Speaking of lazy? a bit of a rant

[sisterpine]

Something of a normal occurrence happened around here today and it just set me thinking after reading the cheap log slab firewood post. We've had a bit of snow lately and considerable wind so a great deal of drifting as well. DH and I spent 5 hours yesterday and 5 hours today working on the road that runs between our house and the county road (6.3 miles long forest service type road). We dont have fancy or heavy equipment. I drove the old pick up truck pulling an 11 feet long piece of rail road track and DH came behind me with the ATV and its plow. The road is now passable in most places. There are two other couples who live up this mountain road full time- each of them pass through our property and gate and go 1 mile further back in the section. One couple decided they should take their 40K dodge heme type pickup down and park at the bottom while they go back and forth on snowmobiles to run their errands (neither works- she is retired and he is 40 and simply lazy with many excuses as to the no work situation) The male phoned today to tell us that his wife lost a boggy wheel off her machine and would we please tell them what size bolt it needs and where to get repair parts. (nope, said how would we know). The other couple who live off in another direction just spent a bunch of money getting their 3/4 ton chev pick up repaired (brakes and stuff) and she wont drive it up the mountain (has great expensive tires) They also have a road ranger or some such that supposedly will climb up a tree in 2 feet of snow and has chains on all four (but geeze the alternator went out again and they sent us the wrong part). They are going back and forth on a little ATV and he cant put the plow on it because the handle hits the windshield and he cant figure out how to fix that? He also does not work (is in his 40's). Both wives say their husbands are so intelligent they get bored? Both wives work hard too. So no they cannot help keep the road open right now because of vehicle problems. I sent them an email with my condolences as they will soon be walking to town because I do not feel DH and I can keep the road open by ourselves with this amount of wind. DH is retired and I work down in town daily....we have snowmobiles for when the road closes (which hopefully wont be tonight LOL) but have decided to see if we can keep it open longer this year just cause it is more comfy in a vehicle late at night! These lazy people who stand there with their hands out asking for all kinds of assistance make we feel like puking. There are so many who really need help that folks like these should just be forced to make their own way in this world. Sorry for the rant...I dont think it even made me feel better LOL sis

[Beeman]

My kind of place, all of the women work and the intelligent men don't.


"Both wives say their husbands are so intelligent they get bored?"

[rambler]

Well, you are the type of person that will get the work done. So folks will take advantage of you.

Isn't it better to be who you are, than the other way around?

I hear you on it.

--->Paul

[EDDIE BUCK]

Originally Posted by Beeman

My kind of place, all of the women work and the men don't.

I knew I was lacking something, just had not found out what? (Intelligence) ! How come everytime I try it, folks around here say its laziness TOO? Recon they don't got none either. Its rough having something that when you find out you got it, you feel proud till you realize you are the only one that knows what it is and every body else is calling it something else with an entirely different meaning.

[Jennifer L.]

You could probably get them to sell out to different people just by stopping doing the road work. If they can't get in and out when they want they'd probably want to be out of there.

I feel for you, though. People can be such jerks!

Jennife

[tamilee]

Originally Posted by Beeman

My kind of place, all of the women work and the intelligent men don't.


"Both wives say their husbands are so intelligent they get bored?"

Hey Beeman;

tamilee

[tamilee]

Hey Sisterpine;
WELCOME to my world!
Everyone tells me I'm the smartest and I am a woman! If I'm so smart why am I the ONLY one in the house, out of 5 adults, with a job, a paycheck and why am I the one who does 99% of all the laundry, dishes, cooking and cleaning and outside work. Hmm?
Kinda supports what your neighbors are telling you?
tamilee

[sisterpine]

Thank you all soooo much for the laugh. I went back and read my post again and it does seem that the women work hard and the men are smart and lay around LOL. At least on the other side of the section! Over on our side we all work hard at those things we do well and even harder at those things we do poorly! Last year the road closed before Christmas and we only had one set of lazy neighbors....almost every day toward the end of my work period I would get a phone call from them asking if I would pick up this or that while I was down in town. I quickly stopped answering my phone! I did tell them that between work and travel I am gone 12 hours a day and that I am not nor will I become their personal shopper. LOL I figured if he is so smart maybe he can invent a way to teleport them to town for supplies! sis

[Oxankle]

Sisterpine:

Take your truck and your railroad track back up the hill to your place. When you get it parked for the winter disconnect the battery and take it indoors. Get out your gloves and your parka pants, load up your pocket with handwarmers, put a sack of rations in your kit. Run those snowmobiles back and forth.

When the neighbors complain about the road just tell them that your truck won't run and your husband hasn't the time right now to fix it. Whatever you do, don't work on that road any more this winter. If there is a bad spot in the road on your property past your house, go run the truck thru it and bog it up a bit before you put the truck away. Next spring, don't fix that part of the road unless you need it for your own operations.
Ox

[MomOf4]

Or, you could accidentally dump a load of snow right at the end of their drive, and simply say, "oops!, sorry" (in a whiny voice)...Oh, that was the vengful side of me coming out, sorry 'bout that!

