Ever been in a situation or had an experience that made you feel like you were, or should have been, in a MacGyver episode?

If you have, share it with us here.

This isn't so much about doing MacGyverisms (we have a separate topic for that) but more about things happening to you or situations you find yourself in which feel MacGyverish.

I had a couple of MacGyverish moments the other night.

My brother and had to go visit my mother in hospital the other night. And after we'd been there for a while my mother decided she wanted some more sprite, so we went looking to see if any vending machines had sprite drinks in them.

Now to set the scene this is about 9pm at night, the hospital is pretty much deserted and locked down for the night. So we're wondering around the maze of corridors which on it's own feels somewhat like a MacGyver episode; anyway, we ended up having to go through to the A & E section, but to get there we had to pass through a one-way security door (push the button to open it, but it locks behind you). SO there's a yellow "slippery when wet" sign leaning against the wall on the other side of the door, so I grabbed it and jammed it in the door to stop it from closing. So we're just around the corner buying a couple of cans of sprite and suddenly and alarm goes off at the door and we here a voice telling us "Visitor! Secure the door please!" - oops did I do that?

So after getting a security pass to get back in and returning with requested drinks to said mother we said our good byes and headed for the car park. which is where the next MacGyver moment happened...

As I was feeding coins into the payment machine somehow two coins went in to the slot together and jammed so now we have a machine asking for money and coins stuck in the slot going nowhere. So I pulled out my SAK flipped open the main blade and carefully pushed one of the stuck coins further into the slot until it fell down into the machine, then the second coin just needed a little flick and nudge into the right position and it rolled away into the machine as well.

The atmosphere and the happenings both felt like they where straight out of a MacGyver episode.

My MacGyver moments are lately only when I have to cut up boxes at work with my knife.

Last week in New York, after lunch, I made a toothpick out of a gum wrapper.



Okay, it isn't much. But it's something, right?

Latest Mac moment was when I used the blade on my SAK as a mirror to see around a tight spot on an appliance installation.

Just to help avoid any confusion between this and the MacGyverisms thread I've added this comment to the first post.

This isn't so much about doing MacGyverisms (we have a separate topic for that) but more about things happening to you or situations you find yourself in which feel MacGyverish.

i was at my step grandfathers tyrack hall of fame and me plastic fork broke trying to eat my fruit on a little plate. So instead of feeling like an idiot i reached into my pocket and pulled out the tooth pick. It worked way better than the fork, and the fruit was delicious

Ok, mulligan the last post I made. I know what you mean now, Rocky.

I bought a 4wd truck - an old Blazer K5 - and it's up on 31" tires. I was driving it and I felt like Mac would, driving a vehicle that was totally handy and prepared for any terrain. I also felt really MacGyverish because I know how to fix it.

Ari

Yesterday was my first real (and somehow I hope there's many more to come) MacGyver moment I experienced at work. It really seemed something for a MacGyver episode and I'm thinking of working it into my story, if I ever find to the time to write again.

Anyway anything seemed like any other ordinary day. Waking up, go to work, blablabla... Yesterday I had to go to dentist (he said: brush three minutes twice a day and less use of cola, sweets and alcohol .) so I let my colleagues know I'd join them later in the day. It was halfway the afternoon already when I arrived at work. I work till 7 so I figured, let's go to work anyway. Work and life was going it's daily course. Me helping out the colleagues and etc. The whole day just as the past few weeks were burning hot. Always around 30° C. Actually it was too hot lately. The storm we had last Saturday wasn't exactly refreshing or cooling down.

So the heat was on and I was told to work outside the department store, unpacking things, nice in the sun. But than clouds began gathering above the store. I could still hear my boss say a storm was coming our way, so some of us began covering things up. With what I saw gathering above us I had a flash of Doc Brown in my mind saying: 'There'll be wind, rain, thunder, lightning. There's going to be one hell of a storm.' Than I said to my co-workers: 'The gods are getting angry.'

