooooooooooooooh, a big dumpster.
My Wife: Don’t even think about it, Mister.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It compels you to find stuff to toss in it. Selling point?
LikeLike
Lucky you and the dumpster. I have to cut crap up so it fits the wheely bin. It took me forever to get rid of the couch crates. Great photos and thanks for the mention as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks John. I’ve cut stuff for the bins. If I can do it over two weeks, I’m good. Five or six, I can’t go that long.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree. Of course, I don’t think I will have anymore crates and hopefully no construction
LikeLiked by 1 person
You took on a lot of outdoor work, and did quite a good job. Time to enjoy.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you gave that little guy some peanuts! Steps came out very nicely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
They always get something when the beg. Thanks.
LikeLike
Good choice to rent that dumpster Dan. Money well spent. I’ve seen several dumpsters come and go where I live. I am absolutely fascinated by the accuracy with which they deliver and remove those dumpsters. Tight turns, and they never touch a tire to a neighboring lawn!
Sammy looks so darn cute begging for peanuts. And Maddie is definitely in her element on one of her many decks surveying her kingdom, including the bunnies!
The “Vulture Kitty” is looking fit as a fiddle, but a tad grouchy today!
Have a great weekend.
🐾Ginger 🐾
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Ginger. MiMi resents being woken up early (before noon). Sammy makes a pretty good living being cute.
Maddie checks out all her places. She sometimes even walks up and over the small step at the side door of the garage. As if to say, “it’s not big enough to sit on, but it’s mine.”
LikeLike
Hurrah for filling the dumpster, Dan! I’ve gotten a few Harbor Freight ads and we also have a big store nearby, but I’ve not been there. I do however get LOTS of Medicare supplement ads. Thankfully my husband is still working and we have good insurance through that company!
Speaking of college football, I see Alabama is playing yet another “homecoming” game, running up the score to try to impress that voters, I suppose. Their ranking compared to strength of schedule is horrible!!
Happy Saturday.
janet
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Janet. Cheryl is a big LSU fan. I’m a big fan of anyone playing Alabama. Harbor Freight is a fun place to wander around. I’ve spent my share there. The Medicare ads and calls/scams are driving me nuts.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Down here in sunny FL, you have your War Eagle fans and your Roll Tide fans. No one except AL fans worship Nick Saban, though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I spent my freshman year in Bulldog country, so I still lean toward UGA. I also have a good friend who went to Auburn, so it’s hard for me to like Nick and Company.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent pictures!!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a beautiful group of Images Dan. Love the dying leaves too…
Go Tigers!!! Woo hoo!
Sorry, that was my “Squirrel,” moment. Da guys have made us proud this year.
I love the new steps and it would appear your little buddy is non plussed by the fancy new entrance to his favorite diner. 😉I’m so glad that job can be checked off of your list. What’s next?
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s actually one more (tiny) step. Then I focus on getting two cars in the garage (I’m almost there) and cleaning the gutters. I dread cleaning the gutters, so I’ve put that off as long as possible.
I have a woodworking project in mind for the winter, after I get my shop cleaned and organized better.
I knew you would like the LSU mention.
LikeLike
Joe Burrow is such a talent. LSU defense has flaws but overall the team shine like a new penny. Hope they can make it beyond the Bulldogs. That will give me no small measure of satisfaction. 😏😉
Sound like worthy projects. My oldest is tackling their gutters today. Snow’s a comin’ eventually.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think I’ll beat the snow. You know I usually pull for UGA, but I’ll make an exception for you 😏
LikeLike
You’re the best! 😀👍🏻
LikeLike
Biscuit joiner? Now that’s one I haven’t heard of. Although the minute I saw the word, all I could think of was joining a couple of biscuit in my tummy for breakfast. At least that got my mind off worrying about how you might injure yourself putting so many (potentially) sharp, splintery objects in that dumpster. ;)
Hugs to everyone at the “bar.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sorry, Teagan. I am certain that I replied to this earlier. I’m not sure what WordPress did with that. I can report that the dumpster has been picked up and no injuries have been reported.
LikeLike
That whole porch scene is very pleasing to the eye. It must be nice to walk up and admire all your hard work! I can tell Maddie enjoys the new spot.
Also, I am glad to know you had a professional who landed the dumpster properly. Small things really do matter.
I find honey is the best epoxy for biscuits :P (No, I know, I worked hardware for many years.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha – best biscuit answer. Thanks for the compliment on the decks. We tried to learn from the previous experience. The dumpster guy has dropped something here almost annually for the past 10-12 years.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Disposal can be a dilemma. My husband’s woodshop is full of scraps to be up-cycled into smaller projects. I often see things in the grain of the wood to paint. Eyed a couple pieces in your pile, but I have plenty. I know you’re glad to have this project done. It looks great!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I almost had my pile emptied when my father-in-law gave me a huge pile of scrap he got from a cabinet shop. He passed away, and our daughter and I are trying to make projects using wood only from that pile.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s wonderful to use what he gave you! I know it might take a while, but what treasures you will make.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So far, we’ve made a 3-leged stool, a small medicine chest and my daughter made a coffee table. It’s challenging to work only from that pile, but it’s kin of fun.
LikeLike
All useful items to honor your father. David and I both pick up pieces of leftover wood and look at it, asking what’s in this?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hihi, vulture kitty. :D And I’m afraid now I’ll never know what an angle grinder is because that not yours picture is not showing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh no. I’m sorry.
LikeLiked by 1 person