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I have a florescent light under a cabinet that doesn’t work. I’ve changed the bulb twice–no easy feat, as they go in a certain way and click in a certain way–but the light won’t come on. What does this mean for me? It means I am going to have to call The Guy to come and change a light bulb. The Guy is no one guy in particular. He’s the one you find in the yellow pages or on your neighborhood boards who do the thing you need them to do. It’s never The Girl. It’s always The Guy. Because guys are born with some extra brain cell that makes them know how to do things and want to do things that we don’t. They know, for example, if the light bulb doesn’t work which thingy needs to be replaced. I can’t even describe the fixture to the guy at Lowe’s. It’s embarrassing! 
I am a big fan of The Deadliest Catch, and I don’t know why. If anyone were to propose to me that we go way out in the Bering Sea and fish with iron cages that weigh several hundred pounds, I would run in the opposite direction. Those guys seem to think nothing of it. They are way out–way out, so far out that if someone gets hurt it takes a couple of days for anyone to reach them–and they don’t care. They have boat mechanical failures that would tempt me to slit my wrists before I went down with the ship, because what else is going to happen when the hydraulic steering wheel goes out and you’re adrift? You’re going to die, that’s what. But these guys smoke, talk about it, find some duct tape and epoxy glue and “patch” it. And then they head back to a port as soon as possible, right? No. They keep fishing. That, I feel sure, is something only a Guy would do. Show me a woman who would be okay in that situation and I will show you an anomaly.
I am about to embark on some renovations that include taking out a half wall between my kitchen and living area. I had a few people come by to talk about it. One was a woman. She had some fabulous ideas about what I should do to my house, including lights and furnishings. And while she knew that the wall could come down, she wasn’t concerned about how. Turns out she has A Guy. The others who came were all men, and all of them, every single one, started off with the same thing: “We’ll have to open up the sheet rock and see what’s in there, decided what kind of beam.” And then they started talking beams while I nodded and said, “oh wow,” and “I see,” while I was thinking of what sort of chairs I am going to get. I hired one of The Guys and they start this week. They will show up with more Guys, and they will stomp around and talk about beams. That’s what the Guys do.
Are you a fan of Deadliest Catch? If you are, do you know why? Do those guys amaze you with their shrug-it-off attitude? Are there things around your house that only a Guy can or will do? Is there anything that men in your life talk about that causes you to privately sink into the current book you are reading or sing little ditties in your head?
86 Comments on “The Things Men Do”
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Sadly, I am the one to open the jars since weirdly enough I am stronger than Sci Fi Guy. New Guy however has to show me some things that he can do outside the bedroom that I won’t be censored for. I really don’t want to be censored but I just gotta say that New Guy is goooood. As for what makes me want to tune guys out, it is when they start on about computers with iOS systems and other computerese crap like that. I guess it is a good thing I generally have a book or two on hand to slide into.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 5:09 am.
So happy for you, Kelly! Glad New Guy seems to be a keeper
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 8:42 am.
My guy is currently disabled, so I’ve learned to do any number of guy things. Like putting sheet rock on the laundry room ceiling when it fell in (long story) then tape, spackle, and paint. Power tool? Piece of cake. Chippers, tillers, mowers? Got it covered. Sceevy things? Rubber gloves–elbow length if necessary. I still will not touch plumbing and electrical, however. They scare me. When I want a perm, I’ll pay a beautician.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 5:16 am.
Gwyn, can you come over?
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 8:42 am.
LOL Gwyn, I have “mouse gloves” for emptying the mouse traps.
While I am capeable of doing all of the things mentioned in your article, other than Deadliest Catch because those guys are nuts…I don’t know if it’s not having the man gene or just having a healthy respect for mother nature and how quickly it can snuff out my life that stops me from things like that, I tend to hire “the guy” because I hate to lift.
With my back issues, lifting is the largest obsticle to all things. I’ll call in a guy every time if it requires lifting.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 6:57 am.
Oh definitely, Pesky. I feel like I am tough broad most of the time, but if it looks like it could possibly hurt me in the slightest way – get The Guy
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 8:43 am.
I love Deadliest Catch. I would love to go out on a trip just once to experience what they do. I don’t want to fish. But I would happily sit in the wheel house and watch. Wouldn’t mind doing my share of the cooking either to do something like that. I’m slowly learning how to be handy. Don’t know how good I am but I’ve surprised myself at how much I can figure out if I had to. Being single there’s a lot you have to learn and figure out for yourself.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 7:18 am.
