2009. There is a lot that can be said about 2009. As far as exciting years go it wasn't the most exciting year. My day to day was relatively the same, and aside from plotting to and carrying out my engagement with Laura there weren't very many huge life changing events, which is cool, last year gave me enough of those. So what happened to me this year? Here's the breakdown:
Best:
Movie: Avatar. Its been a long time since I left a movie and wanted to turn around and see it again. Next time instead of Flat-D I'll see it in 3-D.
TV Show: This year I kept my trend of hate on the boob tube with the exception of TrueBlood. Season 2 was a huge improvement over season 1.
Concert: DMB. This checked off one of my last bands to see before I die, A Dave Matthews Outdoor concert is a day long event that we did right, would I do it again? Absolutely.
Album: Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey and the Gru Grux King. There isn't even one track that I skip on this one. I love their big sound.
Song: Owl City - Fireflies. Repeat - Repeat - Repeat Heart.
Game: I almost had to nix this genre this year, but a new PS3 and GTA IV saved the day.
Book: I don't think I read any books with a copyright of 2009 this year, so hands down Tolkien's Return of the King blew every other book I read in '09 out of the water. The story starts off running and the ending is extremely fitting and satisfying for all of the characters I grew to love through the series.
Wine: The Wine Cube (any flavor) from Target. Decent wine and a great price.
Bar Night: I don't know if its considered the best, but its the best story. Ask me about moonshine and Sink the Biz sometime.
Getaway: Colorado! I love the mountains, a lot.
Garden Growth: Spicy Pickles!
Events of Note:
Random: The flooding of the kitchen :(
Obsession: Growing things carried into 2009! Our Garden Rocked. Until the thief struck.
Newsworthy: It's called swine flu dammit.
There is lots to look forward to in 2010, first off our wedding! I'm really pumped about our Honeymoon as well just because I plan on doing a hell of a lot of relaxing, there have even been some rumblings of a trip to Spain! Which would be awesome. I'm also excited about our Garden V2.0 after learning some things this year. I've debated putting this in but whatever, I might get my first useful smart phone! I'm also excited for our various wanderings around the mid-west.
Bring it on 2010.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Hows my little decade in review?
Wow! I've lived long enough to recall an entire decade. Loyal fans, I would like to thank everyone who helped me accomplish such an amazing feat! So in addition to my annual year in review I thought I would review the past 10! years of my life as I can best recall. Since I started this blogging thing way back in 2004 I've got a few years that can only be recalled from what little memory my brain utilizes. The rest are going to be links back to some important blogs from my history of blogging. Enjoy my journey through life via blogs
The Year 2000:
Y2K anyone? Nope. Pretty sure I left the computer on overnight though just to see what would happen.
Solidified the best group of friends any person could ask for during this year. With this group I was carried through Mounds View High and beyond making memories I won't forget and others that have long been lost.
Began thinking about thinking about college, because my mom said I should.
I was introduced to 'The Living End' and my love for music can be traced back to that point.
Began my annual pilgrimage to the Houston Family cabin over memorial weekend. (or was this in 99? hm.)
2001:
Napster was shut down, right after we got cable internet too!
Where were you on September 11th 2001?
I was spending the night on Tony Czech's couch because our school's construction delayed classes for two weeks and I had nothing going on. His Dad called in the morning to tell us to watch the news. From his armchair I watched live footage of the second plane strike the World Trade Center. Spent the rest of the day feeling empty and sad while glued to the various news outlets on TV.
Peed into several jars with my friends at least one may still exist to this day. Learned that poop will liquefy after several years sealed in a jar exposed to the elements.
Actually began thinking about college.
Took the ACT 3 times, fell asleep during the first two tests and didn't break 20. Test three I stayed awake for and did significantly better. Imagine that!
2002:
Applied for colleges and was accepted by Bemidji State University.
Began building my own desktop computer as a hobby.
Got hooked on Diablo II and video games in general.
Read the Harry Potter Series (which had been released) in two weeks.
