Prepping for car shows, and car conventions.

As you all know being a mechanics wife your always on the go either to car shows, friends houses to help fix it, or to the drag strip or car conventions but lets throw in planning and prepping for such events our fellas are so comfortable just to up and move without an ounce of doing the budgets and food prep, and all the extras that come with. 

if your just joining this crazy world of being with a mechanic the adventure just begins 

                                                        * Car Shows*

if its a local car show grab a hoodie, jeans or shorts, flip flops or sneakers dress for the weather but plan to be there all day. or if like me throw sneakers in a bag and call it good, 

now if your bringing kiddos along grab a wagon strollers maybe rough depending on the type of ground pack extra of everything. I highly recommend grabbing a blanket or something and an umbrella  they could take a nap when they are getting fussy also pack snacks.  and if they want to run a round find a field or corner for them to run around and play without hitting the cars because some owners are real finicky about there pride and joys.also some car shows have tons of stuff for little ones to enjoy so defiantly reach out to a coordinator or look online about the event. The one my friend went to recently had a contest and little ones with power wheels could enter in. oddly enough her kiddo won and husband  won a best looking truck award or something. 

now lets say your husband decided to show off his pride and joy and enter the car show there is a whole list of things that he will need or want done all with your help. 

to help you out I've created a list of things he will want done now a few days before the show and it probably wont be driven until after the show so plan your schedule you'll be sharing a vehicle. until the show is over.

1. the vehicle will need washed, and waxed

2.wheels cleaned and shinning

3.full detailing on the inside 

4. everything will be removed from the vehicle except registration, insurance info, and of course car show registration info. 

5. cooler of ice and favorite drinks 

* now this is great because you now have a " Home Base" grab a few chairs, coolers with drinks & snacks, and something for you and the kiddos to do and enjoy. but do keep in mind some car shows you don't get to pick your parking spot so activity books or card games are great.                                     

                                                          * Car Conventions* 

Now Car Conventions are a lot easier to go to because they have all of there information online, and your able to call and email cordniators to ask questions if your bringing any children. I suggest bringing a Camera and some cash or Credit Card for food, drinks, merchandise. 

shoes I reccomend your comfiest ones because you will be walking alot.

keep in mind your mechanic will probably be running off excited about the new & older models so just  have a plan incase yall get seperated it will be loud so phones might not be heard. so just relax and take it slow, enjoy the show.  

 

Need vehicle fixed and mechanic is too busy to get it done or forgets

 when your vehicle needs something done to it and your mechanic just doesn't have the time to do it, my trick is to call the shop he works at, schedule an appointment, take the vehicle in and when he sees you and the car sitting there he thinks your there for him when in reality your there to get the vehicle fixed. which in turn he will just pull it in and work on it himself because we all know there's not many other mechanics they trust working on your vehicles. 

also a bonus of being with a mechanic you pretty much have a full crew waiting to help you with or without AAA  

just a few days ago my husband was at work and my tire blew and my spare was flat as well, so I called the shop and was like SOS here's my location and details, the owner sent a rollback to pick me and the car up, free of charge plus the driver had snacks ( hubby sent them with the driver) as soon as I got to the shop my car was taken care of as soon as that rollback showed up my anxiety went down and I knew I was safe especially in this crazy world.

Mechanics Schedule Always Changing

We all know as a mechanics wife we try to do our best to make our lives and our mechanics life

as easy as possible, and in some form it works, for the things we struggle with we are always looking

for ideas to help improve our daily lives, well for the longest time I struggled meal prepping and planning, so like anyone does I went looking on Pinterest for ideas, I found this chalkboard calendar but I wasn't about to pay $60 for it so I went to Ollies and found this little chalkboard with the days of the week Sunday - Saturday  for $7 I thought that would be perfect for a Menu board no more waiting till the last minute to decide what's for dinner, I ran home and immediately went through

and organized my fridge ,freezer, and pantry made a list, looked up whatever recipe Ingredients

I needed and pulled whatever meats we were having to thaw while I was away.

