Musings on a Small Life

The handyman was partially successful in fixing the leaks today. Unfortunately, he couldn't find the source of the bathroom drip, but he did fix the drip from the kitchen sink down into the basement. As you can see, he cut a small hole in the ceiling, right under the tub drain pipe. I filled the tub up twice, about 3/4 full both times, and even let the shower run 10 minutes, but there was nothing. Nada. Not one teeny drip. Grrr. I didn't dream the dripping last week, so I don't know what's going on.   It is possible that the leak is coming from another part of the pipe, because the bathtub pipe actually angles through another stud and heads off to the middle of the ceiling. The area on the other side of the light fixture is where I heard the water dripping, which doesn't mean that's where it's originating, but also doesn't mean that's where it's not coming from. So he left the hole open, covered with a bit of leftover sheeting from last J...

I'm at work today, the handyman had to reschedule until Wednesday. Bathing in the basement is getting old.I don't mind the sponge-bathing as much as I mind freezing my ass, literally. :-P However, general contractors #3 came by yesterday afternoon. I almost called to cancel, but then thought what the heck, why not. Turns out they were quite professional and efficient and inspired confidence. I asked if they installed tub surrounds, as someone I'd had out last week only did tile. The owner gave me a look, said they did whatever the client wanted (words to that effect). So the younger fellow is going to give me a shopping list and do an estimate based on installation of standard fixtures. I did mention that the bathroom fan would have to be replaced as well, and that it currently doesn't vent anywhere, just goes up into the insulation in the attic. They will include that when they do the estimate. I mentioned I'd have to get the okay from the condo board (to h...

I do have the handyman who did my fence work last June coming by on Tuesday to have a go at the leak. He'll try from the kitchen ceiling first. By the way, I filled the tub about a third of the way yesterday for him and let it drain and didn't hear one drip. *Headdesk* That's the same thing as a woman taking her car to a mechanic because of a strange rattle...only the car doesn't make the noise when the mechanic checks it out. However, you clearly can see that the drywall tape on a part of the kitchen ceiling is giving way, which would indicate a problem. I still haven't used the tub, even after yesterday's non-dripping, because I just don't want to take a chance on making things worse. Today I popped up to Rona for a while, had a good gander around to check prices, etc. If the bathroom doesn't have to be taken apart to fix the pipes, I'll let the reno go for the time being and see what I might be able to get on sale. (I fell in love with a g...

...he can't replace my bathtub because he's not a licensed plumber and could run into a lot of trouble (along with Rona) if something went wrong. It's not that he doesn't have the skill do it, it's the legal issue. He also doesn't do vinyl flooring (just tile floor), so I'd have to go through Rona's floor department (or someone else I hired) for that. He could do the tub surround, toilet (which doesn't need replacing), and vanity, though. So if Rona doesn't have a plumber who installs tubs, they'll have to refund my $50 charge for the estimate. And if they do have a plumber they call on, he'd have to come out and give me an estimate on the tub alone, I imagine. However, this guy (I really liked him) does do kitchen cabinetry, and he left me his card in case I decide to replace the cupboards at some point. Which also badly needs to be done. So we'll see what the handyman says when he drops by later...assuming he does make it and ...

Extra litter boxes do come in handy...especially for sponge bathing in the basement. By standing in one, the dripping water from the wash cloth has somewhere go, and doesn't entirely end up all over the floor.  :-P

Wow. Well, guy #1 was just here, not for very long, maybe 15 minutes or so. He came in with the assumption he would be doing the work, so I'm not sure if there was a miscommunication when my cubicle neighbour's husband contacted him or if his ego is just so large he presumed he would be. He was ready to cut a hole in the kitchen ceiling tomorrow, and if that wouldn't work, haul out the tub. Oh, and no going to a big box store for sale items for me, he was going to take me to the plumbing showroom he works for. And he doesn't do tub surrounds, only tile. And hey, did you know that "There's a reason P. recommended [him]?" Yeah, well, P. also recommended another general contractor, but after this guy, I'm not too hopeful the next one will be any better. (They're coming by on Monday afternoon.) BTW, his labour rate is $80 per hour for two guys and he gave me a ballpark estimate on the bathroom (labour only) of $2500, though of course it would...

Not that anyone but me really cares, but I'm 99.99% sure the leak is in the bathtub drain. I filled up the tub a short while ago, ran down while the water was running but couldn't hear any drips. Then ran down after I was done and had pulled the plug and sure enough...drip, drip, drip...much more dripping this evening, and faster. So I don't think this has been doing on for too long, otherwise I suspect I would have heard it. This means that whoever repairs it should be able to cut a hole in the kitchen ceiling and access the pipes from there...I hope. However, even if that's the case, I still want estimates on a complete reno, since it has to be done sooner or later. So we'll see what tomorrow brings. I won't be using the tub again, though, until the problem is fixed. So tomorrow night it's the laundry tub in the basement for me! And no, Mom, I'm not getting pics of that. Eeeewwww. LOL.

