Abstract: The present invention relates to a measuring device for measuring a desired length and a method of using the device, where the device comprises: a metal casing; a retractable tape measure extending from the right side of the metal casing; and numerical markings on the tape measure, where the numerical markings increase from right end of the tape to the left toward the metal casing when the tape measure is extended from the metal casing. The numerical markings may designate either inches or centimeters and may include sub-units thereof.