I went to my husband’s shop, went to his toolbox and tool cart  to see what drinks and snacks he

needed, especially with him having Low Blood Sugars. I make sure he has plenty of stuff at work at

all time I write whatever he needs on my list and off to the store I go,

yes I only go to one store and its first thing in the morning, I would rather shop in the morning

for many reasons, less customers, shelves are being stalked or already full, and If I need help

the workers are more likely to be found. And having my child with me there is less  likely to be a

massive scene in the store when he throws a tantrum. If my regular cashier is working I don’t

have to sort through the bags to find my husband's stuff for work. If she isn't then I even sort my

groceries in the parking lot so I can swing into the shop drop off whatever my husband needs then

head straight home.  

Another perk I found while shopping at the same store they automatically know to bag the groceries

the way I put them on the belt. Some stores don't do that and I end up with smashed bread or

busted eggs. Since having this menu board, our meals are planned better, my husband's dinner

could be waiting in the microwave for him to eat or a fresh plate could be made for him as

soon as he walks in the door. So when looking for ideas to help your busy family don't

hesitate to stop in at Ollie's you never know what you’ll find.

Classes and certifications

 When your mechanic has to travel for work to take classes to become certified with everything new coming out and then keep his certifications up to date and between his regular hours at the shop and then his traveling  for these classes it feels like I never seen him anymore. So what do i do to pass the time but yet keep the spice alive and let him know hes still loved and missed? 

well I try to find out what city hes going to be in especially if hes going to another state, look up everything fun he could do and experience, find out what amenities hes going to have if hes being put in a hotel room then plan his meals accordingly, also I tape a sticky note with microwave heating instructions to the lid of the Tupperware because we all know our men will slap it in the microwave and then forget about it so I also send the food in containers i don't care if i ever see again, lol. 

now remember those spicy photos we all take when we first start dating a fella for a few months well do exactly that and if your ever worried about the photo being leaked watermark the photo with your mechanics name and if he asks why the watermark just say because the photo is for you only but if you do the water mark kinda small and place it in the corner of the photo he wont even notice the watermark. 

to occupy my time while hes away plan a girls night, watch your favorite shows or movies, treat yourself to a spa day you could always treat it like a mini vacation and or go with and enjoy the hotel too but before you do make sure the company isn't planning on booking a few guys per room.   

We Moved

Hello Everyone its been a while and I know your probably Wondering what happened and if I was going to Continue my blog, well this post is to update you on Everything. 

We Moved from Pennsylvania to Maryland it took us 12 hours to get here because the GPS wanted to reroute us to North Dakota so we had to constantly stop and mess with the GPS. 

Since we moved Its been taking me awhile to unpack and locate everything I used to make write the blog, my video equipment, podcast equipment, and even my note books. 

Yes I will continue to write, make videos and create podcast episodes. It may take a little bit to get back on track however once that happens everything will be back on Schedule. 

I appreciate your continued love & support during this time and Remember to Always treat your mechanics busted knuckles! 

Ideas for the Never Ending Merch Supply from our mechanics

 I've been debating about making this post for a few days now but just Last week I was asked how I manage the never ending clothes that Nick gets when he bought something from snap on or the parts store so I thought this post would be a perfect way to answer this question. 

Well when we first got together I just threw them in a tote or in a spare duffle bag and tossed them in the back of the closet, and when he wore them until they got holes I would rotate them and throw the old ones away. But now I turn the old ones into rags. The decent but older ones I turn into pillows for the couch. We use them for propping injured limbs up or for guests that spend the night. 

The ones Nick no longer wears but are in perfect shape I turn them into smaller shirts for Dominick so he has matching shirts with Nick. They think it's cute when they match and the compliments I get or where I find a particular shirt, or I turn them into beach bags/ grocery bags.

 And of course we have the ones in the closet that Nick wears. I also try to leave a few out that are in good shape for when we go on vacation he has something cooler but nothing work related. If you don't know how to sew that is perfectly fine. There are plenty of non sewing videos on youtube that just use knots but when done are really cute. 

I hope this helps answer the questions and give you ideas on the never ending merch our mechanics get.

