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Diana Schwenk, family, funny, growing up, humour, Hump Day Chronicles, joy, laughter, life, Life's like that, memories, professionals, Relationships, repairs, vacuum
THIS PAST SATURDAY I was vacuuming the living room when the powerhead suddenly turned itself off. I turned the vacuum off and that’s when I noticed the Belt Protector Reset button. So I pushed it and turned the vacuum back on. It ran for a few seconds, then turned itself off again.
Maybe it’s clogged I thought. So I…
- checked the vacuum bag, and yeah it was full. I put in a new bag.
- spent an hour learning how to take the vacuum apart and checked all the hoses and bits for dirt. Clean as a whistle.
- I checked the brush roller thingy and it did not move. It was stuck. I noticed lots of hairs and fibers and tried to pull them out. No go – the roller brush thingy would not budge.
- So I tried to take the powerhead apart. On the flip side I read, “Flip powerhead and read manual for further instructions.
I’d bought the vacuum secondhand. I have no manual. Not that I ever read them when I have them.
So there, I sat cross-legged on the kitchen floor.
What would Onkel Karl do?
Onkel Karl was an old friend of Dad’s. In fact they hung out together as teenagers in Wittenau, Berlin.
They did normal teenage things with about 52 other teenagers, or so I’ve been led to believe.
Cute things like lifting people’s cars over their pretty fences with cute little walk-through gates .
There was no way these car owners could get their cars out of their yards without taking their fences down.
Yeah cute things. They did cute things like that.
Years went by and Onkel Karl emigrated to Canada, as did my parents.
Upon the blessed event of my birth, Onkel Karl and Tante Stella were asked, and agreed, to be my Godparents.
I loved Onkel Karl.
I always thought he looked a little like Jackie Gleason, you know, the ‘to the moon Alice’ guy from that show The Honeymooners?
In fact, the only two men I loved back then were Dad and Onkel Karl. Onkel Karl had a trained German Shepherd. A would-be burglar could walk into his house, start loading stuff in his loot bag while dancing a jig, and good ole Rex would just lay there, barely even looking up.
But when the poor unsuspecting thief would try to leave, Rex would spring into action, pin him down, baring his teeth and holding him there until Onkel Karl got home.
I used to love visiting Onkel Karl and Tante Stella because they lived on 120 acres of land and there were lots of fun things to do. Onkel Karl taught Mike and I to drive his skidoo. Once while I was driving, I hit a bit of a bump and Onkel Karl went flying off the back of the Skidoo.
On his land, Onkel Karl also had a landing strip.
YUP, A LANDING STRIP!
He owned a 4-passenger plane and took us up for a ride every now and then. Once when I was about twelve, he let me take the controls – Woo Hoo!
As well as all of that, Onkel Karl was a businessman. He owned and operated a secondhand vacuum/repair shop. My parents always bought Mom’s favourite standup Hoover vacuums there.
So there I sat on the kitchen floor looking at the pieces of my vacuum and wondered what Onkel Karl would do.
And I swear I heard his voice telling me, “Take it to that vacuum repair place on 11th Ave and 14th Street.”
Reasonable advice I thought, especially since I don’t really have a good track record of being able to put stuff that I take apart back together…
…like that hot summer day when my floor fan died and I thought maybe I should clean it and sat on the living room floor cross-legged with a screwdriver and took it apart and there were so many pieces on the floor and I was unable to put it back together and it was so hot that sweat was dripping from my hairline and a blue cloud of cuss words escaped my mouth as I picked up the stupid fan pieces, put them in a stupid cardboard box and carried them out to the stupid dumpster in the back and headed out to the store to buy a new stupid fan…
~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~
Are you a Mr./Mrs. Fix It? Or like me, is it just best to call on a professional?
markbialczak said:
Your Onkel Karl was smart! I’m glad you got the vacuum back fixed, Diana. Now I can say, with a smile, that job sucks! 😉
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dianasschwenk said:
haha yes Mark, I’m a vacuuming freak, I tell ya! ❤
Diana xo
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markbialczak said:
Eureka!
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Minuscule Moments said:
I wish I had an Onkel Karl he sounded larger than life Diana. Im a pack-it-in and buy a new one kind of girl. My vacuum cleaner is falling to bits day by day another piece falls off it. You get what you pay for and I dream of a deluxe model but hate to pay the hefty price and so I will probably buy another shonky cheap one and the same thing will happen again. Now I have heard if you let the husband do the vacuuming he will buy himself top of the line design.
