aching hands and bruised egos

If there is one thing I absolutely despise, it is having to depend on someone else, namely someone stronger than I, to be able to complete a task.

Case in point:

So I break perhaps five state laws this morning leaving my children home alone while I ran to the local National Home Store Chain at 7:00 this morning. Granted, I did go this early for many reasons: 1. I knew I wouldn't have to wait as long as I would if I had gone later, so my children wouldn't be alone as long; 2. they are addicted to Saturday Morning Cartoons, a rich cultural tradition that I was also raised on and will not withhold from my children, although I might limit it a bit; and 3. I wanted a Buckies breakfast date with them before I started my Project of the Day. Plus, not only does La Princesita know how to call my cell; I also called into The Store before I went, spoke to a representative from the Doors department, read off the sku and model numbers of exactly what I wanted so he would have them ready for me; and I was stuck without the Truck as my husband, who did not mention he was not going to take a taxi to the airport this morning, in fact did not, so I had to fold down my seats in my Outback and everything to be able to get the doors in my car.

The kids, in that scenario, would have had to have been roped to the top, which would have broken more laws.

I also purchased a new electric drill and some new bits that I knew I needed, since I was there.

I did well for the most part, really. For some reason the door handle hits the weather strip when I open and close the door. I am not sure what to do about that. I only cut myself to bleeding twice. The frustration comes when I get to the point of being unable to do something due to the lack of pure brute strength. I cannot drill through the brass footplate to attach the door opener--one that must only go on the bottom, not on the top. Nor can I drill into the doorjam enough to get the screws in all the way to attach the doorjam connector of the opener. It is on, but with four screws sticking a whole 3/4 to 1 inch out. I just can't.

Then the instructions tell you how to attach the glass into the frame, but say nothing about the screen. I can't get the damn screen to stay in the door. It has been in now for about an hour, but I just don't feel confident that it will stay in.

I am a do-it-yourselfer. I get that from my father. And I hate, in my independence, having to depend on someone else for help in completing MY projects--namely a man. I thought that doing home projects together was a given in marriage, but I ended up marrying a man who no only does not believe in do-it-yourselfing, he does not have interest in learning or expanding his world a bit to try to acquire some new skills or to have that self-satisfaction of having done a job by oneself--or as a (gasp!) team (imagine that) while having learned something new in the process. Easier to just hire someone.

...as if we were made of money. I know that is what a lot of people around here do, but when you actually (double-gasp!) live on a budget, you have to figure some things out by yourself.

Kudos go out to La Princesita who, in her 6 1/2 year old wisdom and prowess helped me to the greatest of her abilities. She was a real trooper. I have one more door to do--but we'll see if she's up for the challenge on Monday.

At least I now have a screen door up on the back door! I have wanted that for years!