My newest BFF, Ricky, taking his free futon home ... on the roof of his car.

March 20, 2014 – Thursday

55 degrees/sunny/calm

Leesville, Louisiana

The forecast high for today is 74 degrees with sunny skies. Need I say any more? I’m wearing jeans at this moment, but as soon as the thermometer notches another ten degrees (or when I finish writing) the shorts are coming out of the suitcase. It’s been a long winter.

We began packing/emptying/and throwing away items from the shed Wednesday morning. A couple of things were sold, but mostly they were packed into totes and boxes. By noon, the shed was empty.

Time to get started

Andy made the corporate decision to place a few pieces of furniture out by the curb accompanied by a “FREE” sign.

It wasn’t minutes before a little old lady stopped and tried to cram a dining room table, three accompanying chairs, two end tables, and a computer desk into her small car.

A random stranger walking down the street was quickly pressed into action. After all, who can resist a little old lady pleading for help? After several minutes, he shrugged and walked on. You can't fit a room full of furniture into the back of a small car. She wasn’t daunted and flagged down a construction worker who was driving a truck pulling a flatbed trailer with cement finishing tools. Grandma held him hostage until he agreed to load up the rest of the furniture and soon, he was following her home. We watched it all from behind the blinds in Andy’s living room and laughed.

She was back this morning attempting to cram a bedroom dresser and mirror into her car. She finally gave up and drove off, but not before flipping the "free" sign over in hopes that no one else will take the dresser before she can dupe someone with a pickup to haul it for her.

She tried to get this stranger to help, but he didn't bite and soon drove away.

The best curbside story of the day came in the form of a man and his girlfriend, a large futon, and an old large tube-type television. Ricky and his girlfriend wanted them all.

I could give blow-by-blow details, but to make a long and humorous story short, Ricky only had a small Chevy Malibu and didn’t know how he’d get the futon home.

Being a thinker of deep thoughts, I suggested he put it on top of the car. Ricky seemed to consider that as a viable alternative, but finally said he was afraid it might scratch the paint job.

There’s a reason why I think really deep thoughts… I suggested he put the mattress on the roof and place the frame on top of that. After a quick tie-down with a couple of bungee cords, the couple drove very slowly down the street.

We later helped Ricky to secure a large, very heavy, television onto the lip of his trunk. It wouldn’t fit inside and lacking a blanket to keep the screen from being scratched, he happily volunteered a shirt. Ah, curbside shopping. It’s the best form of entertainment the deep South has to offer.

We pigged out last night on Burger King’s Angry Whopper sandwiches and fries and later returned to Sonic for the half gallon ice cream-sized Blasts. Andy and I may be working, but there’s no rule saying we can’t eat junk food and have fun while doing so.

We began this morning by placing an air conditioner, a dresser and mirror, and a couple of night stands by the curb. Already, the air conditioner and tables have disappeared. No doubt, the bedroom dresser and mirror will quickly follow.

With the bulk of the work finished, I’m going to grade papers this morning then take a several mile walk around the neighborhood. Since I don’t have Brutus with me, I’ll have to depend on my smart phone’s GPS application.

Oops, I see it’s almost sixty-five degrees. Time to shed my winter wear and put on a pair of shorts, strap on my hiking shoes, and enjoy the early spring day.

After all, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road… via Leesville, Louisiana.

Andy and I took a drive to this abandoned trailer park where all the aluminum has been stripped from each trailer for scrap metal.