Want to read Slashdot from your mobile device? Point it at m.slashdot.org and keep reading!

 


Forgot your password?
Close
typodupeerror
User Journal

Journal bethanie's Journal: Bethanie's Hot Stripping & Screwing Experience 59

Journal by bethanie
So, this afternoon I'm waiting for the kid to take a nap today, and she *just* *won't* *do* *it*. Damn.

After two hours of piddling around trying to lull her into drowsiness, I give up and head into the upstairs bathroom. There lay a wide variety of projects just waiting to have my frustration taken out of them -- and ALL of them involve screwing, of course.

So I fetch the necessities: the cordless drill, the drill bits, the laser level, the pencil, the measuring tape, the philips head, the pliers (OK, Hubby's wire strippers -- but the ends are grooved like pliers, so they'll do)... and get started.

And of course, it turns out that I pick the hardest thing to do first -- the toilet paper holder. It's not intellectually hard to figure out, mind you. But have you ever tried drilling/screwing through laminated fiberboard? That shit is *really* tough.

So I drill my pilot holes (whence cometh the heat of the experience -- I hadn't thought about it before, but those little drill bits get *hot* when you generate that much friction!!) and try the screws.

Well, long story short (time to change tenses), my inexperience led me to use *much* too small a pilot hole, and my frustration led me to try to force the little fuckers in there even after I realized they wouldn't fit.

Brrr CLUNK Brrr Brrrr CLUNK CLUNK Br? CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK bzzzzzzzzz.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, my impression of screws being stripped. Not just once. But FOUR TIMES. I told you -- I was frustrated about the nap thing. (BTW, as I type this, she has crawled into my bed and fallen asleep. Little booger.)

Fortunately, the story has a fairly happy ending. After successfully installing the other shelves and towel bars (even using drywall anchors and getting everything level!!), I turned my attention once again to the TP holder. I had bought 2 of the same kind of TP holder, so I had another set of screws on hand. I managed to unscrew the stripped hardware (using those oh-so-handy wire strippers-cum-pliers), re-drill the pilot holes (this time, the appropriate size) ALL the way through the cabinet (which was insanely difficult, even with the drill bit!), and successfully install the TP holder precisely where I wanted it. Hooray for me!!

But in my opinion, this experience just further illustrated where I fit within traditional gender roles. While I was capable of figuring out what I needed to do from reading the instructions and having watched Hubby work on a project or 20 over the years, I was still *very* much out of my element. It just didn't feel *natural*. Not to say (SW) that women CANNOT succeed in a male-dominated field; I just think it would take a lot more effort than I'm willing to put into it! Now, get me into the kitchen and throw me a complex recipe or menu and I'll whip it up in a heartbeat. But ask me to use hardware and power tools? I freeze up. (I'll work on fixing that, though, once I get my shop set up in the basement.)

Anyway. On to the next bathroom. But not before I get one of those stripped screws to send with Hubby tomorrow. He's taken to visiting Lowe's Depot every day at lunchtime to pick up various and sundry items. Guess what he gets to find tomorrow?! Yup. Four more screws.

And I bet this JE wasn't *anything* like what you thought it would be from the subject, was it? Suckers!!
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

Bethanie's Hot Stripping & Screwing Experience More

Bethanie's Hot Stripping & Screwing Experience

Comments Filter:
  • Comment removed based on user account deletion
  • But in my opinion, this experience just further illustrated where I fit within traditional gender roles. While I was capable of figuring out what I needed to do from reading the instructions and having watched Hubby work on a project or 20 over the years, I was still *very* much out of my element. It just didn't feel *natural*.

    I don't think my girlfriend would know what a drill bit was. And if she did know, I don't think she would know how to use it. If she tried, I would run. I would run, hide, and pr
    • Yeah, I kept thinking while I was at it "I'm a Smithie. Smithies don't do this shit. We wear pearls and attend afternoon teas and march in feminist rallies. What the hell am I doing?"

      (For an archetyal "Smithie" character, refer to Charlotte York on Sex and the City.)

      Once again, I bust the stereotypes. A little.

      ....Bethanie....
  • With a combo of molybolts, caulk, epoxy, screws and horrible handy-man skills.

