It's always been a source of shame and embarrassment that I was so "unhandy" in the sense that
I couldn't do crap as far as home and car repairs. Never pounded a nail or could barely use a screw driver, never changed a tire. I felt that as a man you should be somewhat competent in that area and are able to do some basic repairs and put things together for yourself. My dad was a total book worm and nerd and I never learned anything from him in that respect. My uncle, my aunt's husband, could fix and build anything. I always looked up to him. Back in the 1960s he would work at Pan Am airlines at night and built his home from the ground up by himself during the day. The amazing thing was that he wasn't a trained carpenter. He learned on the job! Learned to build a house while he was building his house. When he would get stuck he would just ask advice from the construction workers in the area since there was tons of housing being built at that time in Waipahu, HI. I've been reading the Goodrum thread about his new dwelling with great interest but so much goes over my head. I'm so impressed that guys like Melvin and so many others that post in that thread know so much about construction. Also like Marty Champions post about construction. To me he's the hard core real deal when it comes to real man's work. He may be a drunken fatso but I feel like such a beta pussy compared to him.
Anyway, I got a job at a local hardware store and in the last six months I've learned to cut keys, mix paint, use the panel and chop saw, pump propane, drive a fork lift, use the pipe cutter, hand drill, cut glass.... I've even put some furniture together that we put on display. It's hard ass work for me at 58 years old and I get absolutely exhausted at the end of the day. I'm still a moron and when customers ask me questions because most of the times I'm clueless but I am learning a lot. It's amazing when you try something completely different from what you are use to how much you learn in such a short period of time even if you're old and set in your ways.
I've replaced my air conditioner and because the hole was already there and it was just a matter of putting it in and securing it that's nothing for most of you here but for me that's quite an accomplishment. Hopefully I'll gain enough confidence to do some painting on my house and maybe redo my kitchen. I'm pretty sure I can put in a new toilet myself if I had to. Something I wouldn't even consider in the past.
I thought I'd throw in some pics, though non-bbing pics, as it's been some years since I've posted any recent pics. I'm still consistent with training but have cut back to twice a week as my priorities and interest, as well as energy levels have shifted.
