Gas Pains

Tom grew up in Milwaukee, bartended in Wauwatosa in the '70s and moved here in 1984.

Commentary, observations and musings about the outdoors, life in general and maybe Tosa politics and personalities will be the order of the day. He savors a lively debate as much as terrific cooking.

Bring it On

Life In Tosa

One of the very first things I did when I moved to Tosa was to purchase a brand-new, shiny red Toro snow blower from the nice people over at Speedway Sales and Service on North Avenue.

That blower has thrown a pile of snow over the years.  Three houses and twenty-five years of snow. 

Day and night.

That Toro didn't ask for much.  Just seasonal oil changes a little grease here and there and some WD-40.

It always started and never broke down.

Until lately.

In it's advancing years the electric starter became balky, had to be replaced and became balky once again.  The choke became faulty.  The carburetor needed rebuilding - twice.  It required regular - and more frequent - visits to Speedway for service and repair. 

Just like people when we age the old Toro was getting worn and cranky.

But that's OK - the way I figure it that machine didn't owe me anything anymore.  That old Toro two-stage's amortized cost per use could be measured in pennies by the hour. 

And after twenty five years of faithful service the old snow blower finally met its end in one of last year's spectacular snow storms.

This year Santa brought me a brand-new, shiny red Craftsman snow blower for Christmas.  He left it locked in the garage with a nifty red bow and a full tank of gas.

I can once again confidently shake my fist in defiance of Old Man Winter.

Bring it on - I say.

My neighbor - who is a handy tinkerer - has taken the old Toro under his wing and is keeping it serviceable for light duty jobs in its old age.

El Toro lives next door and we still get to visit from time to time.

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