Why is it that when I’m in the bath and trying to relax, all I can focus on is that leaking noise? The water seems to escape rapidly, until I open the drain.

Then, it’s silent. I can stare at the tub, and the water stands still. The leaking noise I can hear so well when I’m trying to soak away the day is suddenly absent.

Naturally, I am trying to come up with a way to fix the leak with Gorilla Glue. That worked very well for my screen door handle, fridge handle, and drawer front in the kitchen. Or maybe this is the catalyst I’ve been waiting for to spring for some Mighty Putty? Hmm…

The reality is, I am looking at another household project, which will involve a trip to Home Depot and some Drano.

Two more skills I can add to my list! Woohoo!

I thought I’d share a list of my accomplishments, and some things I have overcome over the past two years:

• Dead Mouse Disposal: My daughter spotted a very dead mouse in the yard.  Afraid the dog would grab it, I swiftly removed it with the pooper-scooper.  Fling!  Into the back treeline it went.  I admit, I screamed like a girl when I flung it.  That’s okay.  I am a girl.
• Spider, Moth and Praying Mantis Removal: My parents regale their friends with tales of my sister’s and my blood-curdling screams as teenagers, at any given hour that we’d spot a spider or centipede.  I can now swipe, squish and flush a spider while proclaiming “See? There’s nothing to be afraid of!” to my kids.  We have used a variety of tupperware containers to capture and release a variety of flying critters as well. I haven’t come across a centipede in my house yet, and let’s hope I don’t.  Those will always give me the willies.
• Storm Door Handle Repair: Allow me to say that handle has fallen off regularly for about 8 years.  A number of people have tried a number of repair methods, but it was my frustration that led to gluing it on with Gorilla Glue.  It hasn’t budged in about a year now!
• Clogged Washing Machine Bailing: A tiny sock slipped over the tub and into the drain.  I saw water rising fast and could only think of my drywalled basement ceiling below it.  An old Tupperware pitcher and several trips to the sink, followed by a call to the repairman did the trick.
• Leaking Roof in the Baby’s Closet at 10 p.m. on a Saturday Night: Upon arriving home on a rainy, rainy night, I heard “Drip!  Drip!  Drip!” coming from my son’s closet.  He was at his dad’s.  The solution?  Large metal bowl.  Tears. Martini.  Bed.  (Next day, dehumidifier in closet, and a call to the repairman.)
• Leaking Dishwasher: Tears.  No martini this time… It was morning. Botched diagnosis, wrong part(s) and eight weeks (not a lie) of hand washing dishes.  It wasn’t that bad, but I was a happy lady when it was finally resolved!
• Mowing the lawn (These skills are emerging.  I still can’t handle dodging toads in the yard.)
• Snow removal (I don’t love it, and yes, sometimes I call for aid. But I’m learning.)
• Turning the outside water on and off
• Assembling shelves
• Assembling furniture (IKEA, baby!)
• Checking out scary noises

Single mamas, I want to hear from you: What have you done to surprise yourself when it comes to tasks that are undesirable or were previously handled by someone else?