Four years ago I planted a willow tree in my back yard and it's done quite well, about 30 feet tall. When the pool guys put a new liner in our inground pool this spring they as much said, "Only an idiot would plant a willow tree 40 feet from a pool because the roots will grow right into it and destroy your pool." Being an Idiot, I had to agree, and decided I'd have the tree taken out this fall.
So I called several services and the best price I got was $300. I told the wife that was ridiculous for a tree that wouldn't take but a hour or two to cut down, and that I'd borrow a chain saw and do it myself. She said, "Only an Idiot would try to cut down a tree at your age."
Being an Idiot, I borrowed the saw and cut the damned tree down. While I was cutting off the last branch, it turned and smacked me upside the head, knocking me down. No damage done, so after I commented on that tree's ancestry, I started piling the branches in one corner of the yard I use for shrubs, leaves, etc. About an hour into this I decided to take a break and reached up to take off my glasses to wipe off the sweat, only to find my glasses weren't there. Apparently, the branch knocked them off and I didn't notice.
I couldn't find them near the tree, so I figured they got caught up in one of the branches. Two hours later, after I had moved all the branches off one pile, and then put them back, I gave up. It was the proverbial needle in a haystack.
So, to save $300, I cut down a tree, busted my ass, hurt my back (which I broke in a car accident and have a herniated disc) and ended up paying $420 for a new pair of glasses.
I AM an Idiot. I sometimes doubt it. But this weekend confirmed - again - that I'm in the right clan.