Simple Joys

The conversation with our five-year-old that ended ". . . you mean I can even flush the potty and wash my hands?!?" actually began yesterday when Ben got home from work. We decided to spend a few minutes before dinner putting up plastic sheeting over our newly-insulated laundry room ceiling. As Ben picked up the long box, the roll of sheeting fell out. On its way to the ground it hit the nozzle at the bottom of the water heater, cracking it off. Let me try to put a positive spin on this next part: our laundry room got a pampering most laundry rooms only dream of--a drenching, actually, in 50 plus gallons of hot water and the pore-refining steam that comes with it. If only laundry rooms had pores! We shut off water and started researching on-demand/tankless water heaters. Then we headed to Lowes and Sears where we found none in stock. After talking with a Home Depot guy for a while we decided trying to fix the nozzle on our water heater was the way to go if we wanted any hot water in the next 21 days (the timeline for a special order and installation).

The next several hours played out like a game of Mouse Trap as we fixed the water heater. The nozzle didn't crack off neatly so we bought a gizmo to insert into the plastic broken threading. The gizmo didn't work, so we got out our dremel to grind out the plastic threading (because apparently dremels aren't just for shaping pinewood derby cars!). That went well, but the replacement nozzle we got wasn't quite long enough to fit into the water heater, so it was back to the store to get some extension pieces. While, there we got some more copper piping and a shut-off valve cold water line above the water heater so we could have running water even if we couldn't get the replacement nozzle part figured out (and because the Home Depot guy tells us it's a smart idea to be able to shut off water to your water heater). Then we came to the conclusion that now is as good a time as any to move the water heater since it was empty and relatively lightweight. So we built a wooden 20" x 20" platform (out of treated lumber) for the water heater to sit on. Then we skootched it up tight next to the drywall so our half wall next to the dryer can run the full length of the wall. I finished the cold water supply about the same time Ben finished putting in the new drain nozzle. What's gonna work? Team work! It was at this point that we prematurely declared ourselves victorious and turned on the water. We found one leak, turned off the water, tightened up a loose fitting, and turned the water back on. Could have been worse, right? We came upstairs to proclaim true victory over our 16-year-old water heater that will probably last another year or two. And that's why S. was so excited about being able to flush and wash her hands! Sometimes it takes 50 plus gallons of hot water on your laundry room floor to really appreciate the simple joys in life. Indoor plumbing is truly lovely. And I'm declaring it right here in this very post: whoever invented being able to flush your business away--TOTAL GENIUS! Did I forget to intertwine into my plumbing play-by-play dinner, taking the boys to scouts, bedtime, Ben calling in late, getting the kids off to school, and S. coming home from preschool? Nobody claimed we work faster than plumbers, just cheaper!


Now where were we? Oh yeah, putting up plastic sheeting. . . maybe that can wait until tomorrow, I need a nap, wait, no, I need a hot shower. My pores could use some refining.


A cute story: On the way out of Sears, Baby C. was walking toward the road. I decided rather than scoop her up I'd teach her to stop at the curb and look both ways. She is 22 months old, after all. So as she approached the curb I called out "Stop!" Without missing a beat she picks up her knees, sticks out her elbows, and with the boogie-woogie rhythm of a toddler, proceeds to "Stomp!" out into the road. Look both ways before you stomp across the street!