May 18, 2004--trying to be a handywoman

I moved over all of Rachel's clothes this morning. She's not quite 18 months yet, but her 18 month clothes were getting a bit small. Especially the dresses--her diaper showed from under them all. I decided I'd go ahead and move her over to her 2 year old clothes.

I had them all sorted into neat piles and ready to go into her drawer, when I realized that the front of her drawer had come off. It had been loose for awhile, but with care it would stay on. This is a cheap dresser with presswood sides and plastic fronts that I bought used for $5. I examined the sides, and determined that it had been glued and the glue had broken loose. I had some wood glue, but I wanted it to be done now. I didn't want to wait for the glue to dry. Besides, the neat piles of clothes would not last long enough for it to dry.

Erick was sleeping, but I was sure that nailing four finish nails through the plastic front and into the pressboard sides of the drawer wouldn't disturb him too much. Besides, I couldn't wait for him to get up. It had to be done now.

I fetched some finish nails and a hammer, and began. I lined up the side of the drawer into the groove, found the spot where I needed to drive the nail, and began. It was a lot harder than I thought. The plastic was very tough and difficult to get through. I was glad I had brought up more nails than I needed, because I kept bending the nails and needing to use a fresh one. The first side went well. I felt the satisfying pop as the side popped back into the groove nice and tight. I turned it around and did the other side. The first nail went in okay, but the second nail wouldn't. I looked to see where the groove was, and somehow I had gotten it shifted. The side came up too far and wasn't going to go into the groove. I pushed, trying to force it, and nailed it down anyway. The nail tore through the wood and popped out. It would not be forced.

Oh well, I thought. I still have three out of four corners solid. I went to put the drawer back into the dresser. Something was not right. It kept sloping back. I took it back out and checked to make sure it was on the runner, and it was. I put it back in again, but it still just didn't look right. It was then that I noticed the handle faced upwards on that drawer and down on the other three drawers. I had nailed the front on upside-down!

Okay, so I'm no handywoman. And I'm a little impatient. Maybe that's why, growing up, my parent's called any job that was done sloppily and in a great hurry a "Lisa Job." I'm just living up to my reputation.