a place to put random discourses on life
Are toilets supposed to make me happy?
Published on March 30, 2006 By lifehappens In Home Improvement
Okay. I have recently realized that my life has not turned out as I thought it would when I was growing up. No big flashy house, 3 of the kids I imagined at age 9 are not around, and my husband is a "fix-it-guy"

Growing up, I watched my dad repair everything. I don't ever remember my parents hiring someone to fix anything. Cars, plumbing, even minor construction were comonplace. He didn't always know how to fix things by the book, but he could jury-rig pretty much anything.

Somehow, this became implanted in my mind as "husband/dad/man" talents. I just asssumed that the guy I wed would one day do all those things for me in my future home.

When I met my husband, we were in the barracks, so I didn't see too much fiddling, but I didn't think anything of it.

I met my father-in-law. He was remodeling the kitchen. Once again, my stereotype was held up and I continued to blissfully assume my man woudl fix stuff.

You may see where this is going. HW is not a fix-it-guy. He will play with his GTO occasionally, but would really prefer so hire someone to fix it for him. I used to believe him when he said, "no time" "not the right tools" "not the right parts" etc etc. But I have come to realize that repair, constuction and so forth are not things he likes to do.

So I am learning that maybe the ability to figure out how to fix something even when you have no clue is not something that is passed down from Father to Son, but maybe, from Father to Daughter.

That's right. Fix-it-girl is here.

I am claiming ownership of all tools in the house. Unless they are specifically for Cars...they belong to me. I am going to organize them so I can find them and paint them pink.

(okay, I'm probably going to skip the last part)

But in the last week, I have fixed the kitchen drawer that I have waited for my husband to fix for 2 years. Lowes' didn't have what I needed, so i figured out another way and fixed that bad boy.

Yesterday, I ripped out the toilet in my bathroom that has been leaking and replaced the whole darn thing. Surprisingly, it was not as hard as I thought it would be. I have dreaded dealing with it because it seemed too intimidating...now I know the truth. I am woman.....hear me roar. I expect some praise though.

Okay, no roars yet, but as I walked around Lowe's, I discovered that I could replace the nasty tub drain (It never occured to me) Woo Hoo!

My next adventure will be reserved for when I have a bit more money and have developed some knowlege and courage. I am going to rip out the nasty tile in the bathtub and replace it with something nice.


I don't know if the sight of a sparkling new toilet should make me happy, but it does fill me with a bit o'pride and satisfaction. Maybe it means I have truely become an adult.

In the next installment, I will discuss how I managed to start doing home repairs in addition to the mind-boggling list of other things I do everyday without going crazy or starting speed.

Comments
on Mar 30, 2006
You go girl. That is awesome. I have tried to fix things but usually my fixes have to be fixed so I've given up on the home improvements for a while.

My husband could fix things but he was always such a procrastinator. That was one nice things about deployments, I could ask my neighbors or friends to do jobs for me and they didn't mind at all helping me when I was on my own. It's a little bit harder when your husband is sitting on the couch to get someone else to help you out.
on Mar 30, 2006
Go Fix-it-girl Pink tools might be a bit much, but some decaling could look nice. The important part is your satisfied with a job well done
on Mar 30, 2006
Pink tools


All my pink tools are in my pink tool box (no, I'm really not kidding)

I'm impressed that you replaced the toilet--things near water frighten me (I can just see myself flooding the entire neighborhood with one wrong move!)
on Mar 30, 2006
That's great. Nothing like the pride of accomplishment.

This reminds me of a visit to a Fleet Farm store recently. I noticed an entire collection of tools and tool boxes, even tool belts, with flowers and such all over them.
on Mar 30, 2006
You know you have become "tool woman" when you walk into a SEARS,and go right to the power tools and get all excited about the new power________
on Mar 30, 2006
on Mar 30, 2006
Woman power! I'm glad to see such a handy lady.
on Sep 08, 2006
best way to get things done is to do it yourself! Well done! Keep at it.

Mason love the pic!