Eco Friendly Drain Cleaner

 Have you ever came home from running errands and your mechanic has parts in every sink, bathtub or shower and now you have to spend hours cleaning and unclogging drains, well guess what you are not alone, Nick has done that to me back in 2014-2015 him and his buddies decided to take clean the engine on their project truck while I was away for the day and when I saw the Mess I grabbed a beer told nick he would have to help clean it up, thankfully he helped and unfortunately  a few days after cleaning up the grease and piecing together the engine and other parts our bathroom sink got clogged and having nieces,nephews & animals in and out of our house I wanted something not harmful for them but something that would get the job done. So off to google I went and found an eco friendly way to clean and unclog our drains. You might have heard of it before I didn't so i was surprised i found something and even more surprised it worked.

            ~ Eco Friendly Drain Cleaner ~

1. Try to get everything out of the drain as best as you can.

2. get something to plug the drain this will help keep the ingredients from coming back up into the sink or whatever you are cleaning. 

            3. Run Hot Water for a few minutes this allows you to warm up the pipes and will help unclog and clean them.

4. Pour ½ cup of Baking Soda down the drain 

5. Pour 1 cup of white Vinegar down the drain and plug the drain wait for 10 minutes 

( Yes you will fizzing and yes it is normal ) 

6th. Remove Plug and Rinse with Hot water. 

This even works if you have long hair like I do and shed like crazy!

Moving With Your Mechanic Tips & Tricks

 I’m sorry I haven't posted for a few weeks. I have been extremely busy. Last week my son was sick and up all hours of the night, and I was exhausted. Then Nick had to replace our headlight assemblies and then our car started leaking antifreeze all over the place. Then he informed me his toolbox is full and had to get 2 tool carts just to find out our tools have maxed them out as well, now the Holidays are upon us. Now off to the real post. 

 Recently Nick and I have been discussing relocating our family to his hometown in Maryland so that thought prompted me to write this post about moving with your mechanic. We don't know how soon we will be moving but now is the time I start making my lists and making a budget. And start saving money to move. 

Now we all know moving can be hectic and takes lots of planning and preparation.With that said I highly Recommend making an inventory of every tool your mechanic has. Just in case you lose a tool when you move you know which one it was. Now what I like to do when we move Is every tool we need to take something apart. I put that tool in my 1st night in the new home box so it's easier to find and get to and I don't have to wait till we unload the toolbox to get to the tool.

Since being with Nick for going on 10 years now most of the time we moved I have been the one to pack our stuff in boxes and load it up on the truck except for the big and heavy items, and I have been the one to unload an unpack at the new house.because he's had to work. What routine and rhythm works for me and my family may not work for you and yours, So try to find a routine or rhythm that works for you and your family.

I make an inventory list of everything we own and the room location that the item goes into and I keep that binder or notebook close by it comes in handy for the boxes named miscellaneous and I write the room name on a piece of printer paper and label the doors at the old place and when we move I put the same pieces of paper on the doors at the new place It helps us out and it also helps our friends & family when and if they are able to come and help unload the u haul and other vehicles.  And to wrap the cords on our lamps and appliances I zip ties or jumbo rubber bands to prevent someone from tripping over the cord or the cord from getting damaged. 

Now let's talk about that 1st night box.I got the idea from Pinterest about 9 years ago and since giving it a try it has been my go to every time we move. And had made my mornings so much easier at the new houses.  I put our coffee pot, coffee, toilet paper, a few towels and cleaning supplies. I also put our shower essentials and some clothes into our duffle bags to have for the first few nights until I get our closet unpacked and clothes  put away. I also put our phone chargers and tablets and chargers in the duffle bag so we have something to watch until we unpack our tv and entertainment stands. Now this move will be the first one we make since Dominick was born so I will charge and pack his tablet and comfort toys in his book bag for the road trip, and they will come in handy and keep him entertained while I unpack the items that are too dangerous for him to help with.

I also try to plan quick and easy meals for the three of us for the first couple of weeks or  until we are fully unpacked and everything gets transferred over to the new house. If Nick gets relocated to another shop I also try to wait a month before I go and introduce myself to his co-workers. That way it gives them time to get to know Nick and it gives Nick time to get to know his co-workers. I also try to take some sort of dessert with me when I go to meet them as a nice treat for them and I end up finding out who is allergic to what and what everyone likes which makes baking for the holidays or just because it's extremely helpful and no one feels left out or forgotten.

