Suburbanites with Chopsticks

Although we never thought it would happen, we have quickly become Suburbanites. True, we are in Swaziland, so the suburban life here is not exactly the same as it is in the US, but it's pretty close. We live in a big house with a big yard. And, we own two cars and- this, to me, is truly the mark of a suburban lifestyle - we own large exercise equipment! It's just an elliptical machine and a bicycle (with a trainer stand to turn it into a stationery bike), but owning them ourselves - rather than being members of a gym where we share equipment with many others - feels quite unfamiliar.

Anyway, Peter took charge of assembling the equipment, and it was all going well until he dropped a wrench into the opening at the top of the elliptical machine "wheel." In his defense, he was tightening a very difficult-to-reach bolt, and it's a miracle that he didn't drop the second one that he used to tighten the same bolt...

...until he did! Still, it was a very difficult spot, and I for one definitely would have done the same thing. We were determined to rescue the wrenches. First, Peter studied the problem:
There were some moments of frustration.

We tried all kinds of things: a piece of string attached to some gummy stuff you use to stick posters to the wall; reaching into the opening with a long stick; and a piece of string tied to a magnet.

Finally, we had to turn the elliptical machine on its front and prop it up with pillows. Then, while I was lying on my back underneath it (like a car mechanic) I tried, of all things, a giant pair of chopsticks (typically used to stir fry food in a wok above a raging flame.) It worked!


Chopsticks 1, Other stuff, 0.