Drew: How much does a 1 cent stamp cost?
Me: What do YOU think?
Drew: Well, penny candy costs a quarter now so who knows?
College Playoffs
5 days ago
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Finding the Source
When you live in a house that was built in 1922, it seems like there’s always something to fix. We’ve found over the years that maintaining this old house is quite an adventure. Most of the time you can see a problem, but that might not be the problem. Take last night, for example.
When Drew yelled up from the basement, “THERE’S WATER LEAKING FROM THE PIPE!” it sent Baird into a mad scurry. Sure enough, there was a steady drip coming from a copper pipe that was only 7 years old. Further investigation was most certainly required. Tracing the pipe to the upstairs, Baird saw that it connected to the heater in the kitchen. Hmmm. We haven’t turned the heat on yet this fall, so what’s up with that? Oh, there’s the rolling cooler sitting nearby. It appears empty, but maybe some water leaked out from between the liner when I was cleaning it. No, that feels completely dry. What then? Who knows? It's getting late, so let’s just put a bucket under the pipe in the basement and call it a night. Maybe it was just a bit of condensation; after all, it was humid today.
This morning Baird woke up to standing water on the kitchen floor. Oh yeah. I ran the dishwasher late in the evening – it sometimes leaks. That’s got to be it. Except that as I walked barefoot across the kitchen floor I realized it was really sticky. As I tried to open my eyes and think coherently before the coffee was even poured, let alone consumed, my first thought was, “I know it’s been awhile, but I’ve got to mop the floor today. It’s just so disgusting!"
At which point Drew asked me to check for more Pop Tarts. I often use the stairway to the attic, which is just off our kitchen, as an auxiliary pantry. I knew there was one last pack of Pop Tarts hanging out back there. The doorknob to the attic door is broken. Opening this door when the doorknob is broken requires a special coordination that involves needle nose pliers in one hand and a Phillips screwdriver in the other.
I jimmied the doorknob and swung the door open. Then I noticed that the bottom of the door could easily clip the large watermelon I had resting nearby on the floor. Oh, look at that - It’s already happened! Someone earlier in the week didn’t see the door hit the watermelon, which sliced through the skin, causing the watermelon to leak its juices, sending liquid down the small hole by the heater into the basement. The places where the door had met with the watermelon were not noticeable from afar - this was only deduced after close, careful inspection.
Sometimes the problem at hand has a much more subtle root cause, which isn’t always obvious at first glance. It’s ok to involve others and ask for help. The answer is oftentimes right in front of you, you just have to know where to look. And sometimes the use of unconventional tools leads to the discovery of the root problem.
It was easy enough to toss out the watermelon, but the rest of the cleanup was a hassle.
When Drew yelled up from the basement, “THERE’S WATER LEAKING FROM THE PIPE!” it sent Baird into a mad scurry. Sure enough, there was a steady drip coming from a copper pipe that was only 7 years old. Further investigation was most certainly required. Tracing the pipe to the upstairs, Baird saw that it connected to the heater in the kitchen. Hmmm. We haven’t turned the heat on yet this fall, so what’s up with that? Oh, there’s the rolling cooler sitting nearby. It appears empty, but maybe some water leaked out from between the liner when I was cleaning it. No, that feels completely dry. What then? Who knows? It's getting late, so let’s just put a bucket under the pipe in the basement and call it a night. Maybe it was just a bit of condensation; after all, it was humid today.
This morning Baird woke up to standing water on the kitchen floor. Oh yeah. I ran the dishwasher late in the evening – it sometimes leaks. That’s got to be it. Except that as I walked barefoot across the kitchen floor I realized it was really sticky. As I tried to open my eyes and think coherently before the coffee was even poured, let alone consumed, my first thought was, “I know it’s been awhile, but I’ve got to mop the floor today. It’s just so disgusting!"
