December 2008
“Anyone Have a Hex Screwdriver?”
Hello,
Some time ago we had our annual department teambuilding. This year we went to a national park and did various activities there, including biking and climbing. We are just white-collar office workers, so most of us didn’t bring more than a rain coat and a bottle of water.
Our group was riding on bicycles through the forest when a mountain biker asked us to stop. He was unable to continue riding his bike. The problem was that the screw (with hex head) that connected the stem to the handlebars had loosened.
He asked: “Anyone have a hex screwdriver?” One of my colleagues replied quickly: “Do you know who you are asking?” But then I said: “Yes, I do. What size do you need?” As usual, my Leatherman Surge with the bit set was hanging on my belt. We could fix his bike, he was happy and my colleagues very surprised. After that my colleagues started to call me MacGyver.
I must admit that although the Leatherman is handy, it causes an addiction. In certain formal settings it is not appropriate to carry the Leatherman. When there are always situations where I need to fix something, my hand goes down to my belt but my Surge is not there. It always makes me feel very uncomfortable and I truly miss my tool!
Y. V.
Hanoi, Vietnam
OK, you voyeur, you. Enough of reading other people's stories. It's time you told your own tale of gripping heroism or even just neat DIY'ism. We know there's a Shakespeare in you somewhere. Don't make us use the Steens to find it.