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Posted: 3/14/2021 3:26:33 PM EDT
Can I borrow a cup of sugar?
Offer made, counter-offer made ... and I'm going to accept.  Inspections and contingencies notwithstanding I should close late April to early May and spend the spring and summer moving and getting settled in. Michigan? Yes, Michigan. I could retire anywhere in America, my grand kids need a 12-hour flight to visit me already so now it's a 17 hour flight. Blank slate for me and my wife of 34 years to choose from. We eliminated giant sections of America pretty quickly - we want to avoid weather than has the ability to scour concrete tornado alley (and TX/OK) and huricanes (FL/GA/Gulf coast). We didn't want a liberal state so that meant nothing that touches salt water - both coasts up and down. I wanted a place with land, hunting, and water. When all the not this and that was done I end up with northern Utah and Idaho and I searched long and hard for about a year, bid on two homes and lost. With COVID the market has slowed for the type of property I'm looking for. There aren't enough homes coming onto the the Intern-Mountain area to support the scrutiny that I put a property through. The weather is nice and cold there but water is rare and the soils there aren't very productive without a lot of help. I swung my search towards Indiana and Michigan. Soon I found dozens and dozens of properties that matched my criteria, but time-and-time again we were drawn to several in Michigan. I narrowed our choices down, presented them to my wife and let her pick. Technically the homes were all acceptable and I'd be happy with any of them ... but I know my wife read my excitement when I presented her the home in the upper peninsula. But the midwest is cold. I was born in Minnesota and raised in Illinois by parents from Indiana. I went camping every month for my years in Scouts and often hit eastern Michigan. We made a ten day trip to Isle Royale and I fell in love with the forests of the area. Also I know my vote wouldn't help Indiana or Texas, it's going to help in Michigan. I grew up in a town of 16,000 people and miss the good things about small town life. I'll have two neighbors, a farmer about 800 feet away and the guy across the street about 1000 feet away. There's a nice big clearing that will support a 800-1000 foot rifle range and room for a rental cabin. The property is bordered by state property on one side. The property has a good mix of trees, a small pond, a fenced orchard, and a shop. I want to add greenhouses and a root/storm cellar and possibly a covered storage and working area for storing and processing wood. Maybe a firepit down but the pond.  Looks like heaven. That's the view west across the property to the state land. |
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Posted: 3/14/2021 5:21:53 PM EDT
[#1]
Impressive list, thank you Lumpy! We give our money to all of them and more ... but who do we give our limited time and attention to? Which of these organization supports the Second Amendment and black rifles the most?
Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners http://www.mcrgo.org/mcrgo/ Michigan Gun Owners http://www.migunowners.org/ Michigan Open Carry http://opencarry.mywowbb.com/forum30/ Shooters Alliance for Firearm Rights http://www.firearmsalliance.org/ SAFR PAC www.safrpac.org. |
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Posted: 3/14/2021 10:58:46 PM EDT
[#2]
Welcome to the mitten!
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Posted: 3/15/2021 4:12:54 AM EDT
[#3]
Welcome to MeatChicken
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Posted: 3/15/2021 11:04:23 AM EDT
[#4]
Welcome! Glad to have you!!
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Posted: 3/15/2021 2:29:08 PM EDT
[#5]
Welcome
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Posted: 3/15/2021 6:53:41 PM EDT
[#6]
Say ya to da U.P., eh!!
And you'll have to watch this documentary.  Failed To Load Title |
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Posted: 3/15/2021 7:00:17 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Say ya to da U.P., eh!! And you'll have to watch this documentary.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=980bvBzPiR8 I'm flying in Thursday ... I'll watch that on the airplane. Counter offer made and accepted ... now the fun begins.  |
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Posted: 3/15/2021 7:05:15 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryQuoted:Welcome to the mitten! Quote HistoryQuoted:Welcome to the mitten! Quoted:Welcome to MeatChicken Quoted:Welcome! Glad to have you!! Quoted:Say ya to da U.P., eh!! I didn't understand some of that but you're all smiling and so far nobody has told me to fuck off so I think I'm good for now. |
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Posted: 3/15/2021 7:24:15 PM EDT
[#9]
You might as well be in canada!
Welcome my dude and im jealous of the land |
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Posted: 3/15/2021 7:25:44 PM EDT
[#10]
Nobody tells the Masterchief to fuck off! That never ends well!
