I Hate the Cold!

So I went to get my nails done today. It's pretty much the only perk I allow myself for working full-time. I used to say it was because I had alot of meetings with parents and other staff and handled alot of papers. No really...it's because I like to have my nails done. So I went after school and was heading home around 5:15. On the way home I'm thinking about relaxing tonight at home in front of the fire, watching some TV. Thursday night is our only "TV night." We watch our favorite shows: The Office, Grey's Anatomy and ER. Yeah, it's a chillin' out night. We love it.

But tonight may be a little different. And all because of the #@%$ whatever cold!! I walked in the house and heard a dreadful noise...running water. Not a good sound in the middle of winter when no one has been home since 7:30 am. I quickly run to the bathrooms. No overflowing toilets. Okay, next? I go out the front door thinking the sprinklers are on. Nope, not on. However, the loud noise of rushing water into the cul-de-sac does unnerve me a bit. So I run out to the side yard where the pool is. There it is! As I'm standing in ankle deep water, I see a broken sprinkler valve spewing water into the yard like an open fire hydrant. The cold weather caused an obvious crack in the pipe. What do I do next? After panicking, of course, I call Bob. Poor Bob, he's an hour away and he's got a wife yelling FLOOD! Now I know I've got to turn the water off... somewhere. He says, "call Steve." I'm thinking, okay, I'll call him, but I'VE got to do something quick. Becca's bedroom (on the other side of the broken valve) was already flooded. Her carpet was soaked. So I quickly put on a pair of boots and go over to the broken valve to see if there's a way to turn off the water. I can't find anything, but I do get totally soaked in the process. I run over to the shed, grab a shovel and run over to the water main valve in the front garden. I have to dig some dirt off the top and then realize I need a tool to open the box. I run to the garage and get a screwdriver and run back. (Do you see I'm doing a lot of running?? All in very soaked jeans and sweater.) Oh, and it is just 40 degrees outside. I get the box opened and turn off the water. Then I go back into the house to survey the damage. Becca's carpet and padding are soaked. I think Pam's room got spared, though her closet was damp. Don't worry Pam. I got your wedding dress box out in time. A call to Allstate just gets their after hours recording. Of course, everything always happens after office hours. Steve calls and I tell him I didn't need his help but thanks anyway. I actually could do this on my own. Though it was a funny sight.

After realizing that I couldn't move any furniture until Bob got home, I put on a fire and decided to relax. Bob and I should be used to this. In our 28 years of home ownership, we have had numerous issues with flooding water. So as I write this blog, Bob is in Becca's room with his wet-dry vac, soaking up as much water as he can. Next, the fans will come down from the attic and will be going all through the night to dry out what we can. But we've got to get this done before 7:30. Wouldn't want to miss any of our shows.

Oh, now back to my nails...garden gloves aren't the best thing to put on wet fingernails right after a manicure. Oh well...