Good for you putting your foot down on the personal shopper thing! Just do it with this too, and you'll be set.

[sewtlm]

Sisterpine --

You are going to get more snow sooner than you think according to the weatherpersons on all the Billings stations.

If you can get to town don't plow the road "no more-no more-no more Jack". Just ride your sled to work and don't feel bad.

[Selena]

Do these people know they are living in MT? Where is snows a lot and the wind blows? That they are not in the Pleasant Valley subdivision (apologies to the Monkees) and they aren't first on the list for plowing (or even on a list)? We got a bit of that when we first moved to this house - neighbors didn't realize we had lived out in the country before. But in their defense, they've probably seen city folks come and go.

[canfossi]

Yes, I agree, park the truck and run the snowmobile up and down the road. Chris

[Iddee]

>>>DH is retired and I work down in town daily<<<

>>>>My kind of place, all of the women work and the intelligent men don't.
"Both wives say their husbands are so intelligent they get bored?"<<<<

Looks that way, Beeman

[doohap]

Oh! Oh!

The information's out now!

Watch what I say. There's going to be more and more guys declare they're bored just so we'll think they're intelligent and thus they won't be expected to do a lot of chores and things. Ya' know, carrying around all those brains is hard for a fella'!


doohap

[Jim S.]

For those who are not familiar with the "90/10 rule," this is the perfect example. The rule states, "10 percent of the people do 90 percent of the work; 90 percent of the people do 10 percent of the work."

This rule (proven by the test of time) flies directly in the face of the biggest American myth -- that if you work hard, you will be suitably rewarded. No, my friends, the way reality exists is that if you can get others to work hard for you, you will be more greatly rewarded.

Now read again the OP with the rule in mind. If the premise is that the road will be easier for all to drive, then who achieved the greatest reward for the road repairs, the people who toiled on it and expended money in fuel and equipment costs, or the ones who drank hot chocolate all day near the fireplace while it was fixed for them?

I love to work, personally. But I also realize that my strong work ethic puts me in a position constantly to be taken advantage of by lazier people who have learned the "90/10 rule" and live by it. Indeed, I have been taken advantage of by these folks time and again, when I forget about the rule, for whatever reason. It's a good thing to be always aware of, if you are a hard worker. Nothing wrong with hard work, but in our country if you can get someone else to do it FOR YOU, you are ahead of the game. I try to make sure I am not always in the Atlas role.

[WindowOrMirror]

When you get others to work for you, you will only be rewarded by luxury and and a void of physical labor. If you DO the work, you will feel like a man, feel like you've helped someone, and have a huge feeling of accomplishment. THAT reward is the one that hard work gives. The issue is that too many limp and sedentary men are thus in spirit, as they are in action, and instead of being energized by a challenge, are subdued and humbled by it and are willing to accept a modicum of success that is brought by another and keeps them out of honest labor and effort.

It sickens me, and it will keep them from being MEN as long as they act that way.

R

[ceresone]

Sisterpine: When can you quit work and stay home in the winter? I hope its soon, I'd love to see you and hubby home, doing chores, and sipping hot chocolate by the fire--while "the Intelligent men" figure out the roads closed, and Golly, We're out of groceries/beer/chocolate/tobacco?????

[anniew]

Sis, I'm wondering if your neighbors really can't stand to have the road clogged, that you might get them to pay for their portion of your time and equipment to do the job. That way, maybe you won't have to work in town!

[PaLady]

Originally Posted by Oxankle

Sisterpine:

Take your truck and your railroad track back up the hill to your place. When you get it parked for the winter disconnect the battery and take it indoors. Get out your gloves and your parka pants, load up your pocket with handwarmers, put a sack of rations in your kit. Run those snowmobiles back and forth.

When the neighbors complain about the road just tell them that your truck won't run and your husband hasn't the time right now to fix it. Whatever you do, don't work on that road any more this winter. If there is a bad spot in the road on your property past your house, go run the truck thru it and bog it up a bit before you put the truck away. Next spring, don't fix that part of the road unless you need it for your own operations.
Ox

I could agree with you more!!! The only thing I would do differently is if they complained about the road not being open, tell them you are willing to maintain it at a price (a high price!) I used to be one of these ladies with the "bored, intelligent" husband...a.k.a., LAZY! It took 12 years, a slipped disc in my back from working so hard, constant moving and multiple jobs at one time before I finally realized I had a HUGE albatross around my neck!!! It's amazing how high you can truly fly with only your own weight to carry !
Anyhow, if they don't like it, just tell them that their bored, intelligent husbands have unlimited time to maintain the road...and sorry for their bad luck!!!