In addition to the snow and the car....the next biggest bane of my existence is probably the plumbing. How does it know that G-man isn't here, and I don't know anything about it? In the almost 3 months (yes, it has been almost 3 months already!) since he left, I have:
- Unclogged both toilets with a plunger (on more than one occasion)
- Unclogged one toilet with a snake (twice!)
- Fixed the separated pipes under the kitchen sink (which included a trip to Home Depot) **and in full disclosure, this actually happened 2x, but the second time I just couldn't get it, so I ran over to the neighbor for help
- Dealt with a broken float in the tank and leaking pipe **my friend's husband actually fixed both of these, but I got to go to Home Depot...twice....for parts (why couldn't both pieces malfunction at the same time so I could just go to the store once??)
and the newest notch on my bedpost....
- A leaking valve (which I proudly used the pliers to tighten the nut and stopped the leak)
Fortunately, none of the repairs were major. The total cost was about $13 for the 3 parts I had to replace (the washer I need to fix the sink was free). But all of these little adventures has highlighted something: the need to know some basic home repair!!!
I know a little about A LOT of things. I know a lot about a few things. Plumbing was not on either list.
I am an "end user" on this subject...as in I don't know, or really want to know, how it works....I just want the end product (aka, working units). I don't care how the toilet actually works, I just want to go potty, flush, wash my hands, and leave. I don't WANT to know that the float drops to the bottom of the tank when you flush and as the tank refills, it "floats" up and has a stop to prevent the tank from overfilling.
But I do know this now.
I think alot of people don't learn much about the stuff that their significant other deals with....because THEY deal with it so you don't have to. But I am telling ya from first hand experience....not knowing anything SUCKS when you have to deal with it. I have had my crash course in plumbing, which has lead to putting plumbing in the "know a little" category. Do your loved ones a favor.....
- Teach them something about subjects that they don't normally deal with
- Make sure they know how to access information (to bring this back around to finance....make sure they know how to find the accounts and passwords!)
- Realize there is a learning curve in all of this
- Celebrate the new found knowledge