  Have a safe flight. Don’t forget to stop at &Gustafson s and get some smoked fish |
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Posted: 3/15/2021 11:39:22 PM EDT
[#11]
Welcome to MI!
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Posted: 3/15/2021 11:47:12 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted: You might as well be in canada! Welcome my dude and im jealous of the land You don't think I moved close to my favorite border by accident do ya' 'eh? |
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Posted: 3/15/2021 11:53:29 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Nobody tells the Masterchief to fuck off! That never ends well! Have a safe flight. Don’t forget to stop at &Gustafson s and get some smoked fish I don't get that many miles on my rental but I'm flying out Thursday and dang Brevort is a drive.  LOL just looked at the weather and it's going to be in the 50s this weekend and no rain expected.  The photos and video I'm taking for my wife will look beautiful and sunny.  |
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Posted: 3/15/2021 11:58:44 PM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Welcome to MI!  First round is on me. I've moved many times ... more than 25 times, but I've been stuck here for 19. I think that while retired I'll make the move my "job" so my head ought to come out of the boxes and trips to the hardware store come fall. I seem to recall Octoberfests in my hometown's Polish community.
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Posted: 3/16/2021 8:47:02 AM EDT
[#15]
Great news, welcome to Michigan!
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Posted: 3/16/2021 8:48:48 PM EDT
[#16]
Holy smokes, I thought you were doing psyops when I saw you post in GD with the MI location!
Congrats and welcome!
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Posted: 3/16/2021 10:27:25 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted: First round is on me. I've moved many times ... more than 25 times, but I've been stuck here for 19. I think that while retired I'll make the move my "job" so my head ought to come out of the boxes and trips to the hardware store come fall. I seem to recall Octoberfests in my hometown's Polish community. |
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Posted: 3/17/2021 4:07:56 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Great news, welcome to Michigan! Quote HistoryQuoted: Great news, welcome to Michigan! Quoted: Holy smokes, I thought you were doing psyops when I saw you post in GD with the MI location! Congrats and welcome! Flying out tomorrow for a visit. Weather looks good for the UP. Go blue! |
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Posted: 3/17/2021 4:09:21 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Frankenmuth has a good Oktoberfest. Little bit of a ride for you tho. I'm buying property in the other one!
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Posted: 3/18/2021 8:04:00 AM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Flying out tomorrow for a visit. Weather looks good for the UP. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Great news, welcome to Michigan! Quoted: Holy smokes, I thought you were doing psyops when I saw you post in GD with the MI location! Congrats and welcome! Flying out tomorrow for a visit. Weather looks good for the UP. FIFY. 
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Posted: 3/18/2021 11:40:01 AM EDT
[#21]
Welcome to the mitten.
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Posted: 3/18/2021 1:32:35 PM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Wrong Michigan. I'm buying property in the other one!  Da Yoopers - My Car Won´t Go |
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Posted: 3/18/2021 2:30:29 PM EDT
[#23]
Welcome
Summers are great and winters long |
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Posted: 3/19/2021 5:48:12 PM EDT
[#24]
Welcome and enjoy the new digs.
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Posted: 3/19/2021 11:58:03 PM EDT
[#25]
Welcome!
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Posted: 3/20/2021 9:41:18 AM EDT
[#26]
Welcome to Michigan.
Sounds like your going to be in the UP. A Yupper!! Got to learn the Yupper creed. Anyone from the Lower Peninsula is a troll. Because Troll's live below the bridge.  Me, I live just 5 miles north of the Indiana / Michigan state line in rural Berrien county |
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Posted: 3/20/2021 9:52:47 AM EDT
[#27]
Nobody answered your question about whom to support.
This is the one I think is the best on 2A and Black guns out of Michigan Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners https://mcrgo.org/ I'm a life member. |
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Posted: 3/20/2021 3:59:49 PM EDT
[#28]
The UP ? I'm jealous, beautiful area....
Welcome to the state!!! |
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Posted: 3/21/2021 10:23:18 AM EDT
[#29]
Welcome to the mitten state.
Here is a gem of interesting true crime history if you want to understand some of the seedy stuff: https://www.amazon.com/Darker-than-Night-Homicide-18-Year-ebook/dp/B004UNCRFE |
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Posted: 3/22/2021 11:47:23 AM EDT
[#30]
You will come to learn when a Yooper says "When ya leavin' " he means he's glad to see ya eh.
