Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Another Day Down
Well, it is another day for the books. We are still working on the water. It is a crying shame that we had to run all the way to Virginia to get a few little parts because nothing in town is open on Sunday. I agree that Sunday is a day of rest, but at least have a hardware store where we can get stuff to work with. On the upside, I was able to go to a big WalMart and get a second Bluetooth Kernel for my laptop. No more plugging and unplugging to be on the internet and work on the desktop. Now I can do both! I feel good about that.
Its gonna be a long day tomorrow. Closing out the year for my job, more working on the water, and hauling in water for the house. Spring cant come fast enough for me now.
Everyone have a great evening and I will see you tomorrow!
Its gonna be a long day tomorrow. Closing out the year for my job, more working on the water, and hauling in water for the house. Spring cant come fast enough for me now.
Everyone have a great evening and I will see you tomorrow!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Kitchen Tools or "Mechanic's Tools Found in the Kitchen"
Since we have finally figured out the mystery of the kitchen sink, I think it is time to move on to all the handy tools that our "mechanics" seem to have. We all know that tool of the trade, (whatever that trade may be), are important. Without them working is much more difficult to downright impossible.
We have all be to kitchen shops, auto parts stores, Big Box Stores, the mall, and yes, even to the old faithful WalMart in the search for tools. So why is it then that our kitchens seem to be the preferred shopping spot for all those "speciality tools" that our "super mechanics" need? When one of you figure out why this is please let me know. In the meantime, I thought I would share with you my list of "tools" that seem to always end up covered in grease, gas, GOJO, oil, RTV gasket gunk, and other foreign, toxic substances that are readily found in the garage.
Warning ladies - Lock your cabinets and drawers, hide the good silver and the countertop appliances...you'll be glad you did!
The List
1. French Rolling Pin - Handy to beat out small pins and screws with out damaging them. Never mind that the rolling pin looks like an UZI worked it over.
2. good kitchen towels - Excellent for wiping off grease, oil, and gunk from larger parts and sopping up minor spills from oil changes and brake fluid refills. They are much more absorbent than Bounty and have better grease grabbing qualities! (And they are washable and resuable....not that I would reuse one after this!)
3. China Gravy Boat - so handy for pouring solvent and cleaners down into crevices, and keeps the spills to a minimum, thus reducing the need to use more good kitchen towels. See #2 Above.
4. Kitchen Aide Hand Mixer - All purpose paint mixer, epoxy/bondo stirrer and drywall mud mixr. (Kitchen Aide believes in horsepower, Dewalt and Kobalt obviously do not!)
5. Kitchen Aide Food Processor - Good for grinding up dried out axle grease with goo grease to extend the useful shelf life of the grease. (Does anyone actually KNOW the shelf life of axle grease?)
6. Butter Dish with really nice cover - Excellent for small part storage. It helps keep the dust and dirt of those screws that hold the oil pan on. the cover can easily be converted to a small parts washer as well. Very hand 2 in 1 tool!
7. Wire Whisks - Very very handy! Not only do they mix part cleaning solutions quite well, those hand wires make excellent olders for hose ends, gaskets, and nots on what parts store has the best deals. (kinda like a huge paper clip with a handle).
8. Spatulas - Wonderful RTV gasket spreading tool. The handle is long enough to reach into tight spaces and with all the different sizes available, there is one for just about any job. (The cheap plastic ones don't work nearly as good as the ones bought at FoodNetwork.com!) Note to self: Time to buy more spatulas - they are having a SALE!
9. Rubbermaid Leftover storage containers - Those left over parts will stay fresh, clean, bug free and organized in these nice babies. And gee, they all have lids, how nice!
10. Nutcrackers - makeshift vice grips only with nice padded handles and bigger teeth. Good for those stubborn bolts and holding that tubing to cut for the radiator!
