Power Outtage and other Disasters

No posts for the last couple of days. The day before yesterday there was a nasty storm. Marilyn, Marissa, Theo, Aidan and me were sitting inside Pop's eating malteds. Marilyn and I had chocolate, Aidan had strawberry and Marissa had blackberry. We could see lightening hitting the street just outside the shop. The power kept flickerin on and off. Joel met us there. By the time we got home, we saw that Allison was blocked off by a large tree that had fallen on top of a car. What we learned later was that it had also taken down some essential power lines. We ate dinner on the front porch where we could enjoy the sun going down. Marissa lit dozens of candles. Aidan was very sweet about going to sleep without a night light. We didn't get power on again until late the next morning.

NEWS FLASH: As I was updating the blog, Joel walked into the diningroom and screamed a bit when he witnessed water spilling from the ceiling. It was coming from directly underneath the new toilet. We all jumped up and assumed various disaster control roles. I called the Tile Guy and a plumber. Marissa and Joel mopped up the mess and put a bucket under the leak. Marilyn took care of the kids. The Tile Guy and his wife showed up first. The bathroom looked beautiful. No water anywhere. The diningroom ceiling was a mess. Of course, the Tile Guy was worried that he did something to cause it, but we had been using that toilet for a week. Why now? Was it a coincidence? He said that if the plumber determined it was his fault, he would split the difference of our deductible for the damage. The plumber showed up next. I REALLY liked the plumber, HL. I couldn't believe that he is divorced! Don't worry. I'm not going to run away with HL, but he was so friendly and easy to talk to. AND he can fix things fast. So HL assesses the situation. Our toilet was grouted to the floor. That was bad. He needed to pull out the toilet. Miracles of plumbing miracles, he was able to pull the toliet off the floor without breaking the toilet or the tiles underneath! The Tile Guy had done a very nice plumbing job. He had just made a tiny little mistake--a replacement flange that was 1/4" too short. Now, I'm going to be honest with you. I have no clue what a flange is or if I even spelled it right. What makes me so happy is that the whole emergency plumbing job cost only $308.00! A third of that was because we asked him to come after hours (Friday 6 PM). Before HL left, we even joined the Plumbing Diamond Club. For $8/month, we get 25% off future plumbing jobs, regular plumbing check ups AND the $8/month invested goes toward future jobs. Did I mention the 1 year warranty and the 100% guarantee? Poor Tile Guy. I think that he is really beating himself up about this. HL stressed that it was an honest plumbing mistake and that the Tile Guy's work was otherwise exceptional.

The next renovation project on tap is probably going to be the diningroom ceiling. Maybe I will get my tin ceiling in this lifetime afterall ? Then again, the diningroom ceiling has to compete with replacing the gutters, repainting the outside of the house and renovating the attic.