Why Circus Performers would be Good Plumbers

     One of my least favorite repairs to do is changing the diverter on the kitchen faucet.  We have a Price Pfister kitchen faucet set, which is guaranteed for life.  That means when something breaks they will send you free parts, that's great but then I have to install them.  Price Pfister is a well-known brand but that's all I will say about that.

     Now I have changed the diverter (see photo insert) on this faucet at least 4 times since we install it.  You would think I could remember the removal and installation quirks after that many repairs.  Well, I do for a while but it’s such a frustrating experience that my mind keeps trying to erase these bad memories.  I retain these memories for a long while but eventually they are erased and that's the exact moment the diverter goes bad.

     Of course there's always a YouTube video to help you through the removal and installation process but they always have the faucet on their workbench while they videotape the process.  The video shows how easy it is and you actually see how the work needs to be done but it's being done on a work bench, I call foul.  I want to see the video with the guy resting his lower back on the ridge of the cabinet bashing his head on the top of the cabinet as he tries to snake himself in to the cavernous opening under the sink then cussing and screaming at the faucet because his back and head are hurting and the hoses won't come off the faucet.  Yea, that’s the video I want to see.

     Now I have learned a few things over the past repairs and that is to get the boat cushion out of the garage and throw it on the floor to support my back, plus you need a small flashlight that you can hold with your teeth so you can see the diverter.  Prior background as a circus performer would help as well, maybe a contortionist that would be ideal.

     The most useful thing I learned from the YouTube video was which way to push the locking device on the hoses.  This helps but being small (5' 6") it's hard to reach up between the two sinks with Cee Lo Green arms.  After finding the appropriate curse words I am finally successful at remove the diverter from the faucet.  Having done this before I did remember to turn off the water and I also knew there would be residual water coming from the faucet when I pulled the diverter off, I just didn't think it would flow out like a fire hose.  At this point I immediately grab for a towel (in the back of my mind I hear my wife saying don't use the good towel) but at this point I'm in recovery mode so anything will due.  So my advice is don't hang your cashmere sweater anywhere near the towel rack when I'm working on the faucet.  After sopping up the residual water I proceed to remove the hoses, ideally this would work best if you had 3 hands (reference circus oddities).  After twisting and tugging to my surprise the first hose releases, Ah Victory!

     After removing the first hose I find the second hose easier to remove but I’m just as surprised as the first when it releases.

      Now it must be time for a beer to celebrate this amazing achievement, Oh Yeah, I need to put it back together; wait just let me enjoy this moment for a minute.  Maybe I should buy a Miners helmet?

Reality and Reality Shows

     Wow, there are a lot of reality shows, well at least that's what they are calling them.  To me competition shows are in a different category from reality shows some of which I like watching but they aren't my reality either.  I do like rooting for some of the competitors as they overcome a challenge.

     However I'm completely puzzled by the shows that document the daily lives of these so-called celebrities.  Many of these celebrities were unknown before these shows and their only talent appears to be outrageous or obnoxious behavior.  Some end their show with a prayer, which appeals to many, could it be a Hollywood ploy to improve the ratings?

     Maybe it's just me but I'd much rather watch a good movie or actual TV series (even if it is a rerun) with talented actors/actresses over any of these reality shows.   In fact part of the fun of watching TV is to take you out of reality, not that I believe there is any realm of reality to reality TV. I really don't care what Kim, Snooky or any other contrived celebrity is doing on a daily basis or who they are dating, fighting with or what they ate for lunch, etc.  Sorry, I got a little judgy there, but we have made these people rich.  I admit my opinions are based on hearsay because I have only seen portions of these shows as I surf thru channels but that is quite enough for me.

     It appears my preference for TV viewing is in the minority because these reality shows are doing well with many viewers, I guess it's just another part of the generation gap.  Which compels me to ask when do you think "The Situation" or "Paris Hilton" will be nominated for an Academy Award?  "Just Saying...."

Cross Country Skiing with eggs

     Living in St. Louis, MO we experience all four seasons but winter is not nearly as extreme as many of the northern states. Some years snow accumulation is heavy but other's medium to light.  Schools frequently have days off in the winter due to snow fall but work was rarely cancelled at McDonnell Douglas (where I worked).  I had been working at MAC of 4 years when in the winter of 1982 we had an 16 inch snowfall over night which accumulated quickly and pretty much suspended any and all traffic. Surprisingly, McDonnell Douglas cancelled work that day.

     My family and I were living in a fairly new subdivision in Florissant at the time.  Just to set the stage the trees were very small as they are in most new subdivisions because they bulldoze them down to build the houses more easily then replant young trees.  Doesn’t make a lot of sense but that’s what they did at the time.  Anyway there was nothing to block the wind so in a big snowstorm we would have huge snowdrifts in the streets, which prevented any cars from driving down the streets until the plows came through. 

