When mommies meet home repair

I have been doing home repair lately. This house has a lot of "deferred maintenance" and I don't have any money. Thus, I am doing my own home repair. Some things are easy. Some, not so much.

Yesterday, I installed a ceiling fan. Luckily, the kids were off having a joint birthday party with daddy.

While they were off having fun, I was swearing and sweating to put in this ceiling fan. The house gets hot and the kids needed some fanning. So, being a good mommy, there I was.Of course, I had to make it more difficult for myself.

After turning off the electrics and taking down the light that was there, I started on the fan motor. I put it together and then started to hook it up. First problem...expecting 3 wires, I had 9. I made a good guestimate and then installed the motor. After the installation, I looked at it and thought it looked wobbly. Solution....head to the hardware store and buy a support bar. Done.

As a mommy, I bought more little panties for my potty training daughter while I was out. Then, I headed on back to finish pretending I know anything about home repair.

I uninstalled the fan and support. Then, I struggled the electrical box out of the ceiling. Well, crap. There was already a support bar up there. I think the support bar I got is better, but I can't get that one out. so.....second problem....I couldn't get the electrical box back into the ceiling. Every time I pushed it up, it pushed the wires up into the ceiling. As I worked, insulation was raining down on me. More swearing and sweating. This part took me an hour and a half, a break, three almost tries, and finally it was in. Third problem...I can't find the little bracket on the support bar so I can't get the box screwed back in. Aaaargh!!!

Out comes the box again....more swearing and sweating. More insulation on me. More...more...more. FINALLY, I get the box back in and screwed into place. I pulled all the wires through and I'm ready to go. Fourth problem....um....too many wires. Where I had 9 wires coming from the ceiling before, I now had 13. That's 10 more than I was expecting! They won't all fit in the caps. I don't know what to do with them all. Where did they come from? Which do I need? So, I do the sensible thing...I guess. I cap some, I use some. I made some logical guesses and hoped. I turned the electrics back on before I got everything hooked up and the fan motor seemed to work, so I charged ahead.

Fifth problem....kids coming home. I vacuumed and cleaned myself off. I didn't want my kids getting exposed to any insulation. Then, I put my project up out of the way. I didn't want any screws getting swallowed. Yeah...mommy time! Nice break.

I got the kids in bed and restarted my project. I got the fan blades put together and in place. Then, deciding to make sure it is balanced, I turned the power on. It works! The fan turns. Sixth problem....the wall switch no longer works. Neither does the light next to the new fan. Clearly I have guessed poorly on which wires I needed. Good news...the light doesn't matter. The fan comes with lights. The bad news...I would like to use the switch. C'est la vie. I charge ahead.

Turning out the power, I get the light set-up for the fan together. It snaps in place fairly easily. I drop every single screw about a thousand times and have to repeatedly get off my step ladder and back on again. But, I get it hooked up. The lights work. They are brighter than the noon sun at the height of Summer, but I can deal with that with the dimmer on the wall switch...wait a minute. Okay, bright lights, check. The cords work smoothly for the fan. I tell myself I just wanted to use the cords anyway. I'm happy.

Because I am a woman, there is an important epilogue to this story. I really messed-up my fingernails in this whole process. they were chipped and broken and a disaster.

I have never had a manicure before, but a friend from work (Thank you Jennie, I love you!!) gave me a manicure and pedicure as a gift. I have never had a pedicure either. No better time for a manicure, so I rewarded myself with the combo today. I look lovely and my fingers and toes feel great. Since I had a sitter and the kids were napping, I also squeaked in a little massage on a discount. I felt sooo pampered. For the finish to the home repair project, it was perfect. Men should really try getting spa pampering after big home repair projects.

The upside of all of this is that now the kids have a ceiling fan. Although if I somehow lose the house in the divorce, I'll have to take it down and start all over again wherever we end up living. Sigh. But, the other upside is that I have discovered a new spa.

Not that I get to use spas a lot. It is rare that I have money or time. My ex introduced me to a fairly cheap spa, but I really hate their concept and the therapists are not that great. There is one guy there who is fantastic, but he's always completely booked, so I never go there despite the price. Well, plus I don't have time. This new spa is affordable and they just give regular massages. No weird, painful gimmicks. I like it. If I ever get time and money, I'm going there again.