Would this upset you?

[brant2000]

So, I happened to be over at my wife's uncle's house over the weekend when he mentioned that he would have to have two giant (24"+ diameter) sugar maples taken down in front of his house. Said that with signs of decay, he just doesn't want to risk them coming down in a storm. My ears perk up and I say what any wood junky would say..."what do you plan to do with the wood?" He says that he's just going to have the tree guys haul it away. I kindly ask if he'd be willing to let me haul it away, since that's a lot of primo firewood. He gives me the kind of response that skirts the question, knowing that saying no would make him look like a jerk, but there isn't a shot in he!! that he'll let me take the wood.

This is a man that has literally helped me cut and split wood in the past and we often talk wood. The only logical reason I can see is that, being retired, he wants the wood and it's mess gone as quickly as possible. I offered to pay him for it, but he still wouldn't care. He just wants to be sure that he doesn't see a remnant of it and doesn't want to have to do any work. I live a half mile away and would certainly do my best to haul it away and clean up as quickly as possible, but obviously can't compete with a crew of tree trimmers.

I've helped him out with many things in the past, and for his sake I hope he doesn't need any help from me in the time it takes me to forget about this.

 

[yooperdave]

Go figure, huh? Yeah, it would "rub me the wrong way" I guess. But it would also get me to thinking why? Maybe somewhere along the line you rubbed him the wrong way?...unintentionally/unknowingly but still?
To avoid what seems like a possible rift opening even wider, let it go and chalk it up as knowing that you will not get every "score" that comes along.

 

[red oak]

I would probably be a little upset as you are. I would ask him directly Can I have the wood? I'll have it gone inside of a week or whatever. If he still says no respect his decision and move on. As Dave says you probably don't want a rift in the family over it.

As a side note, maybe you could ask the tree service to dump it at your place.

 

[yooperdave]

Good post Red...but I was expecting to see a "score from tree service post" from someone else in southwwest Pa!!

 

[Beer Belly]

I was gonna suggest just what red oak suggested....ask the tree guys to dump it at your place. As far as why not let you take it.....maybe you're right, he wants it down and gone in one big sweep.....maybe the tree guys want the wood, and they gave him a discount ?(not likely). Don't let it bother you too much, not worth the riff in the family.

 

[Ralphie Boy]

Find out the name of the tree guy and make him a deal. You know, like Crap Game said in Kelly's Heroes: "Maybe he's a Republican"

 

[brant2000]

I thought about doing what you guys suggest, even offering to pay an additional if the tree guys want to charge to haul it over to my place. My wife, however, says we've already pushed the issue enough and to just let them do what they want with their trees. My response...that's fine, but I will do what I want with my time the next time he hits me up for some help.

 

[BobUrban]

x2 on Ralphie Boys comment. Be there when they come down and tell the tree service they can drop it all at your place any way they want. This way you get it delivered and they don't have to haul it to the dump site.

 

[BEConklin]

Is your uncle married? Maybe he's stuck between your wishes and those of his wife.

 

[brant2000]

He is married, and that certainly may be part of the problem. She brings a whole new level of orderliness that most have never seen. Let's just say that they don't even have an artificial Christmas tree, because it would make too much of a mess. That being said, she's still the close/blood relative. If she has it in her mind that the tree trimmer's saws don't make chips, she's in for a surprise.

 

[Grateful11]

Yes that would upset me a bit. Where we used to live we didn't burn wood at all. When Hurricane Hugo came through we gave wood to my now late Father and my neighbor. Sure it took them a bit longer to get rid of it but we had 17 big trees down. I wanted to see someone make good use of them.

 

[gerry100]

Could it be that the tree company quote includes keeping the firewood?

 

[mstoelton]

Let it go, but, The next time he asks you to help him out agree to do so. Tell him you would be very willing to help him despite him not considering you or allowing you to get the wood. Make sure that you think he was a real jerk about it, but that you are a better person than to hold a grudge against a friend that has offended you or done you wrong.

 

[Woody Stover]

People are funny....

 

[PA. Woodsman]

Strange stuff, but there's a reason behind it, maybe his wife, maybe the tree guys want it, maybe like someone said the price included hauling it etc? People do odd things and we sometimes don't know why.....

The next time he asks you for something or for help you can always say "call the tree service"

 

[mstoelton]

The next time he asks you for something or for help you can always say "call the tree service"

I like That!

 

[hiites]

Sounds to me like he already told someone else they could have the wood or he has sold it to someone else.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

For sure I'd confront the man and ask why. Most times it is better to clear the air before something bad happens between the two of you.

 

[Locust Killa]

He is married, and that certainly may be part of the problem. She brings a whole new level of orderliness that most have never seen. Let's just say that they don't even have an artificial Christmas tree, because it would make too much of a mess. That being said, she's still the close/blood relative. If she has it in her mind that the tree trimmer's saws don't make chips, she's in for a surprise.

Hi I'm new to the forum so please bear with me but all I can say is it would be a damn waste of really
good wood if it were to wind up in a landfill. I scrounged like a half cord of Black locust today that was destined
for the landfill and couldn't let it get away.

 

[fossil]

Why talk with us about it instead of trying to talk with him about it?

 

[Paulywalnut]

Wife's uncle? Hmm. At least he's not blood. Just comes along with the family. Nice guy. Chalk it up to experience.
Not your wife's fault. You sure can't pick your relatives.

 

[Auzzie Gumtree]

I would ask him if he minds if you contact the tree service to see if a deal can be done - if this falls on deaf ears give it up......

 

[tsquini]

I don't know why he would want to pay more money to have it hauled away when he could help out a family member.I wouldn't be too upset. He can do want he wants.

 

[begreen]

We were in this situation recently with a neighbor having a locust downed. They had the same concerns and needs. They wanted it clean when all was done. I got rid of their concerns by telling them a specific time that I would have the rounds moved (in the next 3 days) and promised to leave the area raked clean. We got the wood and honored our promise. Everyone is happy.

 

[brant2000]

I agree with all of you and appreciate your thoughts. Dealing with family is always a tricky situation. I think it's a going to be a lost cause, as I have a feeling the next time I drive by or see the man the trees will already be gone. This ranks right up there with what he did last year...he bought a new truck from a competing dealership than the one my brother in law (his nephew) worked at. He never even mentioned it to anyone until he showed up one day driving it. Go figure