Regrading the Yard
03/10/25
I only got one quote to re-grade my yard. That’s all it took to think, “I can probably do it myself.” So, here we are, saving our pennies while we sacrifice our sanity. I rented a sod cutter and got to it.
After just two and a half days of grueling labor under the relentless Florida sun, I had to take several days off to let my aching muscles recover. Roughly 4 days, 436 grams of protein, and 32 ounces of tart cherry juice later, I was back at it.
What I miss the most about my early twenties is not having sore knees every time I squat to lift something. Especially when it’s squares upon squares of sod, over and over, for hours. These days, every time I bend or squat, my joints snap, crackle, or pop like the Rice Crispies cereal I ate for breakfast as a child. The Keebler elves never mentioned that this would occur.
After another two days, most of the sod had been removed from our yard, leaving only the task of re-grading. Oh, you know. It’s just a simple job of doing it manually with a single rake. How hard could that be?
I’m dumb and know nothing, and I nearly died.
My friendly neighbor finally wandered over and inquired about what I was up to. I explained my situation, and he recommended renting a Bobcat. I told him I didn’t know how to operate one. “Just let me know when you rent it, dear. Tell me what you want removed, and I’ll drive it for you.” Such a simple and brilliant suggestion. Perhaps I should have asked for help in the first place.
It’s 11:15 pm, and I am exhausted. To be continued.
03/22/25
After checking the rental prices for a mini-Bobcat and mini-skid steer, I realized it would cost me nearly $700 for a 24-hour rental. I have to accept the fact that I'll need to complete the job manually, and it's going to fucking suck.
The majority of the grass that was severed using the sod cutter has died, becoming brown and dry like hay. This means it now retains less moisture and is, therefore, not as heavy, which is a plus. I’ve had my coffee and eaten a hearty breakfast, preparing my muscles with a fair amount of carbs. Lord have mercy, the more I think about it the more I realize how much this is really going to suck.
It's the end of March in Florida, and shockingly, it's 55 degrees outside. I'm going to make the most of this weather and try to accomplish as much as possible today. I hope for success, or perhaps a miracle. Here I go.
03/22/25 Later that Day:
You know what? I'm done. I'm going to start saving and set aside money for renting the tools. It's just too much effort. My knees and back can't take it anymore. This is what being in your mid-30s feels like, and it's not enjoyable. I concede.
I'm planning to rent the bobcat in June, which I found through a private, family-owned company for the much more affordable rate of $125 for the day (which includes delivery and pick-up). Our helpful neighbor has agreed to do the work for us in exchange for any leftover dirt, which he can use to restore his yard that his dog ruined. Stay tuned.