Sometimes we get absorbed in doing something. Oftentimes, like far away lightning during an evening storm the impact of what we're doing doesn't hit us until well after the event.
Today, I'm looking at my laundry list of things to do to the house and realizing that yes, I'd better do a damn good job because I'm the one who has to fix it if it's half assed. Which is an interesting thing about me - if someone is paying me to do a job I give everything I can to my client and then some. When I'm not being payed... well, let's just say I can be a little lazy.
One thing that irritates me about building maintenance is the series of compromises that get made to do the job. For example, I just changed the fixtures on the bathroom sink yesterday. Unfortunately the sink is an odd small size so I had to turn the drain pipe at an angle to get the drain stop to work. The optimal solution would be to tear the whole fucker apart and remodel. That isn't going to happen for a while.
We now have a working washing machine. I had to plumb a temporary drain for it until we have the electrician come out and run wiring for the future washer/dryer location. The previous occupants had plumbed a sink and the water supplies for the washing machine right underneath the electrical service. Fortunately there is a 2" drain pipe sticking out of the basement floor well away from the service. This drain pipe will serve as the future downstairs bathroom sink drain and the washing machine drain.
The previous occupants had also removed the dryer's cord and wired the dryer directly to the electrical service panel with a length of house wiring. Twenty dollars would have purchased a proper outlet.
The hardest thing for me to do isn't the actual work - it's getting out to purchase supplies. I've been inside taking care of our little girl for some time now and have become unsocialized. It's extremely uncomfortable for me to go to a store and talk to someone. Part of it is the building insecurity from moving into a new house in a new neighborhood. Part of it is that I'm an introvert and prefer to quietly go about things rather than go to a crowded home improvement store.
All in all though I'm having fun. I like working with my hands, and this is a worthwhile occupation.
About Me
- R.
- I'm a househusband and stay-at-home dad. What I need are more attentions of the amorous variety. What I get are more entries on the honey-do list. I take stuff apart to see how it works. Sometimes it still works when I put it all back together again.
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