Aida, I would like to go out, too, but when they show those boats heaving up and down in the water…not sure my stomach would be up for the trip
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 8:44 am.
In general we’ve got a fairly equal opportunity set of job around here… the tweaking and patching and fixing that goes on is usually first come first fixed. However, I refuse to take care of dead pests. My DH was the mouse killer (until we got our kitty which scares them all away.) Anything high up will also get delegated to him, since I may as well have him do it without the step ladder than get it myself.
I don’t watch the Deadliest Catch, but sometimes I feel like I should.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 7:20 am.
Cail, there are some Guys who like the dead pest patrol because they like to see what they’ve caught, or how they caught them, etc etc. eeewweee
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 8:45 am.
You could take a picture of your light and take it to Lowe’s or you could have one of those many guys who will be stomping through your house, fix the light.
I’ve been married to the guy who can fix anything for almost 44 years. I know this because my g-uncle told me so. the great uncle couldn’t fix anything.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 7:20 am.
Sandi, my Brother in law is like that. But he lives just far enough away that I am not a convenient stop for him.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 8:46 am.
You make me happy to be an apartment dweller who calls the super to fix things because it’s his job. I swear it’s not because I can’t do it. (my ego could never admit such a thing!)
At work, when I talk to the store planning or IT guys, I’ll admit I glaze over. Don’t tell me how you’re going to do it, just do it and do it by the deadline.
I guess I’m going to have to start watching Deadliest Catch.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 7:31 am.
Fresh, watch it a couple of times and see if you aren’t hooked.
I want a super.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 8:47 am.
I don’t watch the Deadliest Catch and I know why. The Perfect Storm freaked me out.
Around here there are a lot of guy chores since there are a lot of guys. Poop patrol, mouse trap emptier, basement garbage carry upper, lawn mowers. I can do these things (except for the mouse trap) but I will not as I seem to be the only one capable of doing anything around here that involves soap unless it’s a warm water hogging shower.
When IV begins talking about hunting, fishing, lures, wind patterns and more disgusting things I will not mention, II say Mmm-hmm and zone out. Ick, uck and no thanks.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 7:38 am.
If you watch, you will be waiting for someone to go over every minute. At least I do.
For me, the real glaze over is cars. Does it turn on when you want it? Does it have a radio? That’s all I need to know.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 8:48 am.
Lori,
My mom gave me the best advice ever…
Don’t learn how to drive the lawn mower unless you want to mow the lawn for the rest of your life…
At my house there is someone…who shall remain nameless…hewhoshallnotbenamedbutwithwhomIshareahouseandamrelated….who cannot manage to make a pot of coffee without getting grounds all over the counter. This drives me nuts. I can relate to the soap avoidence.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 6:57 pm.
I used to watch Deadliest Catch. I don’t know why I ever stopped. I think it was because I started to watch too many shows like that, Ice Road Truckers, etc.
If there are man only jobs around here I couldn’t tell you one of them. Thankfully I can hold my own on most projects. Other Half works out of town so if something goes wrong I have to fix. If I can’t I just get someone in here who can.
If men start talking about the intricacies of an engine I fall into never never land. If men start talking about hunting I tune out. If men start talking…:)
I’m glad you are finally getting your half wall taken out. I know its been a thorn in your side for a while! Enjoy.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 8:25 am.
It has, Kelly! I cannot believe I am so obsessed about that wall, but boy oh boy, I cannot WAIT for it to come out
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 8:49 am.
When hubby starts talking about some of the houses he has been in to repair their appliances I cringe and head for a romance book:)
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 8:32 am.
Oooh, appliances. Total snooze fest.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 8:49 am.
I could probably do most things, if I put my mind to it, but my lack of patience usually does me in. My frustration sets in, so before I make things worse or put a hole in the wall, I call hubby or ‘the guy’ to do it for me.
I haven’t watched deadliest catch since the one captain died, not sure why, though.
I leave all outside work to the hubby. He doesn’t do much inside, so I refuse to do the outside work.
My husband starts talking about cars and I zone out. I am set to get a new car when his is paid off in just over a year. He insists on talking about what car I will get. He even goes as far as to build them online. I don’t really want to talk about something that is so far away… I still have to drive my crappy old van for another year, so I tune him out as much as possible.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 8:39 am.