    They work though. And I rent, so screw it.
  • You can read instructions and watch other people for a long time, but that doesn't make it that much easier when it comes time to actually do it.

    Being comfortable and good at home improvement type stuff is just like anything else - the more you do it, the more comfortable you feel with doing more. You need to learn the basics, and then you can add on from there - just like in cooking. After all, you don't try and make a gourmet layer cake for a birthday party when you've never even baked anything more th
  • I *love* to cook. It has been a male tradition in both my mother's and father's side of the family. Not to say the women don't cook, cook well, or enjoy cooking in general. I'd much rather be cooking than hanging drywall, but I've enjoyed doing that too. The cool thing about cooking is you can do it to serve your family (becoming the household Hero Of Food (tm)), or just to be a glutton for tasty snacks. mmmm... dinner is calling.
  • Knowing your penchant for the double entendre, the actual content of this JE was no surprise.

    Wonder how many of the men folk who read it are (like me) laughing at your ineptitude?

    FWIW, I can cook and do laundry. Nothing else. Angie made me buy something the other day called '409'. What the hell is that supposed to be? It sits next to bottle of some other mystery chemicals called 'Pine Sol' and 'Windex'. Must be some woman (haha) thing.

    • Wonder how many of the men folk who read it are (like me) laughing at your ineptitude?

      And that, my dear gm, is exactly why I wrote it. So we can all laugh together. :-)

      ....Bethanie....
    • What the hell is that supposed to be?

      409 is the only cleanser you will ever need. I don't buy that crap about needing a special cleanser for every surface. Hell- I use 409 for mirrors, dusting, and cleaning spills. Basically it's wet stuff that evaporates quicker than water and is cheaper than alcohol. The only thing that I'm picky about is that it not be antibacterial. That's a little overkill IMNHO, besides a little bacteria's good for the immune system.

      Okay I'm done now. That was plenty ranting
      • Clean-ser? What means 'clean-ser'?
      • Hey SW, I have a question for you: What do you think of Simple Green? I use it kinda like it sounds like you use 409 -- except on reflective/shiny surfaces. (It smears the hell out of glass!) For that I used Glass Plus/Windex/Whatever ammonia-containing shiner-upper they had at Sam's Club.

        So, do you have any opinion on Simple Green, professional or otherwise?

        ....Bethanie....
        • I have never heard of Simple Green. I use 409. I buy about 1 bottle every two years, and that is all the time I spend shopping for household cleaning supplies.

          So I guess I don't have an opinion, but I could make one up. If there is a surface you can't use it on, it's no good. That means you have to buy two surface cleansers. The horror!
  • Whereas the whole gender role thing is generally kabashed by those who have personal goals for their means, I find it to fall true even in the high technical field.

    Before everyone yells and throws eggs and boos apropriately, let me explain. We have a few women here in the Unix group, and our role is mostly limited to remote connections and remediations to the servers, however there are times when we need to go to the server physically to add memory / CPU / whatever. Even though we all go through the same
    • You'll not hear any howls of outrage from me. I agree that it's preferable to have a division of labor and specialization.

      For us, all things automotive are Hubby's realm. He also does most of the heavy yard work (but I plant the flowers and am available for particularly large jobs.) I have almost exclusive domain over the laundry (I'm really picky about how it's done). We both share in the cleaning, but I do most of it.

      And of course, I get the lion's share of parenting duties, as well -- particularly at
  • Ever notice how cooking in the home is a female gender role and cooking for money is a male gender role? Granted that is very much changing. The men on /. are better cooks than I could ever hope to be. My brother-in-law is the cook in his family while my sister needed help cooking a hot dog when their microwave broke. (In another strike for erm...gender equality...I apparently put the soap in the wrong part of my mother's dishwasher in an attempt to be helpful.)

    And as for screwing, everything I know ab
  • Another thing to think about picking up is a set of square headed screwdriver bits. I've found that often times after I've stripped the head out of a screw the square heads can still grip the screw. Although in the worst case scenario, nothing beats a set of vise grips. Thats about the only way to get a screw out after you've snapped the head off.
  • (trying to get the same type of subject as you).