At which point Drew asked me to check for more Pop Tarts. I often use the stairway to the attic, which is just off our kitchen, as an auxiliary pantry. I knew there was one last pack of Pop Tarts hanging out back there. The doorknob to the attic door is broken. Opening this door when the doorknob is broken requires a special coordination that involves needle nose pliers in one hand and a Phillips screwdriver in the other.
I jimmied the doorknob and swung the door open. Then I noticed that the bottom of the door could easily clip the large watermelon I had resting nearby on the floor. Oh, look at that - It’s already happened! Someone earlier in the week didn’t see the door hit the watermelon, which sliced through the skin, causing the watermelon to leak its juices, sending liquid down the small hole by the heater into the basement. The places where the door had met with the watermelon were not noticeable from afar - this was only deduced after close, careful inspection.
Sometimes the problem at hand has a much more subtle root cause, which isn’t always obvious at first glance. It’s ok to involve others and ask for help. The answer is oftentimes right in front of you, you just have to know where to look. And sometimes the use of unconventional tools leads to the discovery of the root problem.
It was easy enough to toss out the watermelon, but the rest of the cleanup was a hassle.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Oops
Baird's been shaving Drew's head all summer with very few mishaps. This evening he started a little too low on the forehead and clipped Drew's eyebrow.
Kelsey generously offered to lend Drew her eyebrow pencil if he'd like to borrow it.
Hopefully his eyebrows grow as fast as his hair.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Looking Back
We all remember where we were when we heard about the terrorist attacks 8 years ago. As I got ready to run errands this afternoon, I was suddenly aware that 8 years ago at about the same time, I felt an almost desperate need to leave the house and get a breath of fresh air. I reminisced on Facebook about the moment, and I was moved by the response my entry received. It seems like we're all in a reflective, remembering mood today. Below is my FB status, followed by the responses friends and family:
Teresa Shattuck remembers 8 years ago today...Baird was in Dallas...Kelsey was in 1st grade...it was about 1pm when I decided I'd go out to run a few errands with the 2 younger ones. NO ONE was out and it was eerie. Where were you when the world stopped turning?
From Amy: Gettin the hell out of the Sears Tower! About to get married and also about to get pregnant with MP!
From Cheri: I watched the news when Andy called after the first tower was hit and saw the plane hit the second tower. Took E to preschool then got to work and watched the second tower collapse. Worked all day, but I think Andy got sent home early from downtown.
From Eric: A and I were walking to the L stop that morning to take a train ride to the Loop (because A loved trains back then). A neighbor's grandfather stopped us and told us to go watch the news on TV -- didn't say anything more. We turned back and turned on the TV just in time to see the first tower fall. A wasn't traumatized (like I was), but he did ask a lot of questions. Later we went to Berwyn to watch all the trains heading out of Chicago, so he could know all those people were safe.
From Kathleen: Miles was downtown working at the Tribune at the time. I couldn't get in touch with him. G was 6 months old. I paced the floor with him all morning. They were all in the basement of the Tower, then eventually evacuated. What a sad day. Prayers to all who lost loved ones.
From Kris: E was in Kindergarten. EK was little. I remember looking at the sky and not seeing any jets or planes. Everyone was very quiet at the school bond election that night.
From Kristin: I remember...was in my living room in Chicago taking care of my two small babies, drinking coffee and watching 'Today.' Saw the second place crash live. Called Duusy at work BEGGED him to come home thinking Chicago was 'next" on the hit -list. Wanted to get out of town -- but where was there safety. Went to 'emergency prayer service' at church that night to pray for mercy and guidance.
From Bronwyn: I was driving to Oak Park and for some reason did not have the radio on. I went into Great Harvest for coffee and someone said a plane had crashed and hit one of the Twin Towers. I went over to the Magic Tree and Maggie Bokum was there with a portable TV and the second plane hit. We were just watching in shock on this tiny tv all day. When customers or the post man or UPS guy would come in, no one would leave right away. Everyone stood huddled around the TV listening for a while first. It gives me chills today just thinking about it. I also remember the street being eerily quiet.
