I didn't have the best of days yesterday; My last post delves into it and whilst it doesn't say much about the nuts and bolts of it the post says enough - Certainly all I want to say here on the blockchain on that particular topic...Although there's a little extra I can share that I didn't yesterday and figured I might as well today - Another stupid thing I did.
For most of yesterday I was working around my house, what else are weekends for? - It was all basic and general stuff. I've been recreating my firepit area after moving house, moved a few extra things from my other house and did some general clean-up including sweeping, a couple minor fix-ups and got up on the roof to finish cleaning the gutters...And there lies the issue; Me on the roof...Me off the roof to be more precise.
The set up
I use a garden blower to clean my gutters which means it has to be dry to do so; It's been very hot and dry lately here, typical end of summer where I live, and so I did some gutter cleaning a few weeks ago. The problem was that my big ladder, an item everyone should have, was at my other property meaning I couldn't [safely] get onto the roof. Yesterday I went to get it and I got stuck into the gutter cleaning in earnest.
It's pretty easy really, just walk along on the tiled roof right up near the edge with the blower on and the nozzle stuck into the gutter. The leaves and moss that builds up blows right out, and everywhere, and job done gutters clean. Of course it means cleaning up at ground level but that's done with the blower and broom and it's job totally done. It went well initially, I was powering through it until...You probably know where this is going right?
Gravity
I was just getting to the end and there was a malfunction with my feet; I'm blaming the heat. The bright sunlight. The lack of sufficient fluids. The weight of the cordless blower. The next door neighbour. The wind. The roof. Anything but myself of course. Anyway...I fell off the roof and despite my desperate attempt to fly away and to safety like a kookaburra I didn't defy gravity at all. I hit the ground and the inevitable happened - It hurt.
As I lay there in agony contemplating life, gravity and why my wings didn't work I also wondered at the sense of getting up on my roof when there was no one else around. In hindsight it wasn't the smartest thing to do. Nonetheless, I lay there enjoying some reflective moments whilst I worked out how I was going to breathe again and if I'd die.
I managed to get up and get my bearings though, and find some breath. I looked up at the roof, at the ground, up at the roof, down at the ground, up at the roof...Come on, I was dazed, give me a break. It was right about then I realised I was still alive and couldn't work out how...I looked up at the roof, at the ground, up at the roof, down at the ground, up at the roof...And realised I was lucky to have fallen at a point where there's a retaining wall of about one metre high reducing the distance from roof to ground, and into a garden bed...Which will never be the same again...I was lucky. The reduced distance and softer landing was a blessing.
I went for a lengthy walk last night which was dumb but I guess I didn't feel too bad at that point. My hip hurt, I had a bump on my head and I felt like a fool...But otherwise pretty good...And I walked slowly.
Lessons
Last night was horrendous though - No sleep, massive pain in my hip and back and a feeling that maybe something might be wrong. I put up with it all day, [typical dumb-ass,] then decided I'd have to get over my hate of hospitals and and get some x-rays. I did that this afternoon and have been told all is well, no broken bones and no internal bleeding. The doctor said I'd be sore for a while, and to take it easy; Easier said than done though.
Just as I was leaving the doctor advised me not to get on the roof unless someone else was there and when on the roof, don't fall off. It was pretty sound advice, I have to say. He also advised me that if I fell off I needed to hit the ground and roll which he said with a grin - Clearly happy to celebrate his own wit...Yeah, thanks doctor, great advice.
I'm not sure if I've learned my lesson...I mean, there's so many to learn. Don't get on the roof when no one else is around. Don't fall off the roof. Don't go for a long walk after falling off a roof. Learn how to fly better...Maybe even hit the ground and roll when one falls off a roof...So many lessons. In all seriousness though, had I not landed where I did I might be in some real trouble so I think from here I'll probably curb my enthusiasm for lone-roof-expeditions...And get some flying lessons too.
