Are you handy?

@ElicBxn (63194)
United States
October 9, 2008 5:10pm CST
I'm putting this under cats, because its a cat that made me do this! I've talked about how our cat, Rygel, has a trick - he jumps into our arms. Well, Oliver had developed a trick of his own, he's learned to open the door to the roomie's work space because of the lever doorknob. So, after having to get up and put cats out of the space several times today, the roomie went and found a knob in our spare stuff and wanted me to replace the lever with the knob. Well, we only needed the knob on the outside, so I just pulled off the whole knob/lever and then shoved the new knob on to the outside and the lever back on in the inside. I managed to drop the screw 3 times and the screwdriver once, I have a bad case of fumble fingers today, but I did it. I took over the outside lever and showed it to the roomie and told her that I left the inside lever. Let me remind you that I'm a 50+ female, not a guy, but I've replaced a large number of doorknobs around the house in the past, this is just the first time in a few years. the other roomie offered to hang around and add moral support, but she left and I didn't wait for her to come back, what I couldda used was some cat herding. Has any of your pets prompted you to do a chore because they learned a new trick? Are you handy - can you replace things like that?
8 people like this
18 responses
• United States
10 Oct 08
I actually had a problem with a door handle and my cat opening it. It was a lever either. It was a regular turn knob and I have no idea how he could do it. I don't think replacing the door knob will do much good but as many times as he has scared me when I walk in there and he is sleeping in the bathtub, I have half a mind to change the knob around so that the lock is on the outside and I can lock him out! LOL
5 people like this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
10 Oct 08
My first cat, Sab learned to turn knobs, but while I saw her try it, I never actually saw her succeed - I imagine it took a few trys and I always stopped her when I was around.
3 people like this
• Lubbock, Texas
10 Oct 08
ROFL Careful, he may learn to turn the lock and lock you in!
4 people like this
• United States
10 Oct 08
LOL! If he figures that out, I think I would be scared!
3 people like this
• United States
10 Oct 08
If I had the screws and screw drivers I could probably figure it out. I have pulled out and replaced a hard drive in my computer and loaded the operating system in it. I dust out the tower once a month. I change all the light bulbs around here as well. * I love your curious fur ball getting into your roommate's room!
• United States
10 Oct 08
You have some determined furballs!
3 people like this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
10 Oct 08
Oliver, and Rygel, arn't anything if not determined.
3 people like this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
10 Oct 08
I like doing simple fixs around the house, saves money too... Yeah, even the roomie thought it was funny the first few times he did it, but after putting cats out repeatedly today, it wasn't funny any more.
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (157027)
• United States
10 Oct 08
It has been a few years, but I have replaced door knobs. I have not replaced faucets yet, but I could, I am sure. I can totally understand about cat herding. Ours have removed the back screen. Hubby bought stuff to replace it months ago, but has not. I am very grrrr with him. He had to buy the most expensive, cat proof stuff, and it is just sitting. There are a few other grrrs around here, but I will not go off on it.
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
10 Oct 08
wish I could come take if off y our hands, I need some screening!
3 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (45223)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
10 Oct 08
So do I... guess why...
3 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
10 Oct 08
oh gosh I am anything but handy, if you tell me to turn on an appliance I get scared lol. I have always been useless that way.
4 people like this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
10 Oct 08
I kept breaking things as a kid so I had to learn to fix them when I could. I know for a fact that well over half the things I broke I managed to fix. I don't touch electical things tho.
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
10 Oct 08
well, I do change light bulbs....
2 people like this
@jwfarrimond (4473)
10 Oct 08
Over the years, there have been two feline residents here who learned how to open the interior doors by jumping up to hang on to the door handle which are all of the lever type. None of the current residents really need to do so because I rarely close any of the interior doors so they are free to wander anywhere they want to, apart from the downstairs front room, which is the "best" room and off limits to cats. Being basically lazy and this being freedom hall for cats as well, I really can't say that I've been prompted to do something like that because of a cat learning something new. By the way, I've never had any luck with cat herding, any tips there???
4 people like this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
10 Oct 08
We have to keep the cats out of this room because her work computer is in it. I also like to keep them out of my craft space - immagine what the cats could do to my beads if they had free run....