AmyS. I hear you, Amy. While I do like nice new and shiny cars, I do not want to know what size engine or wheel base or anything like that. Radio, like I said above. Seat warmers. that’s cool. I would like to hear about that. But only a yes or no, does it have it.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 8:51 am.
amy, in your avatar it looks like one kitty has its arm around the other. Does it?Or is that just a white streak on the black kitty’s fur?
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 2:39 pm.
It has it’s arm around the other. It was sent to me in an e-mail about friendship, and I couldn’t resist making it my avatar. The picture makes me smile when I see it.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 3:28 pm.
Hint for AmyS — don’t get sucked into a 2 door — I’ve had one for 9 years — doors are a lot heavier and it’s way harder to get stuff in & out of the back seat.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 8:48 am.
That is such great advice. My first car was a 2 door, and my friends used to complain about having to crawl in and out of the backseat. I vowed never to get another, unless it was a ferrari. lol.
I also have a little one in a carseat, so I will need something with 4 doors.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 11:59 am.
I have had to learn to do a lot of things on my own thanks to military deployments. It was surprising to me what I could do. Taking an oven door off at midnight before Thanksgiving to get my pumpkin pies out because some how the self cleaning lever got switched over and stuck. I was not having those pies burn. I put the door back on after removing the pies. The Guy who came to repair my oven after the holiday weekend said,”Can I ask how you got the pies out?”. I’m sure I was a source of amusement for his whole shop that day.
I leave the gardening to my horticulturist husband, my job is to keep it all watered. Anything to do with motors or tires has to have a Guy.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 9:01 am.
Michelle, that’s different. That’s Woman On A Mission, in which case She can do anything.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 9:28 am.
I call the guy. In fact, I have guys coming today to put in a patio. Yay!
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 9:08 am.
Love new stuff like that!
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 9:29 am.
How exciting!!
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:15 am.
I am with you. I love Guy shows and I love watching Guys at work. I even find myself mesmerized by Guy Speak.
This is what KILLS me about Deadliest Catch (and other shows that feature Guys doing Guy Stuff)—-the way they always pick on/haze/tease the young pup of the group. And the way the young pup takes it as his due. And the way they all really like the young pup but put him through his paces anyway. Because that is what Guys do. If a Girl did that—mean! Rotten! I’ll hate you for LIFE!
Guys grin and nod and chuckle and punch the guy in the shoulder and they’re all good. Guy Group Dynamics fascinate me. And make me SO glad I’m not a Guy.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 9:12 am.
Yes, that kind of fascinates me, too, Claudia. I don’t get it. Why do they need to do that? Why can’t they help the new guy fit in? It’s like a weird personality trait they all have and don’t question.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 9:30 am.
It’s like a wolf pack thing–there are strict delineations within the pack that everyone in the pack understands and expects. It’s so upfront.
Girls do it too, but it’s more subtle and meaner somehow because the alliances can change at a moment’s notice, and then change again, and again. Shifting sand. The male dynamic is more static, the lines more clearly drawn.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:12 pm.
I’m married to The Guy. He can do just about anything, but there are a few things that we hire out–sheet rock, tile and roofing. Those projects are done, so we won’t have to worry about it for a long time. We both hate mowing, so, we figured out a “route” around the yard that only took us 47 minutes a week. Now, Nephew who doesn’t live too far away does the mowing and I only have to give him green paper for it. Works out best for everyone!
I don’t watch Deadliest Catch. I’ve tried it, along with other guy shows, but when the hydraulics break, I can feel my blood pressure rise and get stressed out on their behalf. So, I just dive for my book instead.
When DH starts going on about his woodworking machines, I start zoning out. It is kind of like your car…does it run? Did it cut well? At that point, I’m done.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 9:43 am.
OMG, I can’t even imagine – wood working machines would make me comatose, I think.
And as for anxiety during Deadliest Catch…I can hardly watch some of it I get so anxious. In my head I am screaming Turn this bucket around and head to port!!
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 11:06 am.
Julia, I am non life taker. I can’t bear to kill anything living whether it be a spider, a mouse, a rat,a fish, or a deer. Now, whenever I see a spider, I call for son #1 (age 16) or my husband (age 47) to come and kill it. I cannot. What gets me is the way they just do it with no remorse. They don’t think about the pain the poor thing must endure or if its suffering was long. The thought of actually killing something as large as a deer upsets me to no end. I love deer, they are so graceful and peaceful and do not deserve to be shot or killed with an arrow, and yet men do these things as if it were no big deal.
