Oprah. Have you heard of her?
She talks about these things called Ah-Ha moments.
According to Merriam Webster its official definition is “a moment of sudden realization, inspiration, insight, recognition, or comprehension.”
Ya. So. Yesterday. I hauled the pressure washer around back and proceeded to hook it up to the big hose and turn it on. That’s when I noticed the there was a huge tear in the hose part that attaches to the back of the pressure washer. No problem, right? So I headed down to Home Depot to get the 12″ little mini hose thing a ma bob.
The only problem was…. they didn’t sell a thing a ma bob mini 12″ hose part. So I went home to get another look at the machine.
It was then that I realized whoever fixed the pressure washer had improvised. And what I needed was the part that hooked/clamped/screwed onto the pipe {?} above.
So on my second trip to Home Depot I bought something called a garden hose adapter. It was, after all, in the pressure washer replacement part section. And it totally looked like it would work.
Well, no dice. It was the wrong part.
So then I proceeded to spend the next 30 minutes online looking up pressure washer catalogs and parts online. I found what I thought might be the part I needed but they wanted $22 for it + shipping and I wasn’t 100% certain it was the right part. So I hesitated.
Then I drug the pressure washer into the house {it was freakin’ cold outside, okay?} and took the part I thought I might need to replace to Home Depot for a THIRD TIME.
This time I brought the mini 12″ hose AND the metal part that attaches to the pressure washer. I wandered around and tried to find someone who worked there for like 5 minutes. Then I gave up and walked over to an older gentleman and asked him if he knew how to fix stuff. My first clue should have been when his wife laughed. Then I noticed his loafers {soft black leather} and driving gloves hanging out of his pocket.
He said “No, that’s why I’m here {in the patio furniture section}.”
I laughed and said “Oh that’s okay, my dad doesn’t fix things either.”
And then finally I spotted a middle aged worker type guy looking at lawn edgers.
“Hey, so this is awkward but you look like you know how to fix stuff….. {I didn’t give him a chance to say anything}… Can you please help me? I have this broken hose, it’s for my pressure washer and I don’t know what part I am supposed to buy.” 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Yada yada yada…
“Lady, why don’t you just cut the hose? It looks like someone jimmied the part. Just add some clamps to both ends. It should be fine.”
SERIOUSLY.
What took me three hours of driving/messing around took this guy 5 seconds.
I may have cut the hose a wee bit short.
But hey… I found some zip ties in the garage. GOOD AS NEW!
Moral of the story: Don’t over think stuff.
Oh, and use common sense. It works most of the time. 😉
~Mavis
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UpstateNYer says
Mabel ~ You asked questions. You didn’t give up, There certainly is nothing stupid about that. 🙂
UpstateNYer says
Whooops! I meant Mavis ! Sorry, I was talking and typing at the same time! My apologies!
Rosaleen says
Right, Mavis gets points for a) trying, and b) persisting. Most women I know would wait for some man to rescue her. It is too bad that we are not neighbors, because it appears that what comes naturally to Mavis does not to me, and vice versa. We could be like Jack Spratt and his wife from the nursery rhyme and clean up life…
Kelly says
Oh how I love my zip ties, my husband laughs at mne when I whip them out….. until he sees how brilliant I really was.
Mavis Butterfield says
Ha! I love it.
Carole says
This is totally hilarious. Its in their testosterone I think. Having lived with one for many many years as I was reading I was saying to you “just cut it and put those dohickies on each end”!! I’m still laughing. Thanks Mavis love these stories
Sarah says
The first time I used the pressure washer, I let the hose touch the engine and burned a whole in it! Oops.
TJD says
As a divorced women of a few (ahem) years I have learned how to repair many things. I just want to say good job! next time you need to cut a hose kitchen shears (NOT FABRIC) work very well to cut hoses. I’ve also used tin snips. My best resource is the Reader’s Digest Book on home repairs. Yes, yes, I know many people use You tube but you can’t drag you tube under the house or in the back yard where you’re working. It’s great for plumbing, sheet rock, painting, bricks… all sorts of repairs. I’m a single lady home owner. I know when I can do it myself and have enough sense to call a professional (electrical) when needed.
Bask in the glow of your accomplishment!!
Gwen says
My husband did the same thing. He let the hose touch the engine. Expensive lesson.
Carla Moschetti says
Ha! Ha! Thanks for sharing your great story! It made me laugh out loud. More than once. In my book, you are amazing! I would have given up after the first try. In fact, I wouldn’t have even had the thought to use a pressure washer in the first place, so to me, you are like Super Woman!
Kay says
another moral: its okay to ask stranger for help!
Judy says
Yes Kay! And it probably made his day!
Kathleen says
Hey, I’m a divorced woman of the same (ahem) years with lots of kids at one point so I am great at improvising. But you also made a trip to Home Depot when I swear by McLendons in my area (Sumner). They have the older crowd working there who know stuff. I once was frustrated trying to fix a large expensive paddle fan that quite working after I have a ceiling repaired from a roof leak. I hauled the whole thing to McLendon’s with the 4 foot rod attached to it. Guy in electrical takes a look , takes apart, says the fan motor was filled with debris from the ceiling work. He cleans it out for me, and voila! Works like a charm 10 years later and he charged me…nothing.
Cindy says
Good for you fixing it on your own! Mclendon is awesome, the employees are so knowledgeable.
Sandra says
At that Home Depot, I usually have either Donna or Phil paged. If I have a question they can’t answer, they know who does and will hunt that person down. (Donna also usually teaches the Do It Herself workshops.) Ken is also good, except for electrical questions.
Lisa says
I once spent an entire day fixing the alternator in my old beater car – I must have gone to Sears five or six times trying to get the correct tool (which I finally did and was able to fix it!) I feel ya. Just so you know, I really appreciate your website/blog – I look forward to reading it every day and you always make me smile. THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO!
June says
What is the yellow guide you’re using to cut with?
Mavis Butterfield says
Stanley 20-112 Clamping Miter Box – Amazon sells it or you can find it at Home Depot too.
Helen in Meridian says
Would buying a whole hose in that size and cutting off a piece from the end and thus just shortening the whole hose by the 2′ or whatever, and you end up with 2 things, a repaired pressure washer and a slightly shorter yard hose.