You don’t get to choose how you are going to die. Or when.
You can only decide how you are going to live. Now.
~ Joan Baez
Inquisitive minds have asked "What happened to the Drivel last week?" It succumbed to the fixing of our leaky bathroom faucet. You may have heard that my last wife, Sue, discovered a leaky faucet in the bathroom. Not a big deal right? Wrong! You wouldn't think that replacing a rubber washer in a faucet would end up costing $2,023.52. Sounds ridiculous doesn't it. Here is how it went.
1. I knew from previous repairs on this 36 year old faucet that it was on its last legs. We decided it was time to replace the darn thing. Off to Menard's we went and purchased a new faucet. Well, we couldn't get the old faucet loose from the sink.
2. OK, let's take the sink out. Not a big deal. We did, have the faucet removed, installed the new faucet and began to clean up the old sink before re-installing it. Oops! Big problem. This sink, also 36 years old and made of porcelain coated steel was rusting severely on the underside. Removed the new faucet and off to Menard's we go to purchase a new sink.
3. While shopping at Menard's, we decided that since we have the sink out, why not replace the vanity. About 3 hours later, we have special ordered a new vanity, a linen closet, and a mirror. Delivery 3-4 weeks. We found a cheap sink to tide us over until the new stuff arrived.
4. You may see how this is going by now. Sue suggested that while we are replacing the vanity, we might as well replace the vinyl on the floor. Now what do we do? Yep, off to Menard's we go.
5. All ordered pieces arrive and I setup a staging area in the living room. We now are on hold until Jenny, the eldest, gets her bathroom done because she has all of my tools. This wait turns into a couple of weeks. This wait gives Sue enough time to figure out how to get me to replace the toilet, also 36 years old, with a new energy efficient one. Now what do we do folks? Yep, off to Menard's again. We purchase the toilet.
6. During this holding pattern, we have time to scrutinize the project to see what we are missing. We discover we will need a new light fixture above the vanity. We also discovered that we had not purchased a new sink or vanity top yet and off we go to Menard's. We find an in stock one piece vanity top and sink but they don't have an appropriate light. We get Loews involved. We find a nice fixture and buy it.
Now it goes without saying that each visit to Menard's and Loews required us to purchase supporting products like caulk, emery cloth, flexible supply lines, new shut off valves, wax rings for the toilet and on and on.
7. It was decided that while we have everything out of the bathroom to do some minor wall and ceiling repairs and give them a new coat of paint. Off to Menard's to get these supplies.
To make a long story slightly shorter, Jenny got her bathroom done and our project commences. All last week I worked on this project and Jenny came after work and pitched in. We had several late nights. Sometimes it was so late that Kinnick had to rather vigorously remind us that it was time to wrap it up. Thanks Kinnick. Installation was rather uneventful fortunately. This was only because of our extensive pre-planning effort. Let me rephrase that. It was uneventful with the exception of the installation of the new toilet tank. It seems I slightly over tightened one of the attaching bolts. If you know anything about porcelain, a slight over tightening is the same as hitting it with a sledge hammer. The next move, off to Menard's. A separate tank could not be purchased so Menard's gave me a tank from a new one and gave it to me - free of charge. That was really above and beyond - Thanks Menard's. As one can imagine, I know all of the plumbing department people by first name. I walk in and they actually greet me. Pretty cool, huh?
I installed the new one without incident. I checked all of the plumbing, hot & cold supply lines to the sink, the drain and the supply line to the toilet. My hatred for plumbing raised its ugly head once again. ALL of these lines leaked. Holy Cow! Actually fix two of the four. The other two, were slow leaks and they healed themselves over night.
Sue was determined to purchase a toilet that was taller than our old one. She reasoned it would be easier for her to get up with her back and leg problems. I thought the height of our old one was just right. The new one is only 2 inches taller after all. I guess I am getting used to this taller one but anyone who knows us know we are not gifted with extreme height, or even average height. I sit on the porcelain throne of necessity, the blood flow to my lower legs and feet is cut off, my feet dangle off the floor and I fell as though I am sort of standing in a weird bent position. Yep, getting used to it. My current wife is delighted with this selection and that is what counts after all. The only thing we did not change was the one piece bathtub and shower unit. So here is a partial view of where we had before we started.
Here I am in the middle of this project. "What? Menard's AGAIN!!!!"
It was difficult to photo the bathroom. I just couldn't get a good angle to get the whole room. Everyone was so pumped with how our makeover project turned out that we have already started our landscaping work in the back yard. This involves sod removal, landscaping blocks, plants, bush removal, mulch installation, burying and re-rerouting our downspout runoff in the front & back, and last but not least building a retaining wall. I figure completion date will be mid-fall 2014 if I am still alive.
I guess pink slime is about to be a non-issue, I think. I just heard that BPI is closing all 3 of its slime producing plants. I really don't know if it is a good thing or much to do about nothing but I thought you might like this witticism from a friend of mine. What do you call a cow with no legs? Ground beef.
Nothing to report from Grandpaw Bailey's Doggie Fitness Center and Spa. I took a couple weeks off to focus on this bathroom project. I trust my peeps are keeping everything in order and functioning as it should. I have not had any emergency phone calls from the staff and the police have not stopped by. These are good signs. However, on the trash front, I got a chuckle out of a neighbor down the street. Last Tuesday morning on my way to --- wait for it ----- Menard's, I noticed a YARDY at the curb full of bush trimmings. Long 6 foot branches stuck proudly upward out of it. As I passed I couldn't help but wish him luck since that is an obvious violation of disposal code. Would he get away with it or not? When I came home I noticed the YARDY pickup truck had been by and yes, sure enough the YARDY was still sitting there with its branches still sticking straight up. Oh, and the YARDY sported a new brightly colored sticker from the Gestapo.
Here are a couple of signs I thought you might enjoy.
This is becoming an illustration blog. Sorry about that. My French Roast ran dry a long time ago. This blog is taking longer than normal. Actually, my current wife interrupted my progress with a dicey little problem with a newsletter she produces. We use Microsoft Publisher and certain things can be difficult at times. Time for me to get along with my day I'm afraid. I just hope I don't have to go to Menard's again for a few days at least. I have been there so often, the employees are beginning to think I work there.
Have a great day and a better tomorrow. TA!
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