Today I started out the morning with a trip to the garage to wash some clothes. As I stepped onto the floormat I felt a splash and my socks got wet. I looked down and there was a puddle of water that soaked the floormat. It was flowing over from the water heater. Damn, there goes my Saturday plans. That water heater was here when I bought the house. I would guess that it was 30 years old.
Just about this time my brother stopped by. I told him to come into the garage and check out my water heater. Immediately he held his hand up to his mouth. "Christ, did a raccoon die out here?" I sniffed and said, "What?" He said, "You can't smell that?" I sniffed and sniffed again. Nothing. "Is it really that bad?" He nodded. I got the flashlight out and peaked behind the water heater and it appeared that there was a pile of rice back there. Only the rice was moving. Maggots! We figured a mouse (or two) must have died back there and the splash of water brought on the maggots. Good thing I can't smell.
We decided I was going to have to get a new water heater. My brother told me that the electric company will replace your water heater for free. I looked online and discovered that program was no longer available but they would get you a discounted rate for a new water heater (around $150). I raced to town to hit the electric company before noon, but to no avail. They aren't open on Saturday. After I ate lunch in town, I headed back to the house.
I started inspecting the water heater a little closer this time. I noticed that there was a bit of oil dripping from the boiler above the water heater. It was then that I noticed a tiny drip of water come out of the temperature-pressure relief valve on the water heater. Most are located on the side of the tank but mine is dead center on the top. This slow drip appeared to be what caused the floor to flood. If I could replace that, it would certainly be cheaper than a new water heater. I referred to my handy dandy reference book: TIME/LIFE Complete Fix-It-Yourself Manual (a life saver). To replace the valve was rated as an EASY task. I shut off the water supply, turned on the wash basin faucet, and threw the breakers to the water heater. The book said to let out about 1/2 to 1 cup of water to relieve pressure on the valve. Since the floor was already flooded, I let it flow towards the wall. This may have not been my smartest move of the day because now all the little maggots started floating to the left and right of the water heater. They were floating towards my steps, towards the washer and dryer....everywhere! Acccckkk! I raced inside and grabbed a bunch of beach towels and tried to contain the flood the best I could. I then used the pipe wrench and removed the valve. I threw it into a plastic bag and headed to the nearest hardware store.
We now have a Lowe's store just five miles away from the farm. It is so handy. We used to have to drive to Indy if you needed a part on a Saturday afternoon. An associate found the correct part for me. Then I went over to the ShopVac's. I have a huge ShopVac at home that I use to clean my cars, and garage with. I really didn't want to mess it up with some swampy, oily maggot water. My brother just recently burned up two little ShopVac's sucking up some spilled soybeans. I found a 2.5 gal ShopVac for $30 and headed to the checkout. As I was waiting I heard a familiar voice. I looked up and my cousin Katie was working the checkout lane I was in. I didn't even know she worked there. We chatted for a bit and then when I went to pay I realized I forgot my wallet. I guess the maggots made me lose my train of thought. I told Katie to hold the stuff and I'd be right back. I raced back home, got my wallet, and then back again to Lowe's. I bought a new pressure relief valve, some pipe dope, and a ShopVac for around $50.
I got home and quickly installed the valve. I turned the water all back on and it didn't leak! I read the instructions for the ShopVac and got it assembled. I then ran a garden hose from outside and really rinsed out the maggot nest behind the water heater. Then I sucked up all the wet maggots and water with the ShopVac. About a half hour later, I had the flood waters all picked up. I only had to dump the ShopVac twice. Nothing grosser than maggot water. Ewwwww. I threw the beach towels in the wash and washed them two cycles. I plugged in a box fan and dried out the area over night. The floor is cleaner than it has ever been in the garage.
I guess I should have burned some incense out there to mask any remaining odor. God knows it wouldn't bother me. If you gotta lose one of your senses, smell is the way to go. I should be the host of Dirty Jobs.
