My date told me she loved a man who could really handle his tools, get down and dirty, and wasn't afraid to get his hands on some really tough nuts.

She just needed help fixing her car engine.

My neighbor called me late last night, sounding desperate. She said her pipes were really backed up, and she just couldn't get it wet enough to clear the blockage. She asked if I could come over with something long and hard to really get in there and work it until everything flowed smoothly again.

Turns out her drain was clogged, and she needed a plumbing snake.

My neighbor asked if I could help her with her garden project last weekend. She wanted me to get down low, handle something long and stiff, really work it back and forth, and then help her get it standing straight up.

She was trying to build a new trellis for her climbing roses.

My boss told me he was concerned about the stiff competition we were facing.

I told him, "Don't worry, I always perform better when I'm stiff."