Springtime Projects

Being the main gardener about these parts, springtime has me focused on garden chores and plans ( for myself!), but it always seems there are many unfinished tasks to remind the Handyman about. He gets distracted. So here is the sample conversation we recently had:

ME: Don't you think 25 years is a fairly long time to wait for something?
Handyman: Yes, I do.
ME: Well, you know the outlets in the living room have been needing replacement for about that long, think you could do that this week?
Handyman: I think it was about 22 years. It's a pretty easy job- I just need reminding.
ME: I'm reminding you about it right now, what will you need to get the job done?
Handyman: A quick trip to the hardware and getting better quality outlets this time should do it.
ME: That would be great- you know it is really annoying when the vacuum won't stay plugged in and the light plugs fall out, etc.
Handyman: I know, I just don't think about it very often.

Segue to the following week: the outlets purchased, but not yet fixed. In the meantime, though, we have decided on something that puts out reminders for pesky jobs without having a pesky wife do all the reminding work:

by the basement we now have a board on which I have stuck post-it notes enumerating said pesky jobs. Handyman knows where to look if he feels like accomplishing something small, but necessary. And there are always small, but necessary jobs around an old house.

I think this is a good solution for the merry-go-round of trying to coordinate job requests and time to work on them without the sometimes irritated feelings that can go with a d-i-yourself lifestyle.

Holiday Over: Time For Work Projects

January is always a time to plan and get started on work projects for the year. I suggested to Handyman that he could set up a few of the small "finish up" jobs to work on throughout the winter months of January and February- he thought that was a good idea. The thing with these little jobs is that they go unnoticed when the major work season of springtime arrives. They are those pesky little things that need job lists and little bits of time here or there.

Recently, Handyman knocked out a few: attached a robe hook in an extra bedroom, put up the winerack shelf I bought while out Christmas shopping (aaahhh- you know you do that too! -buy something for yourself while out there in the shopping mode). One of the peskiest jobs seems to be our screen door in the back. I don't know why, but it pops nails, gets out of plumb and generally won't behave no matter what. I know you read this dear Handy-dandy, so put it on the list - thanks! HUGS ;)

We still have some trimwork that needs to be installed in the garage office area, and there are little maintenance jobs in the bathroom, etc. It's always something...., but it is easier when remembering the old saying "a stitch in time saves nine". Akin to "measure twice cut once", just some old words of wisdom reminding us that it pays to keep things in working order and give attention to the state of affairs around the house.

My son showed us pictures of his DIY work in his newly purchased home. Really nice work with bold color choices- Maybe he can post here! I'll ask him. Both my older sons have inherited their father's handiness and have done some impressive work in their respective residences. And like Red Green says: "if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy"

Handyman Gets Busy

It's hardly ever what you plan, though. I let the Handyman know I was talking about the Kitchen remodel, but in the meantime he has found his hands full with the breaker to his office switching off every few minutes. He has been troubleshooting and conferencing with a buddy who is an Electrician. Right now they think it is a breaker gone bad. Who knew that breakers could break down when you most need them? The Handyman has been remarkably calm given the fact that it kept switching off the electricity while he was doing invoicing. Come to think of it...I'm remarkably calm; I'll try not to think of that too much.

Anyway, I don't think he is going to post until this thing is straightened out. Actually, until his computer is able to get up and running, he can't post, not liking or being familiar with mine. Never fear though.... I do enough talking for the both of us and I'll just chug along with telling my version of the Kitchen.

It's always something, isn't it? Is this a variation of the ..... ominous music Mushroom Factor ...or something altogether different?

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Trials of the Handyman's Wife

Actually nothing so dire, more like the conundrums, but then you wouldn't have come to read...would you? Conundrum doesn't have that salacious sound to it;)

Anyway, here is my problem. I love my hard working husband, and I feel compassion for how much he has put into the house this year- literal blood, sweat, and tears. Well, "inside" tears, (you know). Here is how it lines up: in working so hard to put together a mother in law suite that my mother, along with backing from my sister, summarily dismissed as not "making her happy". A story I do not wish to go into... the rest of our house had to go neglected. I now have some drywall in the bathroom that has bubbled out and gotten gross. I don't want it to stay that way, but I hesitate to put any kind of demand on the resident Handyman, aka "my husband". He really deserves a rest ...some time off, but I'm afraid if I don't strike while the iron is hot- get him to work on it before Christmas...I'm afraid it won't get done until,I don't know, maybe not for a year, maybe more.

It is one of those little nuisance jobs. Resulting from the unwise decision on our part to skimp on the ceramic wall tiles next to the bath. It is just a single tile wide section that faces the wall division from the toilet. But somehow wetness, either from the condensation of the toilet or the now obsene number of hot steamy baths that 7-8 people take daily, or the new chores redistribution that put less capable newbie workers in charge of cleaning the bathroom...or all of the above, have caused. Anyway, first the baseboard tile loosened and wasn't replaced, and then next, the wetness seeped into the drywall. Wouldn't have happened had we tiled all the way up to meet with the rest of the wall tile surrounding the bathroom walls. Or maybe not. It was likely a break in the sealant beteen the baseboard tile and the flooring that created entry for the wetness. Whatever the cause we have a gross looking problem. Remember that "stitch in time saves nine" maxim? that works here. but none of us sews enough to remember and apply.

Being the wife, and it being our only bathroom in the house proper... I would like it fixed. That being the case I will probably ask him to do it, feel horribly guilty, but being unable to stand that bubbling eccrescent(my own word, I think) drywall...more accurately moistlyrottingwall.

Maybe this will end up being better titled,"The trials of the Handyman".

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