Remember, I got a miter box for Christmas one year

The cover story for the October 2007 edition of Popular Mechanics touts 25 skills every man should know. While flexing my feminist handywoman muscle, let's see how I fair on this list:

1. Patch a radiator hose. I've never had reason to but I could probably figure this one out.

2. Protect your computer. Virus scan--check. Spyware remover--check. Secure network--check.

3. Rescue a boater who has capsized. Growing up going to the lake every summer, my dad would always give us boating safety lessons while we were cruising around the lake. I actually feel fairly comfortable with this. Steer into the current to the victim, engine in neutral, throw rope to victim.

4. Frame a wall. I probably could if push came to shove. I can also make a phone call to find a person who could do it much better and faster.

5. Retouch digital photos. Photoshop.

6. Back up a trailer. My dad really tried to teach me this. A former boyfriend really tried to teach me this. I will just let someone else do it and concede defeat.

7. Build a campfire. Cadette in Girl Scouts. I can build a campfire.

8. Fix a dead outlet. Call an electrician. (I'll install a dimmer switch but I'm not sure I should be stripping any wires.)

9. Navigate with a map and compass. Not that I'd ever find myself in a place where I'd need a map and compass but that Girl Scout training would eventually kick in.

10. Use a torque wrench. Got me there. Not even sure why I'd need a torque wrench.

11. Sharpen a knife. Yes, although they are talking serious hunting/camping knife not my kitchen knife.

12. Perform CPR. Yes, but it's been years since I had training. I keep thinking I should take another course.

13. Fillet a fish. Ew. No.

14. Manuever a car out of a skid. Yes but ask me if I remember it when I'm actually in a skid. "Turn right to go left." (Lightning McQueen to Doc Hudson in Cars)

15. Get a car unstuck. It helps by first not getting the car stuck. I do know not to keep spinning the tires and to find something that will help create traction. So, yes. I could (possibly) get a car unstuck.

16. Back up data. 1) Find Paul. 2) Whine about needing to back-up the computer until he finally gives you an external hard drive. 3) Stare blankly at it until Paul backs it up for you. (It makes him feel useful.)

17. Paint a room. When I was 18, the summer before I left for college, my mom "hired" me to paint the house while they were gone on vacation. I'd been helping/watching her for years beforehand. Now, I've been known to paint a room just because I'm bored.

18. Mix concrete. Um, follow the directions on the sack?

19. Clean a bolt-action rifle. Not a gun person at all so no. I don't know how to do this.

20. Change oil and filter. Again, my dad made me learn to do this when I got my first car. I don't know if I could do it now but for $19.99, I can find a place to do it.

21. Hook up an HDTV. Because we don't have one yet and Paul is being stubborn about getting one yet, I do not know how to do this. And I'm a little bitter about it. So we're just going on to the next one. . .

22. Bleed brakes. No. And I have no interest in learning.

23. Paddle a canoe. A funny story about learning to canoe. Growing up in the panhandle of Texas, there weren't many natural lakes and streams for the Girls Scouts to use for the water badges. So I learned canoe and water safety in the muncipal swimming pool.

24. Fix a bike flat. I haven't owned a bike since I was nine years old. I really want one of these (a 3-speed in turquoise). Then I'll learn to fix a flat.

25. Extend your wireless network. This is normally Paul's forte. I'm happy as long as the wireless reaches me and my laptop on the couch.

So there you have it--according to Popular Science, I'm well on my way to having the 25 skills all men should know. I can bring home the bacon AND fry it up in a pan.

Much of this seem to be simple common sense types of things. Things that can be learned through a little reading or by asking the right people the right questions (or hiring the right people which is really my preference). Maybe it's the result of being raised with sisters by a mother with all sisters. Or maybe I really was listening to my dad more than I thought the whole time I was growing up. Who knows. But I believe I need to go hammer something now.