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (45223)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
9 Oct 08
Yes, I'm handy, but I'm also lazy... so it's taken me several years just to strip the staircase... (93 years of paint and varnish, and carpet glue, and carpet tacks, too). But no, I can't say as I've been prompted by a pet to do any repairs.
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
9 Oct 08
there wasn't anything WRONG with the door lever, except that Oliver is opening it
@BarBaraPrz (45223)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
9 Oct 08
Oh, I know all about kitties opening doors... Mona Cat could open the screen door (an old-fashioned wooden one), the occasional cupboard door if it wasn't shut properly, and always could get in and out of the bathroom, where we replaced the door with a bi-fold one to save space. Several two-footed visitors often couldn't, but Mona could.
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (157027)
• United States
10 Oct 08
Barbara, do we live in the same house? Let's have a race!! I have tons of stripping and refinishing to do.
4 people like this
@KrauseHome (36449)
• United States
13 Oct 08
Well, pets, especially cats can be quite interesting, and learn how to open the doors to many things if you let them. I have had friends who say their cats have learned how to open the refridgerator door, etc. Our neighbor cat will open anyones front door and walk right in if you do not have the door completely shut as it has happened to us a couple of times. But when it comes to Fixing things, I can honestly say I am not the person to ask. Usually I have to rely on my husband or others out there to get something done. But, I bet if I tried, I could fix a couple things around here as well.
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
13 Oct 08
I've had lots of cats that could open doors that weren't completely closed. I have had to learn to fix things, I don't have a husband to fix things for me, and my dad wasn't much for fixing things either.
1 person likes this
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
10 Oct 08
Yes, LOL. I have had to learn new tricks because of my doggie. He is so smart. I have days where I am very handy and skilled also. You have to be so frugal and clever also sometimes. I can replace things like that too. Good job.
4 people like this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
10 Oct 08
Yeah - they can quite helpful those beasties. When I had the combination lock installed on the front door, I didn't want ANYONE to lock the knob, so I had an interior closet doorknob put on the front door. Why would I do this - well, the former roommate locked us out of the house 3 times by doing the doorknob. I finally had to forbid her EVER using the door lock.
2 people like this
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
13 Oct 08
LOL! I have had to take the toilet paper off the spindle and put it on top of the toilet tank cause she likes to steal it or unroll it and tear it apart. I am still trying to find a way to keep her from grabbing it.
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
13 Oct 08
I had a cat I had to keep the tp in a cabinate
1 person likes this
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
10 Oct 08
[i]Hi Elic, I am very dependent to my Mom and Dad before..I admire my Mom who has the skills really to almost everything about fixing in the house, she can even work on our roof before..ANyway, maybe if I will be in a situation where hubby isn't around and I need to do it right there and then, Maybe that time I can do things..LOL! I haven't tried yet but of course I love to learn from simple fixing to more complicated! Congrats for that![/i]
3 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
10 Oct 08
I rely on my son-in-law or my wifes boss for larger fix it jobs here. HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
10 Oct 08
I haven't ever been on my roof. I had to learn to fix things, I knew I wasn't going to have a husband around so I learned to do things myself.
1 person likes this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
10 Oct 08
Since Hubby is disabled I've taken on alot of the minor handyman chores around the apartment. I can change lightbulbs, smoke alarm batteries, replace a toilet seat, fix metal office chairs and even hang mini blinds and shower curtains. It doesn't sound very impressive but I'm still proud of myself. You do what you have to do. As for the pets, Morgana is very picky and like the other day she wanted to climb up on some high shelves so I had to move a bunch of stuff so she could get around. I am forever leaving the door open to the laundry closet b/c she goes in there to play in the dryer. She pretty much rules things around here. [b]~~IN SEARCH OF PEACE WITHIN~~ **AGAINST THE STORMS, I WILL STAND STRONG** [/b]
4 people like this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
10 Oct 08
shower curtains are nothing, heck, I've got shower curtains haning instead of real curtains across the front window - more for convience then looks - one of these years I'll fix them since I don't have a husband, disabled or otherwise, I've had to do these things from the get-go
3 people like this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
15 Oct 08
I can replace some things and not others. I'm partally handy. I replaced water heater electric bos, but couldn't replace the element. THat cat is too handy! Take care.
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
15 Oct 08
I have no idea what a "bos" is, but like I said, I'm afraid of things electrical... Yeah, he's now one unhappy cat since he can't get to the roommate anymore!
