Tool Time - How hard can it be? (thanks Mag Ruffman)

How hard can it be to use a drill if you've never used one before? It's yet another one of those things that as a separated, independent woman with no SU around, I have to educate myself.

I need to hang curtains and I need to mount the curtain rods before the curtains will hang. I've never done this before so I watched about four Youtube videos to figure out what I needed to do. Doesn't seem too difficult except for the part about using a drill. I have never used one before. Can't be too tough, can it?

I found a drill in the garage. I think it must belong to Rebel's BF. It doesn't look like anything the XSU would use. Not very heavy. Kinda girly even.

Okay. No power supply attached to it. Must be one of the cordless variety. Yep.... there's the charger right next to it.

Hmmmm nothing fits into the charger. I can't figure out how to charge the darn thing. I went to the Internet and found the Makita website and found a diagram of the drill to figure out how to get to the charger and battery. Okay..... looks like this little plate at the bottom of the drill comes off. Screw driver, I need a screw driver to unscrew the plate to get the batter out to charge it.

Yep, that works. Plate comes off, battery comes out - into the charger.

In the meantime, I went into the dining room and marked the wall next to the windows where I wanted to put the curtain rods. That was step two on most of the videos I watched. Step one was to figure out if I had studs behind the wall or just the gyprock.

I couldn't find my level. That darn thing was everywhere - whenever I didn't need it there it was in front of me, and of course, when I finally need it - coulnd't find it anywhere. Luckily, I had this teeny tiny level that I got at a conference - it's only aobut 10 cms. long but it did the job. Slowly, but I got the lines I needed.

Back to the drill. How do I get the drill bit to stay inside the drilling thingamajiggy? Doesn't snap in. There doesn't seem to be a way to pop it in. Now WHAT? Back to YouTube. Thank goodness for You Tube. I found a video that shows how to pop a drill bit in. Okay... try and turn that round part. Oh wow! It works! Cool!

Okay... drill bit in. Give it a shot.... this. baby. has. no. power. none. Figures, since it belongs to Rebel's BF. Weak. It works *just enough.* Not well, but it will get the job done. Probably just as well, as I will no doubt make a mess of the wall if I try and use some Tim-Taylor-Tool-Time-More-Power kinda drill.

It's now or never. Popped that drill into the wall. Made a hole. Popped one of those plastic anchor thingys into the wall, popped the screw back in, did it a second time and LOOK AT THAT!

It worked! Now, gotta do it all over again. BEvERage.... I *need* a BEvERage.

side remark - I now understand why men need BEvERages with their drills. Although it's probably NOT safe to drink and drill, I had to do it. Besides, it was a Bud Light - left over from the NASCAR race - barely a real BEvERage.

OKAY Round 2! One more side to put up there. Wow, did this one in half the time I did the first one. Learning curve achieved. Drill sucks. I need MORE POWER!

Ironed the curtains. Hung them up. Next window. Do it all again. I want my own drill.