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That week in '09 when we put up a cedar fence in a blizzard
Got a call for a big cedar job in Spokane, and the forecast said snow but we started anyway. By day two, we had over a foot on the ground and the post hole digger kept freezing up. My partner, Ray, kept saying 'we're nuts' but we just kept going, using a tarp and a propane heater to thaw the ground a bit for each hole. We finished the whole 150 foot run in four days, hands numb but the line was perfect. Looking back, I don't know if I'd push a crew that hard now, but there was a real pride in beating the weather. Anyone else ever finish a job under conditions that would make you walk away today?
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nathan_barnes5mo ago
Yeah, the "pride in beating the weather" thing... reminds me of the time we tried to tar a roof in a drizzle because the client was pushing. Just made a huge, slippery mess.
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the_seth6mo ago
Okay but "pride in beating the weather" is just another way of saying you risked your safety and your crew's for a fence. A propane heater near a tarp in a blizzard? That sounds like a good way to start a fire you can't put out. I get the hustle but some conditions are just a sign to stop. It's not about being tough, it's about being smart. That kind of story is why people get hurt on the job.
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