What to get your mechanic for the holidays

 It's a new year and with each new year comes the planning and prepping for the holidays and the question I'm always hearing and even asking myself what to get for Nick, especially since he can easily get whatever he wants, needs, or likes himself. 

Absolutely he sure can, which makes my job harder however now is the time I start doing my investigating and coming up with ways to be creative.

Now It's spring so Nick will start cleaning and organizing his man cave, and the shed, and at work he will go through his tool box and take inventory. So when he's cleaning the man cave I try to take a peek at what he's bringing out or putting in, if there's a theme happening without him realizing or if something needs replacing.  Last year he had a hunting & fishing theme going on so I found him an antler Light he can hang up on the ceiling of his man cave, 

When I started cleaning out the shed looking for our easter decorations I stumbled across a book bag full of his ratchet straps all tangled and unorganized which tells me the case he had them neatly folded and put in broke, so now i’m in the search for a new case, however the case he had it in was a cheap hard plastic tool box from walmart so I know that wont work again. I also stumbled across a tool back with his spare sockets and other small tools, so the next time we are at Harbor Freight I will be on the lookout for something he could use. I could easily make labels for whatever case I get for him and help him stay organized. 

Also keep in mind that having extra items is a good thing because they are extremely rough on their tools, and the cases and organizing racks tend to break easily because they get used all the time from typical wear and tear. it's not even funny so keep that in mind the next time your mechanic comes in saying they need to buy something again because it broke. 

So now that I have a general idea what to get him I keep a list in my phone labeled holiday ideas. 

I’m not worried about him seeing the list because nothing is set in stone and I don’t have the items labeled who they are for, another bonus for me because my dad & step dad are into that same stuff as Nick so I could easily just say they were for them and nick wouldn't think twice about it. 

If you just started dating a mechanic and are still learning about them Gift Cards are perfect as well. I highly recommend getting gift cards for fast food places close to work. They could use the gift cards for lunch for the rare occasion they forget lunch or even gift cards from harbor freight, home depot, your local part store. Or  you could create a basket filled with all of their favorite snacks and goodies, a new travel coffee cup if they drink coffee, or create a basket full of mechanical accessories, flash lights, rubber gloves, or mechanical gloves,  10mm sockets since they always lose them, lol. A few small random tools.

Nomatter what you get for them they will love it and use it and show it off to their friends because they care and they appreciate everything you do for them. Have A Great Year!

Introduction of myself & my family

 Now that I'm more familiar with blogging and the ways around it, I feel now is the time to properly introduce myself and my mechanic, so here we go (heads up it might a long post) 

Hello Readers, Fellow Mechanic Wives and friends.

My name is Mary Gears

I grew up in a small town in Northwestern Pennsylvania. I have 1 brother and during the weekend my family and I would go to our local dirt track races and from there I knew I wanted to work on cars when I got older, and I wanted to race. 

Fast forward to my teenage years, there I was racing go karts, and in High School I attended a Technology course to learn about Auto Body repair, my dream switched from racing to being a business owner and fixing cars.Graduated in 2012 freshly 18 I knew this was my time to embrace the world and tackle my dreams so I attended WyoTech in Blairsville pa and there my main focus was Collision Refinishing and my plan was to attend the business program as well, but that all changed. 

While checking my mailbox this handsome young man  named Nick dressed in a blue flannel short sleeve shirt, Blue jeans with this shirt tucked in, camo hat, and a southern accent  bumped into me when he was leaving the laundry room…. He immediately says “ Hello, Sorry Darlin” Yall to this day hearing him say Darlin Just gets my heart pounding and stomach in knots.  Lol , anyways we start talking, he tells me he’s from a small town along the Eastern Shore of Maryland.has 3 sisters, and tells me about his family. Nick grew up working on cars his whole life,traveling across the country with his mother and sisters. His dream was to open his own automotive shop. We realized we had more things in common as the time went on.

