Another string to my bow...
By rhinoboy
@rhinoboy (2129)
September 4, 2007 3:00am CST
I surprised myself again last night by fixing the washing machine. My wife sent a message when I was away fishing last weekend to say that the machine was leaking and the kitchen floor was soaked. Just what I wanted while 400 miles away fishing!
I ordered the part online when I got home and it came yesterday morning. On my lunch break yesterday i did a little surfing to try to find instructions on how to fit the new seal, but could only find generic guides. Anyway, I got home at 8pm and after a quick coffee and kissing my daughter goodnight I got started. It took until 10:30pm but eventually with some help from my wife (why do so many jobs need more than 2 hands?!) we got it finished and ran a tester wash. Thankfully we didn't flood the floor again and the repair was a success.
My real points are:
When have you surprised yourself by achieving something you thought you couldn't? I work as an accountant, but I love learning to do new things, from brick-laying to needlecraft.
Isn't the internet a fantastic source of information? In almost ten years of home ownership, I've only hired someone to work on my home once. That was to install gas appliances - you don't want to mess with that stuff. Most things I want to achieve, I can usually find some helpful web-pages or forums to gather all the information I need. What has the internet taught you to do?
4 people like this
7 responses
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
4 Sep 07
I try everything. If I can do it, I'm always surprised. I have very little eye-to-hand coordination and I have a learning disability. So Middle Eastern Dance, repairing my water heater by getting a new thermostat and putting it on right (I used crayons on a piece of paper so I could plot the different colored wires and put the new one in exactly right), and helping people that actually want help. All those have been pleasant surprises. Needlepoint? Good for you! Not one of my successes.
@rhinoboy (2129)
•
4 Sep 07
I must admit the needlecraft thing was a bit of an exaggeration! I can knock out a decent set of curtains and mend clothing to some extent though! lol
It's great that you can use creative ways to get around your learning difficulty. It's often said that people with conditions like yours actually have to be more intelligent to cope with problems that average people would find simple.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
4 Sep 07
I love that last line. Maybe I'll have it put on a t-shirt or something. Thanks, you sound very neat. Take care
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
4 Sep 07
Well done my friend, that is definitely a great achievement, and besides the amount of money you saved yourself, just for a plumber to come to your door is £50 before he does anything to your offending washing machine! I reckon you should treat yourself or go out for a meal with the money you saved! Ironically last night I had to sort my washing machine out because it was starting to leak everywhere, it was only a small matter of adjusting the pipes at the back and sealing a small hole but even so I managed to do it! Yes the internet is a great tool! Fixing washing machines today, computers tomorrow! There is no end to what you can do if you really put your mind to it!
@rhinoboy (2129)
•
4 Sep 07
I'd thought that. It would have certainly cost me a minimum of £100 easily. I paid about £30 for the door-seal including postage.
I would like to learn more about computers though. I can use one as well as the next man, but I'm knackered when it starts getting really technical!
Those washer-pipes are horrible aren't they?! Whan we moved last year, it took me nearly an hour to disconnect the washer at our old house. It hadn't been moved for a good few years and the hose connections had stuck. I didn't have any mole grips or anything else big enough to grip them so my thumbs & index-fingers were red-raw and killing me by the time I got them undone.
Nice to hear from you BTW. You sound really upbeat. I hope everything's going well.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
7 Sep 07
Well Rhino I have many a time
As my Ex Husband would not do anything I had to learn to do it myself that is including Painting repairing things laying Lino Floors down
Yes some People will look at this and say well that is not hard but it is when you never did it and are forced to do it
I also laid Lino tiles
But biggest thing I amazed myself with is the Computer and the Internet
3 Years ago I would not touch a Computer I was actually scared of them lol and I am so proud what I have achieved now I even learned today how to do my very own Layout and yes of course it is Gissi Layouts I did lol
Hugs to you x
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
10 Sep 07
Well thank you Rhino I have to keep my mind going as they won't let me go out to work anymore and if I would not have had the courage to tackle the Computer 3 years ago I would well and truly be down hill by now and I would have given up on my Life I need things to occupy me I have always worked and loved it well now this keeps my mind going
I am actually starting Gissi's Christmas Web this week sometime lol that will certainly keep me going as that will be hard work lol
Hugs to you x
1 person likes this
@rhinoboy (2129)
•
10 Sep 07
A girl after my own heart, Gabs! The things you describe certainly aren't easy, I renovated a whole house when I was 19 - 23ish. I didn't have a choice as I couldn't afford to pay tradesmen to do it. The only job I got people in for was to install a new gas fire & gas hob. That was something I just didn't want to mess with! lol.
I wanted to make websites for a while, but I just didn't have anything I thought would make decent content. Now i don't have the time or inclination! From the brief visit I paid a while back, Gissi's site looks great - well done you!
1 person likes this
@Poison_Girl (4150)
• United States
5 Sep 07
WOO HOO! And congrats to you for fixing your washing machine! It always feels good to accomplish things, doesn't it? Whether or not you thought you could do it. I have fun editing music and stuff. I like to make my own ringtones and I get awfully proud of how "clean cut" they sound. Cuz I tend to chop 'em up cuz I'll like one bit, but then I like this other bit and I try to put it together without it sounding like it's obviously cut. Does that make sense? As for something I've learned on the internet... Well, I did need a little help getting Linux on my WPA-encrypted wireless network, so I did find some help online with that and got it working. WOO HOO!
1 person likes this
@rhinoboy (2129)
•
6 Sep 07
That's a real skii you have to digitally edit music like that. My brother went through a phase a year or so back when he'd always be showing me the tunes he'd 'mixed' on some program he'd downloaded. Unfortunately his skills were somewhat lacking, as his 'mixes' were generally just popular dance tracks sped up with the bass levels turned too high.
@maildumpster (3815)
• United States
9 Sep 07
Good show!
One thing the internet taught me to do was earn money online. LOL
Another thing I learned is how to homeschool my kids.
1 person likes this
@rhinoboy (2129)
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10 Sep 07
That's great. Do you actually make a decent amount online or is it just a nice sideline?
I considered homeschooling, but it would be a real struggle to give up my salary and I think the social aspects will be good for my daughter if she's still an only-child. The schools in my area aren't the best though, so it's still something I'd consider in the future.
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
4 Sep 07
When I got my very first computer I was working at a job that was a computer manufacturer of computers for the government in all forms. Schools, Police Depts, State offices, cities etc etc. I was also allowed a %50 discount on a custom built computer. Well I knew nothing about comps or the internet but after a couple years of being online and learning about the internet and computers it wasn't long before I had people online asking ME for information on computer woes and or problems. Great feeling to have learned enough online to have others asking me for help.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
1 person likes this
@rhinoboy (2129)
•
4 Sep 07
As I mentioned above, I can use a computer pretty well, but I get lost with the technical stuff. My brother is pretty good, he can strip them down and replace components and things. He formats his machine often too, but that's 'cos he's always got lots of viruses through looking at p0rn! hahaha