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dianasschwenk said:
I think you’re onto something there Kath!
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Wendy L. Macdonald said:
Diana, I love your story, and I admire your bravery in taking things apart. I’m only good at breaking electrical gadgets. Before I met my husband I was hooped if anything broke—he has a gift for fixing stuff. I’m clever on the artsy front, but don’t ever leave me alone with a tool box.
Blessings & hugs ~ Wendy
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Wendy. ❤ I used to be better with a tool box but I think I have less patience now. 😉
Diana xo
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Wendy L. Macdonald said:
Diana, would you believe at the time I posted my first comment my den smelled like burnt rubber because I’d almost sucked up an area rug with my vacuum cleaner? Yup. I suck at gadgetry. 😉
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dianasschwenk said:
LOL that’s funny Wendy!
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earthriderjudyberman said:
I would definitely take that sucker to a repairman. I’m technologically challenged and appreciate those can put things back in working order. Your Onkel Karl – and your Dad – sound like they were full of mischief. I’ll bet they were a lot of fun. 😉
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earthriderjudyberman said:
I loved your humorous touch on this story. 😉
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dianasschwenk said:
Aww thanks Judy. ❤
Diana xo
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dianasschwenk said:
Haha I’m not sure the car owners would agree about the fun part Judy. 😉
Diana xo
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earthriderjudyberman said:
True, and from their perspective, I would agree. But from his pals, this was a riot. 😉
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dianasschwenk said:
Dad does become quite animated when he tells me these stories Judy!
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Deb Weyrich-Cody said:
Lol, Diana! The best way to be able to put things back together, *the way they came apart* is to make sure you lay them out in order, as you do so; ). These days, it’s also a good idea to take photos to document as you go along…
My best friend, when taking knots out of a fine necklace or unravelling the rats’ nest of knotted hair (thread/dental floss) around the vacuum cleaner carpet-roller thingy is one of my heavy-duty dressmakers pins… Usually, once you get a tiny bit to loosen up, the rest just kinda follows along: )
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dianasschwenk said:
Sounds like a lot of work Deb! It is obvious that you have way more patience and horse sense than I do! ❤
Diana xo
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susielindau said:
My dad was like Karl. He could fix anything. Those are great memories!
Now I google everything before taking it to a repairman unless it’s electronic. I’m not ever up for heating up a soldering iron…
Love your photos on the sidebar. Nice!
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Alan A. Malizia: Contagious Optimism! Co-Author said:
Diana,
You were fortunate to have a man like Onkel in your life. A regular Man For All Seasons.
My approach would be yours regarding the fan.
Chuck it and buy.
-Alan
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dianasschwenk said:
Too bad I didn’t just do that at the beginning Alan! ❤
Diana xo
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Jim McKeever said:
Quite the image of you trying to repair the fan, Diana! I’m sure it wasn’t funny when it happened. It must have been amazing to be up in that plane at 12 — especially with you at the controls!
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dianasschwenk said:
Jim I can have a bad temper (useless in getting the job done) but yes, I was losing it with that fan. As for the plane, it’s a testament of how much I loved Onkel Karl, seeing as I was afraid of planes! 🙂
Diana xo
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sedge808 said:
i don’t like that when that happens. so frustrating.
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dianasschwenk said:
It is frustrating but I’m trying to teach myself not to get all bent out of shape about stuff like this because it really doesn’t help!
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Wyrd Smythe said:
Funny punchline there, Lady Di! XD
I’m totally a fix-it. I come from a long line of do-it-yourself-ers on both sides. Mostly people who worked with wood and plumbing, but I have friends who are gear-heads. I’m the first in the line that takes apart computers! 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
That does not surprise me one bit Smitty! ❤
Diana xo
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Wyrd Smythe said:
Yeah, figured it wouldn’t. XD
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vanbytheriver said:
I married my own Mr. Fix It, Diana, his father schooled him in carpentry, mechanics, electrical, plumbing, auto repair..you name it. Married since 1973, the only service folks we’ve ever had were the ones who installed a new HVAC system, and roofers. Seriously. When we were in college, he would repair everyone’s stereos, now he plays with assembling computers. It just comes naturally to him.