Michigan tends to be overlooked A LOT as a place to retire. Some costs are high but land/housing in the rural part of the state tend to be among the lowest in the nation. $500k in rural Michigan will buy you a palace compared to anyplace out west. |
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Posted: 3/23/2021 12:35:43 PM EDT
[#31]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Welcome to Michigan. Sounds like your going to be in the UP. A Yupper!! Got to learn the Yupper creed. Anyone from the Lower Peninsula is a troll. Because Troll's live below the bridge. Me, I live just 5 miles north of the Indiana / Michigan state line in rural Berrien county  I was told to call that half of the state "down state" by the locals I befriended. |
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Posted: 3/23/2021 12:41:03 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Nobody answered your question about whom to support. This is the one I think is the best on 2A and Black guns out of Michigan Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners https://mcrgo.org/ I'm a life member.  Like I said, I'll throw money at everyone (that runs an honest organization) but want to connect with and support with my hours if I have the opportunity. But based on my weekend visit to the county ... I think that's phone bank work rather than in person efforts. There's more people in my CA city you've never heard of than the whole UP. ---> and that's exactly what I want.I got on Michigan 2, set the cruise control and had the single most enjoyable "freeway" drive of my whole life. It's so amazingly beautiful and the people are as honest and hardworking as the day is long. I felt like I went back in time to a better world. The first thought in my mind before I do or say anything is to not damage that world. 
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Posted: 3/23/2021 12:52:32 PM EDT
[#33]
Quote HistoryQuoted: The UP ? I'm jealous, beautiful area.... Welcome to the state!!! I was looking north of Grand Rapids to Flint looking to buy into a nice forested area. The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest/Ottawa National Forest have so many opportunities for a retired outdoorsman. In the small town I'm moving to this spring there's quad/ATV, snowmobile, and hiking trails, more camping, fishing, and hunting (I don't for religious reasons but I can hold your binos while you make the shot!), waterfalls, and old logging and mining history. I confessed to a couple of groups that I was coming there from California to test their reactions. I didn't lead with it but when someone bitched about their governor I chimed it and said she wasn't half as nuts as ours! Once they learned I was a devout conservative Republican from the Nixon era we were good. One lady said that California was "another world" and she "couldn't relate to what happens there much". I concured and told her I was fleeing the insanity. She proclaimed me a Chicago area transplant and as long as I didn't support the Bears I was good. 
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Posted: 3/23/2021 1:10:49 PM EDT
[#34]
Quote HistoryQuoted: You will come to learn when a Yooper says "When ya leavin' " he means he's glad to see ya eh. Michigan tends to be overlooked A LOT as a place to retire. Some costs are high but land/housing in the rural part of the state tend to be among the lowest in the nation. $500k in rural Michigan will buy you a palace compared to anyplace out west. I've looked at likely 1000 homes in the past 9-months on-line. You're 100% correct. The same sort of property I'm buying would be two to three times more in many parts. The two agents I met Sunday said the same home down state would be 60% or 100% more. I put 300 miles on the car in three days driving though the town and the couple of bigger ones nearby. I learned the UP took the same kick-in-the-teeth that took out my father's former employer in the 1970s. The local mines closed in '79 and the trains stopped in '81. The equipment manufacturing company my father worked for for close to 40-years failed and split up. Nobody wanted America to be able to manufacture steel apparently.  There was lots of poverty and stress in the area as people were struggling before COVID's nonsense response. Listening to the radio there were commercials from the local manufacturers looking for mill operators, CDL holders, and some others so that sounds promising. The people of the UP had a spirit that we'll get through this too. It's easy to tell the natives from the transplants eh? "When ya' leaving" thanks, I can see how that might be confusing to outsiders. I was told (by a transplant) that you're not a Yooper until you survive 7 winters. |
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Posted: 3/23/2021 1:13:45 PM EDT
[#35]
Oh that reminds me, I've got 20 Yooper chocolate bars in my bags to unpack.
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Posted: 3/23/2021 1:32:23 PM EDT
[#36]
I found the people of UP to be open and honest, they speak their mind when it needs speaking, and just flat out great people to a man.
