We've been having a bit of a problem with our back faucet for a little while, if by, "a little while," you mean, "two years." Which I do. It's been dripping, in a manner vaguely reminiscent of Chinese Water torture, onto our deck, which has it's own set of issues. So when Operation: OD began, the ominous dripping was high on the list.
D has been manfully chipping away at the problem, dismantling the faucet and determining that the problem is somehow related to the sillcock. Yes, I made sophmoric jokes, because one shouldn't waste such opportunities.
(A brief aside: I once had a summer job as a receptionist at a plumbing supply company, courtesy of my Uncle Bob, who I adore. I encountered some of the WORST PICKUP LINES of my LIFE there. The penultimate was the older gentleman who leered and said, "Standard Plumbing, huh? You don't look like a standard girl to me." What, exactly, does that mean? I look like a man? I'm missing essential parts? Suffice it to say, not particularly effective.)
Anyway. Sillcock. Hee!
Just for kicks, I called a few plumbers out here to get an estimate on fixing said pipe. Most refused to come out for free, but the nice people at Roto-Rooter agreed, and Jon the Plumber arrived this afternoon, ID badge at the ready.
The first thing Jon did was reattach a nut, and he very nicely pointed out that if we had left it off for much longer, the pipe would have exploded. And he did it for free! We like free! Love you, Jon!
The next thing he did was explain that we might be able to rebuild the faucet, but that was rather unlikely. In truth, we will probably have to cut a sizeable hole in the laundry room and replace the entire sillcock (hee!). For oodles of money (not so hee!).
So, we will be attempting the repairs ourself, which will turn out one of two ways:
1. Very well, in which case our backyard will be transformed into a verdant green field replete with tasteful landscaping, or,
2. Very badly, in which case I will post at length my hard-won advice about home plumbing repairs.
Either way, I'll be sure to take pictures for you all.
On other fronts, Sooper Seekrit Planz continue apace, and I am writing this to you from the newly-returned, refurbished Dell. This time, instead of dusting one of the components, they replaced the fans, the motherboard, and the heat sink, and without charging me the extra $300. So, a big round of applause to Dell for only requiring six phone calls, two rounds of deliveries, and $200 to fix a six-month-old machine.