    You have bad quality bits. Go to your hardware store and get some expensive, but quality bits. In situations like this, it makes a world of difference.
    • FK, those are my HUSBAND'S bits you're talking about. And believe me, his bits are of just fine quality. :-)

      The problem was me -- using *way* too small a pilot hole through a material that was *really* hard to drive the screw through.

      But thanks for the vote of confidence (assault on Hubby's tool(s) notwithstanding)! :-)

      ....Bethanie....
      • lol.. you play this word game better than I!

        Honestly, you shouldn't have too much trouble drilling through anything (unless is concrete, which you should go get a half-inch drill and concrete bits). If you have a hard time drilling through material, its either a dull bit or a low quality bit (although I'll ask my father about other possibilities... he was a carpenter for like 13 years).
  • Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • Hey!! Who ARE you?

      1st, thanks for the good advice. Unlike most that I get on /., I do believe I'll try that next time (by hand first, then the drill). And the problem with putting one hand on the back of the drill to apply pressure is that I've usually got it on the screw in an attempt to keep it straight as I drive it in.

      My dad has always told me, "don't think -- you weaken the team," and "get your head out of your ass." So I wouldn't take offense even if I were as useless as tits on a bull. :-)

      2nd,
      • Comment removed based on user account deletion
        • Well, it's delightful to meet you. You can find out pretty much all there is to know about me from reading past journals. If you think Hot Stripping and Screwing is funny, you might enjoy them.

          Actually, after posting my response I looked "into" you (can't resist doing detective work on interesting people, especially since it's so easy) and saw the salimma connection and figured that's how you had ventured my way.

          And yes -- I'm *always* up for an HBI! (Just ask Hubby!) :-) That was one of my brother's an
    • another hint (from my dad)--run the threads of the screw across a bar of soap. Lubrication always helps :)
      • Lubrication always helps

        Funny, my *mother* gave me that advice, too -- but we weren't talking about hardware, tools, and screws at the time.

        Oh, wait a minute -- yes, we were.

        ....Bethanie....

  • Believe it or not, I am Bethanie's Hubby (I'm Spartacus!)

    Sweetie - just leave the power tools to me and don't you worry your purty little head about it. And please be sure the laundry is off the sofa when I get home... [to prove to Bethanie that I am who I say, and to put her on notice that I'm a watchin'.]

    I can confirm what you already know: that unsubtle double-entendres are a staple and that "HBI" is one of her more favorite phrases. In case you were wondering. But it's interesting to see what she w

    • Hi Sweetie!!

      FYI, the laundry is folded and all put away in the wonderful closet system you put in this weekend. (After all, we needed to clear it off the bed to get jugo and take a nap.)

      About the power tools -- I only pick them up when I'm desperate to get things done. You know I prefer "hand tools" anyway, don't you? ;-)

      I didn't think I made such a fuss about being foe'd. I just thought it was notable enough to mention. Truly, I don't really care what he thinks of me -- he foe'd me because I used the
      • Hey Rocky! Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat!!

        Dang I miss that show. Always a good laugh. And none of this boring fighting and power up sequences like in DBZ (several of my room mates love it, so I see way too much of it).

        robi
      • *kiss*

        Ewww...GET A ROOM! :-P

        • Oh, yeah, like we haven't been hearing ALL about your sex/love life for WEEKS now!

          Get a room, indeed!

          :-)

          ....Bethanie....
          • Well, yeah, but none of my ex-lovers/potentials have or will ever have accounts on Slashdot. As a rule of thumb, I don't date geek chicks. Well, okay, one chick that I'm sorta interested in on a more purely sexual level describes herself as a geek wannabe. But I'm almost certain that she doesn't have an account on Slashdot. ;)

    • Ahh ha! /me secretly wonders if BethaniesHubby's sudden appearance has anything to do with her recent write-up in Weekly Recap(tm). :-P

      (In which case ... uhhh... that was the OTHER Surak. Yeah, yeah...that's it. :) )

    • No, I'm Spartacus.
    • Welcome to the cult... er, I mean... group. Yeah, that's it.

Slashdot Top Deals

"Neighbors!! We got neighbors! We ain't supposed to have any neighbors, and I just had to shoot one." -- Post Bros. Comics

Close