Title: Autumn's Not That Cold
Artist: Lorrie Morgan
Composers: Skip Ewing / Max D. Barnes
Album: Something in Red
Label: BMG 3021-2-R
Year Released: 1991
Lorrie Morgan is one of my favorite singers. I have featured a Christmas hymn of hers before. She had a string of country hits in the late 80s / early 90s. Her voice is deep and sounds lived in. She sings of heartache and it sounds truthful. Lorrie has been married five times. Her second husband, singer Keith Whitley, drank himself to death. Last fall she filed bankruptcy. Sounds like the perfect country song doesn't it?
The song Autumn's Not That Cold is a track from her hit album, Something in Red, which produced four Top Twenty hits. This song was not released as a single. It is a beautiful ballad which Lorrie sings skillfully. Seems perfect for these cold fall days. Enjoy!
Watch Video (A Picture of Me (Without You))
Today would have been Mom's ninety-third birthday. This is the first birthday since she died in June.
Dad wanted a home-cooked meal to honor the event, like Mom would have made. My sister had the day off work, so she whipped up a fabulous lunch of chicken and noodles, green beans with ham, wilted lettuce, and biscuits. I cooked a turkey breast in the crockpot. Attending where Dad, Sis, my brother, my brother-in-law, Dad's home health care aide, and myself.
To quote Mom the meal was "pretty dern good". I think she would have been pleased.
We miss you, Mom!!!
Title: Out of the Blue
Artist: Tommy James & the Shondells
Composers: Bo Gentry / Ritchie Cordell
Label: Roulette 4775
Year Released: 1967
Highest Chart Position: 43
Tommy James recorded his first #1 hit, Hanky Panky when he was sixteen years old. It didn't become a hit until two years later after the band had already broken up. Tommy had to quickly throw a band together and then recorded a string of fourteen Top 40 songs. During 1968-1969, the band outsold the Beatles in single sales. The band broke up in 1970, but Tommy is still out there touring. From what I've seen on these YouTube videos, he still sounds pretty good.
My sister really enjoyed Tommy James and she had several of their 45s. This particular song did not fare as well as others, but it is still a great bit of 1960s pop music. Enjoy!
Watch Video (Crystal Blue Persuasion)
I just returned from a trip to Houston. I did the 3rd quarter taxes while I was there. It is officially fourth quarter now. The beginning of my busy season with all the annual tasks. Bahhhhh! Where did the year go? It seems like the whole year has been busy and now it's gonna get really busy. We were putting dates on the calendar for December and January 2010 already and making plans for me driving to Houston early December.
Besides all the work stuff, Dad's health continues to decline. He can barely walk now and gets more confused by the day. The crops are ready for harvest and he desperately wants out on the tractor or the combine. Each day we have to tell him that's not gonna happen today. It's hard to believe that he was unloading grain wagons just last year.
So blogging may become sporadic for awhile. Bear with me.
Title: Leaving On a Jet Plane
Artist: Peter, Paul & Mary
Composer: John Denver
Label: Warner 7340
Year Released: 1969
Highest Chart Position: 1(1)
Mary Travers 1936 - 2009
Singer Mary Travers of the group Peter, Paul and Mary died last week of leukemia. Even though I've never been a fan of folk music, I thought her passing deserved a tribute, nonetheless. Probably the best known of their hits, and their only #1 song, featured Mary on lead vocals. Written by John Denver, this song really displays their tight harmonies.
I've included some old footage of the groups early successes too. Mary was smokin' hot when they first started out. And the guys had hair! Enjoy!
Rest in Peace, Mary.
Watch Video (Leaving On a Jet Plane)
Watch Video (If I Had a Hammer)
I went out with my camera yesterday and took several pictures. They are over in a photo album in the sidebar on the right. If you can't access the sidebar, here's a link.
Composers: Patrick Swayze / Stacy Widelitz
Label: RCA 5563
Year Released: 1988
Highest Chart Position: 3
Patrick Swayze 1952 - 2009
Actor Patrick Swayze passed away this week, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was best known for his roles as the sensitive tough guy in movies like Dirty Dancing, Road House, and Ghost. But he had small roles in many other motion pictures too.
The song She's Like the Wind was featured in the Dirty Dancing soundtrack. I've included several clips from his movies. I've even dug up the Chippendale's audition with Chris Farley from Saturday Night Live. Hilarious.
Rest in Peace, Patrick.
Watch Video (Chippendales Dance Off - SNL)
Watch Video (To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar)
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