2003:
Took a big fall after throwing myself off a big jump at Wild Mountain. Probably messed up my knee on this day.
Graduated High School, couldn't have been more excited to get out of that place.
Left the home nest for my freshman year at BSU.
Walked onto BSU's Track team and ran Hurdles. My Mom and Dad made many various treks around the region to watch my meets, something I didn't fully appreciate until recently, especially since my races lasted between 7-62 seconds.
Binge drank for the first time. Nearly an entire 750 ML of Vodka and Green Gatorade, using Reece's peanut butter cups as chasers. Survived.
Got my cartilage in my ear pierced. Future employers ruined its longevity.
2004:
Left East Side Beverage before the end of the summer. Learned a valuable lesson about the working world and life.
Found out my knee was always sore because I had torn my medial and lateral meniscus in my right knee. After some surgery I felt a lot better. After a lot of work I could run around again.
Met Sarah Fuller, an inspiration through the rest of my college career.
Transferred to UMD.
Joined a new internet phenomenon called The Facebook.
My first semester at UMD was an epic failure, taking 3 classes and 14 credits I was busier than shit and found that a Computer Science major was the wrong direction for me. With a D in one class a F in another (both required for the CS major) I began rethinking the future of my college career.
George Bush somehow got reelected.
2005:
After the easiest semester ever and a sharp turn around in grades, (not everyone can double their GPA) I decided to pursue a Graphic Design Major the following school year.
How I decided on Graphic Design
Pretty much sums up my free time my second semester in Duluth
I am still a bad speller
Worked for College Pro Painters and got shafted in pay, time working, and enjoyment of a summer job. Quit before the end of the summer and threatened my employer with a lawsuit over 32 unpaid dollars.
Purchased my first car! A purple 2003 Dodge Stratus.
I had my Appendix removed.
2006:
Got a job at the Edgewater Waterpark in Duluth and grew to slowly hate it before I transferred to somewhere less hated within the hotel.
Accepted into the GD program into UMD! Graduation here I come!
My Heart doesn't work like yours.
Purchased my first laptop an Apple Powerbook G4, as of this post it is now obsolete without an Intel processor there will be no future updates available.
Began winemaking as a hobby using Stabbers' beer making kit.
I still don't like TV & its overdue for innovation
My parents sold the house I grew up in to move to Covington, Indiana. Pay special attention to the last couple of lines from that post.
Began a semi-monthly tradition of Titacular Tuesdays!!
I decided to force myself into liking beer. The reason was to actually enjoy a Guinness at the brewery in Ireland. 100% success.
Traveled over an ocean for the first time EVER!
The Red Hot Chili Peppers released Stadium Arcadium, easily my favorite album of the decade.
Pluto was demoted from the solar system. Down to 8 planets. My very educated mother just served us nothing...?
Was introduced to a fine young woman named Laura Davis. Love at first sight? That might be debated for the ages. Our first date: Tea and the grocery store. Little did I know she would help change the course of my future.
2007:
Best Story Ever.
Found out I'm a bit Lactose Intolerant
The beginning to the end of paper. (written before the Kindle and Nook were released)
Somewhere along the line I began to grow more mature.Not everyone would agree though =)
Jinx popped into my life.
Began Geocaching as a hobby.
I predicted the 2008 election results.
Began working at my first Graphic Design Job for Late Night Kirby.
Its called sharing not stealing.Historic and epic lawsuit against a music stealer right in Duluth, MN. She later appealed and ended up paying MORE! Oops.
2007 was my most prolific blogging year of the decade with a total of 109 posts
2008:
My cat learned to fetch
I can't believe they still charge this much.
I put an end to the masturbating neighbor.
All that hard work paid off!
My favorite April fool stunt.
I discovered myself.
I GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE!!!
I moved from Duluth. You should enjoy it like I did.
I moved in with my parents after saying I wouldn't.
I bought a house!
Attended Obama's election celebration Didn't realize he was going to spend all of the whole worlds money.
Began using a Loofa. Will never go back to the old bar in the foreseeable future.
