Archive

A Full Tank Of Gas


I’m one of those guys that believes he can do most anything if I put my mind to it. There are only three requirements. I have to have an ounce of knowledge, a few tools, and most importantly, a full tank of gas.

I learned that last trick from a handyman a long time ago.

That trick was confirmed the other day when my daughter found a bargain on a new bathroom cabinet and lavatory top.

She called and wanted to know if I could coach her through the removal of the old vanity and the installation of the new one. She’s a lot like me. She wants to do things herself if she can.

I told her, “Sure. I have a full tank of gas.” I thought between the two of us that we could do it.

She asked, “What’s with the full tank of gas thing?”

I said, “You’ll see.” And I left it at that.

Before going to her house I ran by Lowe’s and picked up a couple of new supply hoses. Trip number one.

I arrived at her house with a handful of daddy tools and we went to work.

The first thing we discovered was that the hot water valve to the faucet wouldn’t shut off the water.

Not a problem. We went down to the water heater and shut off the water. Then we open the faucet in the tub and drained the line.

The removal of the old cabinet and taking the plumbing apart was a piece of cake. I’m gifted at destroying things.

While my daughter assembled the faucet to the new lavatory I drove to a nearby hardware store to purchase a new shutoff valve for the hot water line. Trip number two.

Back at her house we try to remove the old valve. After we discover there’s no way to secure a wrench to the pipe behind the valve, we end up removing the contents of the closet on the opposite side of the wall. No small feat. A panel in the wall was removed and a wrench is applied to hold the pipe in place while she removed and replaced the valve in the bathroom.

We set the cabinet and secured the new top with the fixtures she had already mounted in place.

We discovered the old trap would not match up with the new standpipe. I make a dash to Lowe’s for a flexible adapter. Trip number three. Upon returning to the project we discovered the adapter wouldn’t adapt. Murphy’s law strikes again. I run to the nearby hardware store to see if they had another type of trap that would adapt. They did! Let’s see... This was trip number four.

I go back to my daughter’s house to complete our task.

There was just one problem. The new trap was a tad bit too short to connect.

And you have probably guessed what happened next. Yep. Trip number five. That time to Lowe’s.

After five trips we finished with the installation of her new cabinet and lavatory. Mission accomplished.

And this people, is why I drive a Prius.

PS: I learned that having a full tank of gas also comes in handy when applying for one of those new Real-IDs.

If you get one take the following;

Old driver’s license.

Social Security card (Cannot be laminated) Mine was.

If so take a W-2 form.

Recent utility bill.

Passport (Mine was expired.)

If you are female and have married, take your marriage license.

That should just about do it, but just in case, I’d fill up my gas tank if I were you.

_______________
Rick Algood
February 20, 2020

Archive


Return to eAlgood.com