11. Kitchen Knives - Probabl one of the most versatile mechanics tools you have. Cutting and stripping wires, cutting hoses, opening car part packages, prying off old gasket material and scribing metal parts for later identification are just a few of the many uses. A pocket knife would work in any of these instances, but nothing feels better in the hand than Fine German Steel and a Full Metal Tang encased in an Oak Handle! Balance in a knife is everything you know!
12. Nesting metal measuring cups - Handy, handy, handy. Grease scoops, oil dry, and solvent scoops. (Also nice if you want to figure out exactly how many cups of oil are in that quart bottle.)
13. Napkin holders - part propper-uppers, nothing fancy here.
14. Cutting boards - (any variety, but usually good grade butcher block style works best) Useful in preventing most unnecessary dent and dings to the Kitchen table (and that is a whole nother chapter!). Usually paired with the rollling pin. Also spares damage to whatever the rolling pin is beating...oops, I mean tapping on.
15. Corn Cob Holders - Yes, corn cob holders. Who woulda thunk it? These are oh so nice to use when holding wire our hoses out of the way. They easily push into the firewall and have nice grippy ends. (So good for greasy fingers!)
16. Tongs (of all sorts - Another hand grabber type tool! Good for reaching down through the engine compartment for that socket that feel on the ground (Requires more steps than just going under the vehicle but is sooo much more macho. Hate to get grease on that good work shirt.) Also excellent for fishin out parts from the cleaning solvent/parts washer - aka butter dish lid.
17. Electric Carving Knife - Not just for turkey and roast anymore! Hoses are a breeze to cut to size with this type of tool! And it is also very good to use for cutting the new carpet that covers the dirty floorboards! How decorative!
18. Collander - Best part catcher on the market. Always used in the old oil pan to catch that oil plug that always seems to slip right out of the socket! No digging around in dirty oil for that sweet little part.
19. Potato peeler - In the absence of a knife, this little tool is a good wire stripper. Caution is to be used because too much can be stripped and cause irreversable damage to the wire which now will invoke another trip to the parts store. Honey, don't forget the milk please.
20. Deviled Egg Tray - Small part sorter/organizer. Such a hand way to keep all those little parts seperated and organized. Makes repairs a breeze! (Lid covers tighty as well so that no dirt or grease gets on those freshly cleaned carb needles!)
This is a short list. I am sure as time goes on, there will be more of my kitchen things found in the garage. Not that Mark will ever tell me exactly what he used them for but I am a good detective and can usually figure it out! I don't say too much because in the grand scheme of things it just means I can go shopping to get new stuff....And every girl likes new stuff!
We have all be to kitchen shops, auto parts stores, Big Box Stores, the mall, and yes, even to the old faithful WalMart in the search for tools. So why is it then that our kitchens seem to be the preferred shopping spot for all those "speciality tools" that our "super mechanics" need? When one of you figure out why this is please let me know. In the meantime, I thought I would share with you my list of "tools" that seem to always end up covered in grease, gas, GOJO, oil, RTV gasket gunk, and other foreign, toxic substances that are readily found in the garage.
Warning ladies - Lock your cabinets and drawers, hide the good silver and the countertop appliances...you'll be glad you did!
The List
1. French Rolling Pin - Handy to beat out small pins and screws with out damaging them. Never mind that the rolling pin looks like an UZI worked it over.
2. good kitchen towels - Excellent for wiping off grease, oil, and gunk from larger parts and sopping up minor spills from oil changes and brake fluid refills. They are much more absorbent than Bounty and have better grease grabbing qualities! (And they are washable and resuable....not that I would reuse one after this!)
3. China Gravy Boat - so handy for pouring solvent and cleaners down into crevices, and keeps the spills to a minimum, thus reducing the need to use more good kitchen towels. See #2 Above.
4. Kitchen Aide Hand Mixer - All purpose paint mixer, epoxy/bondo stirrer and drywall mud mixr. (Kitchen Aide believes in horsepower, Dewalt and Kobalt obviously do not!)
5. Kitchen Aide Food Processor - Good for grinding up dried out axle grease with goo grease to extend the useful shelf life of the grease. (Does anyone actually KNOW the shelf life of axle grease?)