2009:
Experienced the worst economic recession since the Great Depression.
Continued reading like a fiend again. Oh how I missed it.
Hopped on the Twilight saga bandwagon.
I consider this my living will and expect my legacies to follow it until I come up with something legit.
I made my own Headstone sample!
I already had a vendetta against corn. In 2009 it became stronger.
I planted, weeded and harvested the first garden of my own, with great success!
Saw my first movie in 3D.
I began my engagement to marry!
2009 was my least prolific blogging year of the decade (while I had a blog) with 35 entries.
Altogether the aughts (I still hate that name) were full of change, excitement, surprise, and adventure. I hope to include perhaps fewer life changing moments in the next ten years but more adventures around the globe. Life is always full of surprises and new twists I can't wait to tackle them with a smile and story to tell afterward.
Do I have any predictions for the next 10 years? I certainly do!
Gadget Predictions?
* I bet in 10 years video chatting over a cellular service will become reality, the quality still won't be very good by 2010 and it will cost more than most people are willing to pay.
* In the next 10 years we will see home TVs which are 3d ready become a huge flop because people won't want to use the glasses to make it work.
* By 2010 a glasses free 3D TV will hit the market and be extremely expensive.
* In the next 10 years we will see a revolution in cable programming, be it chose your own subscription or some form of order at will. Similar to streaming your Netflix choices online.
* Ebook readers are going to take off as Eink devices become embedded in more everyday items. Especially as color Eink devices begin to appear.
* Most laptops will cap off at 1 TB of storage many will have "only" 500 GB as the netbook begins to take hold.
* By 2010 most laptops will have some multi-touch capabilities thanks to the iPhone.
Life Predictions?
* I'll be getting married!
* Dear lord it makes me nervous to say this but I feel like 10 years isn't unreasonable to say a child of my own could happen. *shiver*
* Something will cause my departure from Illinois.
* A new (to me) car!
* I will see at least 3 new countries.
* I'm going to start thinking about writing that novel materializing in my brain.
* Freelance work of some sort.
The Year 2000:
Y2K anyone? Nope. Pretty sure I left the computer on overnight though just to see what would happen.
Solidified the best group of friends any person could ask for during this year. With this group I was carried through Mounds View High and beyond making memories I won't forget and others that have long been lost.
Began thinking about thinking about college, because my mom said I should.
I was introduced to 'The Living End' and my love for music can be traced back to that point.
Began my annual pilgrimage to the Houston Family cabin over memorial weekend. (or was this in 99? hm.)
2001:
Napster was shut down, right after we got cable internet too!
Where were you on September 11th 2001?
I was spending the night on Tony Czech's couch because our school's construction delayed classes for two weeks and I had nothing going on. His Dad called in the morning to tell us to watch the news. From his armchair I watched live footage of the second plane strike the World Trade Center. Spent the rest of the day feeling empty and sad while glued to the various news outlets on TV.
Peed into several jars with my friends at least one may still exist to this day. Learned that poop will liquefy after several years sealed in a jar exposed to the elements.
Actually began thinking about college.
Took the ACT 3 times, fell asleep during the first two tests and didn't break 20. Test three I stayed awake for and did significantly better. Imagine that!
2002:
Applied for colleges and was accepted by Bemidji State University.
Began building my own desktop computer as a hobby.
Got hooked on Diablo II and video games in general.
Read the Harry Potter Series (which had been released) in two weeks.
2003:
Took a big fall after throwing myself off a big jump at Wild Mountain. Probably messed up my knee on this day.
Graduated High School, couldn't have been more excited to get out of that place.
Left the home nest for my freshman year at BSU.
Walked onto BSU's Track team and ran Hurdles. My Mom and Dad made many various treks around the region to watch my meets, something I didn't fully appreciate until recently, especially since my races lasted between 7-62 seconds.
Binge drank for the first time. Nearly an entire 750 ML of Vodka and Green Gatorade, using Reece's peanut butter cups as chasers. Survived.
