How hard can it be?

I must utter the phrase, “how hard can it be?” at least once every week or two; every time I think of something that I want to create or copy from someone or fix around my house. I wouldn’t consider myself cheap. Sadly, not at all. But I only like to buy something if it’s a good value. I do so love to get something for a great price. If I were actually frugal, however, I wouldn’t buy anything at all.

Instead I learn to find bargains (usually on the net) and do things myself. Because how hard could it be to install new light fixtures and faucets and make aprons and dresses and fix vacuums and disposals? Not to be judgemental or anything, but I haven’t been impressed with the brain power of a lot of fix-it guys. Not that they aren’t smart, but I certainly am as smart as they are.

Which leads me to my current round of How Hard Can it Be To Change My Kitchen Faucet? I have done this twice before in different houses (not to mention several bathroom faucets). Only once I really started thinking about it, I have only installed one in the kitchen. The other one I just handed my brother the parts and he did all the dirty work. Let me just boil it all down to this: kitchen faucets are a pain to install. 

It’s hard to believe I lived with this sad specimen of faucetry for two and a half years. I mean, what girl doesn’t dream of a super deluxe faucet like this (including the wonky sprayer that isn’t even attached to the countertop)?

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The real challenge with plumbing is my lack of musculature. In other words I am too wimpy to tighten all the hoses and pipes properly. I have a big bucket under the sink that everything drips into (even though I swear the water supply is turned off. I swear! It just won’t stop dripping! I’m starting to feel like the Sorcerer’s Apprentice.) I’m waiting for Mister to take pity on me and tighten everything up. In the meantime I am living without a functioning faucet. It’s been more than two days now and I’m getting tired of rinsing things out in the bathtub (the bathroom sinks aren’t very deep, it turns out).

I did manage to get things worked out enough to run the dishwasher last night.  I have to draw the line at washing dishes in the bathroom.  That’s just too weird and gross for me.

| Filed under Fix-it, I'm Not So Great

4 thoughts on “How hard can it be?

  1. I should also mention that I have been fortunate enough to have been the daughter of, now the wife of, two men whose greatest joy it was/is to take things apart and put them back together. I hope I never have to fix a faucet or put in a light fixture. I just don't have the drive for it. YOU rock!

  2. Who are you? Is this Jennie? How on earth have YOU lived with this pathetic faucet for so long? I'm thoroughly ashamed.

  3. I think changing faucets is easy. I wait till my plumber father-in-law is in town and mention that I don't like my old one. Poof! I have a new one. Other home improvement things, however, always get me in trouble with "How hard can it be?" Watching it on a DIY show is never as easy as actually doing it. Who would have thought?

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