And now it's your turn...Have you ever done any stupid things? I could write a book about the dumb things I've done but I'd like to hear yours. Or, maybe you could lecture me about my roof-shenanigans...I'm not that smart so your lecture may help me next time.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised so be humble and kind
Discord: galenkp#9209
hello @galenkp good day
You really have been very lucky to fall from the ceiling and not have suffered anything, many things could have happened to you
great advice from the doctor, very reasonable.
Many years ago I loved going up to the roof, I always found something to do there, although the biggest stupid thing did not happen to me on the roof.
At that time I worked in the supermarket, as you know there you work 7 days a week 365 of the year, the excuse is that people have to eat, for this reason, when I had to cut the grass I did it at night, On one occasion, I see a spiral very similar to that of the car's shock absorber, confident that it was that, I brought my hands to move it out of the way of the lawn mower, when I touched it, it comes to life and jumps into my arms, luckily not He found him, it was a huge snake that was curled up ready to attack and I facilitated the work by bringing my hands to them, luckily he did not find anything of my body, he could have lost his life because of the stupid thing to cut the grass with little vision .
again you have been very lucky with the fall.
I wish you happy Easter
Yeah, lucky that garden bed was there and the fall wasn't too high...I could be dead.
Any stories with snakes in them give me the creeps! Lucky you didn't get bitten!
It was a miracle that he didn't bite me, I put my hands too close to him, it could have been fatal
I take this opportunity to wish you a happy start to the week
🤔 let me think....nah never done stupid things 😜 But here are some reminders what not to do...
Get well soon...and you're welcome 🤗
Lol...Gif-Queen. 🤣
I want that title 'Member - Gif Queen'😁👑 lol.
I just happened to recognize that your title 'Weekend Ninja' came to live when you did the 'swan'. Even Jacky Chan failed in some stunts just saying.
Hope you feel better already and smiling releases endorphins so I'm glad I could help.
See you kangaroo ;)
Lol...Yeah, there's nothing quite like a failed attempt to fly to keep one sharp and focused on the next attempt. I'll leave it for a while though.
I'm feeling a little better, thank you...I'll be as good as new in a year or two when my pride heals...Falling off roofs...Pretty embarrassing.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
They are hilarious
Looooolll
Ahhh that’s cheating laughing must hurt, or what that intended hahahahah
To make the Ninja smile 😊 It always helps and since he survived and doesn't seem to be injured badly I thought showing some examples of fellow failures is a good mental support.
I had a really loud Easter laugh thanks
You're welcome 😁...me too lol
Ouch dude!!! At least nothing is broken. Could have been a bad one.
That image of the barossa valley. Awesome, my favourite Shiraz's are barossas!
I'm all good Boomy, I had Wile E Coyote drop an ACME anvil on me once, didn't leave a scratch...I'm resilient! :)
Barossa dude, my back yard as I was born in a little town there..., just on the fringe. They used to put shiraz in my babies bottle. I've got a post coming up about it sometimes soon. You might like to take a look.
Thanks for your message, I'm all good.
I will keep an eye. I absolutely love the stuff!!
Glad yer good, it's the Titan blood!!
Titans aren't easily felled. You know this.
Raaar, indeed not!!
Glad you have no major issues from trying to fly of the house roof.
Nah man, one day I'll take flight and just fly away completely.
That's the idea👍
Sounds like you dodged a bullet, a guy at work did the same thing and broke all the small bones in one foot.
Yep, I got lucky...I feel like I've broken something...Or maybe that's just my pride.
I'm impressed you managed to get away with just soreness and no broken bones - but yeah, best not do that again!
I hope you feel better very soon!
I guess I'm tougher than the ground and gravity combined. Lol. Probably not...Just lucky.
I believe that doctors are at their smug, superior glory when they've got a poor sap like you or me that has just required their services due to casual error. Assholes.
What do they get? Writer's cramp from too many prescriptions? Ass cramps from sitting too long in one spot?
I will suggest one thing (or maybe two) for you to consider in the future. Before you start such a project have a think about how well hydrated you are.