p.s. I HATE vacuum cleaners…never found one I could stand. They all pretty much Suck !! ☺
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dianasschwenk said:
haha very punny Van! ❤
Diana xo
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Chatter Master said:
Fix it until it’s fixed beyond repair. Then buy a new one. 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
A good motto to live by Colleen! ❤
Diana xo
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Healing Grief said:
Good advice from Onkel, I am not a fixer of things outside the body, mind and spirit ha!! Enjoy your new vacuum Diana. 😉
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Karen, came home, plugged it in and vacuumed right away LOL! ❤
Diana xo
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elizabeth2560 said:
I tend to be a fixer in all life / managerial / admin things but NOT in anything mechanical, cars, computers, plumbing, electrical, building etc etc all of which I detest fixing and detest if not working. I need an Onkel Karl too.
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dianasschwenk said:
I hear ya Elizabeth, I have the attention span and focus and patience of a gnat in this area! ❤
Diana xo
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russtowne said:
I read in your comments that your vacuum is working again! Yay! I enjoyed your story.
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dianasschwenk said:
Yes Yayyyyyyy Russ! Glad you enjoyed my story, thanks for dropping by Russ. ❤
Diana xo
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Ian Munro @ leadingessentially.com said:
LOL a great read Diana. All the while feeling edgy with you because I know that I DETEST FIXING THINGS! I love building stuff, but when it breaks its best to have an Onkel Karl.
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dianasschwenk said:
haha sorry my post put you on edge Ian. 😉
Diana xo
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billgncs said:
It’s always the thingy that gets you, Diana 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
I know Bill that darn thingy cost me $129! ❤
Diana xo
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billgncs said:
Ouch !!!
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dianasschwenk said:
Well cheaper than buying another vacuum and it’s a good one. 😀
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billgncs said:
Take good care of your thingy !
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dianasschwenk said:
I will try!
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Jennifer's Journal said:
I’m not much of a Ms. Fixit, but when I can manage to get something working again, I feel such a sense of pride and resourcefullness (is that a word?). But those times are few and far between. Paul is a little better than I am, but Onkel Karl would still have plenty to do around here. 🙂
Neat post! ❤
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dianasschwenk said:
haha thanks Jennifer! I know what you’re saying, I feel pretty proud when I fix something all by myself too. ❤
Diana xo
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Denise Hisey said:
Oh Diana! We should all have an Onkel Karl!!
I’m lucky because if I take something apart and can’t fix it after all, my handy hubby will complete the task for me. He can fix anything!!
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dianasschwenk said:
Onkel Karl was a gem for sure Denise. Glad your hubby knows what’s what. ❤
Diana xo
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cyclingrandma said:
Increasingly no one can fix anything because everything is so electronic and technical. I just had to replace my car radio because a cd was stuck. Can’t fix anything!
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dianasschwenk said:
So true Lisa, I used to fix tons of stuff back in the day! Turns out the roller brush thingy was broken and $129 later…
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Louise Gallagher said:
Lovely story Diana. Your Onkel Karl sounds like a real character.
I love to take things apart and fix them! Not always successful at it but I do take great joy in the doing, especially when I end up with all the pieces put back together! Okay. So that doesn’t happen all that often, usually there is one piece more than places to put it… but I love the doing!
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dianasschwenk said:
He was a loud, jovial laughing man and he spoke half German, half English. haha I always, always have left over pieces when I try to put things together again, Louise!
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Don said:
The Onkel Karl’s of this world are always special people. They nourish life. So enjoyed the story Diana, but tell me, where’s the vacuum cleaner now?
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dianasschwenk said:
I picked it up from Vacuum Rebuilders yesterday. It’s as good as new Don! Yeah Onkel Karl was a gem. Sadly he passed away in the 90s. ❤
Diana xo
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Val Boyko said:
This made me smile Diana! I am pretty hopeless putting things back together again. I like your Onkel Karl and his advice.
… Of course, he didn’t have the internet to find a solution like we do …
I am thankfully now married to a Mr Fix it. Much less pressure than being Mrs Fix it in my previous marriage … and spending hours on the internet looking for answers! 😉
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Val. Got my vacuum back yesterday and it’s working great again!
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