This morning my water went out again. First thought: Did the frakkers at the water company turn us off again? Nope. Water main broke — the water line into the house, that is. The water line isn’t a copper pipe, but a hose. The connection from the hose to the PVC pipes cracked and split.
Valve was right there so there wasn’t too much water in the crawlspace. Shut it, called the landlord. Left a message. Hmm… I’ve worked with PVC before. Went to look at the pipe, and realized I just had to replace one PVC elbow joint.
Quick drive to Patterson’s Hardware, got an identical joint and a can of the right PVC cement for about $6.00. Cut off the old elbow, glued on the new one, waited half an hour and turned the water on. So far, no leaks. Called the landlord and suggested he inspect it just to be sure.
Meanwhile, I set out to extend the cable to the TV that Daryl and Daryl had left too short. I bought the right connector at Patterson’s, so I just needed a piece of cable and a coupling. Cable I had, and coupling I found in the crawlspace.
Presto, change-o and the cable is long enough.
Went upstairs to write this entry, but the network was down. Realized that the coupling I took from the crawlspace was actually in use. (Most stuff down there is from the old cable system.) Searched and found another coupling, connected the network again, and all is well.
I say that like it took 10 seconds. In reality it was a good 45 minutes of figuring out why the network didn’t work, which cables I had disconnected, and where another coupling was.
Bottom line, though, is that the water works, the TV works, the Internet works, and the landlo’ is supposed to install the new dishwasher today.
The DirecTV installer guys came: Daryl and his brother Daryl. At one point in the 15-minute process (there’s already a dish, so they only needed to run a second cable) one Daryl says to the other, referring to the cable and the wall, “You durned pulled it through the hole!” That’s an exact quote.
But they got my system working the way it should, so I’m happy.
One problem: There are two cables to the receiver, the original and the one they installed. And the first cable is too short. They didn’t bother to give me an extension. There’s enough cable laying around the house that I should be able to cobble something together.
Called DirecTV today to move our service here. It’s free, which is nice. There’s a dish on the house now, but it’s not a triple-LNB, so we can’t record one show while we watch another. That won’t do.
As usual with DirecTV, I was speaking with a human in a matter of moments, and it was simple. Then he says, "The soonest I can get someone there is December 6."
I had to think about that. "That’s tomorrow."
"Yes."
"That’ll be fine."
"Do you want him to come between 8:00 and noon or noon and 4:00?"
That’s the kind of service I like.
I forgot to share this. (Share this with the grand total of two people who read this blog.) The day the gas people turned on the gas, the water people turned off the water. Turns out the landlord gave us the wrong info about having it put in our name.
I was mad. I finally had hot water, but without the water.
I went outside. To the front of the house. Walked back and forth. Saw the sewer manhole (personhole) cover. Then I saw it: the little manhole (personhole) that said "Water."
It was loose. And light. I took it off and saw the valve inside. Turned it left ("lefty-loosy"). Went back into the house. Water was now on.
Five minutes later The Wife calls to say that the water people would be coming in the next day or so to turn it back on. Whatever. Let them wonder.
So it’s supposed to snow today. In fact, it already is snowing in Richmond, but we technically live in Short Pump where it’s cloudy and precip-free.
Still, you gotta wonder about the Short Pump mall ("The Shoppes at Short Pump"?). It’s outdoors. Snow has got to make it an annoying place to shop (or shoppe). Don’t think I’m gonna find out.
The Boy’s school is near the Stony Point mall ("Stoney Pointe Fashion Parke"), which has a Restoration Hardware. That might be worth a trip; it’s indoors.
Luckily I made sure to take my snow shovels and know where the movers put them. I am ready. Bring. It. On.
(Just kidding. Only an idiot would taunt someone like that.)
Speed limits are voluntary. Lane changes are mandatory and random. Got it. Just like New York.
The move is done. Well, mostly. Rather, the movers have placed our belongings in the house. Boxes still need to be unpacked. Decisions still need to be made: Cabinet here or here? Which drawer for silverware? Is the TV too close to the fireplace?
Note: Virginia Varsity Transit. Great movers. Call them if you need them.
Garbage got picked up again, so there’s a trend. Downside: They will only pick up what fits in the can. In Roanoke they’d take whatever fit by the side of the road. But it’s amazing what you can fit in a can if you try hard enough.
More unpacking to do. Tables to move. Cables to extend. Things to plug in.
A little before one the Richmond Public Utilities (Richmond PU) guy came. Gas turned on, and he checked and lit the pilot lights on my furnace and water heater. Took ten minutes, and the guy was great.
So it’s the administration that’s the problem, not the workers. Good to know. Now it’s off to Lowe’s.
Called Richmond Gas or whatever they call it. Any idea when the guy is coming to turn the switch? Yes: Between 8 and 4. [sigh]
Good news is that the customer service people there are very friendly. Bad news is they have to be to keep from being assaulted on the street.
Let’s see if the gas guy will light my furnace gratis or want to charge me $85, like they do in Roanoke.
Space heater and oven make it 64 in here, which is OK. But I’m still miffed.
Thank you, Richmond Gas. It’s 58 degrees this morning because you couldn’t be bothered to give us a disconnect notice and because your phone system is awful. Gotta love monopolies.
The man is coming to turn on the gas sometime today. When? Sometime today. And yes, someone needs to be home. [sigh]
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