Sunday, August 17, 2008

"Man Tasks"

Are you interested in learning or are you already good at any “man tasks” (car stuff, maintenance, hunting, wood-chopping, etc)?

6 comments:

Momma Basel said...

I would like to learn more about cars. I know how to change the oil and fill up the tires with air, but I'm clueless when it comes to identifying any parts of the engine (or the rest of the car for that matter).

Knowing home repair stuff sure would be nice. But I'm guessing that it'll come with actually doing it. So, maybe when we come to a project, we'll find one of those "How To" books and get it done.

Let's see...I know how to start a fire and know the names of some basic tools. Do those count for anything? :)

Anonymous said...

To tell you the truth- I don't know how to do a lot of "man" tasks and don't really care to learn. Sometimes when I do have to learn or listen about some of those things it is like listening to a different language and goes in one ear and out the other even if I want to understand! If anything ever happens to my dear hubby I know I will severely regret not trying to learn more of these things...

Anonymous said...

Umm.....I know where the gas goes in, does that count? I'm clueless when it comes to car stuff. I dated a guy once who showed me how to change the oil, and I'm pretty sure I could figure it out if I had to, but I'm not much good for anything when it comes to the cars. I'm not even good at describing any noise mine might happen to make.

I'm way good at outdoor survival stuff, but I hardly thing that counts as a "man task". Of course I can start and cook over a fire, pitch a tent, fish, hit a target with a handgun, shot gun or assault rifle, just the basics. But I think most women could too if they tried. The only skills that I suppose are considered "man skills" that I know were job related stuff.....like physical take downs and pain compliance techniques. Not useful during everyday routines anymore, but darn nice to know when you get in a bind. :)

I've found that since I've been married, I have become far less independent just because I like having Phil around do do the "man things" for me, even though he doesn't really know much about that stuff either. I don't even kill my own bugs anymore (thank goodness!) I would if I had to, and I think I could figure most things out, but I appreciate not having to.

NicoleRanstrom said...

It's funny, Jenna, that you say you became less independent after marriage. I am totally the same way. In college, I lived with 3 women and I was the "man" of the house. Always fixing everything, paying the bills, taking out the garbage, killing the bugs, etc. Now I defintely rely on my husband to do the things I think of as manly. I agree that it's nice to not have to do it anymore.

Although I don't think of it as specifically manly, I am good at sports and watching and enjoying football. My husband isn't an over-the-top tv sports guy, so we enjoy watching football together... on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday nights. :-)

I have been known to back-country camp, but I have to admit, I would much rather pack the whole house and go car camping. I'm too afraid of the wildlife!

Other than that, I have no interest in hunting, driving my own motorcycle (although riding on the back of my husband's is fun), fixing things, or using funny voices for no reason... oh wait, maybe that's just my husband's hobby. :-)

Meghan Theiss said...

Well, I do like to know how to do things...though I know a fraction of what my husband knows. He is basically a professional fixer, builder, thinker...
but I like to get my hands dirty and feel the accomplishment of working on my truck, and keeping the fire going in the house, and I do the butchering of the elk that my husband hunts. I'd rather do it that bother taking it to the butcher. That way I know where it's been!
I don't even have the chance to get my hands on Mark's tools b/c they are always gone, but I would try to fix something if I had the tools around! I want my own toolbox, in fact!
--Meghan

Momma Basel said...

You women are incredible! Jenna, did you train in the military?! I don't know that I've ever held a gun, much less know what to do with it! Way to go! And, Meghan, I'm really impressed that you butcher your own meat. How cool to be part of the process! (I mean, how cool for you. Even THINKING about trying to butcher an animal makes me queasy. So much for my dream to live on a farm, huh?)