I was thinking about a picture to add to this post, but then horror set in. “I can’t actually show them how bad I am. Admitting it is hard enough. I don’t have a ‘not-so-handy’ photo to share at this moment, but perhaps one day I will submit photo proof of my handy-misfortunes.
Yes. I am a man. I am stubborn. I tell myself I am open-minded. Easy going. I am, I truly believe that I am, but I don’t give up easily. Maybe that means I am open-ended?
I was browsing around Facebook the other night, when I spotted the following status from a friend of mine.
Friend: Successfully hooked up my wireless internet, VCR (yes, I still have one… PVR is expensive people!) and DVD player all by myself… yay!
Although a handiman I am not (I am not giving up yet much to my wifes chagrin), I am fairly competant with electronics and computers. More so the latter, so the fact that she had tackled and was successful at setting up her own wireless internet, impressed me.
I won’t pat myself on the back too much when it comes to electronics though. I won’t lie. My sister comes to fix my cable. She was always a curious soul who took great pleasure in taking things apart – just to see how they worked. I am much the same, but the difference is that she actually gets them back together in working form. I end up with a few extra parts and if it’s working, you should be skeptical. She is Ms. Fix it. I am Mr. Break it. She is our mother. I am our father.
I just tried to fix my printer the other day actually. I called Cannon tech support with the error code. They told me it could be a paper jam or the main chip board could be gone. I couldn’t see any paper jammed in any of the accessible points, so I proceeded to take it apart. They told me it would be cheaper to buy a new one rather than take it in for repairs anyways, so I thought if it could be garbage anyway, no harm in opening it up to see if something was stuck inside.
- Best describes my ‘handyman’ abilities.
- Not my sister, but a good representation of her handywoman abilities. One of these days, I’ll man-up enough to call her first.
Snap! Never a good sound, and although I can fix a computer, what I had pulled off the main board was not an easy, or a cheap fix. Now it was broken. The worst part of it was that no sooner had I personally dealt my printer the last blow, I suddenly also noticed that there was a nice clean white sheet of paper stuck and it was in plain site; before opening it up. I am not sure why they would make the paper feed area white?
Needless to say, the printer is now on the back porch waiting for garbage day. Humpty couldn’t put Cannon back together again. Should have called my sister.
Ironically, my wife and I were talking about insurance for things pets have wrecked, just the other day. She asked if they had coverage for things husbands had wrecked. I think I should quite possibly sell all the tools I don’t know how to use, so I am not inspired to try and fix something I don’t know anything about, simply becuase I have the tool for it; which I don’t know how to use in the first place.
I wonder if there is a club for husbands like me, or perhaps more likely, a club for woman with husbands like me.
Wasn’t there a movie about that? Ex-wives Club perhaps?
What will I fix today?
You are right, Jacquie. Not all men should feel they need to be handy, but it is nice when you’re wife mentions that something isn’t working, and you can go off and fix it and feel good about such an accomplishment.
For me, I find challenge in something I can start and finish. My job and my hobby of writing, often don’t know the finish part of starting a task for a very long time, and I like to finish things.
This weekends task is ripping up the child/animal worn carpet in our living room. I peeked under it to find hardwood floors so we are going to see what we can do to make them work without putting new carpet down. Just not a good flooring choice with messy little rug rats, a big old dog and a crazy kitten.
There are certainly many household jobs I should learn how to pick up the phone for, and I have on a few occasions like flooring for the kids room, re-framing a door, some electrical, etc., but I have been trying everything at least once. I like getting dirty and trying to figure out how things work. It’s like playing music for me. Your mind wanders and problem solving skills are alive and if you can figure it out, you feel great in the end. If not, I know personally, I feel a huge sense of defeat and frustration.
I don’t like to not be able to do something but you are 100% right. Work with what you are good at, and seek help with what you are not. If I enjoyed doing something I wasn’t good at the first time though, sometimes I like to try again. I admire those who can look at a household problem like fixing/replacing a deck or fence, draw up some plans, run over to the lumber yard, and next thing you know there is a beautiful sitting space in their yard. Not something I can do, but I do know many who can do it.
I hate asking for help when there are few things I can do to return such favours. I am stubborn that way. Writing and drawing pretty pictures doesn’t seem to count for much. lol I love barter systems, and I wouldn’t mind finding something I can be good at outside of creativity, so I can offer my services in return. Perhaps not in return of a favor for someone who also knows that skill I am looking to find within me, but even if I can offer it to someone else who doesn’t, than I can find comfort in the fact that I have paid it forward in some way.
Who said all men have to be handy? I think it’s better to know what you’re good at, stick to that and for all the rest, know how to make phone calls to the right people. Now that’s being handy!
Good luck with your future projects, Lawrence!