Wonder Woman and I were eating breakfast Saturday morning. Kipp Jr and Squirt were spending time with their grandparents. Wonder Woman brought up again how she wanted the over the stove micro-wave to come down so a hood could be put up in its place. Taking it down ourselves will save us some money. With no kids in the house and nothing planned until after lunch, she saw potential for some work to get done. I on the other hand found potential for some down time, check some blogs, take some pictures, relax.
Several seconds later I was holding a screwdriver in my hand being provided instructions from the internet on how to dismount an over-the-stove microwave. Wonder woman was explaining all we have to do is unplug it, loosen just four (4) screws then you just tilt and lift.
Several loosened screws, several minutes, and several words which shall not be repeated here, the over-the-stove microwave was still above the stove. How can this thing still be on the wall? The microwave had been striped like an abandoned vehicle. There were parts all over the kitchen. We even moved the stove out to provide more leverage for me to lift up on the microwave. At the peak of my frustration I asked Wonder woman for a piece of plywood to put across the gaping hole between the cabinets. This was for a few reasons. First to catch the microwave
I was getting ready to grunt and growl like a cave man when I see a screw that had somehow missed the screwdriver barrage. I asked Wonder woman why she had not mentioned this screw. She calmly replies, I thought you were in charge of removing the screws. You know I need supervision, I said. Then I made this statement, If this thing comes out after I remove this screw I am going to break something. Screw number 123 comes out and I give the tilt and lift on the microwave...voila...I am holding one over the stove microwave. I asked Wonder woman to open the back door please. I took the beast of an microwave out in the yard and pitched it toward the trash can. Before I returned into the house I gave it a swift kick to the groin (no microwaves do not have a groin but that is where I imagined kicking it OK).
According to the internet, "The skills needed to remove an over the counter microwave were minimal, nearly childlike. Remove 4 screws, tilt forward then lift. The microwave should come off the wall with ease. Removal time = 10 minutes."
124 screws, 80 minutes, 1 stove removal, 47 pulls, 49 tugs, 150 grunts, and 1 pull-and-lift later by a guy looking to relax, the microwave was out by the trash. The moral to this story...just because it is on the internet, does NOT mean it is true.
7 comments:
You tell this story well and there's a lot in it that most husbands can relate to. My wife often wants rooms painted a different color and when I complain about it she tells me it's no big deal; you just slap the paint around. I had fun coercing her into painting a red room off-white one time. She lasted ten minutes and didn't finish half a wall, but she's been apologizing ever since.
goes to show just how valuable each and every screw is. because think how powerful that one little guy was!
you didn't pull any muscles, did you?
CC - you are a husband hero.
Sherilin - it kicked my tail. :)
I may have to combine CC's story and your idea on my next Honey do project..."Honey I think I just pulled a muscle, maybe you should just call the repair man."
Betty - careful with the internet...it lies. :)
My Sunday involved an unplanned replacement of the glass door on the front of the house. My wife sent me to Lowe's to get a new door.
The box said you needed a drill, pliers, a screwdriver, tape measure and a level.It failed to mention what is need if the door opening is not "square". So I added a skill saw, jig saw and chisel to the list of required tools.
5 hours later a new door is in place and closes smoothly.
Not needing an audience to watch me work, my wife went walking with a friend. She told a neighbor, it would only be a matter of time before I had to call him for help since in her words, "He is great with a pencil and paper, he gets into trouble when any additional tools are required."
For once, I did not have to call in the reinforcements to get the job finished.
Westsox...atta boy, way to man up. There is a lot to say about a job that gets done. Good work man!
I swear every little project I plan for my dear husband turns out like that.
lol
Just stopped by for BPOTW. I enjoy your blog.
Charlotte - thanks for peeking in, come back any time. ;)
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