Topic awaiting preservation: Running water rocks!

Night before last, our water pipes froze.
One suxors was that all of the heat tapes were working and I had no idea where the frozen part was.
Another suxors was filling water jugs over at Grandma Jean's for the toilet. Tried filling the bathtub with snow for this, but the snow was way too dirty.
Then there was the whole washing the dishes debackle.
Not to mention laundry piling up, which is substantial since I live with 3 females and all 3 are freaks. Maybe some day they will isolate the gene for this and cure it.

Got a little space heater and went crawling around this morning.
(During one jaunt, the living room floor got covered with popcorn. Squish like grape.)
After 5 hours, looks like I finally got it.
Not bad for having to aim blindly.

Ah, running water again.
I'm so happy.

I feel with you - I grew up with a bathroom who was without running water every time wind blew from north in winter... or
was it my parents always shutting it off to prevent the freezing?

Civilisation is running water and accompanied sanitary installments. And cat.

warjournal,

I feel for you!

We went to visit our middle son for a week-end last November and came home Saturday evening because my wife had to work on Sunday.

When we got home the entire kitchen and downstairs bathroom were covered in about two inches of water. Our cat had been looking out the bath room window and when she jumped down, she knocked over the plunger which hit the water inlet to the commode and broke the pipe (it's PVC and the tiles on the floor were mortared up against the pipe so it had no give).

I had to shut off all the water to the house, and clean up all the water. Then the next day, run into town to buy glue and new pipe. Then crawl up under the house to repair the pipe so we could turn on the water again.

Fortunately for me, the weather hadn't turned cold in November so I just had to deal with mud. I hate plumbing and having to fix it in cold weather like we're having now is the worst.

The other thing you didn't say out right: I seem to remember that your kids are pretty young so they not only couldn't help you too much, but might end up getting into things while you're under the house. (Is that what you're referring to with the popcorn and the grape?)


I'm glad to hear you got your pipes fixed. I stop and thank the Romans for inventing indoor plumbing every so often.



.

-- not necessarily stoned... just beautiful.

Personally, I hate plumbing no matter the weather. Course, winter didn't help. Shoveling snow to get to certain places, water melting from the roof and icing up on the ground, things frozen down in the crawl space (I'll have to find that leak and plug it), etc.

My grandpa used to be a real prick about heating in the winter. Every year he would freeze the pipes in the basement. Poor grandma didn't deserve that.

As for the kids, they are young. Vannah just turned 7 and Chasie is 2. They are usually good enough for quick little things, but today Chasie was (and still is) being an absolute monster. As in Karate Kid, squish like grape when she misbehaves. Had to displine her pretty hard twice today so far. Once for the popcorn and again for beating up Big Sissy.

I don't get it. Vannah is quiet, reserved, and very academic. Damn good kid that I can trust for 7 minutes. Then there is Chasie the Monster from Hell.

(Edited by warjournal on 01-29-2005 22:01)

I agree. I hate plumbing, not matter what the weather.

Kids are facinating. We have five and each is different. Each has been a hell raiser in their own way. The older two are in their late twenties and starting to settle down.

It seems like, with five kids anyway, there has always been a time when one or more has taken it into their heads to be anti-social. (getting into things, beating up on a brother, arguing about doing chores just because they want to exert their own individuality).

It's wonderful when they are cooperative like your Vannah, but when they're not, it means they are investigating thinking for themselves and that (in the long run) can be a good thing too.

Part of the reason Vannah is easy to get along with is that she is seven. Seven is a wonderful age. Chasie on the other hand is in the terrible twos. With patience (on your part) she'll grow out of it. But I agree with you that children need to be disciplined when they step too far out of line.

Good luck with the kids.



.

-- not necessarily stoned... just beautiful.