Last week, thanks to freezing temperatures, I had a complete meltdown.
As they have many times over the decades, the water lines to my washing machine froze in sub-freezing temperatures. For 35 years, the maintenance staff of my Coop has attempted to solve this chronic problem using a variety of methods: repairing the burst pipes, adding more insulation, unloading a truckload of dirt against the outside of the wall where the pipes are affixed (yes, this was one attempted solution), electric heating wire, etc., etc., etc.
Nothing worked. Needless to say, it was very frostrating.
Several years ago, I finally gave up on my Coop and attempted to make peace with these pipes by setting an alarm during sub-freezing temperatures and every three hours flushing out the water in my pipes. I also purchased a small heater. This became very wearying so then for several years during the winter, I would unscrew the water pipes from behind my washing machine and stick them in the standing pipe (that white thingy on the left in the above photo) with a steady drip coming out of each one so the water wouldn’t freeze. Adrienne graciously allowed me to wash my clothes at her house. Thanks to climate change, freezing temperatures eventually became rare.
Then the cold snap last week. The every-three-hour-flushing-out-the-water-pipes-method did not work and my cold water pipe froze solid. Very skeptical that my Coop could fix this, I moved my washing machine, lifted the access panel to the pipes and attempted to thaw the pipe myself. After 45 minutes, I gave up.
I contacted my Coop maintenance and Herb and Dave wrapped the pipes with electric heating tape (see first photo above) which did not work. The next day, Calvin and Rodolfo showed up in hazmats suits and actually climbed down into the crawlspace underneath my unit to drill holes through the floor.
Calvin and Rodolfo then removed my water pipes from the outside wall and installed new pipes on an inside wall. Further, they did not install copper pipes, but pex pipes, or cross-linked polyethylene pipes, flexible plastic pipes designed to improve durability and strength. They then stuffed the space under the washing machine with what seemed like acres of new insulation.
I haven’t used my washing machine since the installation of these new pipes. I’m a a bit skeptical. Will water spring forth from the new holes in the floor when I wash my clothes? Are they solidly connected in the crawl space? Will the pipes melt during the summer?
Actually, I doubt any of this will happen. I am allowing myself to think — at least for the time being — that the new pipes in their new location are a sight for thawed eyes.
It is 3:55 a.m. EST, and I woke up 10 minutes ago to the horrific news of the collusion of an American Airlines passenger jet with an Army Black Hawk helicopter around 9 p.m.last evening — both aircraft crashing into the freezing waters of the Potomac River.
I have been writing blog posts off and on since 2008 and never has a post I’ve written so tragically coincided with such awful, awful news just 11 miles from my home at the airport that I frequently flew in and out of when I was an independent consultant — and on the runway the AA plane was approaching.
This post had already gone online (it was scheduled yesterday afternoon for 2:10 a.m.) and notifications sent so it was too late for me to unpublish it. All apologies and prayers, of course, for the victims. I am lost for more words.
It is unfucking believable to me that in his VERY first Truth Social post about this tragedy, the current President of the United States is wondering who’s at fault, who’s to blame: “NOT GOOD!” Unfucking believable, and I make no excuse for my lazy language regarding this despicable asshole.
The news of the collision is just awful. I remember another plane that went into the Potomac. Pray Pray Pray
At the Fitness Center this morning, everyone was talking about this tragedy. We were all so stunned.😭
I giggled at “frostrating”. I guess I needed that little moment of humor in what has been an unfathomable yet expected week of horror. And now a helicopter nighttime training mission near a busy, active runway? What will shock us anymore? Rhetorical. p.s. I’m sorry about your pipes.
You are gracious to acknowledge my pipe challenge, dear Kelly. I have been feeling bad all morning about the unfortunate timing of this post. 😢😟
Kelly: it just dawned on me what you meant by an “unfathomable yet expected week of horror.” Yes, the current President has collided with so much of democracy in so short a time. It is alarming to me that I am relieved that the headlines this morning are not about what else the President has dismantled.🤬
The miserable dealing with your water pipes last week was indeed a horror, and a horror on top of the horrors of the frozen hearts in D.C.!
Can only wish the resolution you were able to get could happen in D.C. too, but alas, there’s no Calvin and Rodolfo to “fix” that disaster.
And now, on top of all of that, the news of the plane crashes today. God help us!
Carol: we just talked on the phone about the stunningly inappropriate comments from the President who blamed the crash on DEI policies instituted by the Biden administration. I am speechless and am trying to lower my blood pressure.🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬
I agree with you about the “stunningly inappropriate comments.” Right from the start, with a tragedy, we have confirmation the our President is not likely to take responsibility for anything. Over half his speech, which I assume was intended to comfort (?) the families of the fallen, was instead turned into a political rant and blame. He ALWAYS has to blame someone else.
My heart is broken for the loss of life and for all those who are now being targeted by the President. It was a tragedy and it will be good to investigate the causes of the crash, but it is never good to aimlessly and carelessly bash the whole FAA and air traffic controllers. That is just careless and cruel.
Don’t be sorry about the timing of your post. Honestly, it helps to restore perspective from “everyday” disasters to those of true catastrophe. Plus, as Kelly pointed out, we need moments of humor now more than ever to make it through this presidency.
Thank you, Beth, for your wise perspective here. It is hard to believe that so many people wanted this President. I have run out of adjectives. Your words help.
You are also so dear to acknowledge that my post served some purpose on this awful day.😢