Great Goofs

I Told You So!

By Steve Smolinski

From The Family Handyman

Several years ago, my wife and I decided to build anew fence along the property line. My wife insisted that I call the local utilities (gas, phone, water, etc.) hot line before I dug the holes, saying, “After all, it’s just one number to call and the service is free.” Well, I never got around to it and started digging the fencepost holes. All was fine until I got to the last post. I jammed the digger down and hit something that felt like a rock, so I gave it another hard thrust. Oops! I could hear hissing out of the pipe and smell gas rising out of the hole. I told my wife and she notified the neighbors and the gas company. Needless to say, I felt about 2 ft. tall as they all gathered across the street looking at me standing by the hole as the gas truck came rushing up the street. I could see my wife staring at me and mouthing the words, “I told you so!”

From The Family Handyman - April 2002