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Monday, November 17, 2008

T's Chasing Leaves

T worries about properly de-leafing his yard.

After discovering his inner-gardener this summer, overcoming territorial struggles with the squirrels, and finding the sprinkler of his dreams, the man whose home interior is done in Early Abandoned Property now has a pristine yard, and he wants it to stay that way.

Winter looms; so T’s winding up his garden hose, re-boxing the Power Arc Sprinkler 2100 with Detachable Bottle Opener and is dead serious about keeping his lawn 100% leaf-free right up to the leaf-bagging deadline.

“I’m gonna run the lawnmower over it one more time. Get the grass the right height, get those last few leaves up and bagged. Did I tell you that I got a mower that bags while it cuts?”

“Yeah, I’ve seen it.”

“You have?”

“You showed it to me last time I was here.”

Honestly, he’s shown it to me several times now; but I haven’t the heart to tell him.

The strangest thing about all of it, to me, anyway, is that T’s working with a deadline. A leaf-removing deadline.

The City of Minneapolis, in its curious wisdom, stops taking bagged leaves with the garbage tomorrow morning.

“Isn’t that nice?” he says. “And you just know they’re going to blow in from all the people who couldn’t be bothered to rake at all! Damn but some of these people are ghetto!”

I pointed out that as stupid as an arbitrary deadline is, he could always continue to bag them up and store them in his garage until spring.

He just looked at me and shook his head. I think I disappointed him somehow…

11 comments:

ICKY said...

.....In the garage. Thats just crazy talk.
Next you'll be saying "Don't throw rocks at the squirrels."
You have much to learn in the ways of lawn care.
:-)

Kavi said...

Ah ! These deadlines !!! These lines seem to have attained a new life over dead leaf !

And that is a new height indeed

♥ Braja said...

Hmmm. Should I send Lokon over???

Pearl said...

Hi, Icky.
I have much to learn about just about everything!

Hi, Kavi.
:-) You speak in poetic circles and I greatly admire your ability to do so. :-)

Hi, Braja!
Please do. I hear only good things about him!

Pearl

Ann Imig said...

Don't get me started about the damn leaf blowers...

Unknown said...

Somehow I've been never more turned on than I was reading this post. ;)

I need leaf man over here, now!

Peace - Rene

Pearl said...

Hi, Ann.
T's is not a leaf-blower kinda neighborhood. :-)

Hi, Rene.
Something mighty attractive about a man with a nice yard, isn't there? :-)

Pearl

Ugich Konitari said...

Just out of curiosity , why is the city if Minneapolis against leaves ?

June Saville said...

Pearl
Just you tell T from me that it's best to pretend the leaves are mulch and live happily ever after - along with the plants which will LOVE the nutrition as they break down.
June in Oz

Afronuts said...

keep them in the garage?

what on earth where u thinking? lol

Pearl said...

Hi, Ugich.
I'm not sure why the city of Minneapolis is against leaves other than there are so very many of them!

Hi, June.
I will pass that along because you are absolutely right. :-)

Hi, Afronuts.
I know! Crazy, isn't it?! Really he should be storing them in his basement. :-)

Pearl