Persistence Pays

Persistence pays or it maybe described as stubborn refusal to admit defeat.

After working until after dark Friday night our plumber and husband (H) decided to return to the task at hand Saturday. The silcock/spigot/faucet in the old concrete block building cleared Friday night, so we had a water source from which to collect water for toilet flushes.

The plumber arrived at 8 a.m. H and I were still drinking coffee made with bottled water and dumping stored water to into toilet tanks to flush toilets. Since the plumber returned so bright and early H was energized to return to the weary task of hunting the frozen blockages. Out in the frigid 3 deg. weather they went.

They focused on areas where the water service line exited the concrete block building and entered the manufactured home, as well as various pipe joints underneath the house.

My job was to inform them when water began to flow from open indoor faucets.

Time lagged on; I visited my blog list, posted an update of our tribulations. I answered numerous phone calls checking on our welfare and one lengthy call concerning a city matter at about 11 a.m. This last call went on and on from one subject to another, my fault as much as the caller ,as we discussed several other subjects. I was bored into inattention to my assigned duties.

What else was there to do while waiting for water to run? During this last call, H came in the house briefly and left again.

Shortly after H exited outdoors and under the house, my conversation ended. I decided to stretch my legs and walked around. Lo and behold I witnessed water running in the bar sink, the kitchen sink and the master bathroom. The running water was not noisy so I did not hear it.

I figured that was H's reason for coming in the house. But I opened the back door, and gingerly stepped on the somewhat iced stoop. I called to the guys under the house. No response, so I returned to my own agenda.

Near 11:30 a.m. H, looking dejected and weary, came inside and sat at a table near me. As I pecked on my laptop I said, "I see we have water." H doesn't hear well, said, "No, not yet and we quit for the day; I've turned everything off again."

Realizing he misunderstood me, I repeated, "Yes we have water. I saw it and even tested additional faucets, both hot and cold taps--we have WATER."

I could see his mood change. After I convinced him, he moseyed out to the city drop box and turned the water on. When he returned to see the faucets running water, he immediately called the plumber [a personal friend] to inform him, we had water.

H and the plumber were two weary, happy, frozen persons at the moment of sharing the good news they had succeeded.

His previous trip in the house was to check if water was flowing and it was not. I guess it started immediately after the phone call terminated.

We have one busted pipe but it only provides water to front and rear outside spigots. Fortunately, it has a shutoff valve. Repair/replacement can wait until spring and summer.

Saturday night indoor faucets were opened to allow water movement in the water service system.... and are still dripping....to heck with the water bill!

Happiness is the sound of flushing toilets, swish-swish-swish sound of water in dishwashers and clothes washers, cool water and ice from the refrigerator/freezer dispensers, and the cleansing sound of hot and cold water for showers.

These Arkies have learned a lesson: Do not ignore Mother Nature!!!