Beer, Bourbon and George Thorogood: How to get things done around the house.
It’s amazing what you can get done with some beer, bourbon and George Thorogood. When my wife and I got married, I was definitely the guy who calls the guy, who does the job around the house. I knew nothing of electrical work, plumbing, laying flooring, or building anything. She has spent the last fourteen years turning me into the guy who gets things done around the house himself.
I like beer, I like bourbon, I enjoy listening to music.
Now, I even like getting things done around the house and maintaining my property like a man and doing it myself, most of the time. It’s not always perfect or pretty, but it is always functional, safe and far more cost effective. Wood working while having a bourbon, painting, spackling, drywalling while having a beer and laying floor while jamming to George Thorogood have helped turn this house into a home.
Realize it doesn’t all come at once
In the movie Gran Torino there is a scene where the kid who is being taken under the wing of Clint Eastwood’s character is amazed at the tool collection in Eastwood’s garage. Eastwood chastises the boy noting that it takes a lifetime to build up all those tools. You don’t acquire them all at once. Your ability to do home projects and have the tools to do them, takes time. Time to learn and time to save and acquire the tools.
Be Willing to Learn
Once upon a time (ok, and still to this day) I tend(ed) to get frustrated during project, swear a little too much and definitely didn’t want anyone around me as I worked on projects. To be fair, they didn’t really want to be around me either. Over the years, my Dad, and my Father-In-Law have taught me so many things. My brothers-in-law are also pretty handy and I have learned from them. Their willingness to do things themselves and teach me has taught me so much. Now, I am far more calm and productive, and really enjoy teaching my kids to do some of these things themselves as well.
“How do you get so many things done?”
My sister in law asked Kim how she got me to do so many projects around the house. Her answer was, I break it, then he has to fix it. There’s less malice there than it sounds though, especially in our current house there have been a number of times she did break it so I would fix it sooner than later. It usually goes something like this:
Kim: Will you fix the drippy doo hickey under the sink?
Me: I’m not a plumber. I’ll call a guy. I hate plumbing.
Kim: I’ll look at it. (I knew this meant I would soon be working on plumbing. Her version of looking at it involves touching it and messing with it)
Kim: Umm, Bryan, you need to turn the water off and go to Home Depot and get one of these. It broke so I took it off. (Palm to forehead)
Beer or Bourbon
Certain drinks seem to go with certain jobs. Plumbing is definitely beer and angry rock. Most jobs, I don’t have a preference of music or drink as long as both are present.
The Joys of Home Ownership
When we bought our current house we ripped the dog soiled carpet from six rooms. We then had to put Kilz on the subfloor and lay new flooring. George Thorogood got me through that one. Listening to some good rock while doing manly work seems to help get me in a rhythm. Help from brothers and family is always a huge plus.
I saw a meme that was a shout out to all the husbands who have been saying “I’ll do it when I have time.” We have definitely worked on a few project around the house since this 2020 Quarantine hit. Luckily I’ve had some beer, bourbon and George Thorogood to help me get it done.