A Small Pat On the Back
I fixed a leaky sink today. (pat pat pat)
Well. "I" didn’t fix it. I supervised while Chickie’s boyfriend fixed it. And I wouldn’t have known exactly what to do if my dad hadn’t happened in about the time we got the leaky pipes apart. STILL – I am feeling pretty darn smart right now.
I discovered the leak a week or so ago and asked Daddy-dearest if he could look at it and maybe fix it. In times past he would have fixed it up pronto. But a dose of sciatica and a bothersome hernia have discouraged him from crawling under sinks lately. Not only that but the leak appeard to involve the garbage disposal and that discouraged him from trying.
Once upon a time he would have tried, but now he has plenty enough money to simply call someone else to get dirty and say swear words when things slip and/or crack. I don’t have that luxury, and a plumber would have cost me $75.00 minimum.
I told Daddy-dearest that I would ask the coach at school to come look at it cause he’s a handy sort of fellow. But then I felt reluctant to impose on Coachie, so tonight I got Chickie’s boyfriend and said, "Let’s try it!" We are both total plumbing idiots, so neither one of us really had to worry about looking stupid – or so we thought.
Dads popped in just as we were taking apart the offending pipe. I was holding it proudly in my hand when he came in.
"What the hell is that?"
"It’s the leaky pipe. We’re going to fix it!", I beamed proudly.
"You don’t know what the hell you’re doing! You’re gonna screw it up and THEN it’s gonna cost you BIG bucks!" I told you ……"
"Well I have $90.00 to my name and it has to last 2 weeks. There is no food in the house and have you looked at the price of gas? I cannot afford a stinking plumber and it doesn’t look that serious."
"Where’s the other part of it:"
"What other part?"
"SEE?! I told you that you didn’t know your ass from a hole in the ground! You don’t even know what you need! You need another one of THOSE at the other end of the pipe."
"Good thing you told me that – cause I wouldn’t have known. Now I do – and I’m going to Lowes to get one! BYE."
"When you f*#k it up, don’t call me."
"IF i F*#k it up, you bet I WILL call!"
So….$1.13 and a few false tries later……Chickie’s boyfriend and I have fixed the sink. At least it’s holding so far. If it turns out not to be fixed, I only spent $1.13 and I still have a bucket to catch the drips.
Did I call Dad? You bet. He was thrilled. (grins)
And I am now feeling invincible. It’s the small things in life. Really.
Yay! Feels great to fix something, doesn’t it? ryn: Don’t know what to say re: Chickie or Mary. I think Mary was pretty much spoiled and allowed to get away with murder by her mother (from what Pat tells me). She can be quite charming, but I believe it’s all an act. I’ve noticed little things about her, and she can be quite rude to people. At the wedding, seats were at a minimum because of the
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crowd, and a young lady sat in a chair Mary had been in, and left.YL was talking to a cousin, and Mary came back with 3 beers and said, “That’s my seat!” to the surprised YL. Mary could have dragged over another chair after she set the beer down on the table, but I suppose she preferred chasing YL away (who is dating another cousin). Crap like that makes me dislike her. She don’t fool ME, teach!
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PS. Turn around. Okay, now — pat pat pat. You deserve it!
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yay for fixing things. I just need to finish a few things. 🙂
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YAY YOU!! Isn’t it empowering to fix something yourself? You are so brave to take on plumbing. I’m scairt of plumbing 😉 hugs…
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Good for you and Chickie’s boyfriend. Don’t let the word get out or people will be calling you when their plumbing leaks. Your dad really has a way with words doesn’t he.
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It is the small things. Think you and chickie’s boyfriend can come look at my toilet? Thanks! 🙂
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*does a happy dance with you* yay for girls fixing broke stuff! your dad is a hoot. lol
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Ain’t it cool to be a fix it woman!! Twice the glory because THEY say we can’t do it. LOL
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I’ll bet that $75 is just for driving to your house, too. I’ll bet parts and labor are extra. Good for you. 😀
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haha I tried fixing the sink once, I was pretty cocksure and arrogrant about it, right up to the moment I got sprayed right in the face with dirty clogged water and I was running around panicking and yelling for my mum to turn off the house water supply, yelling for my brother to call my dad to come quick and help with the pipe and then I just yelled in general. lol
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I am too awkward to fix anything…thanks for your lovely note.
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You rock! And I hope you don’t forget to let your dad know that, and know that, and know that. {smile}
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Good for you!!! I hate it when those things happen. I’m the gatherer damnitall, not the hunter. *LOL*
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Stuff like that always makes me feel good. Go you!!
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Having fixed some of my own shit over the years, I can truthfully say that it IS the small things!
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Nice to know you’re plumbing is in good order then , hon! RYN:- I will be with “the family” so I will have to put it to the vote. You could always meet us at Busch Gardens for the day! LOL Hugz
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I impress myself when I manage to fix something without destroying everything around it in the process. With a grin…
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heheh 🙂 I love those little victories. 🙂
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Good on you Wolfie. Did I hear someone say Busch Gardens???
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I love being able to fix things around our apartment.
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Hey there Sunshine darling, I’ve got a problem we’ve got a leaky sky up here think you could have dad quit huffing and puffing and blowing all the crappy weather this way? heheheh just kidding I’m so proud of you, these last couple of years you have grown so much. I’m so very very happy for you. Ps How are the younger then usual kids this year? things still going good I hope Lael
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Great start in the do-it-yourself business. If you think you can, you can. Most problems with things around the house can be solved without calling in expensive outside help. Plumbers are especially expensive. The money saved for something you want is a powerful incentive !
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Pat pat pat! I hate to deal with pipes because they’re always filled with yucky stuff.
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I always like to strut when I fix something. It’s such a feeling of accomplishment
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The funny thing is, stuff like that is so obvious when you start looking at it! It’s one of the few things I thank first husband for… he taught me everything there is to know about ‘home improvements’ with his “I could do that ten times cheaper” attitude!
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I just LOOOOOVE your Daddy entries! LMAO!!!! Congrats on fixing the sink. You are a far braver woman than am I.
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Hope you all are snug and safe from the latest storms Nashville got hit pretty hard last night we are okay so far. Lael
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Congratulations, Madame Plumber! (Now, I have a small problem with air blocks in my shower pipe. Any chance of you skipping across here to fix it…..?)
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Good for yoU! Want to come help put a new neck in our sink? the kitchen spout spurts water when you turn it on through several pinholes? Two aim at the side and backsplash and one right at the user! One at the ‘dry’ side of the sink. That broke the morning of the hurricane!
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RYN: There once was a lady named MulvaT’was overly fond of her . . . No, I better not go there. 😉
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Pat-pat-pat and good for you! M is much better at that stuff than I am, but sometimes I manage to do something without introducing mayhem into the works. Love the dialogue!
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biggest hug ever
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Independence is a wonderful thing.
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i think we need duck tape, the duct tape didn’t work!
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I have this feeling that you were going to fix that if it meant sitting under the sink and holding the pipe for three days. lol
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Dropping in, post-rant. With a smile…
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Thank you for your note at my diary. It was most welcome!
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in good news tuesday info the Downtown Animal Clinic of Fairhope, AL which is in conjunction with the no kill shelter called The Haven is getting animals and somebody got them a full unit on call generator. They also gave me the phone number of the lost dog and the scruffy dog is home again!
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Im glad your first plumbing experience went better than mine. I turned my bathroom into a small lake by turning the water back on before the sink was back together. 🙂
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Geez, no wonder you’re good with high school kids, piece of cake after your dad’s attitude. I admire how you handled things. No, it’s actually awe that I feel.
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