Life Goes On?
Today we have good news and bad news. The good news is; we have PLENTY of hot water! The bad news is; we still have a drip. The good news is; we now have 1 drip every hour, we did have 1 drip every 5 minutes. The good news is; we're making progress. The bad news is; we still have a damned drip!!
The problem is in the 90 degree cast-iron elbow. We WANTED an elbow with a 3/4 inch male connection on both ends. The only 3/4 inch elbow in town, has a male on one end and a female on the other. This requires a transition piece, that my Dad calls a nipple, that has 2 male ends. The drip is occurring where the nipple screws into the cast iron elbow. We have 5 layers of teflon tape on this connection and it's STILL DRIPPING! We can't get the connection any tighter as the wrench keeps slipping on the smooth surface of the nipple. ARGHHH!!! The good news is that ALL our other connections have been drip free from the start. I think it has something to do with the cast-iron.
My question for today is: Why does "normal" life have to continue when you're in the middle of an important project? Doesn't life know that we don't have time to cook, do laundry, wash dishes, take the dog to the vet, mow the lawn, buy groceries, or get a haircut? Can't the Keebler elves take a break from baking and take care of our everyday chores for a month? The good news is that we don't have to vacuum, other than shop-vacuuming the sawdust in the bedroom. With our bedroom furniture scattered throughout the rest of the house, we don't have ROOM to run the vacuum!
On Sunday Z asked about his homeschooling. With Z's learning problems we need to homeschool year-round. He needs all the time he can get. He also needs the steady routine and structure. I told Z that we would be covering building trades class for the next month. It's not one of the things we're required to teach, but that's TOO BAD! Right now, Z is our "gofer". I was my Dad's "gofer" from the time I could walk and talk. This is how I learned all the carpentry and homeowner's skills that I have today. So far Z has learned that wall studs are 16 inches on center(which is 1/3 sheet of plywood), our floor joists are 16 inches on center (some are 18 or 24), 2x4's are actually 1 1/2 x 3 1/2, plywood comes in 4ftx8ft sheets, and fittings on a water heater are 3/4 inch. Hey, that's a LOT of math and technical stuff! I also KNOW FOR A FACT that he will use this knowledge in the future! Now if he'd just learn the difference between a phillips and slotted screwdriver AND the difference between a slipjoint and pipe wrench; we'd be happy (for now).
I really MUST be going! I still have to take down ALL the trim in our bedroom AND throw together a turkey pie for dinner.
posted by tshsmom @ 3:48 PM
14 comments
14 Comments:
Sounds like a lot going on. I wish you luck in fixing that drip. :-)
Damned spammers!!
Thanks Jen! My Dad came over this afternoon with a different wrench and managed to tighten it another 1/8 turn. NOW the drip is on the other side of the joint.
I deleted THEM, plus I went to THEIR blogs and made a bunch of obscene comments. That way anybody with PC Nanny or similar programs won't be able to access their site. It probably won't make much of an impact, but it made ME feel better!
I'm sorry but I was laughing at this post. Not at you, but because it hit home.
Good luck in getting it fixed. I know how frustrating that is first hand.
ZS, I figured that anybody that's done home repairs could identify with this!! NOTHING ever goes according to plan.
We've had a few laughs over it too. It beats the hell out of crying!
You go, girl!
What Z is learning is very important. Sorry to hear about the drip. How about duct tape? We use duct tape for just about everything. I know, I know - it's not proper and shouldn't be done...
Take care, now.
Jeez, they're hitting everyone aren't they? I've only gotten one so far. How RUDE!
Anyway good luck with the plumbing.
All the house stuff has led to me going to work just to relax! If only I could just take six weeks off, we'd get it all together....I feel your pain.
Your comments about life stopping? Preaching to the choir, girl. Preaching.
Goodness. I feel for ya.
I'm somewhat of a freak when it comes to having a messy house. I always watch those Do-It-Yourself home repair shows and I always think in my head," How are they dealing with that mess?!"
The day I have sawdust INSIDE my house is the day I go get a hotel room.
*wink*
monicar-we're thinking about glopping plumber's putty around the joint. ;)
Jason-You've got the added handicap of small children. Z is actually old enough to be of significant help.
Sadie-robin was actually brave enough to post pictures of her mess!
robin-EVERYBODY has conflicts with everyday life, don't they?
Sounds like I picked the right time to drop off the face of the Earth. I wasn't spammed.
Sadie- I don't mind mess, I was a tom-boy. I can't do the dust thing, though. I have asthma. We had to have the entire inside of our house replumbed, as well as the connection from the water-main to our house. Fortunately, we were part of the PVC class-action law suit. Everything was done for free. Didn't cost a cent to fill the air with dry wall dust, saw dust, PVC dust, stuff on the workmen's shoes dust, etc.
My medical bills for not going to a hotel were not cost effective. The settlement did not cover hotel expenses, so my hubby said we would ride it out. It would have been cheaper as well as healthier to go to this really cheap dive in a nearby small town.
Nipples and elbows. Heehee.
Male and female!
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