From Stephanie: Yep...the quiet was one of the most profound things I remember about that day. Living so close to 2 big airports...it is a very odd thing to all of a sudden hear nothing in the sky. I also was struck by what a gorgeous day it was outside, in contrast to the ugly that had happened. I held my 4 and 2 year olds tight... as I am sure we all did to our loved ones that day. Steve was heading downtown...I begged him not to...not knowing if the day's terror was done. It was frightening...sprinkled with so many heroic and tender moments...all playing out before all of our eyes. Still shocking to think about.
From Pauline: ALASKA! On a cruise the kids were 2 hours from the pentagon and we couldn't get a plane to get them...
Tonight I whisper a prayer for all those who lost loved ones eight years ago, and for all those who've since lost loved ones since then to the war on terrorism. The sacrifice of your loved ones will always be remembered.
Teresa Shattuck remembers 8 years ago today...Baird was in Dallas...Kelsey was in 1st grade...it was about 1pm when I decided I'd go out to run a few errands with the 2 younger ones. NO ONE was out and it was eerie. Where were you when the world stopped turning?
From Amy: Gettin the hell out of the Sears Tower! About to get married and also about to get pregnant with MP!
From Cheri: I watched the news when Andy called after the first tower was hit and saw the plane hit the second tower. Took E to preschool then got to work and watched the second tower collapse. Worked all day, but I think Andy got sent home early from downtown.
From Eric: A and I were walking to the L stop that morning to take a train ride to the Loop (because A loved trains back then). A neighbor's grandfather stopped us and told us to go watch the news on TV -- didn't say anything more. We turned back and turned on the TV just in time to see the first tower fall. A wasn't traumatized (like I was), but he did ask a lot of questions. Later we went to Berwyn to watch all the trains heading out of Chicago, so he could know all those people were safe.
From Kathleen: Miles was downtown working at the Tribune at the time. I couldn't get in touch with him. G was 6 months old. I paced the floor with him all morning. They were all in the basement of the Tower, then eventually evacuated. What a sad day. Prayers to all who lost loved ones.
From Kris: E was in Kindergarten. EK was little. I remember looking at the sky and not seeing any jets or planes. Everyone was very quiet at the school bond election that night.
From Kristin: I remember...was in my living room in Chicago taking care of my two small babies, drinking coffee and watching 'Today.' Saw the second place crash live. Called Duusy at work BEGGED him to come home thinking Chicago was 'next" on the hit -list. Wanted to get out of town -- but where was there safety. Went to 'emergency prayer service' at church that night to pray for mercy and guidance.
From Bronwyn: I was driving to Oak Park and for some reason did not have the radio on. I went into Great Harvest for coffee and someone said a plane had crashed and hit one of the Twin Towers. I went over to the Magic Tree and Maggie Bokum was there with a portable TV and the second plane hit. We were just watching in shock on this tiny tv all day. When customers or the post man or UPS guy would come in, no one would leave right away. Everyone stood huddled around the TV listening for a while first. It gives me chills today just thinking about it. I also remember the street being eerily quiet.
From Stephanie: Yep...the quiet was one of the most profound things I remember about that day. Living so close to 2 big airports...it is a very odd thing to all of a sudden hear nothing in the sky. I also was struck by what a gorgeous day it was outside, in contrast to the ugly that had happened. I held my 4 and 2 year olds tight... as I am sure we all did to our loved ones that day. Steve was heading downtown...I begged him not to...not knowing if the day's terror was done. It was frightening...sprinkled with so many heroic and tender moments...all playing out before all of our eyes. Still shocking to think about.
From Pauline: ALASKA! On a cruise the kids were 2 hours from the pentagon and we couldn't get a plane to get them...
Tonight I whisper a prayer for all those who lost loved ones eight years ago, and for all those who've since lost loved ones since then to the war on terrorism. The sacrifice of your loved ones will always be remembered.
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