Got my cartilage in my ear pierced. Future employers ruined its longevity.
2004:
Left East Side Beverage before the end of the summer. Learned a valuable lesson about the working world and life.
Found out my knee was always sore because I had torn my medial and lateral meniscus in my right knee. After some surgery I felt a lot better. After a lot of work I could run around again.
Met Sarah Fuller, an inspiration through the rest of my college career.
Transferred to UMD.
Joined a new internet phenomenon called The Facebook.
My first semester at UMD was an epic failure, taking 3 classes and 14 credits I was busier than shit and found that a Computer Science major was the wrong direction for me. With a D in one class a F in another (both required for the CS major) I began rethinking the future of my college career.
George Bush somehow got reelected.
2005:
After the easiest semester ever and a sharp turn around in grades, (not everyone can double their GPA) I decided to pursue a Graphic Design Major the following school year.
How I decided on Graphic Design
Pretty much sums up my free time my second semester in Duluth
I am still a bad speller
Worked for College Pro Painters and got shafted in pay, time working, and enjoyment of a summer job. Quit before the end of the summer and threatened my employer with a lawsuit over 32 unpaid dollars.
Purchased my first car! A purple 2003 Dodge Stratus.
I had my Appendix removed.
2006:
Got a job at the Edgewater Waterpark in Duluth and grew to slowly hate it before I transferred to somewhere less hated within the hotel.
Accepted into the GD program into UMD! Graduation here I come!
My Heart doesn't work like yours.
Purchased my first laptop an Apple Powerbook G4, as of this post it is now obsolete without an Intel processor there will be no future updates available.
Began winemaking as a hobby using Stabbers' beer making kit.
I still don't like TV & its overdue for innovation
My parents sold the house I grew up in to move to Covington, Indiana. Pay special attention to the last couple of lines from that post.
Began a semi-monthly tradition of Titacular Tuesdays!!
I decided to force myself into liking beer. The reason was to actually enjoy a Guinness at the brewery in Ireland. 100% success.
Traveled over an ocean for the first time EVER!
The Red Hot Chili Peppers released Stadium Arcadium, easily my favorite album of the decade.
Pluto was demoted from the solar system. Down to 8 planets. My very educated mother just served us nothing...?
Was introduced to a fine young woman named Laura Davis. Love at first sight? That might be debated for the ages. Our first date: Tea and the grocery store. Little did I know she would help change the course of my future.
2007:
Best Story Ever.
Found out I'm a bit Lactose Intolerant
The beginning to the end of paper. (written before the Kindle and Nook were released)
Somewhere along the line I began to grow more mature.Not everyone would agree though =)
Jinx popped into my life.
Began Geocaching as a hobby.
I predicted the 2008 election results.
Began working at my first Graphic Design Job for Late Night Kirby.
Its called sharing not stealing.Historic and epic lawsuit against a music stealer right in Duluth, MN. She later appealed and ended up paying MORE! Oops.
2007 was my most prolific blogging year of the decade with a total of 109 posts
2008:
My cat learned to fetch
I can't believe they still charge this much.
I put an end to the masturbating neighbor.
All that hard work paid off!
My favorite April fool stunt.
I discovered myself.
I GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE!!!
I moved from Duluth. You should enjoy it like I did.
I moved in with my parents after saying I wouldn't.
I bought a house!
Attended Obama's election celebration Didn't realize he was going to spend all of the whole worlds money.
Began using a Loofa. Will never go back to the old bar in the foreseeable future.
2009:
Experienced the worst economic recession since the Great Depression.
Continued reading like a fiend again. Oh how I missed it.
Hopped on the Twilight saga bandwagon.
I consider this my living will and expect my legacies to follow it until I come up with something legit.
I made my own Headstone sample!
I already had a vendetta against corn. In 2009 it became stronger.
I planted, weeded and harvested the first garden of my own, with great success!
Saw my first movie in 3D.
I began my engagement to marry!
2009 was my least prolific blogging year of the decade (while I had a blog) with 35 entries.