I've got three guys coming over the next several days to give estimates on repair and full bathroom reno, plus am waiting to schedule an appointment with Rona's bathroom contractor (for which I pay $50, which is reimbursed if I go with them). Thanks to the woman who sits in the cubicle next to mine (not our department), I got two referrals. Her husband is an electrician and they also own at least one apartment building, plus have done renos on five of their own homes. So she called her hubby today and got the names of two highly recommended companies: one is a small two-person company that contracts out to a bathroom reno place in town and the other is a general contracting company. If the leak is below the faucets, it might be possible to repair it by cutting a hole in the kitchen ceiling and taking a look, before tearing down bathroom walls. So I want opinions on that versus a full bathroom reno. However, the bathroom has to be redone at some point. If I could get the w...

Noticed last night that after showering I could hear a sound like a drip...drip...drip coming from my kitchen ceiling...which is directly under my bathroom. Got an awful sinking feeling in my gut. Tried to duplicate it this morning, first by emptying a pail of water into the drain, then by turning on the faucets, then by turning on the shower. Nothing. Nada. However, I showered just a short time ago and sure enough...drip...drip...drip. Folks, I am in deep, deep, deep plumbing doo-doo. As in tear-apart-walls-and-ceilings, gut-the-bathroom kind of doo-doo. And let me offer a suggestion: Don't own a home (or have pets for that matter) if you don't have any savings.

Okay, I'm not talking fashionable shoes here, I'm talking sneakers (athletic walking shoes), a necessity for me. Due to the size of my feet (small and thick and wide, like the rest of me), I've never had the luxury of a shoe fetish, because it's so hard to find anything that fits, even these days. But today I lucked out and found two pairs in Sears, same brand and style, one white, one black. Like I'd leave a pair in my size and in the brand that fits me best on the shelves? No way.   Derry checks them out, above. I love the "wide" sticker on the bottom of the shoes, as if the label and the box weren't enough to indicate a foot "abnormality."  Is it true that your feet keep spreading as you age? And does your nose really continue to grow or is it that the rest of your face shrivels? Anyway, finding them was a "happy" for me, because I needed to buy new sneakers. So I should be set till the fall...I hope. Of course, now I don...

I'm almost dancing around in sheer joy...Walked part way home today, after work, and snapped these crocus and snowdrop pics. We still have crusty snowbanks, but in sunny and sheltered areas, there are signs of Spring! Then, as I was sipping my (non-green) beer out on the back step, snapping pics of the fur kids, I spied my ground cover starting to peek up. I thought it was just leftover greenery from last year, but nope, it's new growth! Yippee! My back space still has lots of mud and even snow along the perimeter, where I had piled it up to give the boys room to roam in the middle, but even so, new life prevails. I never get tired of this, of Spring, of seeing robins (and I did see another today), of flowers and even of seeing the grass turn green. There's just something about Spring, about that fresh green , that feeds my soul. And totally unrelated: I'm happy to say I managed to stay awake through the work day, no nodding off and snoring for me!

If you're going to stretch out under your desk, ostensibly to ease your back, you'd best not be given to snoring. Or be working in an open-concept area. Just sayin'.

We had an obligatory potluck at work today, not just our unit, but the main department, of which we're but one small division. I couldn't think of a good reason to get out of it, though two of my co-workers had training that kept them away. Lucky them. Well, the food was good. Of course I cheated and picked up a fruit/yogurt tray. Everyone should know by now that I don't do food prep. I don't do it for myself (unless I absolutely have to), I don't do it for guests--not even family members, and I certainly don't do it for work colleagues. I Googled the origins of the phrase. Didn't realize it originated in the late 16th century. http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1426/whats-the-origin-of-potluck The term potluck comes from the traditional practice (not that it's entirely unknown among us moderns) of never throwing anything away. Meal leftovers would be put into a pot and kept warm, and could be used to feed people on short notice. This pra...

Sadly, not these narcissus flowers, as they're silk, from Michael's Crafts (another 50% off purchase this weekend). They're in my main hallway, to cheer me when I come home. I haven't seen signs of anything peeking up from the ground yet, though perhaps some who have southern facing properties might. However, I finally have heard robins singing! One early Saturday morning and one (or the same one) Sunday morning. None today, of course, because the time change means it's pitch dark again when I'm up at 4AM and leaving for work at 6AM. Personally, I prefer the extra daylight in the mornings. I go to bed so early at night that the extra hour of light at the end of the day is wasted on me. Anyhow, I also saw two flocks of geese heading north yesterday, one quite large, the other smaller. So even though we still have too many dirty, crusty snowbanks around, Spring eventually will get here. I know She officially begins on the 20th, Sunday, this year. Maybe, ju...

