A rolling stone gathers no moss -- except, of course, for Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, who are looking a little green around the gills these days. But a standing house gathers moss -- and it takes a lot of green to get it off.
That's why I recently shelled out $300 for a power washer.
I was prompted to make the purchase when a guy who does power washing on the side (as well as, presumably, in the front and back) offered to do the house for $400.
My wife, Sue, who is always thinking (of stuff for me to do), said we could save money if we bought a power washer and did the house ourselves. Or, more specifically, myself.
After God made Sue, He broke the mold. Now it was up to me to get rid of the mold with a new power washer.
I went to a large home-improvement store and spoke with a very nice, knowledgeable and helpful sales associate named Frank, who knew that when it came to power washing, I was wet behind the ears.
"The proper attire for power washing is a bathing suit and goggles, but if you want an undersea effect, you can use a snorkel," Frank said after I chose a machine approximately the size of a Subaru, which was no coincidence because it has a Subaru engine.
Before I loaded the power washer into my car, which is not a Subaru, I got quite an education from Frank, a college business professor who has worked in landscaping and construction.
"I wear many hats, but not when I power-wash my house," said Frank, who added: "You're the first guy I have ever met who admitted that he doesn't know what he's doing."
According to Frank, guys think they know everything about home improvement, even when they don't, which is most of the time. But even if they're handy, they'll always defer to their wives.
"I'm pretty handy," Frank said. "But my wife doesn't trust me. We were redoing our home and we had to get his and hers shopping carts. When we got to the register, she kept everything in her cart and I had to empty mine. Guess who did the work. Me! And with the stuff she bought."
The house came out nice, said Frank, who predicted that mine would, too, because my power washer would get off all the moss, mold and mildew and that, thanks to Sue, I would save money.
"The wives are always right," Frank noted.
I wasn't so sure when I got the power washer home and it wouldn't start. When I brought it back to the store, Frank started it on the first try.
"You have to pull the cord like you're mad at it," Frank said. "Swearing helps, too."
"I already tried that," I replied.
"And make sure the choke is in the right position," he advised.
"I'd like to choke the stupid thing," I said.
"Don't get that mad at it," Frank warned.
When I got the power washer back home, I swore at it and pulled the cord hard. It started on the first try.
Clad in a bathing suit and goggles, I posed as Sue took a photo, which will no doubt end up on a "wanted" poster. Holding the trigger handle and spray wand, I looked like either an action hero or a space alien.
When I pulled the trigger, a powerful stream of soap and water shot out. It splashed off the vinyl siding and soaked me.
"Are you having fun?" Sue asked above the din of the power washer.
"It's like my own personal water park!" I said giddily.
Best of all, the green on the side of the house started to melt away.
There's still more to do, but the place is looking much better. And, for what it's worth, I'm the cleanest guy in the neighborhood.
Stamford Advocate columnist Jerry Zezima is the author of "Leave It to Boomer." Visit his blog at www.jerryzezima.blogspot.com. Email: JerryZ111@optonline.net.
Copyright 2011 by Jerry Zezima