Altogether the aughts (I still hate that name) were full of change, excitement, surprise, and adventure. I hope to include perhaps fewer life changing moments in the next ten years but more adventures around the globe. Life is always full of surprises and new twists I can't wait to tackle them with a smile and story to tell afterward.
Do I have any predictions for the next 10 years? I certainly do!
Gadget Predictions?
* I bet in 10 years video chatting over a cellular service will become reality, the quality still won't be very good by 2010 and it will cost more than most people are willing to pay.
* In the next 10 years we will see home TVs which are 3d ready become a huge flop because people won't want to use the glasses to make it work.
* By 2010 a glasses free 3D TV will hit the market and be extremely expensive.
* In the next 10 years we will see a revolution in cable programming, be it chose your own subscription or some form of order at will. Similar to streaming your Netflix choices online.
* Ebook readers are going to take off as Eink devices become embedded in more everyday items. Especially as color Eink devices begin to appear.
* Most laptops will cap off at 1 TB of storage many will have "only" 500 GB as the netbook begins to take hold.
* By 2010 most laptops will have some multi-touch capabilities thanks to the iPhone.
Life Predictions?
* I'll be getting married!
* Dear lord it makes me nervous to say this but I feel like 10 years isn't unreasonable to say a child of my own could happen. *shiver*
* Something will cause my departure from Illinois.
* A new (to me) car!
* I will see at least 3 new countries.
* I'm going to start thinking about writing that novel materializing in my brain.
* Freelance work of some sort.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Hows my little Winter Wonderland?
Winter.
Make it be known to the world that I love winter. I'm not a summer kind of guy. You might be thinking that I'm entirely crazy, I do love certain things the summer brings such as swimming in the water, the sexy tans on me and the ladies, as well as the oft smelled BBQ wafting through the neighborhood air. But winter, I just love winter.
First off, I love the cold. I'm pretty sure Jacob and I have at least one thing in common and that is that we run a little warm on the inside (maybe the rippling muscles as well :) so because of that when its winter I get to comfortably wear long sleeved shirts. I hate the idea of fashion being stylish without comfort. Completely not me. I tell everyone in the summer you can be only so naked, so on those hot humid days with no access to a body of water sweating on your couch just gets nasty and uncomfortable. What do you do in the winter when you're cold? You bundle up in a giant comfy sweat shirt, wrap yourself up in your big fuzzy blanket and possibly a loved one with a cup of hot something and enjoy a movie. Add a fireplace to the mix and you've got something straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. How many sweaty thirsty people sitting three feet away from each other do you see in his paintings? None. If it exists, show me.
I digress. Why else do I love winter? I love winter sports, Even though I rarely ice skate I love it. I love watching all the cool winter sports on TV, downhill skiing, bobsledding, snowboarding, and even the occasional figure skating competition is tolerable. Building snow forts, sledding, and snowball fights are some other awesome aspects of winter I can't get enough of. My most of all favorite winter time activity is downhill skiing.
I love me some skiing for many different reasons. One is the pure thrill of hurtling myself down a hill at speeds I will never know within feet of trees, giant poles, idiot Texans, and cliffs. Another is the never ending challenges that skiing presents itself from hill to hill. Trying bumps and trees is a challenge I can't seem to stay away from, despite the danger of breaking any sort of (my own) limb because of a caught edge or miscalculated turn. Not to mention its quiet, and you can spend some really excellent quality time with your friends. Altogether skiing brings out all of my favorite aspects of a sport.
Which brings me to my final point on winter.
Never in my life have I been any less excited about a season such as this upcoming winter. Since moving down to our lovely town of Oakwood I've realized that winters here SUCK! It has all of the great qualities of winter that every one "loves" (note the following sarcasm) The bitter wet cold that bites into your bones and doesn't let up until you shower, The never ending prevailing wind (there is a reason this area has more windfarms than anywhere else in the nation), the complete and utter lack of trees and hills to potentially disrupt said wind, and lets not leave out the lack of even dead vegetation to look at since all of the surrounding area is harvested corn and soy beans. Also because it stays below 30 for only a few days at a time one can't even get out for some quality time slipping around on frozen water.
