When good projects go bad

scaeagles · 09-02-2005, 10:28 AM

I used to have a small to average size backyard. Four years ago, when I added a room addition, that back yard became very small. It's about 20' from my backdoor to the back fence and less than 50' wide.

Well, in that backyard was some equipment that we had purchased when our 11.5 year old was 2.5. Eight Phoenix summers have taken their toll, and my kids were begging me for a trampoline. After a while, I decided to go for it, because a good trampoline with an enclosure was for sale at The Sports Authority for under 250. My backyard slopes, so all I had to do was level some ground, right?

Umm....wrong.

The trampoline is 12' in diameter. I have two rather large Ficus trees that are 17" apart, so I figured I could put it between them. The slope I have to level is about 1.5 feet from the back of where the trampoline will be to the other side.

So I start digging. Oops - gotta redo some sprinklers cause I dug up the line. Oops - I'm hitting some roots of the ficus trees. Oops - when I dig down, I have a bare dirt wall staring at me that could collapse, so I have to put short retaining wall there, meaning I have to dig the entire circle out another 8-9 inches. Oops - What the hell am I gonna do with all the dirt I dug up? The only answer is building a planter along the back block fence (another retaining wall required) to put the dirt in there. Oops - that means I have to run more sprinklers. Oops - the enclosure for the trampoline is gonna hit a bunch of branhes on my ficus trees, so I gotta trim off a bunch of branches. Oops - last night we had a big desert wind storm blow through that moved my assembled trampoline a good 3 feet (stopped only by a ficus tree), so I have to figure out a way to anchor it. Oops - I can't mow under a trampoline, so I have to lay down plastic so no weeds grow and cover it with decorative rock.

So, my simple little project to put in a trampoline for my kids at well under $250 with minimal effort is now costing me about $600 (gotta put plants in the new planter, right?) and one hell of a lot more work than I thought.

Sigh. Best laid plans and the road to hell and all that. Every day now my kids ask me "how much longer till the trampoline is ready????".

Ghoulish Delight · 09-02-2005, 10:33 AM

So....how much longer till the trampoline is ready?

scaeagles · 09-02-2005, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

So....how much longer till the trampoline is ready?

That would be funny....except that it's NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!

scaeagles · 09-04-2005, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

So....how much longer till the trampoline is ready?

It's done! Started at 6 this morning, and finished everything necessary for the trampoline and put it up, finishing around 11.

Of course, the planter isn't done, and I still have tons of dirt around the yard, and I still have some sprinkler lines to run, and I still have to get rock to put under the trampoline.

But the kids are now able to jump on the trampoline. Now I just have to wait for the wife to start saying "when is the back yard gonna be done?????".

sleepyjeff · 09-06-2005, 09:36 PM

"It all comes down to sequences"
Patrick McManus

It seems to me any project I try to accomplish at my home ends up mired in a tangled knott..........I become a victim of the sequences....

Want to build a brick flower bed.

ok, first I need to clear a spot.

oh, drat, the weed wacker is broken gotta get it repaired.

Ok, week behind weed wacking done need to get cement for base/found.

oh, drat, now it's raining,

and on and on

----------------------
I feel for ya...congrats on getting it done.

Kevy Baby · 09-02-2005, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Best laid plans and the road to hell and all that. Every day now my kids ask me "how much longer till the trampoline is ready????".

There's a good chance that the trampoline will be ready right about the time that the kids will no longer be interested in it!

Not Afraid · 09-02-2005, 10:38 AM

I'm sorry, but as a fellow homeowner, I can't help but laugh. I have a few "projects" in the works, and I have a feeling one of them will turn out in a similar way. Oops, indeed!

scaeagles · 09-02-2005, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

I'm sorry, but as a fellow homeowner, I can't help but laugh. I have a few "projects" in the works, and I have a feeling one of them will turn out in a similar way. Oops, indeed!

And I was feeling dso good about myself. Back in May I actually knocked down a wall and moved it back 2 feet so that I could put in some built in pantries. Came in under budget and took less time than I expected.