Dude, was I right about that. You see, we're in the middle of the summersales and we have a big parking lot and our store exists out of two buildings. The size of that parking lot is very convenient for us to do things, like small fairs and animation for kids at the start of the sales. That's over now but we installed approximately five or six tents on the parking lot mostly for the clothes we can't fit in the store or those we can't get rid off. So they get a massive discount and are stalled outsite. This goes for our bike and outdoor department and the outlet (that's where we sell the really old stuff. That's one side of the parking lot. On the other side of the lot we had a bar installed with a terrace next to it. Four rows of tables. Now that bar was closed, it's only open during the weekends. There were four or five fridges installed and fryer a freezer or two, maybe three.

And all of sudden all hell broke loose. I heard clattering and co-workers of mine yelling. I thought: 'Hey, what's going on?' I went to see. Because of the sudden windburst one of our tents flew over on the parking lot. So everyone that was on the outside ran to the tent trying to hold it together. There was a bit of ducking and trying to walk into the wind to the tent. I got dirt in my eyes and I wear contacts. We tried to keep it together. There was more wind and that it started to rain really hard. I never experienced that kind of rain before. The sluice-gates of heaven really opened up. Lightning began flashing, thunder crashed. In no time the whole parking lot was flooded, and I wore torn up allstars. We were all soaking wet after a couple of moments. When we tried to disassemble one tent another flew through the air litterally. We all went to the other tent trying to keep it on the ground. With knives they cut through the elastic ropes that was keeping it together. Another windburst tore up the upper sail when we tried to cut it loose. The sail tore partly and kept waving straight up in the wind. Pools flew in the air and pieces of tents actually landed on the rooftops. We got most of the tents down, damaged. We had to take off the sails pour the water in the already flooded parking space and fold them up one way or the other. Than the terrace got it's turn. Tables and chairs knocked over by the wind. There were also tents installed, they tore up and we tried to get them down and than the bar got it's turn. Same story, sail tore up things fell over. There was actually electricity involved, however I'm not sure what was attached and what wasn't, but the fridges and freezers where I think attached. Anyway we took away everything had to break down the tents. I nearly got one of the pools on my head at one point. But nobody got hurt.

It was one hell of a storm indeed. And all those costumers that finished shopping and some of my co-workers (mostly women) stood there. .

The whole situation had me stumped of what hit us. Those were tents held to the ground by concrete!! They just flew over and broke like matches. Than in the end I went to dry off. But I was soaking wet and didn't had any spare clothes. A T-Shirt from the store and something I had to lend. For the rest of day, I still had like two hours or an hour and a half to go so I had to work on my bare feet. Today I heard one car got damaged however and a wallet was found floating on the parking lot.

Than I figured this could've been in a MacGyver episode and than I realized it was: The Secret of Parker House. But I could also imagine Mac would be the first one to jump out and help. There were like twenty of us out there. Co-workes, students working during the summer and even some girls helped out in the pouring rain.

I wouldn't even dare to think about it if this happened at night. Talking about having an unpleased surprise if you were willing to park your car.

I really felt the adrenaline pumping actually, but I'm also kind of a thrillseeker in these matters and I like a good lightning storm.

Sorry for the long story but that was one crazy adventure, I can tell you that and it was one where I really figured MacGyver would've done the same.

I've had many MacGyver moments, and some of them would definitely qualify even better for this thread, but I just have to share a simple, but yet hilarious moment that happened today.

Tomorrow, I'm going to be the co-host at a very close friend's wedding. The problem is that we live about 300 km apart, and though it might not seem much, it's a rather long and dull drive. Naturally, you do what you can for the environment, so when my friends asked me if another couple and their very young children could ride with me, (and share the costs), I said "yeah, sure! "

I'm not too picky about my car, but I very much fear open milk containers. In fact, I think that anyone who's ever owned a car would do that. In case you spill, the smell of sour milk will linger for ages. In fact, I'd never EVER even think of opening a milk carton in anyone's car.

These people however, know nothing about cars, so I couldn't really blame them when I suddenly noticed that the mother was pouring milk from an open carton into the kids' car bottles. I very kindly asked them to please try and seal the container as soon as they were done.

