It never fails - unlike nearly every major appliance or industrial-strength product I've used in the last two months - every time I try to convince my husband that something in the house needs to be fixed and he finally gets around to, "I'll take a look,"  it starts working again!

Until.

"GAH...this stupid thing!"

I'll break it and guarantee that it's never proven to be functional, again.

It's a gift, really - my inherent knack for breaking things is virtually indestructible - a trait that I, unfortunately, have passed along to my children and find difficult to fault them for.

"A bull in a china shop - just like your mother."

Perhaps, it's one of the reasons why we don't buy anything new - unless it can easily be put-back-together, or my husband's with me - and explains my deep affection for simple, inexpensive, multi-functional, non-mechanical-type gadgets that even I can use.

I broke our mailbox the other day, but - don't act so surprised - it's lasted nearly 14 years and couldn't possibly take another coat of paint, without having to hit it with a blow torch and welding it shut!  Maybe it was time we got a new one, anyway.

"They want how much!?!"

Have you seen the prices of mailboxes, lately?

"Here's a pretty nice one."

Which is secret mommy code for "not my first choice, but much cheaper" and it only came in white.

"No problem, I can paint it!"

Really - I am pretty handy with a paint brush and spray can - our outdoor furniture and perhaps the kids swing set could use a new coat of paint, too!

"Hey, this looks cool!"

My husband reached for a small package and my eyes went wide with excitement as I read the label:

• 2-finger trigger minimizes fatigue.
• Unique locking collar keeps can tightly attached.
• Trigger safety lock prevents accidental use.

We got home and I couldn't wait to try my new Spray Grip - it took only a few seconds for me to insert it and secure it onto the spray can's valve - and I was able to paint our new mailbox, the post and could use it on the kids' crafts, or anything else that happened to look good, in green.

"You could have waited until I moved the car!"

Which is secret daddy code for "she's so efficient, she's inefficient" and it really wasn't that windy.