It is just astonishing to me how many tools he has collected over the years, especially tape measures. You see my dad works at a local factory where he is the main steel cutter. Every now and then he has to buy a new tape measure for work and will bring the old ones home, no matter what condition, to use. Half of the time the numbers/lines are warn down to the metal or they are "sticky" to where they don't roll up well.
Yesterday, I placed FIFTEEN tape measures in front of my dad simply stating, "Really?" One by one he went through studying them carefully, unrolling and rolling them over and over. Eventually I got him down to four semi-decent tape measures, now it only I could get him to do that with all the tools that are bent/broken that he says are now "pry-bars." Gotta love him.
Now why am I talking about my dad's tool obsession?
Remember when I was talking about the excursions my family had planned, well one of them was to head to a near by city to get my dad a new tool box. We went to Tractor Supply, Lowes, Farm & Fleet and Menards. All of the stores provide numerous options but my dad had a checklist of what it needed to have: dual (not single) drawers, have drawer liners and be tall enough so the top could be used as a work table. Of all the roller cabinets that fit the bill though, only one got my dad excited about. Heck even I got excited, mostly because it wasn't black or red like you usually see but a hunter green. I even gave it a name!
Meet Patty, the newest addition to our household. Once we got home we went to work looking around the garage for tools to put in here. There is still a lot of work to organize them all (well in my opinion) so they are easier to find, but at least they all have a drawer with a few drawers still empty. And no dad that does not give you an excuse to go buy more tools!
Patty is beautiful! I love the part where you brought the tape measures to your dad and had him sort them out! :)
ReplyDeleteYour last line made me laugh. What a wonderful new addition to the family. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a fun post! It made me think of my grandfather and father, both of whom are likely to do the same as your dad.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a green tool box. Patty has charm. I bet when you brought him the tape measures he was thinking about all the times he had used them. I bet he would also have some interesting slices to read.
ReplyDeleteThat part about the tape measures was priceless. I could just see your dad looking them all over, deciding on the worth of each. But don't be too hard on him. I'll bet if he went through your crafting/scrapbooking things....
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