There are some things that, at the beginning of this year, I didn't know how to do and that was a huge problem. I wasn't sure how to deal with my taxes, I didn't know where to go to get something notarized and I still don't have a passport (what? Its on the list). Those are all important life skills and/or items. There are also things I've learned so far that have little to no bearing on my ability to function as an adult. I learned that Belgians love mussels, giraffes are secret lovers, and opera is awesome. And now... I know how to install a dock.
My parents have a nice vacation spot up on Lake Ponemah that they spend most summer weekends at. Its about the most beautiful, relaxing place out there. I defy someone to prove me wrong. Preferably by paying for my travel and hotel expenses at somewhere you consider to be nicer. In the meantime, I'll enjoy my relaxing weekends with the folks up at the lake. Its not all sighs and sunbeams though. Every spring there is a decent amount of work to ready the house for the full range of lake-esque behavior we wish to engage in over the summer.
One of the key things is turning this:
Into this:
I'm going to take a moment to note for the record that the beagle in the first picture did not turn into a corgi. That is not part of installing a dock. But man would it be cool if it was, right? "I'm tired of having a golden retriever. I want a basset hound" "No problem honey, we just need to find a dock to install." Awesome.
In actuality, taking that pile of wood and turning it into a walkable lake ramp was a pretty decent amount of work. It is definitely a three person job. Luckily for me, the third person has significantly less work to do than the first two. See, one person has to be in the water, the second person has to pass the boards down to them and the third person, well... I was essentially the dock-building version of Vanna White
My goodness, Vanna, you have let yourself go.
I kid, but there was definitely a need for a third person to help out. Because Wes had to be in the water, it took two people to carry the boards out to him before my dad passed them down and helped Wes position them. My job was a lot less work over all, but it was still a vital and necessary part of whole operation. Like the towel boy for a college basketball team.
Pictured: The Michael Jordan and Larry Byrd of dock building.
Once Wes was suited up and in the water, the whole process was really straightforward. We just carried the boards out to him, he attached the metal feet that go down into the water and then and he my dad placed the boards in their right spots. What I liked about helping put in the dock was how incredibly simple the whole thing turned out to be. There are services that people pay to install docks for them and take them out every year, but doing it wasn't hard at all. Granted there was some physical labor involved, but it wasn't complex or difficult.
So, we're done here?
No comments :
Post a Comment