Feeling Manly

I know, I know...it is a rare occasion that I am able to push R away from the computer so that I can post something, but tonight I was successful. There have been several experiences in the past month that have made me feel worthy to carry my "man-card".


1) Finishing the basement: Despite the "Great Bathroom Fiasco of 2005" R convinced me to complete the job by finishing the basement. Going from cinder brick walls and concrete floor to seamless drywall and soft carpet. It took four
weeks to do everything (a considerable improvement from the four months that it took for the bathroom basement) mostly thanks to the framing and drywalling help from my Dad and the borrowed tools from an Allen and a Whitehead. We are happy with the way it turned out and welcome anyone over to enjoy it with us, although Bella's toys have already overtaken it.
Before and after pictures are displayed.












2) Getting paid: For the first time in over four years I am going to be coming home at the end of the day knowing that I made a little money for my efforts. So what if it breaks down to just a little over minimum wage, that's not so bad after eight years of post high school education...right? No matter, it still feels good.

3) Going golfing: This may be a regular occurrence for some of you, but it is extremely rare for me so a morning of golf was much appreciated. I'm not afraid to admit that I can play the whole course with 3-4 clubs, even though I still carry around a bag full of them (that makes it look like I actually know what I am doing). I am proud to say that I only had to resort to my "you never get over par on a hole" rule more than twice.

4) Yard work: Okay, it wasn't real yard work but it involved dirt, a shovel and my hands...so it counts. R, B, and I planted flowers in the spacious few feet of soil we have in front of our town home. We kept it simple but like the little splash of color it adds to our home. Here's B helping us water keep the flowers well hydrated.

5) Not showering for 3 days: admittedly not my most glorious moment, but manly nonetheless.






6) Working on my car: This was the apex of my "man month". I had been trying to ignore the blasted orange Check Engine light in my trusty Saturn for the past several months. I think I waited so long because I always feel like the mechanic works me over whenever I go to get something fixed.

"Oh wow, you need to replace your colon coil ASAP."
"Colon coil? I've never heard of that before."
"Oh yeah, it's right next to the cold fusion reactor behind the hamster runner."
"Well, if you think its important."
"For sure, if it doesn't get fixed immediately your car could blow up, or worse."

Needless to say I feel like I'm taking it up the colon coil by the time I leave, so I decided to figure this one out myself. I went to Advanced Auto and had them gather the error codes from the car and found out that the O2 sensor needed to be replaced (which costs ~$250 for a mechanic to do it). So I looked online and found a video on YouTube that shows a guy changing his O2 sensor and I said to myself "I think I can do that". So I bought the part (for $75) and in a true man move I set to work doing something that I had never before attempted armed only with a You Tube video as my instructor. Five minutes later the repair was made and my car was purring like a kitten. At this point, my manliness proven, I went inside and declared my mechanical prowess to R who gave me a well deserved congratulatory pat on the back. We'll see if the car makes it to work tomorrow. Rachel is on stand-by, just in case YouTube led me astray.