     I had recently received a pair of Cross Country skis so what a perfect day to try them out, especially with work being cancelled.  The heavy snowstorm was a bit of a surprise and we had not gone to the grocery store recently.  Truthfully, we weren’t going to starve hold up in the house for a few days but I told Mimi I would ski down to the corner market (small convenience store) to get some eggs for breakfast because we were out.  She gave me a weird look almost to say “Really, Is that really necessary” but instead she said “Whatever”.  With that I got the skis out and dressed warmly for my two mile trek to hunt for food. 

     I got my backpack out to carry the eggs back and headed out into the cold.  I was thoroughly enjoying my trek down to the store and I could ski down the middle of street without worrying about any cars.  Cross Country gives you a great workout and I felt exhilarated by the time I reached the store.  I left my skis outside and went in the store to buy my much-needed eggs but apparently, others had planned better because they only had four  left without a carton to protect them.  I said no problem, and bought the eggs carefully placing them in the backpack each wrapped in paper towels I retrieved from the bathroom.  The clerk gave me that same weird look I got from Mimi but why would that faze me “It was a guy thing she wouldn’t understand”. 

     You probably think you know where this is going, just be patient.  I leave the store and carefully place the backpack on the ground while I put my skis on, then gently strap the backpack on.  It was a small backpack with just a shoulder strap no waste strap, but why would that be a problem?  So off I go skiing back home with my bounty of eggs to feed my starving children.  Well, that’s the way I’m looking at it.  

     Now for all those who have never used Cross Country skis, it’s quite different than traditional Alpine skiing. You shuffle your feet forward and backward and push the ski poles to move forward, so there is a lot of body movement required to move the skis forward unless you are lucky enough to have downhill slope which I did not.  Are you getting the picture?  Oblivious, to this I press on being careful that I do not fall, as that could be disastrous for the eggs.  I reach home (my final destination) as a victor removing my skis and telling my wife “I have breakfast” but as open the backpack I find the four eggs are already scrambled and not in the way I like.  I suddenly realize that the Cross Country skiing motion was banging the eggs together with the precision of a Cuisine Art. 

     I set the backpack down, I would need to clean that out later but now it’s time for breakfast, “How about toast?”

Dancing through Life

     We were at a concert the other night to listen to a local band called Trilogy (trilogystlouis.com) that has been playing for 40 years.  We've known the band leader (Bill) for a long time and the music was really good, just a great way to spend an evening with friends.

     While listening to the music I noticed something that I'm sure others noticed as well.  There were a few ladies that got up to dance and a couple of men that were coaxed by their wives but the majority of the dancers were young kids (7 and under).  This was not at all surprising to me since as we get older we seem like we become more inhibited.  It's a shame that the majority of adults feel uncomfortable on the dance floor.  Many will say they can't dance very well and they don't want to embarrass theirselves.  They may only decide to dance after a little influence by alcohol, but that won’t make you dance better, you just think so. That first statement is true for many people most of us can't dance well but that doesn't bother young kids because they're dancing just for the fun.  It's unlikely that others are watching so they can criticize your dancing in fact they most likely admire you for stepping out of your comfort zone. I saw many people tapping their feet to the beat of the music but very few adults got up to dance.  If you are tapping your feet you know you want to dance.

     At what age do we lose that zest for fun because someone could be watching, very early, I'm sure age 10 or 12 maybe.  As I watched these little kids dancing like no ones around, I couldn't help to be tempted to join them but I resisted because I might feel silly.  Personally, I think dancing through life like these kids is a great approach to deal with everyday stresses. Sometimes there is nothing wrong with being silly and who really cares if someone is watching especially if they are strangers you may never see again.

     So here's my suggestion next time you here music and you feel like dancing, do it, dance like there's no tomorrow, dance free and uninhibited, dance like your a kid again.  If you want to feel the excitement you did when you were young start dancing through life.  "Just Saying..."

A Challenge - "No Complaint Friday"

     People complain all the time; it’s just human nature when things aren’t going your way.  But does it help, only occasionally at least that's how it works for me.  In fact I’ve noticed the best days are when I have the fewest complaints.  I admit some complaints are justified; you know the old saying “The squeaky wheel gets the grease”, which is true in some cases.

     So I was wondering what would it be like if I lived my life without complaining, even better what would it be like if everyone in the world stopped complaining.  I assume it would be amazing but this is the impossible dream.  It would be a world without disputes of any kind, which is hard to imagine. 

