The significance of the shovels

Today's title is a bit of a take off from Arlo Guthrie's "The Motorcycle Song - The significance of the Pickle"  If you don't get it, go to Youtube and listen to the whole song, then you don't need to bother with the rest of today's post as you will already be sufficiently enlightened!

Roo questioned why I had 4 snow shovels, and I realized I can make a complete post out of the answer.

There could be a few different reasons for my stable blue ergonomic handled snow shovels.  I acquired them all when we were living across the street from where we are now.  One of the things left behind when we got the house from mom was one of those large metal scoop type shovels that you fill and then slide to where you want to deposit the load.  These are very useful, but more so if you have a long way to move the snow and if there is a lot of it.  That driveway was a bit smaller than my current one, ant it was also poured concrete, not asphalt.  In order to keep the concrete from cracking with the frost, it needs to be cut into various sections to allow the smaller slabs to float independently of each other.  These cuts are clean unlike a crack would be, so it looks nice, but the pieces did float and become uneven vertically, which always catch the edge of the shovel as you are sliding it across.
I started out with a cheap straight handled shovel and it lasted all of two days before I had smashed it to bits on the edges.  This led me to get the first blue one as it seemed far more robust and I felt the ergo handle would be easier on my back.  I noticed a big difference right away and quickly developed a rhythm and technique to move a lot of snow fast!  At this time, I was also regularly shoveling Trudy's driveway (to help me feed my butter tart addiction), which is the driveway I now own.
Well, those damn uneven cuts in the concrete took their toll after a while and led to the first one cracking as is shown in the picture from earlier.  By this time, I liked the style enough that I just went out and bought a new one, but kept the old one thinking there must be a way to repair it.  I eventually went out and got another for our store as there was a lot of sidewalk to clear there too.  That makes three total and at one point or other, they all needed the repair, but once I figured out how to get the clamp to stay put, they are solid as a rock!
We eventually closed the shop downtown so that one came home, and then we moved into this house and inherited Trudy's old wooden handled straight one.  I keep it just so I can say I have 4 shovels lol.
So there you go Roo.  That's my story and I am sticking to it!

OR....it may be more accurate to say that I am a hoarder by nature.  I never throw anything out unless I am certain it has absolutely no use and is not repairable.  Sometimes, I even break these rules if it doesn't take up much room!  I have two pieces of used kitchen countertop from the old house across the street, and we have now been in the current house for almost 6 years!  They are just to good to throw out dammit!  I am certain I inherited this trait from Dad and he developed it by necessity from growing up in the middle of the second world war. 
I still struggle with my hoarding, but I am working on it and we just got a Restore in town this past year, so they will benefit from some of my stored building materials.  Luckily, I have a very large garage to hide all my secrets!

I also want to say thanks to Mike Grosicki, one of my other brothers for introducing me to Arlo Guthrie as well as much other great music.  Mike has always been a positive influence in my life and I continue to enjoy any time I get to spend with him.

I am going to try, but you may not see much from me for the next week or so, as my lovely and talented wife is taking me on a warm vacation with her!

"Inconvenience yourself: ditch the remote, the garage door opener, the leaf-blower; buy a bike, broom, rake, and snow shovel."

Dan Buettner

Love Holij