So much for that track record.

Cadaverous Pallor · 09-02-2005, 11:19 AM

I feel for ya! Sometimes it seems nothing ever works as it should.

€uroMeinke · 09-02-2005, 04:29 PM

I would say that I try to avoid these things by admiting my lack of expertise and bringing in a professional - but that has evil scenarios of its own...

09-02-2005, 10:28 AM	#1
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	When good projects go bad I used to have a small to average size backyard. Four years ago, when I added a room addition, that back yard became very small. It's about 20' from my backdoor to the back fence and less than 50' wide. Well, in that backyard was some equipment that we had purchased when our 11.5 year old was 2.5. Eight Phoenix summers have taken their toll, and my kids were begging me for a trampoline. After a while, I decided to go for it, because a good trampoline with an enclosure was for sale at The Sports Authority for under 250. My backyard slopes, so all I had to do was level some ground, right? Umm....wrong. The trampoline is 12' in diameter. I have two rather large Ficus trees that are 17" apart, so I figured I could put it between them. The slope I have to level is about 1.5 feet from the back of where the trampoline will be to the other side. So I start digging. Oops - gotta redo some sprinklers cause I dug up the line. Oops - I'm hitting some roots of the ficus trees. Oops - when I dig down, I have a bare dirt wall staring at me that could collapse, so I have to put short retaining wall there, meaning I have to dig the entire circle out another 8-9 inches. Oops - What the hell am I gonna do with all the dirt I dug up? The only answer is building a planter along the back block fence (another retaining wall required) to put the dirt in there. Oops - that means I have to run more sprinklers. Oops - the enclosure for the trampoline is gonna hit a bunch of branhes on my ficus trees, so I gotta trim off a bunch of branches. Oops - last night we had a big desert wind storm blow through that moved my assembled trampoline a good 3 feet (stopped only by a ficus tree), so I have to figure out a way to anchor it. Oops - I can't mow under a trampoline, so I have to lay down plastic so no weeds grow and cover it with decorative rock. So, my simple little project to put in a trampoline for my kids at well under $250 with minimal effort is now costing me about $600 (gotta put plants in the new planter, right?) and one hell of a lot more work than I thought. Sigh. Best laid plans and the road to hell and all that. Every day now my kids ask me "how much longer till the trampoline is ready????".
	Submit to Quotes

09-02-2005, 10:33 AM	#2
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	So....how much longer till the trampoline is ready? __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
	Submit to Quotes

09-06-2005, 09:36 PM	#5
sleepyjeff Go Hawks Go! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Parkrose Posts: 2,632	"It all comes down to sequences" Patrick McManus It seems to me any project I try to accomplish at my home ends up mired in a tangled knott..........I become a victim of the sequences.... Want to build a brick flower bed. ok, first I need to clear a spot. oh, drat, the weed wacker is broken gotta get it repaired. Ok, week behind weed wacking done need to get cement for base/found. oh, drat, now it's raining, and on and on ---------------------- I feel for ya...congrats on getting it done. __________________ River Guardian-less
	Submit to Quotes

09-02-2005, 10:38 AM	#7
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	I'm sorry, but as a fellow homeowner, I can't help but laugh. I have a few "projects" in the works, and I have a feeling one of them will turn out in a similar way. Oops, indeed!
	Submit to Quotes

09-02-2005, 11:19 AM	#9
Cadaverous Pallor ohhhh baby Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Parental Bliss Posts: 12,364	I feel for ya! Sometimes it seems nothing ever works as it should. __________________ The second star to the right shines in the night for you
	Submit to Quotes

09-02-2005, 04:29 PM	#10
€uroMeinke L'Hédoniste Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: A.S.C.O.T. Posts: 8,671	I would say that I try to avoid these things by admiting my lack of expertise and bringing in a professional - but that has evil scenarios of its own... __________________ I would believe only in a God that knows how to Dance. Friedrich Nietzsche
	Submit to Quotes