I honestly hope to meet up with as many of you good people as I can over the next 20-years. We're going to be busy moving for awhile but we're well motivated to leave here ASAP. I flew +6000 miles across two days to make the visit and I'm all in now. Go Blue! |
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Posted: 3/23/2021 3:37:55 PM EDT
[#37]
Welcome!!!!
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Posted: 3/24/2021 11:50:25 AM EDT
[#38]
Welcome and you will really enjoy the UP. Beautiful country and with good people. Winters can be brutal but you will adjust fairly quick I am sure. If nobody told you yet make sure you keep a winter kit in your car (blanket, water, flashlight, etc). If you get stuck in a snowbank up there it could be a while before someone comes by, and cell service can be spotty at best.
Beautiful property! |
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Posted: 3/24/2021 6:18:44 PM EDT
[#39]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Welcome and you will really enjoy the UP. Beautiful country and with good people. Winters can be brutal but you will adjust fairly quick I am sure. If nobody told you yet make sure you keep a winter kit in your car (blanket, water, flashlight, etc). If you get stuck in a snowbank up there it could be a while before someone comes by, and cell service can be spotty at best. Beautiful property! |
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Posted: 3/24/2021 8:24:01 PM EDT
[#40]
Welcome!
I grew up in the EUP and have a second home there now. Currently live in metro Detroit, but I spend as much time up north as possible. |
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Posted: 3/28/2021 10:09:32 PM EDT
[#41]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Welcome and you will really enjoy the UP. Beautiful country and with good people. Winters can be brutal but you will adjust fairly quick I am sure. If nobody told you yet make sure you keep a winter kit in your car (blanket, water, flashlight, etc). If you get stuck in a snowbank up there it could be a while before someone comes by, and cell service can be spotty at best. Beautiful property! In 1977 at the age of 17 I got ran off the road by a drunk driving down the side road bouncing off of the snow banks on either side at 45 mph. I timed it just right and managed to bury my mom's '73 avocado green Pinto station wagon to the windows in the snow. The mighty 90 horsepower engine stalled out on my way into the snow bank. I used the hub caps to dig the snow and somehow managed to get myself back on the road.  Yeah, I carry a pretty big recovery kit now.  Sage advice. Thank you. |
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Posted: 3/28/2021 10:11:05 PM EDT
[#42]
Quote HistoryQuoted: real Northerners don't get stuck, just delayed. (until spring) I just need at least one other person with a tractor. One of the properties next to me is a farmer. I'm willing to bet he's got a nice big 4x4 tractor.
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Posted: 3/28/2021 10:42:20 PM EDT
[#43]
Man it's so good to have you! Great to hear how much you appreciate the beauty in the Yoop, California is no joke in that category. All though we live downstate (that is the correct term) deer camp is near Pictured Rocks and we have some land up on the Huron Bay as well, all our recreation time is spent up there. Do you fish or snowmobile? Looking forward to hearing from you as this chapter unfolds. Congrats on your excellent choice.
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Posted: 5/7/2021 8:44:12 PM EDT
[#44]
Welcome to Michigan's better half!
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Posted: 5/9/2021 11:18:48 AM EDT
[#45]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Welcome to Michigan. Sounds like your going to be in the UP. A Yupper!! Got to learn the Yupper creed. Anyone from the Lower Peninsula is a troll. Because Troll's live below the bridge. Me, I live just 5 miles north of the Indiana / Michigan state line in rural Berrien county I think we're better classified as Michiana than Michigan. Living near the border isn't a bad thing. |
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Posted: 5/9/2021 12:41:48 PM EDT
[#46]
Enjoy the mitten!! I’ve spent the entire winter working on a few different projects on Mackinac Island, the state just seems to get better and better as you go north!
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Posted: 5/18/2021 12:23:08 AM EDT
[#47]
How did I miss all this
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Posted: 5/22/2021 9:15:12 AM EDT
[#48]
So I've been busy selling the home in California, retiring, and buying the new home in Michigan.
Getting closer with every effort. |
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Posted: 5/22/2021 2:42:32 PM EDT
[#49]
Has the snow melted up there yet ?
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Posted: 5/24/2021 12:42:49 PM EDT
[#50]
Dad was born in Hancock, one of the most beautiful places on earth. Until too many people moved there and built the place up. Still beautiful though. Grams last house had the best view of the bridge.
