Some Projects are Just Too Easy

[About this column: Stoneham resident and former HGTV "All American Handyman" contestant Allison Oropallo discusses home improvement projects. Check out her column on Wednesdays.]

I was doing a variety of work for a friend last year – all sorts of odd jobs like installing a new GFI, fixing a porch, painting, hanging curtains, fixing blinds, and installing a new medicine cabinet.

After completing all the general odd jobs, I went back to take a look at the smaller issues around the house to see if I could do anything else for my friend, who we'll call "Mallory." She walked me around the house pointing out the little things that she really wanted fixed.

Let me preface this by telling you how great Mallory was to work for. She is hilarious and was awesome to talk with while working on her house…Mallory will probably crack up after reading this too.

She walks me into her garage where there is this brand new-looking refrigerator sitting against the wall. It was one of those refrigerators with the freezer located on the bottom; it opened like a door, and for some reason it was left open as I was standing in the garage. Mallory told me that she had owned this refrigerator for an entire year and that she had never been able to shut the freezer door. I could not believe it.

She turned to me and said, “Allison, don’t worry if you can’t figure it out, I just thought I would show it to you.” But I told her that I would be happy to take a look.

It took about one minute and thirty-three seconds after I walked into the garage to fix what had been out of order for a year. I walked over to the refrigerator, pulled out the sliding shelf of the freezer, turned it around, placed it back into the sliding mechanism, and closed the door. Mallory couldn’t believe it. I said, “I’m charging you double for that one!” Good thing Mallory has a great sense of humor!