This is almost like a job or something

Hello Everyone,

For the last several days, I have been helping to tear down and then rebuild a deck on my brother's cottage in Whistler. It's just like a job, except that I can still sleep in, occasionally take a short nap in the afternoon, and am living for free on site. So, pretty close to the real thing. Also, I don't get paid.

If you've ever watched the classic Canadian home improvement show Holmes on Homes, you'll understand how this project has grown. Originally, we were supposed to just replace the plywood surface of the deck, but as we ripped that up, a lot of the underlying structure was rotting as well. In true Mike Holmes fashion, dad and I quickly decided to just tear it all down.

Well, not all, we left the posts and stairs standing, but it might actually have been easier if we had taken them down too as they weren't lined up to be square at all and we've been fighting with the results of that since.

I do get where Mike Holmes is coming from though when we would tell his clients, every show without fail, that they had to tear down a lot more than they had intended, so it could be rebuilt properly. There's a good feeling to building something correctly, feeling how solid it is and knowing that it will last.

Arthur has been really good throughout this process. He barks a bit here and there, but will mostly just mosey around or lay out in the sun. Usually, he likes to sit at the top of the deck and watch over the driveway, but he wasn't quite sure what to do when we tore down his deck. He stood at the top of the stairs for awhile just looking at where the deck is supposed to be, wondering what the heck is going on.

You and me both, buddy.

wes