Now, I guess this might make me somewhat of a hypocrit because I have no problem eating meat, and know animals are killed to provide me with my chicken enchiladas, but I could never watch it or participate in it.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 9:46 am.
Lisa, I am the same way. I love a good burger, but last summer I was off of them for several months when I happened to get behind a truck taking some cows in. They were all staring at me at the stoplight. I can still see them so vividly.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 11:07 am.
My daughter and I are both pretty capable. We can put furniture together (we put her baby’s crib together in a matter of minutes, with no parts left over either–LOL), we can tinker with some things her and there, we can figure out DVD players, cameras, smart phones, etc. But, there are times when it’s really nice to have a handy hub around, and we both do. Case in point, when we first moved into our house almost 10 years ago, it was new, so there were no ceiling fans. We bought a few brand new, but found a gorgeous one that was a garage sale that was broken and the elderly lady didn’t know how to fix it and bought a new one…we bought it for $2, bought new globes for the lights and he fixed it. It’s still working in our living room.
We do watch Deadliest Catch. I usually watch slack-jawed because I think they are absolutely insane to do that. It’s FREEZING. They’re on a boat in the middle of the ocean…with only other stinky men for company. They are working with heavy machinery and foul-smelling sea creatures. And, did I mention it’s FREEZING?! I’m entirely too graceful, so there is absolutely no way you would get me on one of those boats…uh uh, nope, no way. Of course, as practical as the hub is, he agrees with me that it wouldn’t be an ideal job for either of us.
Good luck with your renovations, Julia!
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 9:59 am.
Julie, they act like it’s not freezing! No one whimpers, no one says anything about it!
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 11:07 am.
I know….IMHO, they’re a few bricks short of a load…
Posted on May 1, 2012 at 11:34 am.
First, I have never seen the Deadliest Catch, so I can’t comment on the show.. but I might be tempted to go on a short excursion with them just to see what it is like if the opportunity presented itself.
I can fix or replace a lot of things around the house – faucets, disposals, lamp wiring, etc… but there are some things I won’t try to fix because goofing would mean a bigger problem – like taking out the beams.
I do admit I have called a neighbor Guy in a few times to kill spiders. It’s silly and girlie, but it must be done.
I am interested in listening to the beam conversations because I am always wanting to know how things work or are put together.. but they start talking about sports? *snore* I just have no interest in stats, teams and fantasy leagues.
Have fun with your renovations! Be gone, half wall!
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:14 am.
Sheridan, I can phone you in if you’d like. hahahaa
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 11:08 am.
First of all, Deadliest Catch rocks. I don’t know why I love that show, either, but I do. Hot Cop calls it Roofers on a Boat as DC has the same sort of hard-working-hard-partying guys as do most roofing crews that Hot Cop worked with when his dad was a contractor.
Second of all, if you ever get bored, check out Naked Dan the Handyman. http://www.nakedan.com/ Why someone would want to see this guy naked, I don’t know, but well … there you have it.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:15 am.
I need a handy man to come and fix that light. But I don’t think I need naked handyman, LOL
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 11:09 am.
There’s always something attractive about manly men. Put a hot manly man in a tool belt or hauling stuff–oh baby.
Yesterday, Mr. G fixed a broken hose on our sprinkler system. I looked at it and was all prepared to call someone.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:35 am.
They are very attractive! Especially if they just work and don’t talk, hahaha
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 11:10 am.
I enjoy watching Deadliest Catch as my husband and his brothers could be the guys out there. They have a very laid back “put duct tape on it” attitude and can fix anything. “Hey, I cut off my left arm, would you put some duct tape on it so I can keep going…” Seriously, I live with this kind of thing ALL THE TIME. Some times I amazed and some times angry that they think they can do it all.
Julia, I am so glad that wall is coming out! You will be so happy when it is all done. Remember to hang around some during the first couple of days so they can show their manly prowess.
I agree with Sandi, while you have all of those guys in the house have them look at the light!
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 10:37 am.
Yeah, I think I am going to ask them.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 11:11 am.
Julia,I have a sister who would be The Girl! She can do almost anything: fix a running toilet, drill holes and make furniture, put up wallpaper, paint the walls, you name it. I can do some of these things, but not all of them. We don’t have a husband or friend, so we’ve learned to do everything ourselves.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 11:09 am.
