Power Tools

Some people get excited at the thought of powerful electrical tools in their hands - drilling a hole here, slicing a board there, stapling a project here. And some people may actually drool as they linger lovingly over a coveted tool while browsing their local home store.

Suffice it to say - I am NOT one of those people.

Generally, I avoid using power tools at all costs. They scare me. Especially the big saws and things that I imagine will break, spin off into the air and slice off my fingers and toes. You can imagine how much fun I had in my required shop class in middle school!

But mostly I just think I'll mess things up - drill a hole in the wrong place, cut the board too short and then have to go back to the store to get another one, power sand the vintage dresser too much and ruin the beautiful piece of furniture that's been in the family for years.

Unfortunately, when your husband is really busy and you really want to get the new curtains up in your room, but you really loathe the thought of using the drill... well, sometimes the desire to get the curtains up wins.

So I organized all my tools - hammer, screwdriver, pencil, measuring tape, level, curtain rods, and drill (shudder). I read and reread the directions. I spent nearly an hour measuring and remeasuring and using the level to make sure that the four holes were in the right spot.

Then I began to drill. Esther covered her ears and looked a little frightened. Yeah, I'd be afraid of Mommy with the drill, too. I realized part way into the wall that I'd hit a stud. (We actually don't have a stud finder and just get surprised. Hmmm... a Father's Day gift idea...) So I switched to the directions on how to put the bracket up when you drill into a stud. It worked and the first bracket went up pretty smoothly. Whewph! I congratulated myself for a job well done and went to tackle the next one.

I drilled the second hole and realized I'd again hit a stud. So I started to put the screw in and it stopped. Hey... No matter what I did, the stupid screw would not budge. Hey!!! So I pulled it out and tried the anchor method. I lightly tapped it in with the hammer and it bent. I tried three more. Three more anchors dropped uselessly to the floor. Then I tried a different kind of anchor. It wouldn't budge. It just made the hole bigger.

Then I made a fateful decision. I'd simply drill some more! And the hole got really big. Oops.

So I stopped.

I dropped everything where it was, left the room, and shut the door.

I think I'll ask Daron for help when he gets home.