6. Butter Dish with really nice cover - Excellent for small part storage. It helps keep the dust and dirt of those screws that hold the oil pan on. the cover can easily be converted to a small parts washer as well. Very hand 2 in 1 tool!
7. Wire Whisks - Very very handy! Not only do they mix part cleaning solutions quite well, those hand wires make excellent olders for hose ends, gaskets, and nots on what parts store has the best deals. (kinda like a huge paper clip with a handle).
8. Spatulas - Wonderful RTV gasket spreading tool. The handle is long enough to reach into tight spaces and with all the different sizes available, there is one for just about any job. (The cheap plastic ones don't work nearly as good as the ones bought at FoodNetwork.com!) Note to self: Time to buy more spatulas - they are having a SALE!
9. Rubbermaid Leftover storage containers - Those left over parts will stay fresh, clean, bug free and organized in these nice babies. And gee, they all have lids, how nice!
10. Nutcrackers - makeshift vice grips only with nice padded handles and bigger teeth. Good for those stubborn bolts and holding that tubing to cut for the radiator!
11. Kitchen Knives - Probabl one of the most versatile mechanics tools you have. Cutting and stripping wires, cutting hoses, opening car part packages, prying off old gasket material and scribing metal parts for later identification are just a few of the many uses. A pocket knife would work in any of these instances, but nothing feels better in the hand than Fine German Steel and a Full Metal Tang encased in an Oak Handle! Balance in a knife is everything you know!
12. Nesting metal measuring cups - Handy, handy, handy. Grease scoops, oil dry, and solvent scoops. (Also nice if you want to figure out exactly how many cups of oil are in that quart bottle.)
13. Napkin holders - part propper-uppers, nothing fancy here.
14. Cutting boards - (any variety, but usually good grade butcher block style works best) Useful in preventing most unnecessary dent and dings to the Kitchen table (and that is a whole nother chapter!). Usually paired with the rollling pin. Also spares damage to whatever the rolling pin is beating...oops, I mean tapping on.
15. Corn Cob Holders - Yes, corn cob holders. Who woulda thunk it? These are oh so nice to use when holding wire our hoses out of the way. They easily push into the firewall and have nice grippy ends. (So good for greasy fingers!)
16. Tongs (of all sorts - Another hand grabber type tool! Good for reaching down through the engine compartment for that socket that feel on the ground (Requires more steps than just going under the vehicle but is sooo much more macho. Hate to get grease on that good work shirt.) Also excellent for fishin out parts from the cleaning solvent/parts washer - aka butter dish lid.
17. Electric Carving Knife - Not just for turkey and roast anymore! Hoses are a breeze to cut to size with this type of tool! And it is also very good to use for cutting the new carpet that covers the dirty floorboards! How decorative!
18. Collander - Best part catcher on the market. Always used in the old oil pan to catch that oil plug that always seems to slip right out of the socket! No digging around in dirty oil for that sweet little part.
19. Potato peeler - In the absence of a knife, this little tool is a good wire stripper. Caution is to be used because too much can be stripped and cause irreversable damage to the wire which now will invoke another trip to the parts store. Honey, don't forget the milk please.
20. Deviled Egg Tray - Small part sorter/organizer. Such a hand way to keep all those little parts seperated and organized. Makes repairs a breeze! (Lid covers tighty as well so that no dirt or grease gets on those freshly cleaned carb needles!)
This is a short list. I am sure as time goes on, there will be more of my kitchen things found in the garage. Not that Mark will ever tell me exactly what he used them for but I am a good detective and can usually figure it out! I don't say too much because in the grand scheme of things it just means I can go shopping to get new stuff....And every girl likes new stuff!
Is That A Carburetor in My Kitchen Sink?
Lets talk for a moment, ladies, about that lovely fixture in our kitchens. The sink. A place to wash dishes, help in the preparation of all those fabulous dinners, a bathtub for those little babies, and the gentle washing machine for our finest lingere. The Kitchen Sink. Why then, you may ask, have I titled this entry in such a manner? I shall tell you.