So excluding all of those factors winters here aren't so bad. Oh, just kidding. There is no snow here either. None, we got 7 inches once last year once and it was gone in a week. You couldn't even sled on it after two days! AHHH! So without snow, hills, trees, and cold. What is the point of living in this region for the next three months? I can't think of one.
Since I'm already started, the snow plows don't even plow the roads! They cruise around with their blades up (while snow is on the ground) and dump salt everywhere. It makes no sense. Obviously they have invested in plows, why is it they don't actually plow? Driving down here in the winter, with all these already crappy Illinois drivers, really sucks as well. Ugh.
Make it be known to the world that I love winter. I'm not a summer kind of guy. You might be thinking that I'm entirely crazy, I do love certain things the summer brings such as swimming in the water, the sexy tans on me and the ladies, as well as the oft smelled BBQ wafting through the neighborhood air. But winter, I just love winter.
First off, I love the cold. I'm pretty sure Jacob and I have at least one thing in common and that is that we run a little warm on the inside (maybe the rippling muscles as well :) so because of that when its winter I get to comfortably wear long sleeved shirts. I hate the idea of fashion being stylish without comfort. Completely not me. I tell everyone in the summer you can be only so naked, so on those hot humid days with no access to a body of water sweating on your couch just gets nasty and uncomfortable. What do you do in the winter when you're cold? You bundle up in a giant comfy sweat shirt, wrap yourself up in your big fuzzy blanket and possibly a loved one with a cup of hot something and enjoy a movie. Add a fireplace to the mix and you've got something straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. How many sweaty thirsty people sitting three feet away from each other do you see in his paintings? None. If it exists, show me.
I digress. Why else do I love winter? I love winter sports, Even though I rarely ice skate I love it. I love watching all the cool winter sports on TV, downhill skiing, bobsledding, snowboarding, and even the occasional figure skating competition is tolerable. Building snow forts, sledding, and snowball fights are some other awesome aspects of winter I can't get enough of. My most of all favorite winter time activity is downhill skiing.
I love me some skiing for many different reasons. One is the pure thrill of hurtling myself down a hill at speeds I will never know within feet of trees, giant poles, idiot Texans, and cliffs. Another is the never ending challenges that skiing presents itself from hill to hill. Trying bumps and trees is a challenge I can't seem to stay away from, despite the danger of breaking any sort of (my own) limb because of a caught edge or miscalculated turn. Not to mention its quiet, and you can spend some really excellent quality time with your friends. Altogether skiing brings out all of my favorite aspects of a sport.
Which brings me to my final point on winter.
Never in my life have I been any less excited about a season such as this upcoming winter. Since moving down to our lovely town of Oakwood I've realized that winters here SUCK! It has all of the great qualities of winter that every one "loves" (note the following sarcasm) The bitter wet cold that bites into your bones and doesn't let up until you shower, The never ending prevailing wind (there is a reason this area has more windfarms than anywhere else in the nation), the complete and utter lack of trees and hills to potentially disrupt said wind, and lets not leave out the lack of even dead vegetation to look at since all of the surrounding area is harvested corn and soy beans. Also because it stays below 30 for only a few days at a time one can't even get out for some quality time slipping around on frozen water.
So excluding all of those factors winters here aren't so bad. Oh, just kidding. There is no snow here either. None, we got 7 inches once last year once and it was gone in a week. You couldn't even sled on it after two days! AHHH! So without snow, hills, trees, and cold. What is the point of living in this region for the next three months? I can't think of one.
Since I'm already started, the snow plows don't even plow the roads! They cruise around with their blades up (while snow is on the ground) and dump salt everywhere. It makes no sense. Obviously they have invested in plows, why is it they don't actually plow? Driving down here in the winter, with all these already crappy Illinois drivers, really sucks as well. Ugh.
Friday, December 04, 2009
Hows my little Ark builder?
