The List: How to...Most of these are a piece of cake. Any guy who works with his hands at all can do most of these things. In fact, any guy who works with his hands at al does a few of these on a regular basis. Things like bleeding brakes, changing the oil in the car, using a wrench, sharpening a knife, cleaning a gun, those should be something you grow up with.
1. Patch a radiator hose
2. Protect your computer
3. Rescue a boater who as capsized
4. Frame a wall
5. Retouch digital photos
6. Back up a trailer
7. Build a campfire
8. Fix a dead outlet
9. Navigate with a map and compass
10. Use a torque wrench
11. Sharpen a knife
12. Perform CPR
13. Fillet a fish
14. Maneuver a car out of a skid
15. Get a car unstuck
16. Back up data
17. Paint a room
18. Mix concrete
19. Clean a bolt-action rifle
20. Change oil and filter
21. Hook up an HDTV
22. Bleed brakes
23. Paddle a canoe
24. Fix a bike flat
25. Extend your wireless network
My dad showed me how to do for myself the entire time he was a live. I appreciate the hell out of that education. I now have no fear of tearing something apart, fixing it and putting it back together again. Be it a car, a toaster, the bathroom, or whatever.
Things like CPR, paddling a canoe, there are a few things which some people just haven't ever done. Paddle a canoe? Retouch digital photos? Extend a wireless network? Some will never use that sort of 'skill'. No reason to. But CPR or changing a flat tire, you never know. It can't hurt to learn.
On the other hand, some people can't even change a light bulb without calling an electrician fer hell's sake.
A few things I think should also be on the list though, are:
26. Fix a leak/trap in a sink - You should only have to call a plumber some serious shit. Not replacing a drain pipe.
27. Change spark plugs - Being able to properly gap and replace can save hundreds of dollars.
28. Build a dog house or tree house - Pets or kids will appreciate this. And it can be done with less than $100 worth of tools if you really want to.
29. 'Jump' a dead car battery - Even if you have to borrow the cables. It could suck to be stranded for hours waiting for AAA to show up when a 5 minute process can get you on your way.
30. Patch a hole in the wall - Houses built in the last oh, 50 years are all drywall. That shit is easy to knock a hole in just by having something fall against it.
31. Cook a decent meal or three - And I don't mean bachelor food. No frozen pizza, no "Hungry Man" dinners. I mean cook a chicken, steak, roast, some pasta, whatever. And know how to make some fixings to go along with it.
32. Shop for groceries - Again, something besides frozen pizza and teevee dinners. Everyone should know that in order to make a roast, you need more than a can opener.
33. Change a tire - Bike flat? You need to know how to put the spare tire on your car. It ain't that hard.
34. Kill and properly dress an animal for food
35. Grow vegetables - In case you can't buy your own food.
36. General first aid, not just CPR
Oh there are more, but I need to do some stuff. I'll have to add to the list later.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
6 comments:
27. Change spark plugs - Being able to properly gap and replace can save hundreds of dollars.
Wish more mechanics took the time to gap plugs.
See? That's why folks should know how.
I'm not a guy but I can do most of those things. In fact, I completely rebuilt the engine in my '77 Vette. However, #27 on that list has become nearly impossible for the at-home mechanic. I bitched and moaned about it earlier this year when I wrote
My Rant About Chrysler.
And oh yes. Some cars you almost have to remove the engine - at least a couple mounts - to get to the plugs.
My hubby can sure buy some damn good beer! He's so good at it! Cheers!
Now he should learn how to make it!
Post a Comment