"How could we possibly do that?" they replied. "It doesn't even have a cap!"

"Well, take a look inside the inner pocket of my purse over there," I replied. "There is a flat roll of duct tape along with some paper clips, a SAK and other useful things. I'm sure the duct tape will do."

"WOW," the mother spontaneously burst out. "You carry a *flat roll* of duct tape in your purse! How come you still aren't married?"

I bet she did regret her comment, since it made me laugh so hysterically that I had a hard time keeping my eyes on the road.

A MacGyver moment I had the past weeks was actually very simple. My grandmother is laying in the hospital for almost seven weeks now. I visit her once a week. Each time I walk through the corridors I have to think about the beginning of Hind-Sight when Mac is walking through and can't help but think I might bump into him.

Something happened a while back that reminded me of the episode "Hell Week" from season 3 where Mac is asked to judge a physics competition by a former professor. I haven't watched this episode in a while but I distinctly remember that upon seeing MacGyver for the first time in 10 years, the professor's son (who is in the competition) says to MacGyver "You haven't changed much, that's the same jacket (Chevignon jacket) you had 10 years ago." Mac replies with "I've kind of grown into it." About a year ago, someone I had talked to off and on in high school stopped by when I was about to leave my house to go for a walk. After I saw who it was we talked for a while and he asked me if the jacket I was wearing was the same one I wore during senior year of high school and I laughed, thinking of that episode. I couldn't help but use Mac's reply lol. Better yet, the coat I had on (and wear on a pretty regular basis) was my brown leather one haha. I know this isn't really a MacGyver moment like many of the ones posted here, but it was a neat nostalgic feeling nonetheless.

Haha, yeah Matt, and MacGyver God, that definitely counts!

Today I've got several comments since my right hand is looking like this (see pic below). I've been *so* tempted to just reply "The perils of science" when everyone keeps asking what on Earth I've been doing to my fingers. Or that my home physics lab blew up on me. Or something equally cool.

(But truth to be told, my fingers just cracked by themselves. I've been exposing them too much to the cold, and hot water, etc).

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I think that qualifies as a MacGyver moment Matt.

NightTinkerer, I am familiar with that feeling. Those types of cracks are the worst! I found this cream called O'Keeffe's Working Hands. It is the best stuff I've ever used, waterproof too. I put it on at night if my hands are dry and cracked like that and by morning they're all near healed. Here's a link to what it looks like: I've frequently found it at hardware stores and most big all purpose stores.O'Keeffe's hand cream

Thanks for the tip, Matt! I do have some creams that actually works--but not if you're developing "elephant skin", then I have to tape my fingers with zink tape for a couple of days so it's soft enough for any ointments to work! I usually mix a little bit of Xylocain into my cream mixture, to keep myself from scratching until it cracks again.

Unfortunately though, I don't live in the US so I'm not sure that particular cream it's available here. But I'll have a look, still.

Anyway, I had a total MacGyver moment today as well!

We were singing with my choir at the town plaza, and though the weather was pretty decent, there were random gusts of winds, messing with the choir leaders notes. I just threw her my flat roll duct tape, with the paper clips attached. "Paper clips and duct tape, at your service!"

And indeed--that was just what she needed. The paper clips kept the pages from flapping too much, and she used the flat roll as a counter weight on top of the sheets, so they couldn't turn over. I'm *pretty* sure our real MacGyver would have done the same in a similar situation.

That was a very good idea with the paper clips and duct tape Like Mac's grandfather said, "The best way to beat a problem is to make it work for you."

I'm glad to hear you have some remedies for the dry skin on your hand. It took me a while to find something that worked good for mine.

Annnd... Today I had yet another MacGyver moment! Once again, it was related to a choir concert.

The bottom line is that ever since a friend's wedding this spring, I've managed to break something almost every time I'm visiting my church. All right, I'm a rather clumsy person, but not *that* clumsy, and I'm actually rather careful around churches. But at the wedding, I almost knocked one of the benches over in the middle of the ceremony since I, and everyone else, thought they were screwed to the floor. Obviously, they weren't, so I almost created a domino effect when my bench tipped backwards after I accidentally nudged it.

