Percy Strikes Again!!!

What a week...where to begin?

How about a little poem - think along the lines of 'The Night Before Christmas'.

T’was the 1st of July all through the house,
Percy was stirring and wouldn’t get out.
So up on the porch Percy did come,
To screw up my scraping and have some hideous fun.
Just like a big dummy I avoided the signs,
And continued scraping bidding my time.
Then all of a sudden there arose such a clatter,
As I slipped on the porch roof and slammed down on the ladder.
I had no idea that my fingers were hurt,
Until I went to move the shop-vac and the blood started to spurt.
I had crunched my fingers in the folding legs,
The weight of my body about severing the tips.
So into the window I flew like a flash,
Heading for the bathroom to rinse and assess.
The gashes were deep and the blood flowing free
All I could think was ‘why did this happen to me.’
With a few calls for some help and a response from the sister-n-law,
The fingers have been bandaged and the pains under way.
So Percy has struck he has come once again
You may think this is your house but we will remain.

Following is a picture to go with the poem.

Whad ya think? Should I get three more and make a proper claw?

I could have shown you a 'before' picture but decided against it.

Here is the back story.

This whole week, except for Monday, has not been good in regard to working on the house.

Tuesday I tripped over my own two feet climbing out the window; then I got tangled in the electrical cords; and if that wasn't enough I miss-stepped getting on one of the platforms and fell. Luckily I was able to come to a stop before falling off the roof. I decided to call it a day and go help my father.

Wednesday I was out of town and by the time I got home it was too hot.

Today, well, today started out great. Everything was going as planned and scraping was moving along nicely. Then, when I went to move one of the platforms, it happened. I was adjusting the electrical cords and my feet slipped on the shingles. I came crashing down on top of this ladder like platform we use. Without realizing it the fingers on my left hand were in the way and I pinched my pinky finger and ring finger.

You know how you mash a finger and create a blood blister? At first that is how it felt and that's all I though had happened (it happened so fast). Then, about 15 to 20 seconds later I went to move the shop-vac and large drops of blood started dripping on the platform. I looked at my hand. The pinky finger wasn't too bad, but the top third of the ring finger looked like ground beef.

So, I wrapped my finger in my shirt, went to the bathroom and flushed it with cold water and then immersed it in hydrogen-peroxide. I looked at the finger and saw that it was bad, but wasn't sure if it was ER bad or not. What I did know is that I wouldn't be able to bandage it well with one hand.

To make a long story a bit shorter...

I got in touch with my sister-n-law, the Paramedic & RN, and she came over to take a look. She was even wondering if I might need to go to the ER - she thought the top part of the bone might be crushed. I told her I could feel it and it felt intact. Instead, she did what would have been done at the ER anyway.

Now I have what you see in the picture. It is going to be a pain to scrape during the next few day.

What surprises me most is that it doesn't hurt - it stings a little and aches some but that's it. The worst part are the finger splints - they're in the way! Hopefully the pinky one will come off tomorrow. It's on just to give the cut a better chance to heal. The big one might have to wait till the beginning of next week.

The other surprising thing was my body's physical reaction. Once I was down stairs, and making my phone calls, I was real queasy and felt like I was going to pass out. I was also sweating a lot more than normal - I mean it was as if I just walked out of the shower! I'm not sure why I reacted this way. I have had several injuries in the past - major surgeries, crushed feet, broken bones, nails through the foot, slammed fingers in car doors, etc., but the only other time I felt like this was when I was about 9 years old and had my wrist broken.

The only thing I can figure is the heat and the fact I hadn't eaten yet (this happened around 9:30 AM).

Oh well...I'll live.

I'm beginning to wonder if Percy is after me again - like he was with the attic.

I was hoping to have a much better post showing how much had been done, but this post will have to suffice. Fortunately some scraping did get accomplished!

Let's have a look at that.

As you can see I've been playing with scraping the paint on the fish-scales.

The paint is coming off rather easily so far but we will need to use a stiff brush to get some of the older paint.

You can also see the paint still remaining on that big board at the top. I was using the paint shaver on this section when I had my booboo.

We have removed all the storm windows on the porch side of the house so the trim can be finished.





The plan was to finish this part today as well as that big board up top.

On a brighter note we were able to assemble some of the scaffolding this week-end!!

I was hoping to start hitting these boards with the paint shaver Friday - guess that won't be happening.

You know, I could tell kids, on the 4th, that this is what happens to your fingers if you play with fireworks and show them my hand!! I know, that's mean, but it would be fun.

Let me leave you with the following picture.

I found this cool little gadget at Harbor Freight. It's called 'Caulk Savers'. Go to the web site and have a look. The only problem I have with it is that I didn't come up with the idea! If it works it will be a god send considering how much caulk we will be using.

Well, I guess that's enough for today.

Till next time...

Cheers!
Larry~