I have a sister in law like that. She did a complete re-do of her yard and lawn herself, working all day, hauling gravel. I thought she was flat out nuts. I said, call The Guy!
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 11:12 am.
I watch Deadliest Catch more than I want to admit. I do not know why, because all the shots are sort of the same: cage goes in water, cage comes up loaded with catch, cage gets snagged on something, cage is not loaded as much as they had hoped, cage is overloaded and everyone rejoices.
In my house, A Guy does about everything. DH only does a couple of things. I have hired A Guy to fix a light fixture that it turned out only needed a new bulb, and fix a washing machine that only needed a new fuse in the panel. A Guy always criticizes the work of the last A Guy. That is a law among them.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 12:01 pm.
Madeline, I am sure when I call The Guy for my under cabinet light, it will be something so incredibly simple that I will feel like a dolt for a week.
So with you on the Deadliest Catch. I do not understand my fascination with it, but I am.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 12:30 pm.
I love Deadliest Catch! When you mentioned the epoxy thing, I immediately knew you were talking about Edgar Hanson and the Northwestern. *g* I think I like it because it’s more…primal. It gives me some good insights about how men react to pain and danger.
And yes, I do the ditty thing all the time, like when somebody starts talking about camshafts or lug nuts. I DO like putting together Ikea furniture, though.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 12:20 pm.
They made it sound like the whole ship was about to go down (well, not exactly, but you know what I mean), and they fix it with some dumb tire kit or something and keep fishing. Wouldn’t you want to get that thing fixed???
Glad to hear about Ikea, because I am going to get some bookshelves from there and DO IT MYSELF.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 12:31 pm.
It’s The Guy’s job to kill bugs. I know he doesn’t enjoy it, but I know his lack of enjoyment doesn’t reach the depths of my lack of enjoyment, so I’m comfortable pointing and running in the opposite direction.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 12:36 pm.
I like the way you think, Susan. I, too, am a-okay with making other people do the dirty work.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 12:43 pm.
Good luck on your wall situation. Double the time frame and add a third more to the cost! Sorry!
Sadly, or not so sadly if you’re my guy. I’m The Guy. I flipped eight houses before I met and married my hubby. He’d rather Google “A Guy” and write a check, but to me, that’s blasphemy.
I definitely slink into a book when my hubby tells me he’s going to tackle any project. He started on the front flower beds nearly three months ago so of course I had to shovel hall and move five wheelbarrows of dirt after he decided he was just going to “call someone” last week. Needless to say, I’ll finish the flower beds, pavers and planting eight huge pots he bought…After I finish the last book in Fifty Shades of Grey, of course!
I also love and DVR Deadliest Catch. May have something to do with the fact that I dropped out of college and joined the Navy at 19 and was stationed in Maine. Dated a lobsterman too! Who wouldn’t?
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:41 pm.
Nitty, you sound more and more interesting with every post. And I mean that in a good way.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:51 pm.
I don’t watch deadliest catch; if I had cable, most other shows are higher up my list of to be watched shows. In part I wouldn’t watch ’cause I think those guys are crazy and I’d be twitching just waiting for them to do themselves in by falling overboard or something. I get enough of that sort of thing trying to keep baby boy from doing himself in.
There are very few things here that are guy only, and most are things I would do if needed, they’re mostly guy only because he leaves me with laundry etc. (he did just wash a load, but if I want it folded before it’s all dirty again I’ll have to do it myself or turn into a nag).
I like cars, engines, tools, computers, etc. I’m mechanically inclined and have an engineering degree. I’ve replaced a car’s radiator, got my own computer behaving again, played with power tools, etc.
I will get to tune out mode because hubby will interrupt something when I’m not up for talking, or if it’s late and I’m tired I find it hard to care. He also likes to go bonkers researching stuff before buying, which isn’t bad, and I like research, but he likes it past the point where I’ve said OK let’s buy. It gets to where I’ll put my input in and tell him to let me know when he’s ready ’cause I don’t want to discuss it anymore. Mostly he’s pretty good about not making me tune out, but those are the situations where I do mentally head elsewhere.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 1:58 pm.
All this being said, hubby and I are more than happy to call the Guy when said Guy will get something done much faster and more conveniently than either of us could manage.
Much less frustration and stress that way.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 2:11 pm.
