Farmer Rod’s Guide to Procrastination

You know that one job you keep putting off? For me, it’s cleaning the combine. Every fall, once the harvest wraps up, that big, dusty machine just sits there, staring me down. And every year, I come up with a new list of reasons why now just isn’t the time to tackle it.

First, there’s the weather. I mean, cleaning the combine is bad enough—who wants to do it in the cold? Or worse, the wind! Imagine all that dust and debris blowing right back in my face. And too hot? Forget it. It’d be like taking a dirt shower in a sauna. So, I tell myself, I’ll wait for the perfect weather. I know that buys me at least a week or two.

But even if the weather’s good, there’s the question of help. Let’s face it, this job’s miserable alone. Maybe one of the kids could help, I think. But they’ve got their own schedules, and the only possible time they’re free is on a weekend. If I just wait for the right moment, they might be around to lend a hand.

And, of course, I can’t ignore all the other “high-priority” farm tasks. Cleaning the barn, winterizing the rams’ water setup—those need doing too, right? With lambs coming in November, the barn needs to be ready. And the rams? They’ll be thirsty soon enough, and I’d rather get their water sorted out before we’re breaking ice. It’s only logical that I tackle those jobs first…right?

Then, there’s the matter of equipment. Maybe I need a new tool for this job, I think. Perhaps a high-powered blower or a different pressure washer attachment could make it easier. Better do some research before committing. That buys me another day or two, just to be thorough.

Meanwhile, that combine just sits there, covered in crop debris, daring me to do something about it. And every time I walk by, I feel a bit of guilt. But if I’m honest, I think the dread of cleaning it has grown just because I keep dreading it. The longer I avoid it, the bigger the job feels in my head. I’ve probably spent more energy avoiding the job than it would take to just get it done.

So here’s the plan: tomorrow morning, I’ll grab that blower and finally tackle the combine. And you know what? Now that I’ve told all of you, I guess I’m committed. Next time you hear from me, I’ll either be a proud conqueror of combine dust…or, well, I’ll have a few more creative excuses up my sleeve. Either way, thanks for keeping me honest!

Farmer Rod
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