This weekend I built the most expensive planter. It cost $482, to be exact.
I know what you’re thinking: “That planter looks…fine. But is it filled with gold? How could it possibly have cost almost $500?”
Here’s the budget breakdown:
- Lumber: $62
- Stain: $6 (not yet applied, obviously)
- Wheels: $16
- Lining: $10
- Rocks: Free
- Replacement back windshield: $388
The answer to “Will this plywood fit in my car? What’s the worst that can happen?” is, apparently, “No, it cannot, and the worst that can happen is that you will shatter your window and fulfill the belief held by everyone in the Lowes’ parking lot that a woman should not be on her own buying lumber.”
Learn from my mistakes, people: if your trunk isn’t closing, don’t just try to slam it a little harder. Sorry I didn’t capture a photo of the car with the plywood jutting out the shattered back window, but I think it’s a good thing that my first instinct when suddenly finding myself covered in broken glass wasn’t “I need to document this for my blog.”
Injuries were very minor, just a few cuts on my legs and feet since I was wearing shorts and sandals and the window broke all over me. Really it could have been a lot worse.
I also got pretty lucky and found Safelite Autoglass to replace it, which is a national chain. There are a number of smaller shops with good reviews near me, but all were closed on Saturday and Sunday and I did not want to wait the whole weekend without knowing how I would resolve this — especially since I was supposed to drive a car full of co-workers to New Hampshire on Tuesday for a work retreat.
Fortunately Safelite took my call, gave me an estimate over the phone, and scheduled me for first thing Monday morning at a location 15 minutes from my house. (To be clear, this post is in no way shape or form sponsored by them…I just figured I’d share my good luck since they’re national and maybe it will be relevant to you some day.)
They replaced the window in 90 minutes while I waited, and I was on my way to the office in no time. Is that how I would have chosen to spend $388? Obviously not. But in the grand scheme, it could have been so much more expensive and problematic.
And clearly I still owe you more details about how I built that amazing planter. I will get it stained and actually fill it with dirt, and then I will be back to tell you all about it! In the meantime I’m just enjoying how it hides the crawl space doors and most of the AC wiring.
Oh no! That’s all disaster and no plaster. 🙁 I’m glad you were able to get a replacement window quickly.
Sometimes it really does feel like more disaster than plaster 🙂
Oh, no, I am so sorry that I am laughing! But this will be a good learning lesson for me — (distance learning, I guess) — because I always slam a little harder! This could have been me! And my first thought would have been, I can work this into my novel! Because really, everything goes in my novel. I wonder if that’s why it’s not finished yet.
I’m glad you weren’t hurt and that your car got fixed fast. I didn’t even know there were places that would replace car windows, so now I know two new things! Thank you!
Good, I hope i learned this lesson for you! 🙂
My goodness, I though auto glass was tougher than that! You do us all such a service with this blog, going first into dangerous territory. Glad you–and the plywood–weren’t hurt.
I thought so too! Testing the limits for the good of us all!
Re: “fulfill the belief held by everyone in the Lowes’ parking lot that a woman should not be on her own buying lumber.” You’re assuming no man has ever done this?
Oh for sure they have, but sexism isn’t really logic-based…. 🙂
Oh dear … glad your injuries weren’t more serious . Good that you could get the windshield replaced so quickly – and , finally this is a good lesson for us all . BTW, the planter looks great !!
Thanks Lynn! All’s well that ends well I guess!
I can so relate…laughing w/you…borrowed the hubs SUV so my friend the electrician n I could go rent a really tall ladder at HD so she could install a ceiling fan way up high on our side deck..such a great idea except I hit the speed bump in the parking lot a wee bit faster than a crawl n the ladder bucked n went through the windshield…..drove home with the wind in our faces and practicing my presentation…..he was more incredulous at first….love the fan tho!
Wow! That must have been scary with a broken windshield, I was counting my lucky stars it was the back window!
If its any consolation, my dad did basically the same thing years ago, only it was the front windshield and a Home Depot parking lot, lol.
He took the minivan, grabbed some 2x4s (or other long skinny boards, I don’t even remember what he needed them for but he didn’t have them cut down or anything) and he rested one end on the dashboard and laid them running the length of the car right down the middle… trunk wouldn’t quite close so he forced it, which popped the boards hard enough against the front window to crack the hell out of it. My mom was not amused.
My parents swear by windshield/glass insurance though, check your car insurance company – for us it was a super cheap add on (like, a few dollars a year) so it may be worth adding it for any future lumber related disasters 😉
Thanks Michelle! Our insurance comes with a hefty deductible for glass, unfortunately.
Oh no! Sorry to hear of your troubles… I have for sure tested the fates with things like that once or twice.
I don’t want to insinuate that you didn’t think of this or check already, since you seem to be pretty on top of your ish, but I seem to recall glass coverage being mandatory in Massachusetts. I know when I had a passenger window freeze and shatter, it was covered, and I don’t tend to opt for well, optional, things. It may be worth a call to see? And if not, like someone said above, definitely worth the few dollars a year! A good reminder for me to go check!
Thanks Kate! That law changed in MA in 2008, so alas now insurers can charge quite a premium if you opt to waive the glass deductible (which I decided not to). Oh well, live and learn!