Miranda, you are my hero! I wish I didn’t have to call The Guy for light fixtures. I wish I understood how something like that can be fixed, but alas, I don’t and I am stubbornly unwilling to learn
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 5:31 pm.
LOLOL. Suuuuure. ;p
It always sets my nerves on edge when I have men working in my house.
Will that bother you?
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 2:20 pm.
Apologies, Miranda! That last response was supposed to be a reply to an earlier post.
And yes, please. Do men ever get the hang of doing laundry properly?
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 2:34 pm.
No worries, and I could see where it would be annoying to have strange people mucking about your space
.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 3:21 pm.
Probably. But I think it might bother my dog even more.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 5:32 pm.
I have to admit I only watched Deadliest Catch once and that was by accident; not a fan.Since my sister and I both kicked our dh’s to the curb many moons ago we have had to learn how to do the guy stuff.Of course we can usually get the g-sons to help and they are VERY guy. With the aid of our mom, my sister and I built 10 by 30 foot deck ten years ago that is still holding up and it only took us three days. Our 6 by 10 foot front porch we hired done and it took four guys ten days to do and then it has never been right, a couple of months ago the g-sons helped us rebuild the steps.
I can fix wiring, paint,put down flooring,and figure out if a wall is a load bearing wall. I might have a guy do the heavy stuff because I am not the spring chicken I was,heck I am closer to an autumn chicken now.I don’t like doing plumbing though.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 2:43 pm.
Ick. Plumbing. ick ick ick.
Would love to see that deck, Evlqn!
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 5:33 pm.
I’m from a family of non-Guy guys. I mean, my sister-in-law joked one time about how she could never let my brother put things together (anything that says “assembly needed”), and I started laughing because my dad wasn’t the one to put things together either, and neither is my husband. I am. Hubby does have some “guy skills,” don’t get me wrong, but anything that requires measurements or looking at a schematic and trying to put it together, he can’t do. Whereas I’m great at that.
But he knows a lot more about sheet rock and tile and stuff like that than I do, so he does most of the dealing with the contractor. We don’t do it ourselves. We learned long ago that DIY is a disaster waiting to happen with us.
When I was in college, though, I did all my own car maintenance. I was pretty proud of that (changed oil and everything). But my dad isn’t good with that either (Hubby is, though). It’s a bit odd–all the men I know aren’t … um … handy. That’s why I love that my handyman/contractor lives two doors down.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 3:36 pm.
That’s what I need – a guy that lives two doors down that shows up only when you need him, then goes away
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 5:34 pm.
I’ve never seen Deadliest Catch, but maybe I’ll have to watch an episode.
My guy is a film guy, which means he’s frequently gone and for LONG hours. I’ve had to learn quite a few things one my own or it’d never get fixed. However, when he’s around, he’s pretty handy. He has some weird right-left brain connection. However, some things kind of freak him out, like electricity. I’ve installed most of the lights that are in our house, and I’ve re-wired every single lamp in the house – I could do it in my sleep! I’ve a chandelier that needs to be re-wired, but it has me a little hesitant.
I will ask my dh to kill a spider if he’s home, but generally I’m doing the killing. Once my dd said we had a tarantula in the bathroom – it was just a daddy long leg spider, lol.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 3:47 pm.
How did you learn how to re-wire?? That’s so cool
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 5:34 pm.
I checked out a book from the library. The hardest part about rewiring a lamp, is the knot that you have to make, and it’s really not that hard.
With my 8 arm chandelier, it’s the taking apart the chandelier to rewire that has me worried. I think I’m just going to break down and do it this summer. I’ve already rewired one ceiling fixture successfully. If it doesn’t work for some reason, I know a Guy.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 7:04 pm.
Julia -
I live near the fishing port Galilee – the one in Rhode Island – and many of my friends’ husbands are the daring ones sailing those fishing boats you refer to and put their lives at risk to deliver fresh seafood to people all over the world!
Yes, they are fearless and do put their lives at risk to support their families. Unfortunately they are put under stick regulations by our government that adds to that risk. While foreign trawlers are nearby just a stone throw away from international water with foreign boats hauling in as many fish as they can our fisherman have stick limits placed on them. Our fisherman are leaving the profession because they can’t afford to support their families because of these restrictions and we pay higher prices in the United States because of it.
Many of these same fisherman had family members that died in the Perfect Storm that took too many lives. Many of you have read the book or seen the movie. How many of you would want someone in your family go through this scenario but the husbands of my friends face this everyday.
