Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Special Delivery

My mother-in-law was very generous and bought us a new mail box. We have talked about replacing the old one from the day we moved in, but it was never a priority. Now that we had a new one I figured it would be an easy job the kids and I could do together. The new mailbox stated that it was "no dig" type of post and assembly and that the only tools I would need would be a screwdriver, a hammer and a wrench. Three tools total.

I knew that I would have to dig out the old one and that is where the kids could help. We started at 8:30 AM on Saturday.

Actual number of tools we used for this project. Three of my shovels, a hammer, two screwdrivers, a wrench, a pair of pliers, a ratchet wrench. That is 9. Plus I had to borrow from my neighbor another shovel, a Saws-All with a hack blade and his sledgehammer. So another 3. That is a total of 12 tools.

I finally mounted the post (thats what she said) onto the bracket that was hammered into the ground and was almost done when Lauren pointed out to me that the Mailbox leaned forward a bit. I tried to make my case that Mailmen rarely leave any round objects in our mailbox that may roll out. She didn't buy it so I had to re-do the post.

I finished this project at 2:30 PM on Saturday. Saturday night I went to an event and my friend Bob was kind enough to drive me home. During the ride I told him the story of my new mailbox. 10 minutes after dropping me off he called me.

"Bill?" He said.

"Hey. What's up?"

"I just took out your mailbox."

My heart skipped a beat or two until I realized he was only joking. I still went out in the rain to make sure it was okay though.

After six hours of labor I think I should name the thing. Any suggestions?

34 comments:

Jason Roth said...

Mailbox looks great. The ground below not so much.

April said...

It's a beautiful mailbox. We have those big community ones. They look like a tower of mailbox condos. You should give it a strong old fashioned name. Like Frank. Or Hank. Or Marlon Brando.

Anonymous said...

maybe more than suggestions for a name, we need suggestions for how to landscape around it...

Anonymous said...

Remember when you lived in that apartment above the coffee shop in Elkins Park. Never had these issues, did ya?

Anonymous said...

Oh I've gotta de-lurk to suggest the Post Mounter 3000.

Anonymous said...

Anything to do with the mail has to be named after the greatest mail carrier ever! So go Cliff Clavin!

The Maid said...

I suggest "Newman."

Because who doesn't love a beefy, fat, mail carrier.

The Maid

Anonymous said...

Pat.

Charlotte in Pa said...

I was trying to come up with something funny/dirty that involved a "male box" but couldn't do it. Sorry about that.

By the way, I had to use "that's what she said" in my blog post last night. Sometimes it just HAS to be done.

Teri said...

that is a fine looking mailbox.

I do the same thing when I do projects. they take me quadruple the normal time and I end up using every tool I have......it's frustrating.

Effie said...

I was thinking Fred, or George--he's a lovely mailbox...

Your neighbour is funny!

Anonymous said...

Lee Ning Post

Anonymous said...

There is only one name for that mailbox! ROCKY! after your father! I'm getting the best laugh out of this. HEHEHEHEHE! HAHAHAHAHAHAH!

Allison said...

ha ha, that reminds me of this time someone backed over our mailbox at night one time. my dad figured it was some kids, but the next day this guy from pakistan or somewhere knocked on the door and said he had run it over last night but hadn't wanted to disturb us late. instead of making him pay for the mailbox, my dad forced him to come back another day to help him install the new one. i guess my dad's pretty smart.

JP said...

Dude that old mailbox looked like the Charlie Brown Christmas tree equivalent of a mailbox. Nice job on the new mailbox. You should've put a level on it in your picture to show how your craftsmanship is good enough for highway work.

Patience said...

Nice looking mail box!!

You should go to Home Depot with Dorky Dad!!

Ern said...

This is one of the joys that I am pleased to leave to the landlords for now. Your little off-color joke in the middle cracked me up.

Anonymous said...

"Actual number of tools we used for this project." (that's what she said)

okay! so. a name.

MIFF "go check the miff, babe!"

Anonymous said...

It looks like a Lawrence.

Unknown said...

I stumbled across your blog recently and just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy reading it. I'm a Mom of 3 kids and 3 dogs. I so enjoy reading things from your perspective. Would you mind if I added your blog onto my list of favorites?

Warm Wishes,
Sue

sari said...

It's Ebony and Ivory - you could name it Stevie or Paul.

Or Post Mounter 3000, that made me laugh.

Sharpie said...

I say Cheech. It's Italian for Frank.

Unknown said...

Um... Bob? Art? Chip? Matt? Cliff? Penelope? Ilene?

I dunno... I've never named a mailbox before, sure a car, but never a mailbox...

Anonymous said...

I love that you went out in the rain to check on your newly-installed Post Mounter 3000!

(That'd be PoMo Trois, for short.)

"Damn kids better keep those baseball bats away from ol' PoMo Trois or I'll open up a can o' whoop ass on 'em, I tell you what!"

Like that. See?

Jim said...

Dude - I can't get over how manicured your lawn looks. Is that even yours or the neighbor's? Tough to see because of the perspective. Nice work.

Sorry - you don't know me. I'm just a fellow blogger (and fellow PA resident!) who checks in every now and then.

Keep it up. The blog and the lawn that is. And the mailbox.

Jim said...

Thanks for your comment and well wishes. We're in the West Chester area. Exton, to be exact.

Lowa said...

Wow, that looks GOOD!

Who would think something like that would be so hard to do?? Crazy!

No ideas for names, but I don't blame you for wanting to name it:)

Anonymous said...

How about the William receptacle?

Anonymous said...

Question?
Why do you have mailboxes in the US? We have letter boxes on or front doors and mail is posted through to the safety of the hallway mat - unless you dog chews it up before you get it of course.

Just wondered that's all!

Nice mailbox!

Anonymous said...

I laughed until I cried about PoMo Trois. You gotta name it that. And casually mention 'a can of whoop ass' when you pick up the mail. Just try to work that into a sentence every day!

Anonymous said...

"The Black Box"
"The Tool Shed"
"My Special Box"
or
"Timmy" Timmy is a nice name

Izzy, Emmy 'N Alexander said...

Delurking, I think. I have been a fan for awhile but not sure I ever came out of the closet.

Great work on the handsome new mailbox. After reading everyone's name suggestions, I am with PoMo. Great name for a great box!

Anonymous said...

Clematis -- not for a name, but for a landscaping plant. If you like a climbing, flowering vine (which I do).

MrsDoF said...

Nix the idea of flowers around the mailbox.
Flowers invite bees, and bees sting mail carriers.
(Just repeating what the mail carrier on my street says)

Our mail goes through a slot in the side of the garage and lands in a big wooden box. Sometimes I forget to bring it inside for a couple days.

What was the name of the hand in the box on the Addams Family tv show?
Maybe your mailbox could be ? ? the second . . .

MrsDoF