I'm capable...really I am!

Since I have become recently single again, I have found myself doing a LOT of "handyman" jobs around my house. I guess, I should preface with the fact that I have always done these kinds of things - growing up my mom never labeled jobs as having a gender and throughout my marriage I have always been the "mechanical" one.

So, with that being said, I have felt very inapt in the last couple of weeks. My first BIG handyman job came in the form of my hot water heater not doing its job. I thought, "Hey I've changed out an element before, no biggie." Somehow in the draining, the changing, and the refilling, I missed the gasket that keeps the element from leaking. In turn, I had to call in male assistance. From whom I got a shaking of his head, as the solution was a simple one. Even though he was more than happy to help, I felt more than ridiculous.

My next flub came today. I came home from my reunion weekend to find my grass had grown majorly over the weekend. I had remembered that my lawnmower had run kind of rough the last time I used it, so I thought - "I bet ya that sucker needs some oil to lubricate the motor." I read on the side the max amount of oil that should be added. I added about 3/4 of that amount. In my mind I was thinking, "If a little bit of oil, does a good job...than a little bit more will do a GREAT job!" Boy, was I WRONG!!!!

I started the mower and smoke went everywhere!! I called for male assistance again. I was told to siphon the oil out with whatever I had available - I had a straw - lol. Let me just tell you, I am one of those very trusting people that if you told me to pick my nose and rub the boogers on something to make it run better - I, trusting that you were a good friend and wouldn't turn me wrong, would probably do it. Maybe... not my best quality. So... here I am siphoning with a straw. As I am squatting in front of my mower my neighbor, Johnny, calls to me, "Dawn, you having problems?" "Just a few" I reply.

So here comes Johnny. Johnny is a retired fellow from Georgia. His grandkids play with my boys. His southern drawl is overly noticeable. I tell him what my problem is. He tells me, "Don't worry Darlin' this will be a quick fix." I laugh now because I now know what the future will hold. He rolls my lawnmower over and starts draining the extra oil out. Then he checks the dipstick. "Darlin' how much oil DID you put in here?" he asks. All I could do is shrug. He continues to drain the oil. After he has done this procedure several times, he pulls out the dipstick and says, "See this line here - the oil needs to stay BELOW that." I nod...thinking how many times I have read a dipstick and know exactly where the oil should hit. Johnny then starts the mower - black smoke and oil spew EVERYWHERE! He then removes the muffler and pours more oil out, and then he removes the air filter which is dripping with oil. He cleans the muffler and tells me I will need a new filter. I agree to go buy one. Now Johnny looks at me and says, "Darlin' next time you want to add oil...just call me." I smile and nod.

So 2 hours after I originally started... I have a new filter on my mower, the right amount of oil in it, and the knowledge to know better next time that...Too much of a good thing, is not always a good thing. Thanks Johnny!!!