I’m fortunate that instead my husband is in construction so I have my own personal “Guy” to handle all the things that go wrong around the house! It’s great and after 42 years of marriage he still doesn’t know that my Dad, who had only daughters, taught me, since I am the youngest and was his last hope to have a son, to paint, bang nail, use a hammer and saw, etc. Please don’t tell him! It’s great pretending to be helpless! He was in the Navy during Vietnam and then in the Navy Reserves and I did all those “Guy” things while he was gone. I guess he just assumed that magically nothing ever went wrong when he wasn’t around!
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 4:36 pm.
hahaa! Jeanne, that’s great that you hid it from him all these years!
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 5:36 pm.
My guy is definitely not The Guy. He barely knows how to use the lawnmower, and has the most pathetic collection of tools (and the least powerful cordless drill) I have ever seen. We do have quite a few handy friends who are capable with home and car related repairs, but my guy doesn’t know about any of that. He doesn’t care about sports either, and I have a lot more technical computer knowledge than he does – I work in IT so I fix and maintain computers every day.
My guy is a geeky librarian.
I put together our furniture, and I fix anything computer related that goes wrong. If it involves electrical wiring, plumbing, or messing with walls though… we’re going to call a Guy. I’m sure that I could learn about them, and actually I find it all to be interesting… But I have so many books to read, and I’d rather just pay a Guy!
(p.s. obviously I don’t tune out when the computer-speak starts – I usually start it!)
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 5:36 pm.
Oh, and I don’t watch Deadliest Catch, but to be fair, I admitted to the illustrious Claudia a while back here that I don’t watch TV at all. I watch movies, play games, waste time watching YouTube videos (and of course, read!), but I never watch tv.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 5:52 pm.
Maybe it’s a librarian thing
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 7:27 pm.
I don’t follow Deadliest Catch, but I do enjoy the show when I watch it. No, I don’t know why I like it; I just do
Yes! They constantly amaze me. I have no idea how they deal with situations like that with such nonchalance.
There are always things around my house that need doing, but thankfully I’ve got my husband to take care of those. I’d go nuts if I had to do all the fixes around here.
Haha! My husband is constantly talking about cars, engines, cigars, electrical things (he’s an electrician), and other manly pursuits, and I never have a clue what he’s talking about. I always nod and smile, then say things like “Oh, how does that work?” and it’ll keep him talking for a while.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 5:43 pm.
And probably doesn’t know that you aren’t listening, right? But that’s okay. A lot of us just need to say things out loud once in awhile, right?
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 7:28 pm.
J.B. Weld. It’s a 2-part epoxy putty-glue that will fix anything. It comes in one color — gray. Get used to gray everything. Farmers and ranchers around here use it to fix everything. John Deere tractor broke? Get the J.B. Weld. Daughter’s doll’s head fell off? J.B. Weld it. Doll will have a gray neck, but, hey! Her head won’t fall off any more. Sandwich maker (kitchen appliance) broke? J.B. Weld is heat-resistant.
You get the idea.
They sell it at KMart. Gotta love it.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 6:22 pm.
I guess that’s where the Deadliest Catch crew went for their repair kit, LOL
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 7:29 pm.
I married the best “Guy” ever! Saturday night we had no water. I went to bed imagining that it would be days before the well guy could come, not to mention the cost of a new pump. I woke up and my Guy had fixed the pump! He usually fixes things before I can even tell him it needs to be done. My daughters say I spoil him but I say “ He does the dirty jobs, he is the one who unclogs the toilet that no plunger will fix. I can do a few things myself as my Dad was a carpenter who didn’t have sons. My husband and I work together in family lumber yard so the majority of our co-workers are male. And I’ve dealt with the guys all my life.
I do watch sports and have seen Deadliest catch a few times. If I get stuck watching something that bores me I always have my kindle at hand.
My daughter recently told me she has a hard time finding someone because her last few boyfriends couldn’t fix stuff and that is a must for her.
Posted on April 30, 2012 at 11:21 pm.
My Mother recently renovated her bathroom. A team of guys got in on the act. An awful lot of discussion. The designer came, a woman, & was all business. Left up to the men, my Mother would never have got her bathroom done.
Posted on May 1, 2012 at 3:35 am.
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Posted on February 13, 2013 at 12:01 pm.