The Driveway Saga, Part 4 - Injured on the Job.

 Tink! Tink! Tink! OW!!!  Dammit!  ^%$#%^^ OW OW OW!! FML! A hammer is NOT compatible with any part of my anatomy.

I now know why the make chisels with guards these days.  After yet another trip to Home Depot, I now OWN said chisel with guard.  And another 240# of concrete mix. And another 25# of hydraulic cement. And three tubes of Sika Construction something or other... 

At least it's a gorgeous day, and I should be able to knock out the remainder of the driveway adjustments.  Failing that, I'll go play in my garden. Dirt is ever so much more forgiving than concrete.

Weather Report Be Damned

Gaping crevasse in the middle of the driveway, done and dusted.  So there, Weather Underground.

And with every pound of the hammer destroying that crumbling concrete, I smashed that SOB's face into dust. So there, DS. You think you can defeat me?  Think again.

Weather Report

I hate Weather Underground specifically, and weather reporters generally. Yesterday's weather forecast?  5 days with no rain in sight. I figure this is the perfect time to continue on with the driveway project and do more chipping, chiseling and repair. 

Today's forecast? 60% chance of thunderstorms. WTF??!!  I've got a HUGE, open trench down the middle of my driveway that slopes toward my house. FML.

I want that job.  I want a job where I can be WRONG 90% of the time, get paid well and not get fired.

GRRR.

The Driveway Saga, Part Three

It's done!  The first concrete driveway repair is done!  Well, at least Le Canyon Petite is full of concrete and is curing.  The center seam is still being chiseled out, but that's cake compared to what I've just completed.  I find that a chisel and hammer are effective tools for both meditation and processing anger. Nothing quite like visualizing an enemy's face while busting up the concrete...

Anyone who knows me understands that I'm not exactly Math Girl. I have to say, though,  my calculations for concrete quantity needed based on just eye-balled dimensions were 95% accurate... However, 95% isn't 100:% - thus the 3rd trip to Home Depot.  I was only off by about 3 cups, dammit!  The under cuts took more of the grey, stony stuff than my eyeballs saw to calculate.

It took two 80# bags (plus a smidge of a 3rd bag) of Quikcrete Commercial Grade Concrete to fill the crevasse properly.  I was freaking out, worried that I wouldn't have enough time to get more before what I'd already done had dried.  To be completely honest,  there was also a good dose of bottled up road rage verging on going postal about having to race back to Home Depot again.  It's not like I could just go next door to D's house and ask her, "Hey, could I borrow a cup of concrete?"  She'd laugh her head off.  It's not like she wouldn't loan it to me, of course, but we're talking about reality here. Borrowing peanut butter for a mousetrap, OTOH, is another story for another time. I don't eat the stuff, but apparently it's the bait of choice for the little buggers. Thank heaven for my good neighbor.