A couple Saturdays later, I manage to kick a semi-hidden bowl of thermo candles in the middle of a prayer at our church, sending it rolling down the aisle, scattering candles all over. Oh, the shame.

Last Saturday I rose from the bench, and obviously some part of my purse stuck to the bench in front of mine, ripping off the plastic lining of the book holder. Thanks GOD (literally) it was easily fixed.

Today, I just thought "Whew, I made it," when I was about to leave the church. I was just returning a key to the broom closet, and shut its door... when I heard a crash from inside. Opening the door again, I realized that the door handle on the inside had fallen out, screws and all scattered on the floor. Frantically, I was looking all over for a screw driver, but there were only two to be found--of a totally wrong kind.

By now, I'd attracted several curious witnesses... and when I brought up my SAK from my purse, a few people started laughing while one of them started singing the MacGyver theme song!

And, lo and behold, the door was easily fixed with the can opener/screw driver on my SAK. But I'm seriously believing that God has a sense of humor, and that I'm a constant victim of Murphy's Law... or just a walking (church) accident...

Have you considered that maybe you should stop going to church?

I've been feeling MacGyverish recently. Since my husband has been transferred too far away, I have had to do the little fix-it jobs around the house. I felt especially MacGyverish after getting the battery changed in the lawn tractor and I'm getting good at checking and changing fuses in a car or camper. Not much, but makes me feel kind of MacGyverish when I can get things going like that.

Yeah it can often be the pottering around working stuff out that you haven't done before which turns out to be the most MacGyverish, because your learning and improvising as you go.

Again, it's been a couple of weeks but they're renovating the station near where I live. When I sat on the bus on my way to work, I noticed they were moving cargo containers with a crane like they did in The Gun. Though it was much smaller container, I was wondering if somebody was in there ready to blast the doors open.

And I have moved again (long story) after not even living two years in my apartment to house. I also moved a pinball machine (not mine but it's stalled here)which requiered a little logic thinking but I think Mac would've done it the same way.

I came home the other day and found I had no electricity. I went to a drawer in the kitchen and pulled out a box of candles and a box of matches, but immediately realized I had a problem.... no candle holders of any sort!

Not wanting to be one of those silly goofs who burns their own house down, I wanted to play it safe and put them in something where there'd be no danger. So out to the recycling bin I went, and after digging through it I came up with two large apple sauce jars. Now I had something to stick the candles in, but still needed something to keep them upright and not leaning sideways. I thought about it for a second, then went to my tool chest, grabbed a couple sockets, wedged a candle down into each of them and set them inside the jars. Safe and functional, and almost no way of them accidentally getting knocked or tipping over. Perfect.

I haven't had to employ this particular MacGyverism for quite some time, but several times in the past, during the winter, when I have to park outside, the lock on my car door would freeze up and I wouldn't be able to turn the key to unlock the door. The solution . . . strike a or use a cigarette lighter to heat up my key, insert the key into the door lock, gently turn it left to right / right to left, thereby melting any of the ice or snow that has built up in the lock. While it doesn't work the first time every time, it does work.

A few weeks ago i left from my parents house back to my place by ski and my other staff got broken so i used duct tape to fix it and it hold up well.

Any time I have to use my for anything is a MacGyver moment. Always makes me smile

I also catch myself saying, "Oh man!" when stuff doesn't go according to plan...

This isn't so much about doing MacGyverisms (we have a separate topic for that) but more about things happening to you or situations you find yourself in which feel MacGyverish.

So today I have the morning off. I get dressed, grab a coat, go up to Mum's and take her out to buy some horse related stuff she wants.

Part way round the shop I catch sight of myself in a glass door: I am wearing ratty sneakers, faded blue jeans, T-shirt and my MA-1 jacket...
So today, quite by accident, I feel MacGyverish!

Now you need aviator glasses and a baseball cap!

Hah! I so do

The thing is, I don't ever set out to dress like MacGyver but...