a tale of tails, tenacity, and tedium, as told by me, usually barefoot and bellowing

Saturday, July 30, 2011

I Ain't No Mechanic...

never want to be!  I can check the oil and fluids, change a tire and a battery, hit things under the hood with a wrench and curse but that is the extent of my mechanical skills.  I can detect noises that aren't right and tell hubby.  He's learned through the years, I can smell when something is gonna break, so he listens...finally, about the mechanics anyway.

My BIL and I were discussing windshield wipers during hubby's heart surgery.  I said, I can never find one to fit, I don't remember what kind of car I have or the year.  He laughs and says, you don't have to know anymore.  They make universal wipers and you just have to know the length.  Alright!!!  That's a good thing because I had a big piece of rubber hanging from my wiper and it was going to swarm very soon.

Sooooooooooo,  to make a long story short, when I went to Wal Mart to get hubby's DPs, I also grabbed a wiper blade.  I remembered to measure as I left the car, I held my purse strap up to the wiper and held my mark as I went inside.  Went to electronics to get a memory card and the lady was looking at me funny.  I said, this is my measurement for the wiper as I held my purse aloft to show I was holding my length.  She helped me get my card and said, car parts are that way, you better go now.

I held my strap to the blades and chose.  Forgot about it in the car for over a week.  Last night about dusk, I decided it was time to put it on. 

Well, I soon discovered that universal did NOT mean any one in the universe could put it on.  I piddled, I fiddled, I pulled the old one off, I TRIED to put the new one on, which was, by the way, two inches too short...I had lost my mark after all.  I put the extra piece of the new one on and, for the life of me, I could not get the wiper on.

For those who know me, you will understand how difficult this next part was...I went in the house, sopping wet with sweat, irritated, aggravated  and had to ask for help!  I'll usually fall off a cliff before I ask for help.  I think hubby felt important.  He came out, took the one piece off the new wiper that I managed to get on and slapped that new blade right into place...a--hole!  Then  he grinned, yep, just had to grin, because he does know me and knows I don't ask for help. 

Now remember, I mentioned it wasn't the right length...hubby just said, won't have as wide of a view in the rain but I reckon it'll work...a--hole!

14 comments:

LindaG said...

Go to one of the auto stores next time. You can probably get them to put it on for you.
Worked for me when someone lost the oil cap for my engine.
Still, glad it got put on. Happy Saturday! :)

Granny said...

Auto Zone is the place I go for anything that has to do with the car if hubby isn't around to help me. The guys there are fantastic.

I know what you mean about asking for help. I've always been independent and hate that I can't do everything myself.

Pat said...

I've got news for you, Gail. You are not giving up any of your independence if you let your husband put on new wiper blades. Really. It's okay.

T. Powell Coltrin said...

I don't want to know anything about cars but of course I have to keep it up somehow. So I have to take it into my fabulous mechanic when it needs it.

I am sooo not good getting wiper blades on. I did it once and vowed not to try again. I just go to O'Reilly's and they put them on for me. (Is O'Reilly's in Ark?)

Unknown said...

I hate days like that!

Michaele said...

I LOVE the purse strap idea. LOVE IT.

An English Shepherd said...

Its not easy to ask for help ;-)

Buttons Thoughts said...

Oh yes the new wiper blade. I have been there I have not for the life of me figured out how to get it on right yet. I still need help. Progress I don't think so. B

ellen abbott said...

Maybe if they were't so snarky about it we'd ask for help more often.

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

Ms. Gail, I have been doing all that and keeping the world running in our neck of the woods myself for too many years to worry about and when I had my knee replacement and the world went to hell in a handbasket....Mr. Oblivious had to learn to do...I never took it back...it's his turn and I don't worry about asking for help, I've crossed over to the dark side. I don't feel a bit guity or weeping flower about it. He was lucky for 30+ years to have a woman who did it all. But I do understand how frustrating it can be to ask, so I don't...I just leave it like "they" do and so far the world has just kept on spinning. tee hee.
But the remark thing is typical testosterone impaired behavior.....get earplugs. The Olde Bagg

carolina nana said...

HA HA HA HA I'm laughing my a** off right now thinking about almost the exact same thing that happened to me,except I managed to break mine trying to get it on and had to buy another one,that he promptely said don't even unwrap it till you call me !! AND ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T SEE HIM DO IT I'M SURE HE GRINNED TO !!!
Have a blessed weekend,stay cool.
Marilyn

Empty Nester said...

Oh...my...so...funny! LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Susan Anderson said...

I've been visiting your blog long enough now to know that you do not like to ask for help. (Yet another way in which you are like my sister!)

=)

PS. And yes, I do like her! ;)

DesertHen said...

Windshield wipers are a pain in the a**...much like men at times...LOL!

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