This week has been a very exciting one. First off, congratulations to Mashley Midthun! I had a great time at your wedding its great to finally see you two joined in holy matrimony and that other good stuff.
Next, recently Laura and I joined the ranks of the other old folks of the world who get excited about and purchase a new refrigerator. (a word I always have to spell check) and since our RCA fridge was made before they started including water for ice and drinking as a part of any refrigerator. We had to run our own water line to this one. So, talking about this project with Laura's dad one day he says oh, its easy bla bla bla. I have never built my own house, so for some reason did not take this with the large grain of salt I should have. So I do some research, find out said project is actually easy and went ahead and bought a kit that had everything I needed to route water from a pipe to a refrigerator. Sweet.
Tuesday I decide, this is the night! I get myself amped for the project and Laura starts on dinner. So for this project to be pulled off I need to move the dishwasher out from its spot to run our line behind it. Not hard, I find out after more research. Disconnecting it is just like disconnecting a toilet, twist valve, unscrew water line, & move. So I turn our little water valve to the OFF position, I confirm this is the correct line connected to the dishwasher and begin to unscrew. For some reason the connection I'm unscrewing won't budge but the other one seems to spin fine, I think, oh great at least one of them moves, this will work out fine. At this point I have a little bucket and Laura even got me a towel to dab up my dribbles because I was expecting a few. Back to the action, I've got the valve pretty much entirely unscrewed and I think to myself, wow, I'm impressed I haven't even had a tiny drop come out of the pipe. Until.....
WHOOOOOOOSHHH!!!
Not good.
Let me tell you, when dealing with plumping things this is probably the very last sound you want to hear.
This whoosh was not just a sound but a full on deluge of water spraying, not leaking, dribbling or pouring, but spraying out of a little half inch PVC pipe. I'm not too sure of everything I was thinking or saying at this point but I'm sure many of the phrases aren't allowed on TV. So, not only am I cursing up a storm but the water coming out of the pipe is about three steps shy of boiling because it is straight out of our hot water line to our faucet in the kitchen. Not hot enough to burn though, thank god. Immediately I know, turn off the water. So, being the smart person I am I run to our hot water heater to be foiled by a lack of shut off valve. FiretrUCK, so back to the kitchen I run water shooting all over I think ooo! I'll get the hose and we can channel the water outside! I run outside grab the hose and start unwinding it while Laura is trying her hardest to get the spray nozzle off. Don't forget water is SPRAYING all over our kitchen right now. Pretty sure the nozzle was frozen to the hose so that was a wasted effort.
I putz with the hose a bit more and realize I'm just wasting time and water, I need to turn off the water to the whole house. At this point our hot water line is now cold. I run outside rip open our crawlspace door and find the shut off valve as I watch a small waterfall pour out of our floor into the crawlspace. Which considering the direction the water could have taken (the rest of the house), I'm quite thankful for that hole or holes.
It goes without saying Laura was pretty upset, especially since dinner was simmering (not burning though!) the whole time. Every one of our towels were saturated with the entire forty gallons of contents in our hot water heater. I, the man I am, walked around in shame for the rest of the night because as soon as I saw the water spraying out of the pipe I knew what I did wrong. Whatever goddamned moron who installed our dishwasher FUCKING GLUED THE HOSE TO THE WATER SHUTOFF VALVE!! I don't care if this is code or not, it has to be the dumbest idea EVER.
What does that mean? Well, when I was unscrewing the hose to the dishwasher, the side AFTER the shut off was glued TO the shutoff, meaning the only side I can unscrew is where the water comes from, not where the water won't come from.
As hindsight is always 20/20 I now know to turn off the whole house's water before beginning any sort of plumbing project. I still am not done with the ordeal because I need to cut a pipe sill and boy I can't wait for that excitement. Ideally by next week when we host a gathering of some folks for our pumpkin beer kick-off we have a working in freezer ice maker and filtered water from the fridge.