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
15 Oct 08
The wrong finger hit the wrong key. Electrical box. It was easy. Take three or 4 crayons and draw the box as it is on the hot water tank. Shut off all the power to your house. Unscrew or clamp all the little colored lines. Take the new one out of the package. Look at your crayon or colored pencil drawing. Put the new lines and clamp or screw to the posts per your little colored diagram. Have your cousin come look it over, he says it's fine. Turn on (flick the switch at the electric box) and hear it hum. $12 dollar part (in the 80s) and 20 mins. later, hum, hum, hum.
2 people like this
10 Oct 08
Hi ElicBxn, Never mind the cats, my husband got a new door from my neighbour for our living room door and well he fixed up and everything, but he have to change the door knob and will have to get a new knob for the door, it was 8 months ago and there is a hole where a knob should go, he still has not fixed it, I do everything else around the house and he can't even bother to do one thing, if I can do it I will. The kazy so and so, he spend to much time going bike riding with his mates. Tamara
4 people like this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
10 Oct 08
find the doorknob and do it, doorknobs is one of the easiest jobs
3 people like this
• United States
15 Oct 08
Cats are smarter than people give them credit for. lol One of the worst things I've ever had to replace was a door knob. I had to stop and regroup several times. Dropping the screws and the screwdriver were the least of it. I couldn't get the screws to line up mostly. Finally, after about 30 minutes, I got it. I do some stuff around the house. I've replaced the flapper on a toilet recently and repaired computers. Mostly I let my son do it. Makes him feel needed. :)
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
15 Oct 08
Yeah, I didn't even complain about that part, the failure to line up, that's why I kept dropping stuff! I've done the flapper on the toliet too, I used to seem to LIVE in the toliet as I kept having to fix and replace the chain. I hope that's fixed, I haven't done it in a while!
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
10 Oct 08
Minor reapairs as stated I can handle. I used to do caretaking of apartment buildings so I know a few things. I can change knobs, locks, water faucets, fix drips, that sort of thing. Major repairs dealing with electronicall things I am at a loss there. HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
10 Oct 08
I am leery of water stuff, I never had the grip to turn off water, but maybe with the roomie, she's got the strength I don't have. We had a friend come by and he fixed our garbage dispostal - we owe that boy a dinner!
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85129)
• Shingle Springs, California
10 Oct 08
This isn't exactly a new trick but we certainly have a lot of scratching posts all around the house to deter them from destroying the sofas. I'm not handy with mechanical things at all and fortunately my husband is.
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63194)
• United States
10 Oct 08
we foxed them on sofas and the like - we don't have any where they can get at them! I'm pretty good with a screwdriver and hammer - guess I need to be since so far I've dodged the marriage thing... and I'm nearly 55!
1 person likes this
• United States
16 Oct 08
Things I've done because of pets. Learn to hide the mouse and keyboard when I'm done.(Tony surfs the web). Close the toilet lid(Tony decided to start acting like a dog a few weeks ago. Louise calls it kittytimers). be excedeingly cautious with lazy boy chairs(I currently don't own one), Tony has a large scar on his shoulder where the recliner mechenism took a chunk out of him when he hid under one. There's probably other tricks I'm forgetting. As for handy, it comes naturally in my family. What I can't do I can usually have a family member teach me or I can learn it in a book if I can't figure it out for myself. My first PC type computer(my computers before that were great learning tools with the power of a good calculator) was one I built from parts I bought at a computer show. My brother and I wandered around the place getting deals on various pats from various vendors until we had what we needed and went home, only to find out the P!!! barebones we bought didn't have a P!!! CPU in it. A friend found them on ebay for us and we were up and running. Ith a sound blaster card and a voodoo vidio card the thing still works over 10 years later. I'ts blown one hard drive, one floppy drive and one power source. It runs a bit slow with XP loaded and only a 133Mhz prodessor with 96 megs of ram but, it does run and I can still use it. Unfortunatly it's probably the best computer I have other than the E-Machine my wife bought for herself a couple years ago. I really need to get myself a new computer. I solder plumbing, fix brakes, replace faucets, rebuild cabinetry, etc... itmay not always be pretty when it's done but almost everything works when I'm done. if it doesn't its almost always because what I was trying to fix was to old and to far gone to salvage.
• Pakistan
10 Oct 08
no im loosi
1 person likes this