Removal

My brother, a ham radio nut, asked to visit next October... needs a few things done first, though. "Move my antenna to the top of the house, please."
I have an obsolete TV antenna up the side of the chimney. "Swap it out?"
I remember I put it up there in 1979. Used to work fine.

That means the TV mast has been up there, in the New England elements, for 40 plus years. I took a look. What used to be bolt threads are encrusted with red rot. I'll need some WD-40.
No, a hammer would be more useful than this wrench.
At 40 feet up, one arm around the chimney, both feet on the 2nd rung from the top of the extension ladder, I tried to unfasten the VHF antenna.
No go! More WD-40? Everything is now slippery, even the wrench.
Once more...
Okay, okay... it's turning.
Turn, turn, snap ...oops, sheared off the stud.
Well, that makes only 3 more to go. But which?
I still had to support the TV antenna... until the last stud. And I ain't going to try to carry it down the ladder.
Besides, it's VHF-UHF... no need to save this beast. Cell phones use those frequencies now.
Okay, working, working, working #2. Snap. #2 gone. Progress.
Working #3... wrench slipped, and a knuckle smacked the sheared stud.
Oh, that smarts. Blood...
Just suck on it a bit. Humm, blood and WD-40, interesting flavor.
Looking around. Damn, the sun's hot up here.
The neighbors have a pool?
One of those 4' plastic temporary kind. Couldn't see it from the ground, trees and all.
Okay, one more stud to go. Only this one's more intact, shielded buy a plastic hood. Still rusted, though... no, it doesn't turn either.
I busted off a piece of the antenna to get a longer arm on the wrench.
There goes... sheered... tipping, tipping.
Clunk, as it went over a yagi element speared my shoulder. "Ouch!"
Shrugged it off, guided it went over the side, and the whole antenna fell.
Until the lead wire snapped halfway to the ground... whipped back and caught me on the cheek.
Flogged by RG-58, damn, that hurts.
Legs wobbled, hang on to the ladder, don't let go.
Looked down, no, I don't like heights.
Well it's done. Done.
Why did I promise my brother to put up his ham antenna anyway?
...Because he's my brother.

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