For some reason we didn't think of taking any pictures, so just imagine me running around soaking wet with goofy knee pads on my legs and a very panicked look on my face and it was like you were there!
Next, recently Laura and I joined the ranks of the other old folks of the world who get excited about and purchase a new refrigerator. (a word I always have to spell check) and since our RCA fridge was made before they started including water for ice and drinking as a part of any refrigerator. We had to run our own water line to this one. So, talking about this project with Laura's dad one day he says oh, its easy bla bla bla. I have never built my own house, so for some reason did not take this with the large grain of salt I should have. So I do some research, find out said project is actually easy and went ahead and bought a kit that had everything I needed to route water from a pipe to a refrigerator. Sweet.
Tuesday I decide, this is the night! I get myself amped for the project and Laura starts on dinner. So for this project to be pulled off I need to move the dishwasher out from its spot to run our line behind it. Not hard, I find out after more research. Disconnecting it is just like disconnecting a toilet, twist valve, unscrew water line, & move. So I turn our little water valve to the OFF position, I confirm this is the correct line connected to the dishwasher and begin to unscrew. For some reason the connection I'm unscrewing won't budge but the other one seems to spin fine, I think, oh great at least one of them moves, this will work out fine. At this point I have a little bucket and Laura even got me a towel to dab up my dribbles because I was expecting a few. Back to the action, I've got the valve pretty much entirely unscrewed and I think to myself, wow, I'm impressed I haven't even had a tiny drop come out of the pipe. Until.....
WHOOOOOOOSHHH!!!
Not good.
Let me tell you, when dealing with plumping things this is probably the very last sound you want to hear.
This whoosh was not just a sound but a full on deluge of water spraying, not leaking, dribbling or pouring, but spraying out of a little half inch PVC pipe. I'm not too sure of everything I was thinking or saying at this point but I'm sure many of the phrases aren't allowed on TV. So, not only am I cursing up a storm but the water coming out of the pipe is about three steps shy of boiling because it is straight out of our hot water line to our faucet in the kitchen. Not hot enough to burn though, thank god. Immediately I know, turn off the water. So, being the smart person I am I run to our hot water heater to be foiled by a lack of shut off valve. FiretrUCK, so back to the kitchen I run water shooting all over I think ooo! I'll get the hose and we can channel the water outside! I run outside grab the hose and start unwinding it while Laura is trying her hardest to get the spray nozzle off. Don't forget water is SPRAYING all over our kitchen right now. Pretty sure the nozzle was frozen to the hose so that was a wasted effort.
I putz with the hose a bit more and realize I'm just wasting time and water, I need to turn off the water to the whole house. At this point our hot water line is now cold. I run outside rip open our crawlspace door and find the shut off valve as I watch a small waterfall pour out of our floor into the crawlspace. Which considering the direction the water could have taken (the rest of the house), I'm quite thankful for that hole or holes.
It goes without saying Laura was pretty upset, especially since dinner was simmering (not burning though!) the whole time. Every one of our towels were saturated with the entire forty gallons of contents in our hot water heater. I, the man I am, walked around in shame for the rest of the night because as soon as I saw the water spraying out of the pipe I knew what I did wrong. Whatever goddamned moron who installed our dishwasher FUCKING GLUED THE HOSE TO THE WATER SHUTOFF VALVE!! I don't care if this is code or not, it has to be the dumbest idea EVER.
What does that mean? Well, when I was unscrewing the hose to the dishwasher, the side AFTER the shut off was glued TO the shutoff, meaning the only side I can unscrew is where the water comes from, not where the water won't come from.
As hindsight is always 20/20 I now know to turn off the whole house's water before beginning any sort of plumbing project. I still am not done with the ordeal because I need to cut a pipe sill and boy I can't wait for that excitement. Ideally by next week when we host a gathering of some folks for our pumpkin beer kick-off we have a working in freezer ice maker and filtered water from the fridge.
For some reason we didn't think of taking any pictures, so just imagine me running around soaking wet with goofy knee pads on my legs and a very panicked look on my face and it was like you were there!
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