3955. Magoseph - 2/14/2007 11:55:15 PM You maps, Ronski, are right on track--thank you! 3956. alistairConnor - 2/24/2007 12:28:57 PM It's nice to have hot water again.
Two weeks ago, I got a phone call from the tenants (their apartment adjoins mine) to say that there is water leaking into my kitchen, the hot water cylinder has rusted through. I instruct them to shut the water off (they hadn't thought of that) and try to get a plumber... I had just arrived for a week's skiing with the girls, there was nothing much I could do myself.
The plumber rings me on Monday, does some salvage work, and tells me he'll give me a quote... We get home on Saturday, he hasn't been back to me, and there is neither hot nor cold water in the house. I call him, pretty furious, and he explains he's just finished his quote... and he can come on Thursday. I manage to get the cold water back on (which was beyond him, apparently) and we get by without hot, or rather, with a cauldron of water on the wood stove. Not having a shower for three days doesn't seem to have bothered the girls much. I took sponge baths.
Thursday, I'm on my way home from work, the plumber rings to tell me they haven't finished... OK, I'm heading home to a house without water, hot or cold, nor heating (the cylinder is connected to the central heating)... I stay with a friend. Now, I'm faced with the cleanup...
It's obliged me to clean up one end of the kitchen which needed it anyway. Too bad about the water stains on the wallpaper. Now I've got to tackle my bedroom -- that's where the cylinder is -- it was well overdue too. 3957. Magoseph - 2/24/2007 3:09:03 PM My elder son wants us to live in a two-bedroom house situated near a mall and a park without a dining room, only a large family room. (I guess he knows his mother very well as far as cooking for others) If we wanted to go anywhere in his city, we would take a taxi and all other matters of traveling, doctors’ visits, and shopping would be handled by him, or rather his wife—she’s the one in charge of mundane tasks. I hate to admit that this horrifying scenario for our future is starting to look good if only for the fact that any maintenance would not be a problem anymore.
3958. arkymalarky - 2/24/2007 5:18:05 PM Man, Alistair, there is nothing worse than water troubles. Good for you hitting a few other things in the process of dealing with it. Thank goodness we haven't had them, but my parents have. Bro fixed it, thankfully. They have a five bedroom, three bath house with a huge pool (I call that retroactive child abuse) and ONE hot water heater. It suddenly and completely busted. The plumber they called wanted several thousand dollars (don't remember exactly--3 or 4) to fix it.
We did have to cut out half our bedroom carpet when the dehumidifier leaked--after not catching it for a couple of weeks. It was pretty bad--lots of mold. I'm just going to get rid of the carpet in there this summer, since I'm not supposed to have it where I sleep anyway. 3959. arkymalarky - 2/24/2007 5:21:35 PM It doesn't sound at all horrifying, Mags. What do you think is horrifying about it? If I had to live around people it's the only way I'd want to do it, in a town or city neighborhood. I wouldn't give up my car, but I'd love the convenience of everything I wanted being so handy. 3960. thoughtful - 2/26/2007 4:41:44 PM My MIL was able to live independently for a few years in her NYC apartment despite being blind. She knew her way around the neighborhood, the local shopkeepers all knew her and kept a special eye out for her and she did quite well. She obviously couldn't drive, but she could walk. She also took buses or cabs as necessary to get to where she needed to go. There are advantages to such things.
3961. Magoseph - 2/26/2007 5:06:28 PM What do you think is horrifying about it?
I shouldn't have used that word, Arky--I detest for anyone to map the future for me. 3962. thoughtful - 2/26/2007 9:30:23 PM I detest for anyone to map the future for me.
As do we all, but unfortunately, we are not the masters of our own destiny. Most often health and age get in the way. That's why they say growing old is only for the courageous. 3963. arkymalarky - 2/27/2007 12:46:24 AM I don't blame you for that Mags, but you still make your own decisions, and I would continue to assert that right with my kids. Heaven knows, my parents certainly do it with me. I said don't buy a two-story house with a pool! I said don't get an SUV and go to Florida! I said don't drive into NYC by yourselves without even a hotel reservation! I told Dad I've finally resigned myself to one day finding him in the bottom of the swimming pool in his Speedoes. At least he'll have died happy.
Everyone yaps about teenage rebellion. No one talks about parental rebellion. 3964. Magoseph - 3/1/2007 8:42:19 PM Well, I admit that I was very rebellious recently when one of my in-laws decided to make it her business to dwell into my private affairs because she believed that, were something to happen to Flexy and me, she would have to take care of everything concerning us. 3965. judithathome - 3/3/2007 6:29:28 PM We had Hawaiian food for dinner last night. Don't get excited..it was, ahem, Spam and rice.
I know, I can't believe it, either, but Keoni gets in these moods. I drew the line at him going to the deli for macaroni salad as a side dish.
3966. wonkers2 - 3/3/2007 6:46:20 PM Nothing wrong with Spam and rice. Thanks for reminding me, I'll pick up a couple of cans next time I'm in a grocery store! 3967. alistairConnor - 3/3/2007 7:44:15 PM Hmmm, are you talking about that Pacific delicacy, canned corned beef?
Do they really call it spam in Hawaii? An entirely different animal, to me.
Depending on quality. 3968. wonkers2 - 3/3/2007 8:34:04 PM Nope. It's canned processed ham I believe. Featured in Army rations. Generally scorned by bourgeois, diet conscious Americans. But it's delicious.3969. wonkers2 - 3/3/2007 8:35:39 PM Spam 3970. alistairConnor - 3/3/2007 10:29:55 PM ooooooh frustration!
We have been looking forward to the total eclipse of the moon. Right now, the moon should be entering the earth's shadow...
... but it's cloudy tonight.
You people should look out for it a bit later on. 3971. arkymalarky - 3/3/2007 10:42:47 PM Bob and I will be out in our yard with blankets. It's crystal clear here, but cold. It's supposed to get to 26F tonight. 3972. Ulgine Barrows - 3/3/2007 11:16:51 PM alistairConnor, yes, they call it SPAM in Hawaii. It is even on the McDonald's menu there.
South Pacific Army Meat. It's an acronym.
I hope the skies clear for you. 3973. Ulgine Barrows - 3/3/2007 11:18:56 PM 3968. wonkers2, you think SPAM is delicious?
Ick. I bought some for my kid, because he wanted to see what is was, and even he wouldn't eat it.
It must be an aquired taste. 3974. wonkers2 - 3/4/2007 12:52:19 AM Perhaps. I acquired as a kid during WWII. Haven't had any for a while because my spouse is down on processed foods. The delicacy suffers from widespread prejudice such as the scorn heaped on it by Judith and, of course, is the source of the name for unwanted email.
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