Well, ladies and gentlemen you know we all miss Elvis, you know we do deep inside, and all the other musicians like Hank and Janis and Jimmy and . . . for every musician who passed on up to heaven, generally due to poor physical maintenance there's another musician whose died and gone to heaven due to lawn and garden accidents. That's right. Quite a handful of them actually, like the drummer for Toto, God how we miss him. Jeff Porcaro was his name, who died just spraying weeds in his own backyard. Or Merle Watson, the great bluegrass guitarist who passed away in a similar agriculture related accident. Nobody's ever gonna write a song about these gentlemen so we thought we would. This is for all the men who fought the lawn . . . and the lawn won....(Full text of lyrics here.)
I have a reel mower and would love to benefit from Meade's great wisdom. Does he have a favorite kind?He recommends this.
How does he keep the blades sharp?Meade says these things are "self-sharpening." I say, "But it doesn't say it's self-sharpening." And he says, in a weary tone: "I know, because they want to sell you a sharpening kit."
How does he adjust the blades?The blades slice against a cutting bar, which has 4 bolts. Unscrew the 2 bolts that are closest to the blade a bit and then tighten the back bolts if it needs to be closer, or do the reverse if it's too tight. Do it evenly and a little at a time until you get it right. Meade says it's something that your father should have taught you, but alternatively, that you can just feel your way through. It's apparently clear what to do when you're actually in the middle of doing it.
Anything else a novice like me should know?Spray WD40 on the blades to keep them from rusting. And spray some on the bolts.
Meade: I need 1 pound of vegetarian grass-fed free-range 80% lean Step 5+ Animal centered; entire life on same farm ground sirloin.
Zach, the butcher: Coming right up. Anything else?
Me (smiling): Can you add a little extra Pink Slime? That's where all the flavor is you know.
Zach (also smiling): I see you are one of our rare customers - a connoisseur.
Vowels and bowels of angel hair
And Eskimo Pie hassles in the air
And pigeons pooping everywhere
I've looked at blogs that way
But now I'm simply paranoid
The spiders make me so annoyed
The many words I couldn't avoid
Blogs got in my way
I've looked at blogs from both sides now
From front and back, from kòu and tóu
It's blogs' intrusions I recall
I really don't like blogs at all
