Fell off Ladder - What an Idiot!

[TromboneAl]

An alder tree had been bent over by a recent storm, and was leaning on the house. I put the ladder against it from the side, and figured that when I cut (above where the ladder was resting), it would move down a bit, since it was no longer supported by the house.

Instead it sprung up, so that the ladder was all by itself in the air, with me at the top. Watched everything happening in slow motion. Almost broke the leg (twisted through the ladder), but came out with only major bruises and minor cuts.

Guess I'm just as stupid as those guys you see on AFV.

 

[flipstress]

Sorry to hear about your accident, but glad that you are not hurt too badly.

 

[REWahoo]

Instead it sprung up, so that the ladder was all by itself in the air, with me at the top.

Suggestion: Stick with the trombone, and don't try playing the saw....

REW

 

[Eagle43]

You can't fly; you're not an eagle.

 

[KB]

Glad you landed ok. I always feel like an accident waiting to happen when I'm on a ladder.

Probably would have made a good video...

 

[wabmester]

Now we know the real reason retirees die sooner than working stiffs.

My neighbor did the same thing about a month after he retired.

I get in all sorts of trouble myself. Most recently, I drilled a hole through the hot water pipe after my stud finder told me it found a stud for me to mount a towel rack.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

My grandpa used to be a painter (among other things). He told in my early 20's to never get up on a ladder I didnt want to fall off of, because sooner or later that would happen. We werent talking about painting or actual ladders at the time, but the sentiment goes well with many risk taking situations. Subject was actually a prospective girlfriend.

I did fall off a ladder once, but I must have been loaded with good karma. I had a 40'er at too long an angle because I had to clear a lower roof and reach a gutter on an upper roof. Second mistake was it was sitting on a sloped driveway, sloping the wrong way. I nearly reached the gutter when it started to slide. Slowly. Slid down until it hit the lower roof, then started sliding off that. I said "Swell, I'm going face first into the driveway. I turned over onto my back with my feet on the same rung and my hands on the rails. When the ladder cleared the lower roof and started the actual fall, I was only ~6' off the driveway. Hopped off and over the side and landed on my feet. My neighbor across the street said he was going to run into the house to get a sign with "9.7" written on it and hold it up. Said I needed to "stick" the landing a little better if I wanted the full 10.0...

 

[VoyT]

   Most recently, I drilled a hole through the hot water pipe after my stud finder told me it found a stud for me to mount a towel rack.

Could have been worse ... while he was building his house, my cousin stopped the furnace man from sawing into the gas line. 

 

[haha]

A college friend of mine became an actuary. Hanging around him is an exercise in finding risks you never knew existed. I have decided that as I get older, I will cease being a homeowner and do apartments only. I know I would never pay the outrageous rates that the local idiots charge to do things around one's house. I would do it, or leave it undone.

I have already stopped using a chainsaw. I am still almost as strong as I ever was, but lets face it, chain saws are an accident trying to happen. I buy my wood. If I need to cut something, I use an old buck-saw inherited from my Dad.

In a decent apartment these things will never be a problem.

Haha

 

[Mr._johngalt]

A college friend of mine became an actuary. Hanging around him is an exercise in finding risks you never knew existed. I have decided that as I get older, I will cease being a homeowner and do apartments only. I know I would never pay the outrageous rates that the local idiots charge to do things around one's house. I would do it, or leave it undone.

I have already stopped using a chainsaw. I am still almost as strong as I ever was, but lets face it, chain saws are an accident trying to happen. I buy my wood. If I need to cut something, I use an old buck-saw inherited from my Dad.

In a decent apartment these things will never be a problem.

Haha

You are right about chain saws and all sorts of basic hazards around
the house. I can see a hundred things from where I sit that could potentially kill or maim. Or, take my late lamented motorcycle.
That is pretty dangerous too. I am all done now, but rode many thousands of miles without a scratch. Anyway, it's like Al Pacino said...........
"You can get killed walkin' your doggie!"

JG

 

[HFWR]

...by some irate homeowner POd about doggy bombs??

Sorry, couldn't resist...

 

[BUM]

TA,

Sorry about your mishap. Mathematically, ladder + chainsaw = blood.

Recently I was on the roof working on the chimney. A gust of wind blew the aluminum ladder down! No one home nearby. What to do? I carefully jumped about 5 feet on to the carport roof then 8 feet to the ground - no pain no strain.

My uncle, however while on a stepladder in his garage, got his feet tangled and fell about 5 feet to his death. You're a lucky guy!

 

[haha]

I got my own Darwin award today. I was walking along cutting grass, and didn't duck quite enough to clear a low 6" branch on an apple tree. Bam!! Blood all over, head hurting, feeling like a moron.

The cut was short, shallow and pretty straight, so I just scrubbed it and closed it with butterflies. An ice pack and some Jack Daniels is now fixing the pain.

What was I saying the other day about living in an apartment? 

Ha