Who's got MAD skills?

To quote Napoleon Dynamite "I don't even have any good skills. You know like, Nunchaku skills, bow hunting skills, computer hacking skills...girls only want boyfriends who have great skills".

Oh so true... All girls want a boyfriend with skills. Who will come to our rescue when we flatten the tire on the lawn mower? Or on the car? Our boyfriend of course!

I have a boyfriend with fantastic skills.

He is well connected to many different subjects; with more knowledge of varied applications, technical know-how and practical experience than anyone I've ever met. He could write one of those self help books or do-it-yourself books that the people like me would buy. Hey - look at that, not only is he a great boyfriend, but he is saving me money!

Now, that being said, I should also point out, that my boyfriend knows I am inquisitive. (That's a nice way to say I am nosey.) I like to know things. I ask a lot of questions. And when I am with him, I am subjected to many things I would not normally come across. He is always willing to share any knowledge he has on a subject and does it cheerfully.

By trade, he is a plumber and I love to watch him do this work. It makes me dizzy to walk around in a basement looking up at pipes following them back and forth and knowing where they are on the other side of the room and where they end up...Arrgghh! I can't do it, but I've watched him do it. I've been witness to an entire cold water pipe replacement as well as watching the fabrication of a manifold for a radiant heating system. I've been shown diagram and drawing of how the water works through a water heater. I am impressed that I have this knowledge.

I have learned about insulation. I know how to spread blown insulation in an attic without falling through the floor (although at one point I thought for sure I was in the bedroom below). If you're doing this soon, call me, I'll come help, but only if you've got some cool stuff in your attic for me to look through. I may even decorate a bit with the treasures I find! =D

I have been instructed on how to run various tools and the proper safety. I have successfully trained on how to use a table saw. I have been taught how to fillet a fish. Well, OK, that's not entirely true. We used the table saw on the fish. That was a good time, and is perhaps subject matter for another blog...

I was taught the fine art of brick and mortar masonry when I helped to install a manhole. Very cool project... Most recently, (this weekend) I learned how to arc weld. I suited up in my shirt, and tucked my cuffs into my leather gloves. I put on the welding helmet and tightened it up so it squeezed my head - I got a 2-1/2 minute synopsis on what the basic idea is, because it isn't something you can actually look at unless you have two masks, and we didn't.

This is what I was supposed to accomplish, based on the quick instruction I was given...

I closed the Darth Vader mask and tried to 'strike an arc' by tapping the rod on the metal quickly and repeatedly. The first few times I found this very difficult and I kept getting stuck. I think it's because I was pitched into blackness inside that helmet & I still wasn't sure what I was supposed to see when I actually got the arc going.

After a few tries, I got the arc and now realized that I had to keep moving my hand along the area that was being welded, as well as moving the welding rod closer to the metals. This was hard. Thankfully he is patient. I finished the task of welding 4 casters to a metal frame. He asked me if I enjoyed the project and of course I did...He makes everything fun and I am flattered that he gives of his time and talents to teach me something.

I will be the first one to tell you that there are maybe two sections of all that welding that actually look decent. He said it wouldn't matter, and didn't need to be perfect, because it would hold together. He was kind about the less than stellar job I did. We tested it out and it seems to work OK, we put the wood stove on it and can now wheel it around in the garage. Very nice. Anyone need a cart welded? =o)

Apparently, it's not only girls who want someone with skills...

Overall, this project ranks pretty high for me, because it is something I never would have expected to ever try, much less find out that I'd like.

And you know, to be honest, I kind of felt like dancing when it was all over...

Rock on with your bad self. I am...

H