Thursday, April 22, 2010

Now That's A Tool I Can Use! Thanks, Dad!


My dad’s favorite stores were any hardware store. He had lots and lots of tools in the garage, the basement, the back porch, his dining room, his bedroom and even his living room! While my mom was still alive, he kept them in the garage or the basement but after she died, they made their way into various rooms of the house. His tools were very important to him because they were not cheap and he loved working with them. He even bought tools from catalogs and ordered one the week he died which I returned because I didn’t even know what it was for. He obviously planned on living longer.

Unfortunately, there weren’t too many of his tools that I would have a use for or a place for. Most I didn’t even know how to use! I wish I was blogging back then because I would have taken more pictures of things, but I didn’t even know what a blog was back in 1997. Ever hear that saying if only “I knew then what I know now”? The few tools I did take were a few C-clamps, a couple lights that have clamps, picture hangers, his bubble level (for the pool table), the snake to clear clogged drains (although I don’t know where it is) and a big roll of duct tape. We also kept the lawn mower—is that considered a tool? I offered the others to my brother-in-law and my nephews and sold the rest.

The best tool I kept though is the duct tape. I never knew how wonderful it works and how easy it is to use until I took his. I can actually fix things now too! Check out my post, “Duct Tape To The Rescue In 5 Ways” to see five uses I’ve found for it. If you read the comments, readers mentioned even more. Every house should have a roll of duct tape!

Do you have a house full of tools? What tools do you use?

To find out more about my book and why I wrote it, read the Foreword here.
Tweet This
Tweet Me from My Funny Dad, Harry

5 comments:

Miss Fit said...

Duc tape by far is the best and a staple gun!

Elizabeth @ My Life, Such as it is... said...

Duct Tape is totally awesome. I have several rolls in different colors. I adore tools - my grandfather was a carpenter - although I don't get to use them much.

Popped over from SITS. Happy Monday!

Michelle said...

Duct tape is by far the most versatile tool I've ever used When I was a teacher I found SO many uses for it!

Mama Up! said...

We have all manner of tools (thanks to my mom, my grandfather, and an elderly neighbor who really wanted us to have this weird saw) but we mainly use screwdrivers and hammers. I think we have a circular saw, and now I'm sad because we can't find my Dremmel.

We're also part of Team Duct Tape!

Magimom said...

My grandfather had tools like that, they were everywhere, and some totally indistinguishable as to their purpose in life... I stopped by from SITS - wonderfully heartwarming chronicle of your dad!

Our favorite tools? Well, Duct tape and WD-40 of course... I live by the rule: If it moves and isn't supposed to - Duct tape... if it doesn't move, and IS supposed to - WD-40. This has yet to steer me wrong!

"My Funny Dad, Harry" Book Giveaway

Congratulations to all the winners of the giveaway for "My Funny Dad, Harry" at Red Pine Mountain. I am so happy that four of my regular commenters won! Read what Tim thought of it at Everyday Living.