How much gutter do you have left to do? Will you be able to convince your Mum in Law to finish? :) There is actually a thing made for cleaning gutters from the ground (old people ALL know about this). Looks like a shepherds crook that you attach a hose to and walk along getting delightfully wet from the splashes as you clean your gutters without risking butt dislocation.
I thought for a moment you were going to give me some tips on how to fly better...Instead you're advising shepherds crooks...I'll be parting the Red Sea in no time! 🤣
There's no more gutter to do now, until next time. One could say I've reached full gutter-clean penetration. None too soon either, any longer and I might have actually done some real damage. I'm pretty good at most things but getting on the roof, and flying, ain't two of them. 🤣
There's a legendary story here in the West Coast trades about a guy that was the light maintenance guy on radio towers. After several years of climbing up stupid tall towers to change light bulbs something failed. He fell over 150 feet and didn't die. He didn't even lose consciousnesses. As he was being rushed to surgery a nurse asked him if there were any bad allergies they should know about. He nodded (the only yes in the whole shebang). She had to lean in to hear him say "gravity".
Far as I know he went back to the towers.
I'm done getting on my roof alone. A year ago when I re did the roof I had help for most of it, and a couple of days I went up alone Erv came over and walked Sam so he could at least find my carcass when they got back.
Sounds like something I'd say. Lol.
I think my roof days are over to be honest. I've never felt comfortable up there and falling off punctuates the point. Things could have gone badly for me, stuff I haven't elaborated on in the post and I'm lucky to not have had any number of things occur that would have lead to a less amusing story.
I'll pay someone next time. 😊
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You know in scuba diving they have a rule that you shouldn't come back to the surface too quickly. You could adopt a similar policy. That when descending from roof height, you should do it slowly to avoid getting bent.
That's a good plan. I'll get on to gravity and see what can be done.
Damn that is unfortunate, I have to say the way you write about it is as I was there , standing by not reaching out to help ! So sorry hahaha but thank got that the witty doc said all is ok and bruises will pass might take till next Easter but they will pass 😬
I would blame the ladder and kick it in the balls just to have some satisfaction to blame someone or something !
I did my own stupid thing, we celebrate two days of Easter and with the Friday night attached it’s a long free weekend though in lockdown different from other years but we take what we can get so we got together with half of the family on Friday the other on Saturday. And I asked my sister in law ( not a really flex relationship and we don’t see them a lot but carry the same sur name, and so it’s a bit of a forced must ) I asked her after a year not seeing her due to Covid, OHHH HOW NICE HOW MANY WEEKS ARE YOU ALONG ?
Omg the answer ruined Easter Friday , because it were her Covid kilo’s not a bun in the oven ! So I might as well have fallen from a ladder this was bad and half of the family was not amused with the blond asking the families favorite about that!
Oh well thank god for silent corners naughty chairs and chocolate !
Take care
And a Tylenol
If you'd known to hit the ground and roll you probably would have been fine XD though that might have been a bit tricky with a blower vac stuck to you x_x
Getting up on the roof without anyone else around was pretty dumb though. Definitely don't do that one again. There are things in life where you just need a backspot regardless of how self-sufficient you pretend to be XD
Glad you lived to tell the tale anyway :O are you better? Hope the aches and pains are gone soon :)
J did our roof and gutters earlier today. We don't have a blower so everything got done manually. He's knackered now and downpipes are a mission for another day.
More dumb things eh, is this going to be a recurring thing given that there's probably a lot of people that could write at least small books of all the dumb things they've done? XD
You're right it was stupid to be on the roof like that, no support on the ground. Oh well, chalk it up to stupidity I guess.
Doing gutters is a terrible job which is probably why people neglect them. That's not my style though as it usually raises other issues. I try to do mine twice a year. I'm thinking I'll put more effort into learning to fly before next time.
You don't usually fall off the roof when doing gutters right, so consider this that one in whatever chance it is and a lesson in not ignoring safety things ;D
I agree...Although, what better way to *actually8 fly than through the necessity to do so...Like when one is falling off the roof!