Pilot's Log

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Slipping an empty tube from a marker pen over the ribbed line that runs from the lever to the trap door so when you flush the toilet the line doesn't snag the float ball.

...With this old house.

Overnight Friday/Saturday, we had our hot water lines freeze up, and also the cold water lines in the bathroom. Late Saturday afternoon, the cold line behind the commode split open. Dad dutifully replaced it, but I had a sense of ongoing dread about it.

Early this monring, the water heater resumed function and began filling the lines to the bathroom--which then split open. The bathroom and my office got somewhat flooded.

Mum and Dad are going to Lowe's for replacement plumbing. I'm looking at the bathroom basin sitting in my office and wondering when the carpet my chair is upon will dry out.

We've have pipe failures just about every other year or so. I'm tired of it.

My parents noticed a problem with the water line coming into Rather Manor, so they called the Utilities Co-Op to explain the problem and ask for help...and after they hung up our phone lines lost the dial tone. So as I couldn't access the 'Net here I decided I had to go to the Dandridge library and use their computers. And as Moonshine's tank was depleted from Saturday's Asheville trip and Monday's Gatlinburg trip, a refuel at the Dandridge BP was necessary too.

So I put $40 worth in Moonshine, scoot a dozen blocks away to the library, and check my e-mail and do a couple more things. And find that the library computers have Youtube locked out for DHS reasons, and refuse to get the latest Adobe Flash/Shockwave so logging on to Meez is impossible as well.

Once my 'Net business is done, I get back towards Rather Manor, drive past the Dandridge BP--and see that they've dropped their gas prices THIRTY CENTS per gallon! If I had waited just 30 minutes, I could have paid the cheaper price and put perhaps another two-thirds of a gallon into Moonshine.

ME: I'm torqued!

MOONSHINE: How do you think I feel?

So when I get back to the house, the Co-Op boys have already finished their repairs, the phone lines are back working and I'm wondering whether my trip was really necessary. Phooey.

This morning some of our water pipes here froze.

After suffering most of the day with only cold water from the kitchen faucet (and half-frozen rainwater brought in from barrels outside for toilet flushing) I had the idea to warm the pipes with a handheld blow dryer.

It did the trick! We got our lines reopened without bursting any, and I'll wash my own hair before bedtime.

Typical winter for here.

FP

When your horoscope tells you to take a shower, what good is it to ignore the advice?

I just took a shower. I'll shave when I get up on the morrow.