How much wood would a woodchuck chuck

This week Ryan and I have been working through a temp. agency doing "construction and landscaping", or so the agency told us. We had the miserable task of trying to unearth bushes from in front of a hotel in Jackson. Anyone that's been out here can attest to how hard and miserable the soil is at the end of the summer that trying to put anything in it except a pickaxe or an explosive is borderline impossible. We had neither pick-axe nor explosives, but ended up using some thick elbow grease and an F-250 to pull a few out. The next part of our day wasn't exactly construction or landscaping - we helped some nice, old, rich Texan move him and his wife into a house over the pass in Victor, Idaho. Not only do I know he's rich because he builds resorts around the country, but more importantly all of his crap was so heavy (marble everything, 9x7 mirror with gaudy frame, 2 piece china hutch, mostly glass, and an heirloom of the family - a 16' solid, heavy wooden structure that used to house speakers and a record player which didn't break down which of course had to go on the 2nd floor). So I can now check Idaho off of my list.

Today was much nicer. We hung out with Dish (Tim is his official name) who is conveniently the dish washer that was promoted to grounds keeper at The Lost Creek Ranch & Spa about 30 minutes north of Jackson. With spectacular views of the Grand Teton from just about anywhere out there, it's no wonder there's a lame, small contemporary house with a view next to the property that is mostly glass going for $6.7 milliion. We creeped it and it was impressive, but not that impressive. Anyway.

The important part of today is that in addition to conditioning ourselves to the altitude here (6,200'+) and making some cash, we got tons of free wood. I inquired if they had any wood they wanted to get rid of and the boss-man said most def. We ended up bringing back enough to fill the back of the F-250 and then split most of it with the newest member of our household, Ax. Here's what Ax brings to the table these days here at 536 No Name Alley: Carnage!

Even though one of the last things I need is more chest hair, I was glad to be able to act so manly and chop my own wood after work today with some fellow bros. With the cold starting to settle in (dipping into the upper 20s at night) and our budgets not caring for heat, our wood stove is going to get plenty of use this winter. And I think we're going to like it here.