We rarely need salt for de-icing, but when we do we tend to need more than a little -- and that's usually when Depot and Menard's run out. I like the magnesium chloride stuff because it works at depressed temps and it isn't nearly as hard on either pavement or lawn. I needed some today. We had a freezing rain followed by light snow yesterday. I'd spread some salt on the driveway then that worked well enough so I could clear it today with Mr. Toro. Today I wanted some more for a few icey spots but my bucket was empty. There was a 50-lb sack of it in the shed that I bought who knows when, hauled around in my trunk until one spring day when I decided I didn't need that in the trunk any longer. I thought about the two-wheeler: not gonna work real well in the snow. I thought about driving the
4WD truck back to the shed. That'd work. Then I thought about what the cardiologist said last week: I could do more now, not likely to break any time soon, so start doin' it. He's merciless. Like that about him.I was claiming exercise credit today for snowblowing anyway so I decided screw it: walked the 50 yards to the shed thru snow, grabbed that 50 lb sack o' salt, slung it up on my shoulder, managed to get the padlock back on the shed and marched back to the house thru the snow with my load. I should do more of this here and there, now and then. My now smoke-free lungs have depths that are clearly going unused. It's not a pleasant sensation, but not horrible either. Gasping for breath is definitely horrible, does tend to leave an impression and create an aversion to activity that results in shortness of breath most would dismiss as routine and trivial.
I think I need to take Mr. Toro in for some attentions. He didn't want to start today. That sez time for carb job and it probably is about time. I can pull the carb and take it in, perhaps I'll do that because they charge a lot for that minor R&R. Then, I think there might be an issue with whatever is between the engine and the auger and 2d stage slinger. Might be a belt that's gotta be 20 years old by now. I s'pose I should see if I can find the manual. I really don't mind paying Beisswenger's to do it if their charge would be anything like reasonable.
I had to use electric start today. That's rare. The electric starter whirred but did not engage. Well, dammit, I fixed that two weeks ago, it's just being bitchy at 4 below. I went in and got my plastic-face hammer, the one I made for fieldstripping the Ruger .22. Whacked the goldamned starter smartly just about where I thought I'd get it's attention. Pooshed the button. ROWRROWRRANGRANGRANGSPUTROOMSPUTROOMSPUTSPUT.... etc. Amazing what a lovetap can do. Like the guy said, $1 for the hammer blow, $74 for knowing just where and how hard....