Helpless Hands
While it might not be a surprise to some of you, I thought it was time to air out a true confession:
I suck at home repairs.
I have a phobia about working with home wiring. I pretty much have to analyze any problem at length before I can begin attempting to fix the problem. I find I don't often have the right tools for the job and the tools I do have I don't organize very well.
This was apparent in spades this weekend when called out a plumber to solve the problem of the water heater that wasn't heating water. I also asked him to really fix the issue with my toilet supply line that I almost literally placed a bandaid on. I guess my though process on the water heater was the problem was a dead thermostat and after reading up on the work involved to replace it, I didn't want any part of it. Turns out the problem was the reset switch needed to be re-tripped (doh!). I felt about 1 foot tall upon learning that news. I felt a little better seeing the effort he had to go through to get the stuck supply line off the toilet (hacksaw involved!). Nevertheless, shame and embarrassment was my overall feeling/mood throughout the weekend.
It's not that I don't have an interest in learning how to fix a lot of this myself. I do. The problem is I often have such a long learning curve when it comes to some of these fixes that I just don't have the luxury of time to struggle through it myself. I look at a lot of my friends who whiz though mechanical and household fixes with no issues whatsoever and I find myself jealous that I can't do the same. If I could go back in time and root though the toolbox of talent that people are blessed with, I'd love to pick this ability up. Maybe I'd feel a less out of place when I hear about how someone accomplished some major feat of home improvement themselves.
I suck at home repairs.
I have a phobia about working with home wiring. I pretty much have to analyze any problem at length before I can begin attempting to fix the problem. I find I don't often have the right tools for the job and the tools I do have I don't organize very well.
This was apparent in spades this weekend when called out a plumber to solve the problem of the water heater that wasn't heating water. I also asked him to really fix the issue with my toilet supply line that I almost literally placed a bandaid on. I guess my though process on the water heater was the problem was a dead thermostat and after reading up on the work involved to replace it, I didn't want any part of it. Turns out the problem was the reset switch needed to be re-tripped (doh!). I felt about 1 foot tall upon learning that news. I felt a little better seeing the effort he had to go through to get the stuck supply line off the toilet (hacksaw involved!). Nevertheless, shame and embarrassment was my overall feeling/mood throughout the weekend.
It's not that I don't have an interest in learning how to fix a lot of this myself. I do. The problem is I often have such a long learning curve when it comes to some of these fixes that I just don't have the luxury of time to struggle through it myself. I look at a lot of my friends who whiz though mechanical and household fixes with no issues whatsoever and I find myself jealous that I can't do the same. If I could go back in time and root though the toolbox of talent that people are blessed with, I'd love to pick this ability up. Maybe I'd feel a less out of place when I hear about how someone accomplished some major feat of home improvement themselves.