Rhia, I love working out in the shop by myself or with my Hubby. For a wedding gift we bought a dremmel with a gift card and have gotten lots of use out of it over the years. Of course I also like to work on cars and do metal craft. I guess that's the Tom boy in me. Jenn Avery CVOSSG

A woodworking board! My web site is www.woodhelp.com I hang out at www.woodworking.com .... my forum Great place... lots of really helpful people...

Hi Rhia, I'd like to live closer too. I am the handyman at home, and our own contractor. I've built a deck in my back yard, a shed for my junk, another deck for the raised pool, all the fencing around the house, I remodeled my entire kitchen and am in the process of finishing my guest bathroom (including the cabinets that were made to order). I am having a lot of fun playing with my router and the different bits, so I made neat doors for the cabinets. I put in a new bathtub, re-routed all the pipelines to the tub, changed the toilet and sink. All I need to finish is the clean up, the floor and the walls. I had to take a break to go for my RNY on March 15, but I'm back home now, and feeling well enough to resume my project. When I'm done with the bathroom, I'll make a room addition for my pre-teen daughter, who needs her privacy. Go figure! She's only 10! But I'll do it just for the passion of it. On the funny side, my husband hates going to Home Depot, Lowes, OSH, etc. He says it's like going to a foreign country, where he understands nothing what's around him. HAHAHA

Thanks for the offers of hope. It is my back and the bending over that bothers me more than anything. I have arthritis in my back and bone spurs and the weight I carry makes it worse. I am hoping that after I lose about 60 to 70 pounds, it will give great relief on my back. I have always loved traditionally "male" hobbies. I was 7 when my mom died and I was raised by my father. I learned a lot from my Father. I can do minor plumbing fixes, minor care repair, wood working and other fixit stuff. I was a "Tom Boy" growing up and prided myself on being able to do what the guy's do. I always wanted to stand out in a crowd, but not with my weight, just my knowledge and hobbies. Take care.

Hell Rhia. I too have my own power tools. I love wood working, but do to my back pain, I have not been able to do anything for 2 years. I am hoping that after WLS, I will be able to get back into wood working. Take care.