C is for Copper

Copper is both shiny and opaque.  Being a metal it’s also quiet heavy.  This is probably the first medal used by man.  Copper was found on the island of Cyprus so many think this is where it gets its name. 

Raw copper

The metal copper makes bronze when mixed with tin and was used before iron was in general use.  Today it’s used in wiring and water pipes.

While living in California we had all our plastic pipes replaced with copper after the plastic burst and flooded the house.  What a mess that was.  And of course this “adventure” happened over Thanksgiving.  The house was torn up for weeks.

Déjà vu

Our hot water heater

Well the water problems continue here in the desert.  The plumber has been here twice so far.  We have had an expansion tank installed, the over flow valve on the water heater replaced, as well as the pressure regulator coming into the house.  Last night I found myself mopping up water for another hour and a half before I decided to cut the water off to the house again.  I called the plumber to leave a message at 9 PM and to my surprise, I actually was able to talk to him, and explain my recent issues.  He told me to keep the water off and he’d be over today (Tues) to look at the situation.  He told me it was safe to take a shower and then to turn the water back off.  After the second mopping episode, I decided against that and went to a girlfriend at midnight to take a shower because I had an appointment today.  Wet wipes can only handle the situation so far and for so long when it’s as hot as it gets here.

 This is the puddle in the mechanical room tonight

 
I had visions of having to stay up until three AM mopping up an endless supply of water like the one I did on Sunday night.  I simply couldn’t do that again.  I was wiped out.  It seems as if all I’ve done since last Friday is mop up water and dip water from buckets for washing hands and watering plants.  This house is going to need a serious cleaning once all this is resolved.  I have shop towels all over the place hanging to dry, sinks full of buckets with water and newspaper and towels on the floor.  It’s a disaster area in here.

 This is the shop fan that's getting a workout

Now the determination is we need a new water heater. But the laws have changed and we’d need an expansion tank anyway these days.  However, he’ll credit us for the parts we won’t be using now and for his labor on the past two visits, so I guess he’s trying to be fair about the whole mess.  And I know he has to make a living.  I just want this to be over with now.  My back is killing me today from hauling around buckets of wet towels to be wrung in the sink.  And I’ve vacuumed up about three inches of water in the master bedroom closet with the wet and dry vac.  I have a shop fan in there now that sounds like an airplane winding up for take off. 

I hope we’ve fixed this issue after tomorrow.  I may be ready to commit harry carry otherwise.

Eating isn’t all I do

I thought I’d post pics of some other meals.  I like to treat myself after working hard all day, so I usually make a nice meal for dinner.  The rest of the time, I snack mostly if I eat anything during the day.  Food taste so good when you’re starving!

Ham and cheese omelet with tomatoes, spinach and onions - and a side of potatoes

Enchiladas, Rice and Black Beans

   

I’ve had several salads and a ham and cheese omelet.  I did break down one night and had Mexican food.  My whole family seems to like it.  None of us go long without having some.

Besides all this, construction is continuing on the house two doors down the road.  It’s actually taking shape nicely now.  I walked through and took several pictures, but I won’t post all of those.  They had the plumbers in there today.  The house is 2710 square feet.

The work continues on the lot two doors down

Part of the foundation is poured

We’ve been taking pics as the days go by.  It won’t be long and they will start putting studs up.  They prepared the lot, put in the footings, then the plumbing and the rebar and then poured the concrete.

 This man is spraying the ground with a pesticide before they pour the concrete.  

I never knew they did that.

 This is a piece of equipment sitting on the lot.

The crazy thing about this is that people driving down the street (not the workers) are always stopping to use the outhouse.  I think this is bizarre and wonder if it’s not that unusual for construction area port-o-potties.