     That is not reality and it never will be but maybe we could have just one day we set aside in which we could live without complaints.  That means no complaining about getting up for work, a lost promotion, the price of gas, a snarky waitress, the annoying drivers to and from work, your husband stinking up the bathroom, your wife’s spilled nail polish in the car, your kids muddy footprints on the carpet and wall, Huh! or  a young girl driving 23 MPH on highway while texting, I could go on & on but you get the picture.  Actually that’s a pretty big goal but I think it’s worth a try.  We need to start small let’s say no verbal complaints or jesters even whispers of complaints. We will ignore mental complaining, that’s just asking too much.

     You might ask what good does this do, well for one thing it will help you feel better and everyone else you meet that day. It’s only one day, 24 hours and you’ll be sleeping 8 so really it’s only 16 waking hours.  Let’s try this on Friday Jul 25, 2014.  I picked Friday because it’s the last day of the workweek so you should already be in a good mood.  We’re not striving for perfection so if you slip and find yourself complaining don’t give it up as a lost cause, start over and over if necessary.   Once you finish the day congratulate yourself for the success you’ve made.  If this works for you might make it a goal to have one “No Complaint Day” each month.

     If you like this idea pass it alone to others so they too can have a complaint free day, if you don’t like the idea keep your thoughts to yourself, I don’t want to hear your complaints.

A Family of Rebels

     As I roam around the St Louis area I come to the realization that I might have spawned a family of rebels.  You may notice that many young people have tattoos, some are very elaborate, some are inspirational and in some cases they cover a major portion of their body. If you take notice it seems the majority of young adults have adorned their bodies with some sort of tattoo, but mine have none.  I'm not implying that this is right or wrong, it's just the way it is, it has been their choice.  I have no problem with tattoos, it seems they have become permanent jewelry for this generation to include people of all status and race.

     In the past it was the rebellious that chose to get a tattoo, so one might assume that this was the intention of today's young.  It's a way to distinguish their self from others.  So, because of this I feel compelled to ask, if the majority of our youth has tattoos are they the rebels? or Are they conforming to the standards of the majority? Could it be that the minority group of youth that chose not to get a tattoo are the rebels?  Rebels have always stood out because of the decision to be different which is not necessarily a bad thing.  In fact rebels are needed and many have helped change this country for the better.

     It's also likely that I'm totally wrong and the tattoos on young adults are a fashion choice, strictly decorative and not meant to be a rebellious act.

     All I can say is Hurray for the rebels, be a rebel for positive change.  Get a tattoo if you want but a tattoo alone doesn't make you a rebel.  Be a real rebel for a better future.  “Just Saying....”

Different Times with Special Memories

     I believe that all kids have special memories of their childhood but mine are memories that are long past but worthy of preserving.   In the late 50’s and early 60’s we spent most days outside especially when the weather was good.  Much of our time outdoors was filled with our imagination exploring, creating our own fun and playing games. 

     Structured play existed in organized sports but they only occupied a small portion of our time, the rest of the time our playtime outdoors was limited only by our imagination.  We had more contact with others (kids & adults) in our world because we were not limited to only backyard play.  We played in our neighborhood, which for my friends and me included many neighboring streets. 

     Street vendors were a common sight in my younger days.  I guess these guys were the entrepreneurs of their time.  We were always anxious to see the snow cone man or Mr. Softee ice cream truck on our block.  If we were without change but near home it was a race to get money before they passed us by.   The snow cone man was just a guy with a snow cone machine in the trunk of his car, something that would be frowned upon these days, I imagine.  The Mister Softee ice cream truck was much fancier and I guess would be considered more of a legit business.  My favorite food vendor was the tamale guy, who pushed a cart around the city streets yelling “Hot Tamale” as he strolled down the street. Street vendors pushing food carts were the prerequisite of the food trucks today.

     I also remember the pony guy who would gives pony rides to kids which may or may not include pictures depending what you're parents could afford.  The thing I don’t remember is if he came by on a regular schedule or he was called for special occasions.  However it happened it was a pretty special memory.

     Last but not least was the milkman.  He would delivery milk door to door, early on it was a horse drawn carriage then later they had milk trucks.  My memory is just of the delivery trucks not the horse drawn carriages.  They kept the milk cold with blocks of ice and all the kids would chase the truck down the street screaming for the milkman to throw us some ice which wouldn’t seem like a big treat today but it was then.  Most of the time he would stop the truck and throw out a big block of ice, which hit the street and broke into what seemed like a thousand pieces.  Kids would scramble to get the biggest piece they could find then brush off the dirt and grit so you could enjoy the cool ice on a hot summer day.

     I hope and expect kids of today will also have a special memory that they can share with others someday.