You can't really be allergic to yard work

In my springtime ambition, I've decided to tackle the installation of a French drain in my sideyard. A French drain is basically a way to create a void in the soil (with tubing and gravel) where water can sit below the surface instead of on the surface, as it tends to do in my yard.

Anyway, although I want to do this myself, I also want to have help (because the only home improvement project I've been able to complete myself, without being rescued by someone with more knowledge is replacing the caulking in my shower). I even had to have help hanging shelves in my house! I digress. So, I convince my loving other half to help out, despite his insistence that he's allergic to yard work. I don't make him mow and have never asked him to edge/weedwack. (He does wash a mean dish and does most of the cooking around here.) But I need his help with this 41'x 1.5' trench. We work diligently from about 4 p.m. Friday until about 7, then we get cleaned up and head out for a high-caloric Mexican meal around 8. During dinner he starts sniffling and coughing and says, "I think I might be getting sick."

I think, "This is a ploy so that you a) don't have to help me finish the trench tomorrow and b) don't have to go to Easter dinner with my entire family Sunday."

By 2 in the morning overnight Friday, he was coughing and stuffed up -- a sinus infection. It came on quick and he's been battling for a few days, but today he was out for the count. He slept most of today.

I guess maybe you can be allergic to yard work.

P.S. The trench is still not finished. Maybe next weekend...