The Final Job

After today, it's over.  Finished.  Finally.

It's not a big job.  It'll take about four hours.  It's not a complicated one, just double-hung combinations with storms.  We'll (my brother and I) take apart the storm windows and bring them inside the house, then we'll close and lock all of the double-hungs.  I'll go outside, get on the ladder and wash them while my brother stays inside in the warmth and washes all the storms, sitting them on towels so the edges don't drip onto floor or carpet.  We'll then put them all together and declare our work finished. 

Once home I'll remove and store the ladders in the garage.  I'll empty my toolbox and remove the towels, tools, and pails from the backseat.  Then it's over. 

We should've been done three weeks ago, but Minnesota experienced a cold snap - a surprise to even the hearty Northlanders.  It's not been above freezing for a single second in twenty-three days.

Waiting for the weather to break I've been fitting in these last few jobs.  I've had to use chemicals to keep the solution from freezing.  I've had to wear insulated pants and layers of shirts, jackets, and coats to keep warm.  I've had to keep all my tools and ladders handy .  . just in case.

There was the cold day when we did the smoker's house.  They were both three-pack-a-day people.  They also had cats, three of them.  By the time we finished I smelled awful, my eyes were stinging and red, and I couldn't breathe.  On top of that, my pants were snow covered.  I was wet and miserable. 

There was another cold day (aren't they all at this point?) when I spent an hour rigging lines and figuring out how to get to some skylights.  Their roof was covered in eight inches of snow topping a layer of treacherous ice.  On top of that, they'd had all new windows installed - which means razor-blading the stickers and residue off.  In the best of times, that's difficult enough to do without creating scratches.   When it's cold, it's a near impossibility because the solution doesn't help dissolve the adhesive residue.

"What about the garage windows? And the basement?" 

"We discussed that when I did the estimate, Ma'am.  I have the notes right here - no garage, no basement."

Anger, frustration, then I decided, Fuck It.  And we got out stuff back out and just did the extra work for free so we could leave.  I was already miserable, my mood wasn't going to be harmed by that.  A client for the "do not schedule again" bin. 

But this is it.  A nice little job for a great lady,  a judge in the district court.   She wants the work done before Christmas, but she's been so nice and concerned that I'd be cold and uncomfortable.  She was willing to wait till Spring, but I could tell that'd be a disappointment.  It's not her fault it got too cold.  So, I've been waiting for a break, a temperature rise.  I've been keeping her updated.  And today's the day.  We'll be there at noon.  We'll be done by four. 

You'll be reading this tomorrow and I'll be on the way to the airport to pick up my son, visiting for the holidays. 

It's over.  It's done.

- rick, happy.

ps.  I know the thermometer picture looks like a frozen dick . . . but then, that's kind of appropriate, don't you think?

Comments

[a rose is a rose]

congratulations and merry christmas and i'm happy large is coming (or already here). i'm happy you got the judge's windows done and i'm glad you crossed the other one off of your list

frankie say RELAX

[Success Warrior]

Appropriate because you were a frozen dick?

[Cele]

Some how it looks bigger than a frozen dick.

Just Sayin'.

[John]

Woo hoo!!
And Large coming to town too!?
This is a very good day. :)
Congrats bro.

[wry catcher]

That frozen dick comment made me laugh like a bloomin eejit. Love it. But then I wondered, shouldn't it be quite smaller?? I've never seen a frozen one that wasn't trying to hide away from the cold...

Am I bad?

[The Angry Young Man]

Actually, I saw that frozen thermometer and thought it looked like an icy bong. I guess that's what I get for living in San Francisco...

[Sideon]

Cold = shrinkage.

That thermometer has been photoshopped.