Don't Worry Dear...This is a Simple Project!

I am sure that Murphy, in his infinite wisdom created a law that relates to the fact that “Small” projects around the house seldom, if ever stay that way for long.

To my fellow husbands, I’d like to suggest that if our wives typically roll their eyes at us when we mention we are about to start a small project around the house, it’s likely with good reason. I’m sure we have brought this upon ourselves when we mention that the tiles in the shower need to be re-caulked and suddenly we need Mike Holmes to help us repair the damage to the complete bathroom renovation the project morphed into. My wife is no stranger to this as I recently mentioned to her that I was going to take on a project that has been on my lengthy “To-Do” list. Our small patio has not been level in years and since we wanted to buy a new table and chair set I thought it was time to get it done. When shopping for the set I noticed an awesome gazebo that would match the set perfectly and I wanted it. With its stylish look and bug net drapery to keep the mosquitoes away at night it was just the right accessory to the backyard and I needed it to come home with me.

I believe this is where her suspicions began.

The gazebo you see was 10’ x 10’ and the current size of the patio was not. I assured her that a few more patio stones with some gravel to level it off would solve that. Since math isn’t my strength she can’t blame me after I realized once the addition was done that I didn’t make it big enough. Furthermore since I wanted to do it right she can’t really be too upset with me when 2 days later a dump truck dropped a half-yard of gravel on my lawn and another truck dropped another skid of stones. While I can understand her frustration at the fact that it took several weeks and a few hundred dollars more to complete than first anticipated, I vindicated myself when she had her first dinner outside and said “This is nice.” It was a personal triumph when I quelled the naysayer in her and thanks to my tools, my wonky back and my testosterone I was once again a builder as opposed to a breaker.

Looking back in history I can’t help but wonder if some of the great marvels of the world started that way too. Do you suppose the Great Wall of China was only supposed to be a little partition that simply got out of control? Were the Egyptian Pyramids nothing more than a landscaping project that the Pharaohs decide to go nuts with? If so, then I can tell my dear wife that if these monumental projects in our history weren’t built in a day, then why should our patio?