[email protected] writes:
>
>Hurl! You had to go and throw that last line in there, didn't ya? Well,
>on
>second thought, we do seem to have attracted a new poster from the softer
>side of life, so maybe Glenna will find that meaningful...
>--
LOL!!! So you've been watching my bathroom scale creep up over the last
20+ years! Softer, indeed.
Actually, I would enjoy it somewhat, as I would enjoy a heavy equipment
exhibition (used to want to go to the one in Las Vegas). When I first
started building cabinets (1978-ish), guys just didn't take us gals
seriously. When I was remodeling my kitchen, I was buying the standards
(steel strips) for the cabinets when the guy at the lumber store realized
*I* was the one doing the work. He thought it was my husband even though
he never saw my husband. Geez. I met very few other ladies who did any
woodworking, but they were around. I mention the heavy equipment because
when I first started working in a construction office, men just didn't
want to talk to "a woman." My first two long-term (for construction) jobs
were working for men who realized how beneficial the attention to detail a
woman (not necessarily all women!) can bring to the job. No one talked to
the boss without talking to me first, both of them would just give the
phone back to me if someone got through to them without talking to me;
some men were quite offended but it surely helped pave the way for females
who came after.
It's not at all unusual now for men to fully accept women in construction
related activities which was *not* the case 20 and 30 years ago. All of
this said because some of us get quite a kick out of attending something
like that and knowing what is going on (at least in some areas) and seeing
some ol' timer eat crow after trying to make us look dumb in front of his
buddies. (Yes, I do admit to baiting a particularly disagreeable
individual from time to time.) Last spring, I dragged a friend to the
Toyota dealer to look at the Prius and test drive it. When the salesman
was done making his pitch (giving out misinformation quite plentifully),
after the drive, he asked me (thinking I was the "little woman") what I
thought of the car. LOL - When I got done with about half a dozen
sentences, he said, "You know more about this car than I do, you ought to
be selling them." I told him to never, never underestimate his customers,
male or female, that it was best to not be condescending and to be aware
that women do, indeed, control a great deal of buying power in our
country. It's usually the young ones, or the real old-timers, that are
like that. My boss who died in 2000, was like that the first few months I
worked for him. When he died, his daughter told me, "You are the only
woman my dad ever respected," which was a major compliment for an old-time
general contractor (though it took years for him to accept me as an
equal). He used to delight in attending construction meetings and turning
to me when he was asked a question, just to see the expression on the
questioner's face when I answered.<g> There's an art to remaining feminine
in what is primarily a man's world and not develop a hard edge.
Come to think of it, a lot of those contractors are balding middle-aged
guys with guts. LOL
But, no, thank you, not interested except for possibly amusement by asking
questions and see what kinds of answers they give, and their attitude
towards "the little lady" asking. I'm not an equipment operator, but I
could do an earth take-off as well as bombarding the engineers asking for
details omitted from the drawings and asking exactly where the 10" sewer
pipe does connect to what catchbasin, and where is that elevation anyway.
(They love that when it comes from a woman! Not.) I truly enjoy working
with wood, but my knowledge is limited (just learned what I needed for the
project at hand), a finish carpenter I am not, strictly utility
woodworking, for now but someday . . .
Then when I have my yard and house the way I want it, I'll meet Mr.
Wonderful and move to Australia for the rest of our days (as if I could
"change" to live with another person at this stage of life). I've already
had the love-of-my-life (twice) so the shows wouldn't be a meeting
place.<g> 'Sides, grocery stores are better for guys to meet gals, my ex
met all of his girlfriends at grocery stores. LOL
Seriously, it's nice to see there are other ladies reading the group (and
posting sometimes as well). Like digital video, they are there, they just
aren't as visible.
After seeing that absolutely beautiful jewelry box one poster made his
daughter, I think perhaps by the time my granddaughters are old enough to
appreciate something like that, I will have the skill to make one a bit
less grand. My first future high-quality project will be a cedar chest
for my youngest granddaughter, hopefully with her name and birthdate
inlaid on the top. But that's a long way off and many questions away (and
sandwiched in between all of my other interests).
Glenna
totally fascinated with many of
the projects by this group
(and, darn, it's tooooo cold to
work in the garage this week!)
Glenna,
You should come to Long Island. We have a handfull of female woodworkers in
the club, but I'd always like to see more. There's a group of us that have
taken restoration classes at FIT in NYC. May of the classes have more women
than men in them. The ladies are all ranges of skills, but there are some
that are serious craftsmen (sorry, just don't know another word for it.). I
think in fine woodworking its more of one's ability to develope hand eye
skills than one's bruit force. Granded when it's time to pick up a 4x8 sheet
of 3/4" MDF, the bruit force helps, hahahaha.
