TheBanyanTree: Blind and Blinds

Thu Dec 11 05:09:26 PST 2008

I could actually feel myself tensing as I read about your adventure!  I
have learned that I lack whatever gene it is that's required to hang
things on the wall.  Brackets, shelves - in fact anything more
complicated than a simple nail!!

My mother got my son a 'baseball' shelf for his room.  Sort of a 3D
thing with a bit of weight to it, and I realized it would require more
than just even TWO nails... Da da da DA!!  I would need two screws and
those little plastic expansion things put into the wall first.  And they
would have to be lined up perfectly so the screws would fit into the
holes in the back of the shelf.  

HOW HARD CAN IT BE?!?!

The little plastic thingies end up going through the wall and down,
never to be seen again.  And you can't try putting another one in there
because by this time, the hole's way too big.  So, move over and adjust
the measurements.

Well, I ended up with four holes in the wall, and the shelf was still on
the desk.  Yeah, I don't do drills and I don't hang things on the walls.

You are my hero Laura.  :)

-----Original Message-----
From: thebanyantree-bounces at lists.remsset.com
[mailto:thebanyantree-bounces at lists.remsset.com] On Behalf Of Laura
Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 8:40 PM
To: the Banyan Tree
Subject: TheBanyanTree: Blind and Blinds

The blankety-blank expletive-deleted cats have had their way with the
aluminum mini- blinds which hang in the windows downstairs. On one set,
two of the slats have actually been bent backward at a ninety-degree
angle to make kitty viewing easier. Of course this leaves a gaping hole
in the blinds, allowing anyone outside to see inside. 
This rather circumvents the whole purpose in having the blinds up at
all.
So I, without thinking it through, told Larry I thought we ought to get
wooden blinds for the downstairs. Yeah, the cats might chew them, but at
least they can't bend them backwards and leave big holes. Larry thought
that was a good idea, and we went to our trusty Lowe's and picked some
out. Very nice, with a dark stain that mostly matches the paint and
furniture. Nice and sturdy, too.
Tonight I decided I would put up the new blinds. This was not going to
be one of those easy exchanges, either. It involved actually removing
the old hardware and replacing it with the new, slightly larger
hardware. I forget between times of doing this what a PITA* it is.
The bookshelves in front of the window stick out just enough that I
can't reach the old hardware without a stool, which means I end up
having to actually climb on top of the bookshelves to keep from
overbalancing. The drill won't go close enough to the wall so you have
to take the old screws out by hand. No matter how carefully I measure, I
aways mess up the placement of the brackets for the first set of blinds.

That means taking the screws out, which I had to put in by hand because
the drill is too big to go next to the wall damnit, drilling new pilot
holes, and remounting the bracket. 
Now my wrists hurt from having to use the handheld screwdriver on half
the screws, my knuckles are all busted up from the same. The elbow that
had major surgery on it over two years ago is trembling, achy, and
actually starting to go numb and is sending weird numb/painful signals
down my arm into my hand because I forgot and tried to brace the drill
by wedging my elbow against the window. My legs and back are cramping
from squatting on top of the bookshelves holding the monster drill,
which I'm using for the screws that aren't actually right next to the
wall, above my head .
While all that is annoying and frustrating, what really aggravates me is
the fact that I can't see what I'm doing anymore! If I'm close enough to
see the little screws and stuff, then I can't focus on them. If I back
off far enough to focus on them, I can't see them!
I guess it's gonna be time for those bi-focals next eye doctor's visit,
huh? ::heavy sigh::
And I still have one more set of blinds to put up.
*Pain In The Arse

--
Laura
wolfljsh at gmail.com
http://wolfsinger.wordpress.com