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shleppin' block

on a trial run down to red hook, NY i met up with some friends to work a bit doing construction. the first week has already held a myriad of challenges and jobs including pouring a concrete floor, stuccoing a chimney, moving seven pallets of concrete block (about 800 blocks) into a hole for a foundation, and dragging a large cast iron bathtub up a narrow flight of stairs.

the next few weeks could hold more of the same excitement as my friends have promised a
”non-stop work program.”

back don’t fail me now.

2003-10-16 20:56

* * *

  1. Glad to see you're finally posting again. You might consider getting yourself one of those waist belts. A friend of mine permanently damaged his lower back pushing carts for Wal-mart. I can only imagine the sort of Herculean show-boating you are inclined to do when moving inanimate stone. What else do you want to know? I'm just full of adVISE.
    — Genghis John    Oct 18, 01:44 PM    #
  2. Gotta second that suggestion of old Genghis. I used to skate miles in a night, leaping down ledges and stair sets, hucking myself over planter boxes into rough asphalt without even thick socks to protect me. These days, when I head to the YMCA sanctioned skate spot (shudder) I don wristguards, elbow pads, a helmet and even knee pads underneath those tattered oshkosh b'goshes. The thing is, if I strap myself into all these protective fetters I'm nearly guaranteed a crash free session. If for some reason I forget to put on the kneepads... POW@#$*&?! Skateboard to that secret spot in your knee that lights it on fire and numbs your entire leg with a mysterious electric current. Fail to don the wristguard? Ching-whiff-THUD@#$*&?! Front truck hang up and cartwheel to down-slope hipsmack finishing the full rotation with a plywood lo-five hand trauma. For some reason, Murphy's law just can't have as much fun with you when you've taken the trouble to gird yourself in the full complement of safety gear. (Murphy's law as car thief: Health insurance is a LoJack, protective gear is The Club.) Even Magnus ver Magnusson tapes himself and chalks up before tossing those 1/4 kegs over the 20 foot bar. I know he wears back protection when he's pulling that 17 ton tractor trailer.
    — jmmygoggle    Oct 19, 05:06 AM    #