We started dating, going home for the holidays and meeting the family, and  normal dating stuff. Well 2013 is coming and it's time to graduate. I assume like everything else in my life the relationship is going to end, and we move on with just a memory about our relationship. Not at all this man had other plans, He proposed I say “ Yes ” of course, he invited me to move to Maryland with them, 

 

Y'all I kid you not he’s from a small town like the nearest town is 20 minutes away. On one side your completly surrounded by fields and wildlife. The other side is nothing but water. Living in Maryland the first year was literally a culture shock for me.He got a job at his local automotive shop and Has been a certified mechanic ever since.

 

Nick & I got married in 2014, we have 4 boys. Damian, Thomas, & Liam are my Angel Babies

Dominick is healthy, strong, and thriving. And a spitting image of Nick.

I have never thought about myself as a mechanic's wife until I was scrolling through facebook one day and stumbled upon a group for women who are married to mechanics.

So far the best thing I have found out while being with my mechanic is they are 100% supportive hell it might even be because they spend a shit ton of money on tools or just because they care, to me it doesn't matter, because I’m proud of my mechanic and i’m proud to be a mechanics wife.

mechanics have more online orders than you do

Yall lets talk packages.... My mechanic just like any other spouse complains I order off amazon way to much but let me tell you how the table has turned this week my friends and boy oh boy did it ever turn😂 

My husband informs me he has packages coming throughout the week and I need to let him know when they arrive, im thinking alright nothing to it he must of ordered 1 or 2 since we just had a talk about saving money so we can move back to his hometown! 

Well yall this man ordered 5 packages and im not talking light weight small packages not at all these packages are massive and heavy, so I called him told him they came and asked what was in the boxes

( we have a small child and i dont him getting hurt, but we also have porch pirates so leaving the packages outside is not an option for us) normally i would move the boxes to our bed and let him open the boxes so if something gets broken he would be the first to know, but i had to go with plan B and prop the front door open and wait for my husband to come home to get them.

my husband tells me he ordered, brakes, rotors, new tools, and headlight assembly and LED Lights for the interior and exterior of the car.....yall my car is bright enough to be the ship that picked up Gonzo on the movie muppets in space. 😂 

Anyways hubby showed up to get the boxes, He had to open the boxes and carry the parts to the car. 

Yep his whole " no more ordering online" rule went out the window😂😂 

Struggles of being a mechanic wife Rant

At times the very thought of friends or family knowing my husband is a mechanic makes me cringe, because its only a matter of time before they constantly start asking for him to go check on vehicles with them or the messages " I'm having this issue with my vehicle, what could it be" don't get me wrong I love helping my friends & family and I love having this giant group of friends I call family but after a certain point it gets really old because you can't plan anything away or just a simple movie night because our phones are being blown up about questions. it's almost like you want to yell use google and look up the information about whatever vehicle your looking at. Some say as a mechanics wife we signed up for this, yes we did and I know for sure if we ever needed any kind of help they would drop everything to help us. So its not a one way friendship But we also shouldn't have to activate the " do not disturb" feature on our phones. just to get a little quality time with our mechanic and even that time is so limited because the shop at home and shop at work is calling their name but hey what can we say they have grease in their blood and  Mechanic is their name.

part store errand

Running to a part store for your mechanic because he can't leave the shop can be super annoying and stressful, the sales associate at the part store can be real jackals especially  if your a women some want to treat you like an idiot which leads you to write down all the information you need for the vehicle & part so you don't risk getting anything wrong but still the sales associate  ends up giving you the wrong part and I have a theory why. 

The sales associate sees us as a clueless women  that doesn't know anything about a car so they will try to sell us the wrong part and more to make more money ( that's not a shocker though) so to stop that from happening and to give yourself a little confidence boost when your mechanic gives you the year,make,model, part name, write it all down then go to your local part store website look it up write down( on the same paper you have the other information)the part number. Then go to www.rockauto.com and look the same thing up because the description will more accurate and you'll have a better picture quality of the part to look at. Then before leaving your house practice what your going to say and when you arrive at the part store DO NOT hand them the piece of paper answer their questions and when they look it up on the computer ask for the part number DO NOT GIVE THEM THE PART NUMBER. Ask them to read you the part number or show it to you.....If it doesn't match what you have written it is the wrong part. Also when they grab the part to show you, take a picture of it send it to your mechanic ask if it's the right one and also look at the part see if it matches what you saw from rockauto.com, while waiting for a response from your mechanic ask about the part warranty if there is no warranty  DO NOT BUY IT your mechanic will know why and love you even more... always save the receipt do not hand them to your mechanic  they will either lose it or get it so covered in whatever they have on them to the point you can't read it anymore. DO NOT TRUST your part store computers to have it on file. 

