My wife is involved with a charity auction every year and told me to go to the garage and get together the stuff I want to donate.
It was easy the first few years to donate junk and clear the garage at the same time but, now it's getting harder because the garage is full of 'Good Stuff'. Stuff I don't wanna get rid of. I'm down to the necessities. I've got a wall full of tools. I've got four 16 ozs hammers. I had five but, I gave one to my daughter when she went away to college. How did I end up with so many? Of course this is over a period of about 30 years of 'tool collecting' but, why did I buy another one after I already had one?

Anyway, I digress. Let me get to the coming out of the closet part. I look way up on a top hook and there they are. Three of them. Got my first one 30 years ago. Added a second when I needed a larger band, got my third when the adjustable handle first came out and I just had to have it. I hadn't touched them in seven years and I knew I had to give them up. Now the out of the closet part, they were oil filter wrenches.

That's right, I don't change my own oil and haven't for seven years. And as of this Spring I won't even have the ability because my wrenches, all three of them, even the one with the red adjustable handle for those tough angles that started showing up in the Eighties, will be gone.
(Well, they could be gone, if someone outbids me)

 

Raoul,

Ya know you don't have to feel isolated in your own private Idaho. Conservative estimates tell us that about 10% of the population doesn't change their own oil. You just don't know. Could be that your neighbor, your doctor, your dentist (well forgivable, nobody wants black fingernails in their mouth) or even dare i say your preist is just like you. Your wife could be an enormous benefit in learning to cope with and accept this this affliction. People just like you meet frequently on weeknights and more often on Saturday mornings, in small rooms with vending machines, lousy chairs and crappy outdated magazines (to encourage interaction between participants) in dealerships, gas stations, and service facilities all over the country. YOU"RE NOT ALONE. STAND UP FOR WHO YOU ARE. BE PROUD. Pay your bill. Go home have beer.

WT

 

hmm, so far in my short tool collecting life, I only have a few items, socket-wrench set, drill, and a few accessories. Living at college in the doorms, thier isn't a lot of room for all kinds of tools and such, so most of the stuff stay's behind the seat of the truck. However, back at home I have access to almost every tool. Drills seem to accumulate, 2 corded drills isn't enough, you have to get a 18v DeWalt, another one, and combine mine, and we are in the drilling business. And thier is one thing you cant have enough of,,,,,,TAPE MEASURES,,,,they alway's seem to disapear and you cant find one, so you accumulate more, and then they all show up and you have like 8 of them. Its crazzy. And welders and welding supplies, they seem to accumulate quickly also, first the cracker box, then the mig, then a portable, when will it end?

 

My name's fonman, and I don't change my own oil.

Phew!!! I feel better already. What are the other 11 steps in the program Raoul?

 

Raoul keeps his oil filter wrenches (which he doesn't use) in his CLOSET? Man, you're even more bizarre than I thought!

I know it's not a guy thing...maybe it's a French thing.

 

I wish I knew. All I know is I'm tired of living a lie. I was almost caught trying to be a 'real man' last summer anyway.
I had my truck jacked up in the driveway and got under it on my mechanics creeper. The only reason I got this particular creeper was it had very nice head padding. Anyway I'm up under there with my legs sticking out snoozing away when I get a light kick.
It's my neighbor, he asks what I'm doing under there. I told him I was changing the oil.
He said, "Isn't the engine in the front?"

I have never changed the oil on this truck. It was free under warranty and now I'm hooked on oil changes and don't know how to get off.

 

Would you have felt better if he said that he kept his oil filter wrenches which he did use in the bedside table?

 

...at least it would have been kinky...or something.

 

I'm comin' out of the closet too.
Living a lie is difficult,, so I'm coming clean!

I have a big *** tool chest, with a bunch of tools, and I have 2 left hands which contain 10 thumbs. I don't do chit to my truck.

When my homies come over and visit, they see my bad *** tool chest in the garage, and they think "Man, that Habibi dude knows his stuff"

Anytime someone even "suggests" that we go to the garage and do "this or that" my immediate response is to change the subject as quickly as possible.

