Maybe it wasn’t how you are supposed to spend Father’s Day, but it worked for me last Sunday quite well.
The missus and I had just gotten back from four days out of town, much needed after what seemed like weeks and weeks of just a frantic schedule.
And even though I usually work on The Post when out of town for any reason, I actually left things pretty much to our talented staff for those few days away.
After traveling much of Saturday, I awoke Sunday mentally refreshed but physically tired.
So, I did nothing Sunday except putter around in my tool closet and clothes closet getting things organized, something I seem to need to do every three or four months or so.
The tool closet is amply stocked, well, for my abilities it is greatly overstocked. And, it doesn’t have many serious power tools as evidenced by the fact I still have all 10 fingers.
The missus bought me a pretty decent table saw several years ago. As I was unpacking it for its first use, I noticed how sharp and powerful the saw was and noted mentally how careful someone would need to be to operate it.
Reflecting upon how I am invariably in a hurry (whether I need to be or not), I packed the saw back up and put it in the attic where it sits still, waiting for a time in my life where I can maybe exercise more patience than I am wont to show now.
Now I use the hand tools and the rechargeable power screwdriver and drill not infrequently, but a lot of the tools just hang and gather dust or sit in boxes undisturbed.
Shoot, a couple of weeks ago, I found a couple of hand powertools I had forgotten I had.
Meandering along that line of thought as I puttered around, I determined most of the things I fixed, attempted to fix or fixed to the point they had to be replaced were addressed with three items:
• Duct tape.
• WD-40
• Swiss Army knife.
As someone noted her dad told her, “If you need to make it stick, use duct tape. If it won’t come off, use WD-40.”
All those duct tape jokes arise from the huge number of people who use it for a huge numbers of purposes.
While it may indeed by used as chrome in Alabama, I remember on a trip back from Memphis when a piece on my SUV broke loose how duct tape very efficiently kept it nice and tight against the car body as opposed to flapping in the wind, as it was when I discovered it. What else would have done that job in about a minute for about $1?
I recently also found a new use for duct tape when while struggling with a ligament strain in my left foot I found duct tape provides support better than first aid tape. (Also found it removes body hair really effectively if somewhat painfully.)
WD-40 also offers multiple benefits.
After showing my wife how it can be used so many ways with lawn equipment, i.e., loosening screws, spark plugs and wheel lugs, plus as an engine starter, she brightly figured out it might resolve an issue with door locks.
With the backdoor lock becoming ever more difficult to open, I had determined I was going to have to commit the time and expense to replace it and therefore probably all the locks on the other doors.
The missus sprays some WD-40 on her house key inserts it, and, zoom, it locks and unlocks effortlessly again.
I’ve carried a Swiss Army knife for as long as I can remember (probably part of that Life Boy Scout thing). Well, OK, longer than I can remember. I’m probably on my eighth or ninth model by now. They have a lifetime warranty so I have a desk drawer full to send back sometime.
The one I have now is my favorite. It’s quite small, about the size of a Toosie Roll. The knife blade is small but usually works for whatever needs I have as are both screwdriver blades that will remove a rusty battery screw, fix a pair of glasses and remove the bathtub strainer when all the hair I shed finally produces a drainage problem.
The tiny scissors are amazing. They actually cut.
And, the latest knife has a tiny pen that I have found myself using countless times.
I am continually amazed I haven’t had to forfeit it at an airport check-in but I cherish it so much I guess and hope I will remember to pack it or leave it behind.
I guess I could just sell all those other tools but I won’t. The missus would fill all the space with sewing supplies even though I’m still waiting for three or four shirts than need a button and for her to hem those brand new parachute pants.
•••
One of four brothers, any dinner while we were growing up where we had fried chicken always sparked a huge argument over who got the wishbone or pulleybone piece.
I’ve noticed the last two or three times I grilled a whole chicken the wishbone piece was gone.
Where did it go?
Have we genetically altered chickens?
Does Tyson keep all of them, explaining the source of the always mysterious “chicken fingers?”
Just wondering.
•••
Personalized car tag of the week: COLTS18. Vehicle also featured Colts license plate holder and Colts window sticker.
Probably won’t be pulling for Titans on Oct. 11. |
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