the best thing about mechanics

The best thing about being with a mechanic they literally dont ask for much, you could walk in the door " babe im having a girls night next week" and 9 times outta 10 their response is going to be ok have fun be safe.... Why because they have a fridge full of left overs, there favorite beer on hand, and a shop full of there toys.... They will probably call the boys over and just drink and work on some shit. You never have to worry about them answering their phone because with all the power tools and stuff going they wont hear it ring even if you call. 😂 

And if they do complain just go to few car shows with them ask a few random questions about each car they talk about and its going to be alot. My goto questions are( well what kinda oil do ya think they put in it or, Wonder how fast itll go down the drag strip) And they will be happy, because your with them and they think your interested... honestly when it starts to get boring just grab your phone and take some pictures and when they ask just say just say you wanna hang these pictures around the shop. It will make them happy. 

Also car shows have some fantastic food so you might actually enjoy it. 

Cleaning Hacks

                                                                Household Cleaning 

I don't know about you but I try to find easier ways to clean with my constant busy schedule that seems to never end. and my mechanic getting grease everywhere and it's never ending even tho he washes his hands on a constant. So late at night when everyone else is asleep and I finally the few minutes to myself without hearing " Hey hon have you seen or Hey mommy I need". I find myself scrolling through Pinterest.

 Just last month I stumbled across someone cleaning their house with scrub brushes that have a handle. Honestly It's been a game changer. I used to use the sponges you would get for doing dishes. with the little kids around I'm not able to carry around my cleaning bin the fear of them grabbing some chemical and getting hurt while i'm busy is real.so I try to avoid carrying a whole lot when I clean. 

 I just grab my spray bottle with Fabuloso, or whatever cleaner I need at the time, a rag that my husband forgot was in his pocket from work, ( they are fantastic cleaning rags) and the scrub brush. spray the fabuloso on the wall scrub the wall and whip it off with the rag. Honestly it keeps the kids from trying to play with my cleaning supply bin, and I don't think i'm going through my dish sponges as quick.

and if the brushes get all disgusting and or broke I just get a new one from Dollar General or where ever. 

                                                                Laundry Stain Remover

Does your mechanic ever where their good clothes out and about on his day off and still ends up underneath a vehicle at some point throughout the day, I know mine does and it makes me so made because how does he forget he has good clothes on and then I have to spend the extra time that I really didn't have just to attempt to get the stain out and it's an automatic response as soon as you seem them under a vehicle in there good clothes " yep those are ruined" crosses your mind. 

well it did for me until I got pregnant with our 1st child and my 90 yr old Great Grandmother ( yes you read that right, 90 Years Old, Yes she is still alive Thankfully) Anyways She used this Stain remover when was younger and my Great Grandfather was still Alive and he was also a mechanic ( the love for the mechanic life must be in my blood, Lol) she said it worked like a charm, so I tried it on my little ones clothes and my mechanics work clothes and omg they looked almost new. I love this stuff because it works & it's baby and Kid safe!

what you need: Hydrogen Peroxide,Baking Soda, Dawn Dish Soap. 

1 Tablespoon - Baking Soda

1 Tablespoon - Dawn Dish Soap

2 Tablespoons - Hydrogen Peroxide

* Store in a dark container & away from windows because household lights and sunlight can break down the hydrogen peroxide ( which is why Hydrogen Peroxide is in a brown bottle ) 

I found it best to get the clothing item completely wet and scrub the stain remover solution with a soft bristle toothbrush, rinse and the check the stain out before putting it in the washer, also check the stain again before putting the clothing item in the dryer ( it's easier to work the stain out before you put it in the dryer) I Hope this Helps.

