Brain Trust

Well, here it is one year later and B is as happy and healthy as ever. I'll have a birthday post put up soon I promise. Of course soon is a relative term... to hold you over until then, enjoy the following tale.

We held B's birthday at our house. Since it was a nice weekend, we decided to have it outside. As is my way, I set out a list of things to accomplish before the party. I did not complete all of my tasks. Luckily for me the Gang of Grandpas were there to help pickup some of my slack. B's mom and I had carefully selected a small slide and swing set as one of our presents for B. Some assembly was required. We wanted to have it ready for him at his party. I tasked the Grandpas with assembling this architectural marvel for their grandson so that I could shower and not gross out all of our guests.

There are a few things I should point out. 1. The box said that it only required 20 minutes to assemble. 2. Only one tool was required. 3. The Grandpas are normally crafty guys. (One has even claimed to have been a plumber at some point in time.) 4. The box said 20 minutes...

After making myself presentable and completing a few other tasks in preparation of the celebration, I went out to check on The Gang. 30 minutes have now passed. I see the swing set is no where near completion. I figure, maybe it just looks that way and they are almost done. I go on to greet some of the guests arriving and poke B or something.

After 45 minutes to an hour I decide to check on The Gang's progress. The swing set looks good. Knowing that my bulldozer of a little guy will be beating the ever loving crap out of this thing I decide to see how sturdy it is. It is not. I hold one wall and shake and the whole thing nearly falls over. Hmmm? I lift up one side and see that the base isn't even attached, it is just sitting on the piece meant to help this thing stand. I also see that the slide is not attached. My dad then comes over to me and says, "Here take these, I think they were extra." At this point he hands me 8 metal screws. "Interesting" I think to myself. One or two extra screws... Ok.... Eight, we may have a problem. I take the illustrated instructions, just for a quick review.

It is here that I learn that the metal screws are the only real (non-plastic) pieces holding this thing together. I also learn that there are eight screws used in the assembly of this play center. I also learn that none have been installed. I take the screws and a screw driver that I provided The Gang and set about assembling the swing set. I then find that the reason the slide isn't attached is because there are no holes where holes should be to attached the slide to the main tower. No problem. Drill in hand, I make holes. Slide attached. 

The lesson here... well... The Gang of Grandpas may have once been a handy bunch, but put them all together and you may have a great golf team, but contractors they are not.