Pickles by Brian Crane for July 02, 2021

They just sit there while Earl’s life is in danger.

MOST US homes have an attic space so it’s pretty hard to fall through the roof AND the ceiling in one go.

Once, many years ago, I took a course from an expert on how to measure the energy leaks in homes. I really don’t remember much of that course, but I do remember one thing. The most important thing according to the teacher. “Doing this work, you will  be in a lot of attics. And so, eventually you will  fall through the ceiling. And when you do, remember this: get both legs on the SAME side of the ceiling joist!”

Does this mean Nelson won’t be hanging out at his grandparents house as often?

The mysterious Dan appears. He’ll be gone for months or years before showing up again.

I don’t recall ever having seen her husband before.

This means that the roof is improperly decked and won’t pass inspection or code. The old roof has to come off, get new decking, barrier, and shingles. The old roof comes off easily but the decking and roof are going to be 5 tons of weight someone is going to have to carry up a ladder.

But if they move who will look after Nelson? He spends so much time with them that even family friends assume he lives there!

It’s usually grandson Nelson who drops in to visit Earl and Opal.

Don’t you dislike when relatives drop in un announced ? !

He should be okay to fix shingles. He’s been vaccinated, right?

I know that it was a very bad idea for Debera to make Ray move across the street from his parents.

This is good!

Nelson and his parents move away!

Earl and Opal have to use their Studebaker to get to them!!

High jollity ensues!!

You left an elderly man to do work by himself on a roof? Didn’t you know disaster of one kind or another was going to happen?

Dan your lazy butt should be up there helping Earl ! It is your house ;-)

I could NEVER live next door to my parents.

Damn right you will, Sylvia! And a roofing contractor!

Panel #2— a view up Dan’s nose good enough for an ENT doctor.

I’m not going to give this one a like, just on general principle. Too much wrong with it.

Se we are led to believe that Earl would climb up on his daughter’s roof to fix shingles, when he wont lift a finger to help Opal if he can help it? (and while his young son-in-law lounges on the sofa and leaves him to it!!)

You mean, they’re finally going to move? Nelson will be very disappointed…

Hope you’ve got good homeowners insurance.

19 years later and they still haven’t moved …

If Earl is supposed to be fixing the roof and he is now coming through the ceiling, you’ve got bigger problems to fix. It’s a wonder you haven’t had water leaks in your living room.

So if he knows Earl is up there, why isn’t he at least outside watching?

Pretty tacky not to be out there helping to carry the shingles and hold the ladder. If the roof plywood decking is rotted out the house is likely a tear down, save the realtor’s commission and sell to a developer.

My wife doesn’t want me on our roof. Oh well.

If they were younger, they would have out their cell phones and would be photographing rather than helping.

Earl does physical labor??

Does NO ONE here remember, “Everyone Loves Raymond” ?

There is couch there!

Don’t forget the free child care you’re getting.

Why aren’t you up there helping him? This is your house.

This must be a dream. Earl would not be, in any way, motivated or even to consider going up on a roof. And what person would even let him attempt to go up onto the roof; both because he is inept and more because of his advanced age.

Earl has neither the energy nor the cojones to get up on a roof, unless he’s hyp-no-tiiized! Probably a second story man (see movie ‘To Catch a Thief’) that just moved into the neighborhood.

Their rates are so reasonable. On the plus side, many are hot.

If he came through the roof that easily it’s badly in need of repair, not just shingles.

Earl falling through the roof would be a good indication you have more of a problem than just a few damaged shingles or Earl for that matter.

Speaking as a member of Earl’s generation, his doctors should have warned him not to climb ladders or work on roofs or in trees. Balance among seasoned citizens is not what it was when younger, and if you’re taking blood thinners, fuggetaboutit. One of my acquaintances died from a broken back suffered in a fall from a tree (after surviving a bout of pancreatic cancer), and another suffered a subdural hematoma and needed brain surgery from falling down one poorly lit step in a restaurant. This has been a public service announcement.

Earl reminds me of Mr Tabby from Mr Tabby and Putter.

GOOD plan..!!!!!!!

It would require a crane to get Earl up there!

Earl is too old to be doing shingles! She should have called a contractor instead.

It’s so nice of you to drop in, Earl.

And you’ll have to watch your own kid….

What would you do for excitement without Earl??

… and a roofer.

And an ambulance…!

why isn’t he out there helping ?

I hope he didn’t land astride a ceiling joist. That would really hurt! Been there, done that.