What Manly Things Did You Do Today?

Now THAT sounds like a great way to kill a long winter.

About 15yrs ago I was watching Grumpy Old Men for the hundredth time and I was suddenly struck with a whole new set of feelings. I quit seeing it so much as a comedy as a huge fantasy. The ice shanties, Craftsman houses, Filson clothing, and of course that gorgeous Travelall. I could easily enjoy that life. I already have a good Ariens snow blower too.

 

My grandmother told me how they spent a lot of the winter. Digging a tunnel from their door to the road so they could get mail, and get to work. (outside of Ottawa. My grandfather was from New Brunswick - seeing the pictures of tents with potbellied stoves was interesting)

 

Got my daughter ready for school, made her breakfast and lunch. Fertilized the yard, did my spring cleaning, of the garage. Then took apart my pressure washer, in preparation for the new pump that should arrive in a few days. Then went to the doctors office for some bad Bronchitis I caught, a couple of days ago. Did some grocery shopping and now I'm on heavy doses of antibiotics and steroids. Yeah me.

 

Trying to wait patiently.

 

I rebuilt an 11 yr old Troy-Bilt 2550 psi pressure washer, with an aftermarket, upgraded pump. Now it works, is quieter, and has a tad over 3000 psi.
Best thing is I didn't have to spend a lot of money on a new one, and I got to tinker in their garage, alone, where women are afraid to tread. They are afraid I will ask for help, and put them to work. They don't like greasy messes.

 

I found out that I have a slipped and herniated disc in my lower back....
But the manly part is this, I didn't shed a tear when I sneezed at my desk today.
That counts, right?

 

I think it counts.

 

I purchased a second hand wooden cabinet a couple months back and today I added a couple more shelve and hung it in my half bath. This evening I installed a second hand ceiling fan in our bedroom. Worked on a couple shaving brush restores.

 

As a member of that cub, I would definitely say it counts! I hope you are getting good treatment.

Pictures please!

 

Picked its up for ~$10, added a knob handle and a couple of shelve for ~$4. Wife likes that my stuff is out of the way ... Priceless.

 

Great cabinet! Where did you find it?

 

Built a swing for the girls out of 18 feet of rope and a 12" length of PVC. Used black foam pipe wrap for the cushion, spiral wrapped with yellow duck tape. It looks hazardous.

 

Good will. When I bought it; it still had it's original advertisement tags and the old price sticker said 49.99 clearance.

 

I like calling it "duck tape" too......AF-LAC

 

A little product history here; “Duck tape” is actually a brand name, inspired by its water resistance. It’s generic name, “duct tape” is inspired by its usefulness in ductwork.

 

Well, I guess I needed THAT. Thanks. I used to be in AOL chatrooms, where I'd say "duck tape" all the time, just to be silly..No one explained what it really is.

 

I remember a friend (whose use of English is not her best quality) got a bit confused and described it a “goose tape.”

 

Most people haven't handled real "Duct tape" that is for duct work. It's like heavy gauge aluminum with adhesive on it. Very shiny and very sticky and seals heating or cooling ducts without falling off due to change in temperature.

Where as Duck or Gaffers tape is great for MANY uses including instant / temporary repairs, bind things together (pipes and lumber), and sealing things (loss of a car window).

In construction work I use both.

 

I sometimes call it Poodle Tape or Chihuahua Tape, for the really yappy, nippy ones.

 

I have a roll left over from a few years ago when I rednecked another year out of a shot muffler. With extra reinforcement it held up fine.