Bernie
"Glenna Rose" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> [email protected] writes:
>>
>>Hurl! You had to go and throw that last line in there, didn't ya? Well,
>>on
>>second thought, we do seem to have attracted a new poster from the softer
>>side of life, so maybe Glenna will find that meaningful...
>>--
>
> LOL!!! So you've been watching my bathroom scale creep up over the last
> 20+ years! Softer, indeed.
>
> Actually, I would enjoy it somewhat, as I would enjoy a heavy equipment
> exhibition (used to want to go to the one in Las Vegas). When I first
> started building cabinets (1978-ish), guys just didn't take us gals
> seriously. When I was remodeling my kitchen, I was buying the standards
> (steel strips) for the cabinets when the guy at the lumber store realized
> *I* was the one doing the work. He thought it was my husband even though
> he never saw my husband. Geez. I met very few other ladies who did any
> woodworking, but they were around. I mention the heavy equipment because
> when I first started working in a construction office, men just didn't
> want to talk to "a woman." My first two long-term (for construction) jobs
> were working for men who realized how beneficial the attention to detail a
> woman (not necessarily all women!) can bring to the job. No one talked to
> the boss without talking to me first, both of them would just give the
> phone back to me if someone got through to them without talking to me;
> some men were quite offended but it surely helped pave the way for females
> who came after.
>
> It's not at all unusual now for men to fully accept women in construction
> related activities which was *not* the case 20 and 30 years ago. All of
> this said because some of us get quite a kick out of attending something
> like that and knowing what is going on (at least in some areas) and seeing
> some ol' timer eat crow after trying to make us look dumb in front of his
> buddies. (Yes, I do admit to baiting a particularly disagreeable
> individual from time to time.) Last spring, I dragged a friend to the
> Toyota dealer to look at the Prius and test drive it. When the salesman
> was done making his pitch (giving out misinformation quite plentifully),
> after the drive, he asked me (thinking I was the "little woman") what I
> thought of the car. LOL - When I got done with about half a dozen
> sentences, he said, "You know more about this car than I do, you ought to
> be selling them." I told him to never, never underestimate his customers,
> male or female, that it was best to not be condescending and to be aware
> that women do, indeed, control a great deal of buying power in our
> country. It's usually the young ones, or the real old-timers, that are
> like that. My boss who died in 2000, was like that the first few months I
> worked for him. When he died, his daughter told me, "You are the only
> woman my dad ever respected," which was a major compliment for an old-time
> general contractor (though it took years for him to accept me as an
> equal). He used to delight in attending construction meetings and turning
> to me when he was asked a question, just to see the expression on the
> questioner's face when I answered.<g> There's an art to remaining feminine
> in what is primarily a man's world and not develop a hard edge.
>
> Come to think of it, a lot of those contractors are balding middle-aged
> guys with guts. LOL
>
> But, no, thank you, not interested except for possibly amusement by asking
> questions and see what kinds of answers they give, and their attitude
> towards "the little lady" asking. I'm not an equipment operator, but I
> could do an earth take-off as well as bombarding the engineers asking for
> details omitted from the drawings and asking exactly where the 10" sewer
> pipe does connect to what catchbasin, and where is that elevation anyway.
> (They love that when it comes from a woman! Not.) I truly enjoy working
> with wood, but my knowledge is limited (just learned what I needed for the
> project at hand), a finish carpenter I am not, strictly utility
> woodworking, for now but someday . . .
>
> Then when I have my yard and house the way I want it, I'll meet Mr.
> Wonderful and move to Australia for the rest of our days (as if I could
> "change" to live with another person at this stage of life). I've already
> had the love-of-my-life (twice) so the shows wouldn't be a meeting
> place.<g> 'Sides, grocery stores are better for guys to meet gals, my ex
> met all of his girlfriends at grocery stores. LOL
>
> Seriously, it's nice to see there are other ladies reading the group (and
> posting sometimes as well). Like digital video, they are there, they just
> aren't as visible.
>
> After seeing that absolutely beautiful jewelry box one poster made his
> daughter, I think perhaps by the time my granddaughters are old enough to
> appreciate something like that, I will have the skill to make one a bit
> less grand. My first future high-quality project will be a cedar chest
> for my youngest granddaughter, hopefully with her name and birthdate
> inlaid on the top. But that's a long way off and many questions away (and
> sandwiched in between all of my other interests).
>
> Glenna
> totally fascinated with many of
> the projects by this group
> (and, darn, it's tooooo cold to
> work in the garage this week!)
>