Gutter-cleaning. A disgusting but necessary household chore. I did it the first time back on Memorial Day weekend. I’m not sure it was ever done before that. I did it again today.

It’s a horrid task. The leaves have had all summer to sit in water and rot. They smell bad. As far as I can figure, the only way to get them out of there is to climb onto the roof, bend over at an awkward angle, shove your hand in there, and scoop the decomposing mess out. Which I did. Tip for next time: rubber gloves. The garden gloves were inadequate.

Bonus: the water still left in the gutter from a week ago had frozen, so the leaves came out in sheets. And froze my hand. Not only smelly/disgusting, but also painful. Awesome!

I can’t bring myself to pay someone to do it, though. I have an extension ladder, a wife to hold the ladder, and an hour of free time.