I love running. I love that the only equipment I need is a good pair of running shoes and a stretch of road or a path or trail. I love the variety of people I see at races–older folks, teenagers, people of just about every body shape and size. I love the good tiredness just after a race or a quality run. I love my frame of mind during a run–things are somehow simpler, clearer–it’s hard to explain. And I love the absolute effortlessness that kicks in a couple of miles into a good run when my muscles and cardiovascular system are up to speed and I’m just gliding along. It’s great. I can’t see myself ever giving it up, even if I get ridiculously busy or stressed or swamped for weeks or months at a time. It’s something I’ll always make time for.
I’ve been haphazardly compiling, in my mind, a list of things that it’s good for every guy to know how to do. I rule out stuff I consider too obvious or understood (like knowing how to cook a decent meal or drive a stickshift or go clothes shopping–I mean, come on). These are just skills that I feel are good to invest in, in the interest of being a more “complete” individual. Most guys should be able to:
– Tie a bow tie
– Grill out
– Change their own oil
– Ride a motorcycle
– Pick their way through a conversation about sports
– Give a toast on the spur of the moment
– Run at least a mile uninterrupted
– Defend their political views
– Order a decent wine
– Give CPR
– Sew on a button
That’s all I have so far. I can’t do all of those. I can do most, and certainly would like to be able to do them all. The list is always in flux too… Something to shoot for.
Add:
Be able to give a good backrub.
Be able to physically pick up their girlfriend/wife/whathaveyou
I’d agree with those. I’d need coaching on the first, to be sure, but it’d be good to know how to do.
– load a dishwasher so that all the plates and bowls are facing the most efficient direction
– sort laundry correctly
– change a baby’s diaper
– IRON!
If I’m actually going to fold the laundry (which I do), as opposed to wadding it up and cramming it in the basket on the way back from the laundromat (which a lot of guys do, and, I’ll admit, I have done in the past), I’m obviously going to sort it by clothing type. Is there an incorrect way to sort it?
if you merely sort the lights from the darks, you begin to mix the delicates, knits, and the permanent press fabrics. most machines these days wash according to fabric type. washing a fabric at the wrong setting can wear it out faster, fade it, or not get it efficiently clean. plus there are some fabrics you should only use detergent like woolite on.
then there’s the obvious stuff, like washing a fine wool sweater or slacks with your towels (just because they are all dark colors) will get cotton lint on everything, etc.
most of this isn’t a big deal when you buy your clothes on a college budget. t-shirts and jeans…how hard are they to wash? but once i started buying nicer clothes, i realized the care and upkeep was much more complicated. it also became an economy thing: a wool blend sweater from gap is pretty badly made when it comes down to the details. they use cheaper fabrics to make it cost effective, and with regular washing the sweater can look poorly within a year. but it you are anal about the way you take care of it, you can make it last a couple of seasons. i guess i consider it a way to look more professional at work on an intern budget.
you have too many lists
the thing is that, the way the world (our world, rather) works today, people need to be *whole* people, as in, we all should be jacks or janes of all trades, though obviously we have friends like you to fix our cars, and you have friends like me to um, send you weird things from china. or something. right.
Whoa. That’s waaay too complicated for me :) Though I suppose if the day ever comes when I have to do laundry for two (as I’m sure it will), that’s really good to know.
I do know enough to wash the wool items separately with some Woolite instead of the usual detergent. I read the tags. Other than that I think most of my clothes are pretty robust.
hahaha
If anything I think I need more lists. My life needs organization. Lists = organization. Therefore my life needs more lists. QED.
Agreed about needing to be “whole” people. I think it’s especially necessary if you’re in the midst of a non-American culture, out on a limb, as it were. It’s just good sense–knowing how to take care of oneself in most any situation.