Last summer I paid to have two large maple trees taken down. The guy doing the actual cutting said it would be ashamed to lose the big chunks to his chipper and wondered if I knew anyone who could use the wood. Sure, doesn't everyone have a relative who burns wood? It took four weeks of prodding before this one relative finally came around and took the wood. It wasn't until I mentioned his sister was interested in the wood that he finally got off his dead ass. He got about a little over a cord. My lawn was dead where it was but it came back this year.
This year I cut some hardwood and stacked it thinking I was going to burn wood but we changed our minds. I called my relative again and he came by and said he'd take it all plus he'd take the pallets for his friend. Weeks and weeks went by and so did the excuses. I finally got fed up and cut up the pallets, gathered up all the other wood and made two trips to his house. The first visit nobody was home. The second visit his wife was home and blasted me for leaving wood with some paint on it. I told her it wasn't for them. We sat and talked about other things for awhile and then I left.
I went straight home. It takes about 45 minutes via the MA turnpike. I'm into this for a couple of bucks for tolls and gasoline. I walk in the door and there's a phone call. No hello, just "What the f*ck is it with that painted wood?" my relative asks. I say about two words and he cuts me off. "Wife just called me all upset" . Well, it's only latex and it's old and faded. But if you don't want it put it in two trash bags and place it on the tree belt. "They want $2.00 a bag to haul if off!!" OK, I said, I'll be back in the morning and take it away.
I'm a jerk. You can quote me. Three years ago.... He asked for my chain link fence because he knew I was planning to have another type put in it's place. I said he could have the fence if either he pulled it all up or paid $400 (good deal) for the installers to pull it up. "Aren't you having it pulled out anyway?", he asked. "No, if you don't want it I'm going to have them install the new one in front of the old fence." He declined. I guess the reason why he wanted the fence to protect his kids wasn't really important. The chain link fence has a value close to 3 grand today and it's in good shape.
My wife doesn't want me to head up to his house this morning. "Make him wait" she says.