Chris, as many Angelenos know, is modern day Erma Bombeck. A humorist for the LA Times and author of Daditude, which I was gifted by my daughters before I even knew who he was. We met on one occasion at one of his Foothill walks. And shared post-hike beers at a local pub.
Like me, Chris is a widower in his 60's. Also like me, Chris was lucky enough to find a partner that has an appreciation and love for his uniqueness. I'm convinced, and I think he'd agree, that people crazy enough to call themselves writers have to be unique. Or weird. Or quirky.
Or as Ms. Muse likes to say, "a bubble off plum."
As the weather warms up I have to make a point of joining his monthly all-are-welcome hikes in the greater Flintridge/La Canada area. But right now, like Chris, I'm in Spring Cleaning mode. as in "there's so much shit in the house that needs fixing."
His tale of installing a new kitchen faucet caught my eye because his sourcing of knowledge and mechanical know how came from the same place as mine -- YouTube videos. A far cry from the way my father taught himself to avoid paying for home repairs, the vaunted Time Life book series.
He had the entire catalogue. And could build a bookshelf, install an attic ceiling fan, or put in his own Finnish Sauna off the master bedroom (which he actually did.) Had he the convenience and ease of YouTube videos, my father, a CPA from the Bronx, could have summoned his considerable handiness and built a sailboat.
A dream he started to pursue before the Big C.
As some readers of this blog know, I recently took on the task of replacing light switches in my house. Electrical work is a little trickier than plumbing work. Through trial and error and jolts of light voltage lighting up my nerve endings, I've learned to hit the breaker panel before any work commences. Also learned the proper way to use electrical caps. And the delicate art of gently placing stiff old cables back in the electrical box.
The toughest part of the job was opening the plastic wrapped packaging the new switches came in.
Having done that and experiencing the associated joy, I am moving on.
A few weeks ago, my daughters bought me a new kitchen cutting board. They were put off by my old one which had been a staple in this house for many, many years. They suggested it was riddled with hidden salmonella and E. Coli cells, lurking in the crevices between the tink planks of maple. They further suggested that I throw it out.
I come from post depression parents who rarely threw anything out. And now I am determined to bring it back to life.
As I write this, I am eagerly awaiting the Amazon arrival of my new Orbital Palm Sander with the quick hook and loop paper holder-- the Skil SR211601. My favorite in the 21000 Series.
BTW, I decided to chuck my old palm sander because it was impossible to figure out how to get the sandpaper in place. And there were no YouTube videos for that!
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