MEN! by CallMeSerenity

CALLMESERENITY'S BLOG

CallMeSerenity

MEN!
Saturday, June 11, 2005

I had to get up early today to help put a roof on a house with a group of people from my church. Correction: a group of men . So I met up with them at this dirty spoon they like to meet at for breakfast. I can't stand this place, personally. I don't like those big, greasy, fatty, bacon, eggs and grits style breakfasts, but these men LOVE it. One guy ordered pancakes, and they were as big as the plate. HUGE.
Anyway, we get to the house we're working on and get set up. I'm the only woman and there are about 8 men. Most of them go to my church, and I have a very good rapport with them. Now, I think it's important to point out at this point that I've been working with groups like Habitat for Humanity for about 12 years. I know a few things about how to build a house, and I've put on more roofs than I can remember. If someone told me to take a group of people that have never shingled a roof before and teach them how, I'm pretty sure I could do it. So it's not like I'm some blonde getting in the way, not knowing which end of the hammer to hold. I know what I'm doing.
But right from the beginning, these men-all of them-start hen-pecking at me. Nagging. You didn't pop the chalk line hard enough. You popped it too hard. The nail needs to be a little more to the right. The left. Up. Down. Put these shingles over there. Don't step there. Watch that wire. Watch that wire. Watch that wire. Don't step on the cord. Move the tape measure over here. Over there. No, don't use that, use this! Be careful! Watch that wire!
Now, I can handle constructive criticism, I have no problems learning from people who know more than I do. But 8 men, all telling me what do do at once! They were driving me crazy! I finally told them that I already had a mother, and she wasn't here. They got the hint, we got to work and got the roof done. And we had a pretty good time doing it.
I go to leave and have to do a turn around in the yard we were parked in. I pull forward and manage to hit a hole in the ground I couldn't see because it was covered, like the rest of the yard, by tall grass. I back up out of the hole and hear this awful tearing sound. I park my car and jump out, thinking I've killed my car. Turns out there was a small cypress stump in the hole and it got caught under my bumper and when I backed up, my bumper tried to stay with the stump. I have a plastic bumper and all it did was pull the side loose and pull one of the wires out of the little running light. Not a big deal, but of course I was upset.
Well, the one guy that had been aggravating me most that day (partly because he reminds me of my best friend's husband, whom I despise, and partly because I couldn't tell if he was flirting with me or just being really obnoxious-I hope it was the latter) pulled out this little toolbox from the trunk of his car, soldered the wire back into the light thingy (socket? I dunno, he fixed it) with this little portable solder (who carries those around?!?) and got my bumper put back on. It took him all of 20 minutes. And when I thanked him, he just shrugged and said "It's what I do. I fix things."
So, what's the moral to my little tale?

I have no idea.

COMMENTS

Monday, June 13, 2005 1:42 AM

CALLMESERENITY

Cozen-the honor of your proposal flatters my..um..honor.

Sunday, June 12, 2005 4:46 PM

MONTANAGIRL

Sheesh cozen, we're only 'arried for three days and you're already proposing to other people? ('Course, she would be handy to have around if the roof starts leaking.)

Sunday, June 12, 2005 1:51 PM

COZEN

Serenity: Marry me! I promise not to interfere in any of your house maintenance projects!

Sunday, June 12, 2005 8:32 AM

SIGMANUNKI

So, why didn't you watch the wire? : wink:

Sunday, June 12, 2005 6:42 AM

CLIOMUSE

I am so spoiled. My husband and my male co-workers - at least the ones I work with directly - have no trouble with women who know how to do things that are "traditionally male." I know this is not the norm. The Hub and I were in Sears buying a new table saw. The salesman kept turning to him to make the sale, despite the fact I was the one asking the questions. In the end my husband said, "Talk to her. She's the one who'll be using it mostly." The salesman's "oh" reaction was priceless.

Sunday, June 12, 2005 2:23 AM

SIMONWHO

And that's why homosexuality is so popular with the kids nowadays. :looks innocent:

Saturday, June 11, 2005 7:28 PM

THEREALME

I'm afraid that Ath is correct.

The bottom line is that each gender is incomprehesible to the other gender.

Saturday, June 11, 2005 5:43 PM

CALLMEATH

Yeah, we are dumb.

Of course, you don't want me to bring up the whole "bad boy" thing, do you?

Saturday, June 11, 2005 4:34 PM

EBONEZER

Men are silly. The best is when you pretend that you don't know what your doing ("I've driven a stick shift a few times, but I'm not very good.") Then you beat them in the drag race.

*grin* Silly boys.

Saturday, June 11, 2005 2:27 PM

TETHYS

Put a man in a group of women and see his reaction afterwards. It's not really the sex of the individual(s), but the individual(s) themselves, CMS. :)

I have seen a lot of men that believe that women have no place in mechanics, electronics, etc etc. Then again, a lot of women find it hard to imagine a man that can cook and clean, either.

Just do what I do....

people are weird

Saturday, June 11, 2005 1:08 PM

MONTANAGIRL

I would explain it, but I have yet to figure out men.

Saturday, June 11, 2005 11:51 AM

LISSA

what's up with my smiley, yo!

Saturday, June 11, 2005 11:50 AM

LISSA

men are weird. mmhmm.

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