Sometimes in a man’s life, he has to build something just to quantify his existence. I, like all fathers and husbands around this globe, have a great need to be seen as more than just a light bulb changer, trash taker outer, and bug killer. I’m convinced that even in the remote jungles of Indonesia, at this moment, in a dirt floored hut, a man is squishing a spider at his wifes request. But solving problems by using logic, building something, breaking something, or clearing brush (according to the president) is man’s work. So when we do take on these masculine projects of working with rock or wood, we get the gleeful pride of Stuart from Mad TV: The childish character who must grab attention to his acts by saying “look what I can do” before falling to the ground or spitting up on himself.

One of the disadvantages of living in the northwest is the inordinate amount of rain. Consequently, the floors of our home are often covered with mud and shoes are everywhere. As the MAN of the house, I knew that something had to be done. I needed a plan so I went………… shopping on the internet.

After six or eight exhausting minutes of trying to find a decent looking shoe rack online, I ran across a picture of a really great idea. I shamelessly stole this idea from someone named Megan who had posted it on notmartha.org.

With my trusty battery operated screwdriver by my side and a level, I have now beat the drums in the proverbial forest by building a really cool looking shoe rack. It consists of a shelf with another shelf of half the depth suspended above it, the shoes actually seem to float on the wall. It looks nice and is easy to clean under. Altogether I put up three, two by the front door and one by the back for flip flops.

I would tell more of the heroics, but I must now drink beer and kill something to eat (salads are alive, right?)

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