In the midst of such terrible and unimaginable tragedy in Japan, as well as losses closer to home (Mickey, of Mickey's Musings , one of the Blogosphere's beloved cats, has gone to the Bridge, as well as Josie's Bella Mae ), it seems somehow inappropriate to post that I've actually had a nice day, in between the tears. I left at 7:45AM and went to Starbucks for a vanilla, non-fat latté, then made it to Value Village shortly after 9AM. I specifically was looking for a vase for the silk roses I have for Annie and Chumley. I didn't find one, but I did find a large apple green vase, perfect to hold my cooking utensils (on the counter). There isn't drawer space for them, so I've had them in a heavy-duty plastic container. The vase is nicer. I also found some pretty fabric, $3.99 for this swath of it: Make no mistake, I can't sew to save my soul and have no interest in learning, though I have made simple curtains before and hemmed (badly) the occasional ...

Based on what I found in one of the litter boxes when I got home a short time ago, I think we have litter box success from Derry. The boys don't have the same habits in burying their output, or in the consistency of said output. I don't need to go into further details. LOL. I would say, conservatively , that I'm 75% sure Derry did his business today. If I had to bet real money on it, I would. So pardon the bad pun when I say I'm relieved! The knot that I've had in my gut since Monday afternoon finally is easing.  :-)

Nothing to report regarding Derry's litter box output. He's certainly eating well, is playing like crazy, wrestling with Nicki, and acting like a normal and healthy kitty in every way but this one. He's been getting the RestoraLAX in his canned food twice a day (1/4 tsp x 2), so you'd think something soon would come out! If he's not produced anything by tomorrow afternoon, I'll take him back for another baby enema. BTW, I had just called the clinic and was told that if I wanted a tech to squirt the stuff up his butt, I'd have to drop him off in the morning. Huh? It would take them only a couple of minutes, for heaven's sake. I don't get this "drop him off in the morning" thing. And the latest appointment they have open on Friday is 3:20PM, nothing available on Saturday morning (they close at noon on Saturdays). So if he's not pooped by 6AM Friday, I'll have to leave work early (probably take a half day), then pay the $66 (plus tax...

5:40PM Update I called the vet to ask about the possibility of pancreatitis (someone suggested it), but in the absence of other symptoms and any indication of discomfort, the vet didn't think so. And I found out that after the small enema, Derry passed about six inches of stool, not the two I had thought -- I couldn't tell how much, he was in his carrier and I just handed him over to the vet tech so she could clean things up before the taxi came. I had just assumed it was only a couple, but the tech had written "six inches" in the file. So that was most of what was in his descending colon. The vet said not to expect Derry to pass anymore stool till Thursday. If Derry does have to go back for follow-up/further treatment, I can have them draw blood to test for pancreatitis, just in case. I hope we don't have to do that--admittedly I do feel better knowing he evacuated most of what was waiting to come out. So we'll see.

If anyone reading this is not an animal-lover, please do navigate away from the page now, because this post contains way too much information re: kitty poop. I had been giving a tiny bit (1/8 cup and then 1/16 cup per day) of high-fibre Royal Canin kibble to the boys, stuff I had picked up for Annie to give as a treat, in the hope it would help her. Well, apparently Derry doesn't do well with fibre. He generally poops every other day, fat tootsie rolls, but for the past three days, no poop. I lay awake the entire night last night, stressing myself sick over this, got up, got myself to work, then couldn't possibly stay upright, I was so tired and upset. Came home, saw nothing in the litter boxes, called the vet. Off Derry and I went for 9:40AM. I insisted on an x-ray, and the upshot is that his lower colon is entirely filled with poop balls. Not overly hard (but would become so if left too long, getting into the mess I had with Annie--poor Annie). I had given Derry s...

We had umpteen millimeters of rain on Saturday, which really took away much of our snow, except for the crusty snowbanks. But even those were significantly decreased. Then...Sunday AM, around 4:00 when I was getting up, it turned to freezing rain, then snow. I had several inches to shovel from my mercifully-short driveway and the walkway adjacent to my unit. ::Sigh:: From bare ground to this. The forecast is calling for a big storm on Thursday, with up to 20 cms more of this nasty, nasty white stuff, plus additional accumulation on Friday. I am harbouring a small bit of hope that it will track south or north of us. Because this is beyond discouraging. I have snapshots of snowdrops and crocuses that already were up and in bloom at this time last year. I'm scouring my mind to think of anything I like about winter. Anything at all. But there's nothing. Christmas would come without snow, so that doesn't count. Long johns? Winter boots? Coats, scarves, mitts? Ice pik-th...

I stopped in at Michaels (crafts store) yesterday, on my way to PetSmart for cat food. Picked up these lovely silk roses--two single white ones and two stems of red--for Annie and Chumley. I just need an appropriate vase. Didn't see anything affordable at Michaels, nothing in HomeSense I wanted. I might have a look in Value Village in the next week or two. I want a particular height and simple shape. Could always buy a can of spray paint if I find the right vase with the wrong colour. I really ought to buy an inexpensive white tablecloth or something similar, to put items like this on, rather than just lying them on my living room area rug. Nonetheless, you can see the roses are lovely, even though they're not real. So my memorial items are collected now, for the most part. I might wait until I repaint the upper hallway before putting them out, though, because I think I'll make the area upstairs at the top of the landing the place for Annie's urn and fur, and Chum...