Dad used to tell the story of his dog running in front of the snow plow and breaking the snow plow. Big dog. Aunts confirmed the story. They weren't given to exaggerations. Speaking of snow plows..... Diary of a Snow Shoveler December 9: We woke to a beautiful blanket of crystal white snow covering every inch of the landscape. What a fantastic sight! Can there be a more lovely place in the Whole World? Moving here was the best idea I've ever had. Shoveled for the first time in years and felt like a boy again. I did both our driveway and the sidewalks. This afternoon the snow plow came along and covered up the sidewalks and closed in the driveway, so I got to shovel again. What a perfect life. December 12: The sun has melted all our lovely snow. Such a disappointment. My neighbor tells me not to worry, we'll definitely have a white Christmas. No snow on Christmas would be awful! Bob says we'll have so much snow by the end of winter, that I'll never want to see snow again. I don't think that's possible. Bob is such a nice man. I'm glad he's our neighbor. December 14: Snow, lovely snow! 8" last night. The temperature dropped to -20. The cold makes everything sparkle so. The wind took my breath away, but I warmed up by shoveling the driveway and sidewalks. This is the life! The snowplow came back this afternoon and buried everything again. I didn't realize I would have to do quite this much shoveling, but I'll certainly get back in shape this way. I wish I wouldn't huff and puff so. December 15: 20 inches forecast. Sold my van and bought a 4x4 Blazer. Bought snow tires for the wife's car and 2 extra shovels. Stocked the freezer. The wife wants a wood stove in case the electricity goes out. I think that's silly. We aren't in Alaska, after all. December 16: Ice storm this morning. Fell on my ass on the ice in the driveway putting down salt. Hurt like hell. The wife laughed for an hour, which I think was very cruel. December 17: Still way below freezing. Roads are too icy to go anywhere. Electricity was off for 5 hours. I had to pile the blankets on to stay warm. Nothing to do but stare at the wife and try not to irritate her. Guess I should've bought a wood stove, but won't admit it to her. God I hate it when she's right. I can't believe I'm freezing to death in my own living room. December 20: Electricity's back on, but had another 14" of the damn stuff last night. More shoveling. Took all day. Goddamn snowplow came by twice. Tried to find a neighbor kid to shovel, but they said they're too busy playing hockey. I think they're lying. Called the only hardware store around to see about buying a snow blower and they're out. Might have another shipment in March. I think they're lying. Bob says I have to shovel or the city will have it done and bill me. I think he's lying. December 22: Bob was right about a white Christmas because 13 more inches of the white shit fell today, and it's so cold it probably won't melt till August. Took me 45 minutes to get all dressed up to go out to shovel and then I had to piss. By the time I got undressed, pissed and dressed again. I was too tired to shovel. Tried to hire Bob who has a plow on his truck for the rest of the winter; but he says he's too busy. I think the asshole is lying. December 23: Only 2" of snow today. And it warmed up to 0. The wife wanted me to decorate the front of the house this morning. What is she...nuts??? Why didn't she tell me to do that a month ago? She says she did but I think she's damn well lying. December 24: 6". Snow packed so hard by snowplow, l broke the shovel. Thought I was having a heart attack. If I ever catch the son of a bitch who drives that snowplow, I'll drag him through the snow by his balls. I know he hides around the corner and waits for me to finish shoveling and then he comes down the street at a 100 miles an hour and throws snow all over where I've just been! Tonight the wife wanted me to sing Christmas carols with her and open our presents, but I was busy watching for the goddamn snowplow. December 25: Merry Christmas. 20 more inches of the #$%ing slop tonight. Snowed in. The idea of shoveling makes my blood boil. God I hate the snow! Then the snowplow driver came by asking for a donation and I hit him over the head with my shovel. December 26: Still snowed in. Why the hell did I ever move here? It was all HER idea. She's really getting on my nerves. December 28: Warmed up to above -50. Still snowed in. THE BITCH is driving me crazy!!! December 29: 10 more inches. Bob says I have to shovel the roof or it could cave in. That's the silliest thing I ever heard. How dumb does he think I am? December 30: Roof caved in. The snow plow driver is suing me for a million dollars for the bump on his head. The wife went home to her mother. 9" predicted. December 31: Set fire to what's left of the house. No more shoveling. January 8: I feel so good. I just love those little white pills they keep giving me. Why am I tied to the bed? |
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