One idea begets another and another

Friday, 8:09 am

By Kate

Jul

29

2005

The lad made a request a couple of weeks ago, with regard to his birthday coming up in August. I’ve been mulling over what would be a birthday present worthy of turning 18. That’s such an important birthday! He solved that conundrum for me. He would like a quality set of barbells and weights, a press bench, and a place to use them. That’s what he really, really, really wants. The first part of the request is simple enough. It’s the second part that challenges me.

Now, I do have a nice basement. It’s an ideal place to set up a workout room. Unfortunately, it’s full of stuff. And most of the stuff was plunked down there until I could get rid of it. Over the course of a few years, my basement has turned into one heck of junk room. It’s not easy getting rid of “stuff” around here. The trash collectors are only allowed to take little items and regular trash. They won’t take things like dead vacuum cleaners or carpet cleaners or box springs or old mattresses or scrap lumber or worn out items of furniture. If I want to get rid of that stuff, I either have to hire a junk collector to come and get it (very expensive) or rent a dumpster (much less expensive). Clearly, it’s not worthwhile to do either of those things unless there is enough “stuff” to make the project worthwhile.

Well, I think the project is now worthwhile. It also occurred to me, if I rent a dumpster, this would be an ideal time to replace the inside doors with wood panel doors. I’ve hated my ugly hollow core doors for ten years and if I rent a dumpster, they will be the first things to go in it.

So, it seems that one reasonably easy to manage birthday present has unleashed a major project. I’m really warming up to this whole idea now!