Paul's Comments

About a couple of months ago, the town of Capitol Heights came out and put in proper curbs on the street. They also put a real driveway in. Before this was installed, basically there was about a 9 inch drop between the street and the driveway. Outside of a small corner I could "squeak" through it was difficult and potentially dangerous to go out; I basically had to wheedle the Metro Access drivers to come on the property in order to allow me to get me and my wheelchair on the van to take me where I was going, or else have me and them migrate me over a very difficult, steep incline. Consider a cliff face of black asphalt 9 inches thick and you've got a good idea of what I had to go through.

Coming back in was so dangerous I refused to use that method, instead, I'd have the driver take me over to the stairs, I would do a "controlled fall" in which I would lower myself out of the wheelchair at a point as close to the stairs as I could get, have him bring the wheelchair to the bottom of the steps, then I would "bum" my way by more-or-less crawling over to the top of the steps, lower myself down each step until I was even with the wheelchair seat, then slide off the steps back onto the wheelchair.

Now, it's a nice, smooth driveway, to come in I just roll right back over to the porch, use my ramp and go back into the house, and the only minor problem is that the angle is very steep to exit the driveway out to the street for an occupant self-pushing a manual wheelchair, and I can do it, it just takes time and maybe some effort. If I am being helped out to the pickup van, it's almost trivial as me and the driver simply have to push me up a slight incline to the street. Far, far better.

Only problem is, with the installation of the new curb, while it has made a significant improvement, it also means that now, I can't reach the mailbox at all. With basically everyone else leaving, I'm going to have to go get my own mail. And that's a problem because - and I think I mentioned this in a prior article - I have to completely cross that driveway, go out in the street, go about twenty feet to the mailbox, then probably use my grab stick to pull the mail out as the mailbox is now behind the curb and too far to reach from someone in a wheelchair on the street. Before, it was simply a dirt edge, I could roll right up to the mailbox for the one or two times I went out to either collect mail or put an outgoing letter in the mailbox.

So I bought a new mailbox and a new post. I figure I'll install it right at the driveway, if I get it right, I can reach it without having to do a lot of work, and the mail carrier might even be able to still load it without getting out of his truck as I think he can with the current mailbox. And guess what, it said something on the post I hadn't thought of. It reminded me to call the utility people before digging the post hole.

This is only the second time I've put in a mailbox and hadn't thought that even something as minor as a 1/4" steel rod might be a problem. But yeah, I might discover there's a gas line, electric line or something else in the exact spot I was going to use. Or rather, it might be the last thing I ever discover!

So I went on line last night - it is amazing how many things you used to either need to call in or visit in person can now be done on line - went up to Miss Utility's website, filled out the web form, and I got an e-mail back this morning with my permit number. No fee, and basically it gives the 5 utilities - Comcast (Cable), Pepco (Electric), Verizon (Telephone), Washington Gas, and WSSC (Water) - two business days to come out and mark any lines they have in the general vicinity of where the post is going to be (facing the street, either on the right or left side of the driveway, I'm being flexible in case I do find there's something underground where I was going to put it). I have a favored spot, a square of ground right next to and just clear of the fence, and facing the street, but it might not be usable.

So, if I read the permit correctly, I can start any time after 7am Monday morning. I am just so glad the maker of the post put that little warning on the package. The chances are probably very high that if I hadn't called, nothing would have happened, but this way, I can be sure.

I would have needed the time anyway, the one thing the box says I need to put the post in, a mallet, I don't have. I'll either borrow one from my sister if she has it or buy one. Probably basically what I need is a 6 pound steel sledge hammer. If I have to go to a store I'll ask, because, due to finish issues to prevent damage it may want to use a rubber mallet.