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Calling all homeowners - have some questions
dejavu:
Well, Mandy, come to my place and you'll find out I can't cook or clean worth a darn, either. :laugh: Or sew or knit, which comes a little closer to working with my hands as in window screens. I did make a nice hooked rug kit 30 years ago, but could never hem the borders, so it's starting to come apart by now. ::)
I always liked reading, puzzles, etc. Pool was fun because there's some spatial ability (figuring out the angles) required there, but it wasn't as though the pool table was going to fall apart, so I didn't need manual skills to make, build or repair anything.
But as for the window screens, it's just a lot of bother, and if I can find somebody who will do it relatively cheaply, it's worth it.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: Mandy21 on May 31, 2010, 05:59:35 pm ---Oh, come on girls, window screens are so easy to fix. Deb, if you can learn to play pool, you can fix a messed-up window screen. It's quite satisfying to do something for yourself at times, rather than paying for someone else to do it. I guess I must have grown up handy by nature cause I was always down in the basement wood shop with my dad. I was always more fascinated to learn how to hammer and saw and screw and rivet and paint, than I ever was about that whole "women are supposed to do the cooking and cleaning" stereotype. As it turns out, I still did manage to figure out how to cook and clean in an acceptable, but most certainly not impressive, fashion, but I can hammer and saw and screw and rivet and paint like a pro. And I'm quite proud of that.
Don't underestimate your abilities, ladies.
--- End quote ---
I don't not do those things because I don't think girls can do them. Girls obviously can do them every bit as well as boys. I don't do them because the learning curve is too steep, I don't have the tools, and most importantly I don't have the time. I fully understand the satisfaction that comes from doing them, and before I had kids and as many time pressures I used to enjoy that feeling of accomplishment.
But things that would take me several hours -- figuring out how to do it, going to the hardware store to get the supplies, coming back and doing it, perhaps failing once or twice but eventually getting it done -- a handyman can do in 10 minutes.
So, just as I hire others to fix my car and do my taxes, I hire handymen. I still clean my own house because there's no learning curve or special supply purchasing involved, but if I started working more hours (and making more money) I can see hiring someone for that, too.
Mandy21:
I didn't mean to offend any of you ladies. I was merely trying to give encouragement and confidence. But it seems I've taken a few of you aback, so I'll stay off this board now. Sorry.
serious crayons:
--- Quote from: Mandy21 on May 31, 2010, 10:53:12 pm ---I didn't mean to offend any of you ladies. I was merely trying to give encouragement and confidence. But it seems I've taken a few of you aback, so I'll stay off this board now. Sorry.
--- End quote ---
I can only speak for myself, Mandy, but since my post immediately preceded yours ... I wasn't offended at all by what you said (though while we're on the subject, the others don't sound offended to me). I just wanted to clarify that the reason I don't do those things isn't about gender, it's about time. I don't think there's any reason for you to apologize or "stay off" the board.
delalluvia:
--- Quote from: serious crayons on May 31, 2010, 10:57:35 pm ---I can only speak for myself, Mandy, but since my post immediately preceded yours ... I wasn't offended at all by what you said (though while we're on the subject, the others don't sound offended to me). I just wanted to clarify that the reason I don't do those things isn't about gender, it's about time. I don't think there's any reason for you to apologize or "stay off" the board.
--- End quote ---
Same here. I wasn't offended either. No need to feel like you have to stay away.
And just for the record, so people don't feel that I'm being anti-social, no, my neighbors are not old folks. I wish they were, I'd feel safer. They're my peers. Some are older and have children who are in their late teens so they hang out on stoops and sit on their cars socializing and some are younger. I wish it made me feel safer, knowing they're out there keeping an eye on things, but it doesn't. But hopefully in time it will.
The neighbor who stopped by today, has full-glove tattoos on both arms, doesn't seem to be employed, still lives with his folks and is my age.
I wouldn't trust these people with my phone number much less let them know when I was going on vacation. I don't even like knowing that they know I live in the house alone.
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