Plumbing on a Sunday. Could it get any worse?

Plumbing on a Sunday. Could it get worse?

It is Sunday, I’ve got a job to do and as long as I stay focused it shouldn’t take more than an hour. First things first, turn the water off. Now, where are my tools, where is my boy at? He could really be helpful, I could pass him tools through the widow I am working next to.  Ah, there he is. Ok good. Nice to have some help.

Where did he go? I really wish he was helping but he is likely just sitting in my office and playing music or whatever. This is a serious pain in the ass having to run up and down the stairs to check fittings outside and then fittings inside. So much faster if he was helping. Besides he could learn how to measure pipe and cut it and then solder it all together. Starting to feel a little bummed out.  Last thing, turn on the water. F&^%! It leaks. Dammit I wish he would have helped more. This has become work. Damn kid.

Why is the joint leaking? It makes no sense. The fitting is tight and threaded all the way. Hmmm. Oh well, let’s check You Tube. No help there. Off to the store I go with a length of pipe and my outdoor tap which, by the way, I had to take apart again. Damn boy. Oh well. Guess it doesn’t matter. After all, he is a pretty helpful young man much more than he isn’t.

I feel a little silly, both bits of pipe in my hands as I walk into the store. A young man approaches me to offer help. We quickly settle on a simple fix. I grab some Teflon tape to put around the threads to join the two pipes.  Here is the rub. As I got in my car I put my hand in my pocket and lo and behold, my roll of teflon tape. Doh. I had it all along.

A few things stand out from this experience. Maybe they will resonate in your experience as well.

1.  Being caught up in my thinking interfered with my ability to do the job.
2. The more time I spent being upset the worse I did at my job.
3. As soon as I allowed my mind to stay on task I was done with ease.
4. I was solely responsible for making a one hour job a three hour job.