                                                                Mechanics Pockets

I swear these mechanics have a bet going on to see who can fit the most stuff in their pockets before the end of the day. Because every time I go to wash his work clothes  the pockets are so full I have to pull the trash can over and get the designated "Mechanic Mystery Bin" which is an old formula container ( the bigger size) just to have somewhere to sort through the trash and put the tools,pens,sharpies, oil change stickers, lighters, oh and one time he had a computer mouse (you know the ones with usb cord with the little ball inside that comes out when you undo the bottom plastic piece) yep just stuck in his pocket. ( why, the world may never know)  and the mystery bin comes in handy when my mechanic asks if i saw something he needs for work I just hand him the bin and let him go through it. 

But What do I do when it's full? well glad you ask, I wait until the kids go to bed and I sit and go through it, I'll explain my system:

tools, Pens & notebooks - Lunch box

cash - a zipper part of the lunch box or it goes into our vacation box 

loose change - Vacation box 

I hope this helps anyone out there. 

 

 

Fears & Oh shit moments

Let's get the fears and oh shit moments out before we jump to the fun and great stuff alright.

We all know Mechanics are essential throughout the world and at times like this I've found myself even more thinking about just how dangerous their jobs are.

Now before you get all keyboard happy let me explain our mechanics have to get in & out of vehicles on a daily basis working on all sorts of vehicles so they are also exposed to almost everything, and anything from the flu or common cold, and other illnesses to needles, and all sorts of drugs & Drug Paraphernalia. I'm not trying to scare anyone from being with a mechanic or to get them to convince there mechanic that they need to find a different job that's not the case. with any job there will always be some risks and some of those risks will be higher than others. and it's ok just talk the fears out with them and have a plan ready incase something should happen.

Note: Some shops have plans set incase something should happen but it's nice to have a plan set for at home especially if you have little kids like we do. 

My Mechanic and I have several plans in motion just to be safe. I'll gladly share them with you to give you ideas.

1.Illness - we bought 91% rubbing alcohol he sprays his clothes with that before getting into our personal car and Will spray the inside of the car before getting in just incase he went somewhere for lunch and didn't have time to spray, when he get home he takes his work clothes off and puts them in the hamper and gets in the shower 

Note: the 91% alcohol is just as strong as the sterilizing sprays and cleaners hospitals use. (This has been confirmed by doctors & Hospitals)

2. Needles - When getting into a vehicle my mechanic will glance around the seat & gear shifter if there is any needles  around those areas without the protective cover on it he will get his boss and they will ask the customer to move the needles thankfully so far in all of 10 years he has not had to do that. If he were to be stabbed with a needle, obviously  tell the boss the go straight to the emergency room and have work call me asap.

Drugs & paraphernalia - If he sees anything out in the open and in his way he will get his boss and they just ask the customer to relocate them so my mechanic doesn't get hurt. If something were to happen he's to go straight  to the ER

It's better to have documentation for the insurance company, workmans comp if needed and If he was to be treated by another doctor you have everything they would possibly need and always make copies never give work or anyone the original. 

In my household we go by " It's better to be safe than sorry" which living that way when it comes to health has saved us a bunch if times especially with our little guy.

What works for my family & in household might not work for yall but that's ok its just a few things this mechanics wife always has running through her mind.  

Now that we got the risks of exposure out of the way Let's talk about the possibility  of the equipment unexpectedly breaking apart and hurting our techs

This one is pretty recent for my mechanic so lately I dread when my phone rings.

Last week my mechanic was raising the lift to do an oil change/ oil filter and do the basic look over while the oil was draining he walked all the way to the end of the vehicle with flashlight in hand and was on his way back up to the front looking over everything again( we all know different angles show different things) as he was standing by the front tires a line blew on the lift and my husband took off to get out from underneath  he has fast reflexes( but the fear of being crushed to death is very real) anyways the line that blew almost smacked him in the face thankfully it was just an airline with 150psi and not the hydraulic line. 

And so many other risks of equipment  breaking is endless I would be typing for a year.lol just know with these fears your not alone. 

Like I said before there will always be risks at any job but ask your mechanic how often they check their airlines and other equipment. You will be surprised at there answer I know I was at the beginning.