Most of us have a man in our lives and in our homes. And most of those men pride themselves on being able to fix a car, truck, motorcycle, lawn mower, chain saw, or anything else that has a motor, oil, grease and a noxious smell. How does the sink play into all this? Let's venture forward.
Your loving partner tries his best to help save money by fixing your vehicle. So off you go, driving his, to the grocery, to pay bills, pick up the dry cleaning, running the children to their various activities, and after all this you decide to be a gracious lady and pick up dinner. Upon your arrival home, you come into your kitchen, (yes, this is labeled your domain) and find some greasy, oily stinky car part in your sink, soaking in only goodness knows what. No sense in making a big deal out of it. It does not do any good. Here is the rub. This greasy, oily, stinky car part could be soaking in a bucket in the garage or workshop just as effectively. Why the sink? I think, after much study and personal research, I have the answer. The kitchen has great lighting (to see all the problems that the part has.) That big bright overhead light in the garage is just too bright. There is a seemingly endless supply of wiping off material available in the kitchen (Usually the best brand of papertowels we will allow ourselves to buy, and those lovely kitchen towels that get the dishes so dry, those shop towels we buy by the box just don't do the job as well). There is plenty of cold drinks available in the fridge (that small shop fridge just doesn't seem to keep a 24 pack as cold). Our darling men get so tired of running in and out to keep up with the football game (the big TV in the living room is so much more veiwable than that little black and white one set up in the garage right on the shelf near the working area.). Now we would not want our Master Mechanic to get all pooped out changing the oil or fixing that carburetor for us, would we? Light, towels (paper and cloth), Cold drinks, and TV. This is why those parts end up in that fabulous, shiny sink. It is perfectly acceptable to them to use it. It is there and it serves the purpose very well, in their minds.
So when you see this happen to you, just think, oh how much money you have saved by not sending the car to the shop! That money should just about cover the plumber that has to come out and remove all the gunk from all the parts that have now clogged your kitchen drain.
Most of us have a man in our lives and in our homes. And most of those men pride themselves on being able to fix a car, truck, motorcycle, lawn mower, chain saw, or anything else that has a motor, oil, grease and a noxious smell. How does the sink play into all this? Let's venture forward.
Your loving partner tries his best to help save money by fixing your vehicle. So off you go, driving his, to the grocery, to pay bills, pick up the dry cleaning, running the children to their various activities, and after all this you decide to be a gracious lady and pick up dinner. Upon your arrival home, you come into your kitchen, (yes, this is labeled your domain) and find some greasy, oily stinky car part in your sink, soaking in only goodness knows what. No sense in making a big deal out of it. It does not do any good. Here is the rub. This greasy, oily, stinky car part could be soaking in a bucket in the garage or workshop just as effectively. Why the sink? I think, after much study and personal research, I have the answer. The kitchen has great lighting (to see all the problems that the part has.) That big bright overhead light in the garage is just too bright. There is a seemingly endless supply of wiping off material available in the kitchen (Usually the best brand of papertowels we will allow ourselves to buy, and those lovely kitchen towels that get the dishes so dry, those shop towels we buy by the box just don't do the job as well). There is plenty of cold drinks available in the fridge (that small shop fridge just doesn't seem to keep a 24 pack as cold). Our darling men get so tired of running in and out to keep up with the football game (the big TV in the living room is so much more veiwable than that little black and white one set up in the garage right on the shelf near the working area.). Now we would not want our Master Mechanic to get all pooped out changing the oil or fixing that carburetor for us, would we? Light, towels (paper and cloth), Cold drinks, and TV. This is why those parts end up in that fabulous, shiny sink. It is perfectly acceptable to them to use it. It is there and it serves the purpose very well, in their minds.
So when you see this happen to you, just think, oh how much money you have saved by not sending the car to the shop! That money should just about cover the plumber that has to come out and remove all the gunk from all the parts that have now clogged your kitchen drain.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