"Hey Jimmy, how's your beer holding up, want another?" Then I'll turn on the playboy channel, and all of a sudden the going to the garage idea is long forgotten.

I have long lived a lie that I am "mechanically inclined", and these lies have perpetuated itself over the years (with my help)

My fraudulent lifestyle was almost unraveled last year.
My neighbor was fixing my snowblower, and he said "yo Habibi, pass me a Philips screwdriver" Right away, my palms got all sweaty, and I'm thinking "Uh oh, is that the square one, or the one with the star shape" I took my chances, and I guessed right.

Phew

I don't know where all the tools come from either, why on earth do I have 3 hammers, 2 staple guns, and 4 tape measures? Maybe that's the reason people don't lend me their tools anymore.

I will have to do the same thing as you Raoul, my wife has been hounding me to hold a garage sale for years, I just can't part with anything, I feel your pain.

Habibi

 

Raoul,

I think your neighbor could be a great resource here. He sounds VERY knowledgeble about vehicles. A coach is an important part of any behavioural modification program. I think if he were to accompany you to your next oil change and the two of you sat down with a couple of Mocha Latte's and 'LiL Debbies and started to go over the tarriffs on the wall paying particular attention to the one that says "Oil Change with filter $49.99"*
*up to 5 qts.
Then if your coach is worth his salt he would pull out a wad of 50 crisp, freshly printed GW's, and the two of you started counting TOGETHER - in 2 part harmony - "1","2","3","4","5","6".... and so on, all the way to "50" THAT, my friend would be a GOOD start.

WT.

 

He can't help me. First off, he's a GM guy. He is never seen outside without his cap that says, 'Mr Goodwrench'.

I caught him at Sears Automotive last month. He was having his tires rotated and windshield washer added.
I lost all respect for the man.

 

Hmmmm,

This is more serious than I thought. We might need the "Identity Modification Module" as well.....

Sounds like the 'ole " I'm not as big of a _ _ _ _ _ _ as he is....." defense.

We're here for ya my brother.

 

it is ok, we've all been thier. When i first got the truck I know I needed to wash it but had no idea how. After many people looking at me odd when I rubed the truck with the brush and no water, I finally asked how it was done. Oh it felt so good to let it out that I didn't know how. Now I am confident and am eager to help others that used to be in the same situation. With time, patience, and a bit of money, your problems will and can be solved. Untill then, I grant only monitered visits with you and your truck and oil supplies.

 

I don't do my own oil changes and I'm proud of it!

I have to work with tools every day. Not nice shiney sockets or or fancy box wrenches. No, dirty, rusty pipe wrenches, hammers (I too have a few) and chisels, pliers, beat up sawzalls and angle drills, snakes and even a shovel every now and then.

After a day of dealing with the filth I don't want to lay under my truck, drain the oil into a cut open milk container (not knowing exactly where I'm going to put the oil) then stand over the engine emptying several quarts of oil in, of course spilling just enough on the exhaust manifold to make me think I have caused a leak!

I like to visit the dealership. I say hello to my sales man. A couple guys in the shop call me F150 Guy. They know my truck. I take a stroll though the show room to see the fancy cars they keep inside, then walk outside to see what kind of inventory they have. When the shop is done with my truck they let me know everything is ok, or inform me of anything they see that may need attention. Some times the mechanic will give me advise on what mod to do next. The dealership is a happy place to me.

There is no reason to be ashamed Raoul. It's not un-manly to have someone do your oil changes. Be proud that you are helping the economy. That your giving a person a purpose in life. Be proud that you are taking care of your truck!

Be proud!

 

OH MAN!!!

16 oz. Hammers???!!!! Where did you get those? From the wife's make-up kit? Were you just tryin' hang pitchers? WTF ....

If you need donations I have a garage full of "The kids baby stuff" and he's 28 years old. I wish I could get a piece of that "Lets donate stuff" action. No I'm keeping the Star Wars stuff , the baseball cards , the comic books and .... Oh well never mind. I guess I will let the wife keep her stupid stuff in the garage.

Now , dang it , I still would like my garage to myself, someday after the 28 year old grows up.