Troutbirder II

Troutbirder II
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Friday, June 3, 2011

The Toilet Crises

As everyone knows the early years of marriage usually require some adjustments and compromises. Facing and fixing a mechanical crises for first time homeowners can be one of them.

A clogged toilet is a case in point. In the days before equal rights for women had clearly taken hold it was definitely a "mans job." Mrs. T was "volunteered" as assitant and gopher. After much ado, she consented grudgingly. Further frustration and poor results followed the inexpert use of the plunger. The toilet plunger that is.... Loud voices were heard. Finally an ultimatum. "I'm going to call a plumber," she cried. I was humiliated.
The plumber arrived several days later (they are an independent lot). He was brandishing a "snake."
"That does the trick," he reported and left behind a large bill. Things were fine for a couple of days and then the problem reappeared. Although not recommended for septic systems, I resorted to extreme chemical measures.It had no effect whatsoever.
Mr Plumber was again called to the rescue. "My hero," seemed to be Mrs T's response. Yuk!!! Three days later.... again failure. This whole scenario was really starting to bug me. Fortunately, I took it out on the toilet. I called on a teaching comrade, who happened to be the handyman type as well as the physics teacher. He explained the mechanics of the thing and advised taking it apart.
I removed the toilet and set it in the bathtub. Yes.... the bathtub. Then I picked it up and turned it upside down. Some water came out and I also heard a "clink." Harking back to my childhood I remembered shaking my piggybank. "Aha... I've got a giant piggybank here," I thought. Much turning, twisting and shaking followed, until finally out came a toothbrush.

Dumbfounded, I then made a serious mistake. I yelled, in a not too friendly manner at my bride, lurking skeptically in the background. "HAVE YOU BEEN BRUSHING YOUR TEETH IN THE TOILET?" We obviously survived that misadventure. It wasn't until years later though I learned that a bucket of soapy water and toothbrush had been used to clean some tile in the kitchen. Toothbrush forgotten and water poured in the toilet.
Marital cooperation is always best but sometimes it can be a struggle......

22 comments:

  1. Funny! And yes, things going wrong with the toilet turn out to be pretty awful sometimes. So far in twenty years of marriage we have managed to finally get the toilet paper on the holder correctly. :-)

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  2. Funny, this was an early test of marriage.Having a few rentals I have many clogged toilet stories, and have retrieved a few toothbrushes.I hope you purchased the toilet snake, a valuable tool.

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  3. Umm, you failed to mention who forgot the toothbrush in the bucket... I guess that's not important.

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  4. LOL! Oh yes I remember those days too. However it was always me doing the repairs and hubby of the day yelling call the expert.

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  5. I can't pass up a blog that mentions potty humor, lol! I'm just glad to hear that she wasn't actually brushing her teeth in the toilet!

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  6. Great story! My dad was a carpenter and handyman and I followed him everywhere. My husband's parents were divorced when he was five so he had no one to teach him the basics. That became my job. I made him watch carefully and then passed the jobs off to him. Now that we are retired we never think of fixing anything...just put the handyman on speed dial.

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  7. At our house it was a doll's head ...

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  8. Ah! You could recount this story... finally? ;-) Just THINK of the plumbing lessons you learned. You probably wouldn't have thought to do it "on your own." lol.

    And what a dear sweet new bride to scrub the tile with a toothbrush!

    Thanks for the fun story! I can count on you. :-)

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  9. Snort, snort.... what a funny story!

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  10. Thanks for sharing this cute story. I'm glad you and Mrs. T got past this little episode.

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  11. haha great post! But i still can NOT understant american toilets! In Europe they don't go round and round, they just flush down... much much better i think! ;-)

    Thanks for sharing
    Leontien
    www.fourleafcloverdairy.blogspot.com

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  12. Great story, and told most politely. After years of suffering with an old Kohler, we remodeled the upstairs bath and replaced it with a Toto--that thing would suck a pig through a straw.

    PS: I fantasize about a summer in a lookout so I could catch up on my reading!

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  13. Kia ora TB,
    Ah, the joys and wonders of marital bliss. Great story.
    Cheers,
    Robb

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  14. You always share the funnest experiences with us all in such a great way. The comics were perfect.

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  15. LOL ~ haha ~ that is funny funny!

    I think the leading cause of divorce is home renovations and using your spouses toothbrush to clean grout. ;)

    xo Catherine

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  16. Ha, funny story! A clogged toilet - or other household disasters can lead to a marital crisis. Honey-do home renovations are also a challenge to any marriage.

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  17. Too funny! Now, to clean up spewed coffee....

    Jane

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  18. Too funny. We always dump waste water outside, so that won't happen here!
    BTW - I found out how to get rid of my orioles... I bought an oriole feeder! sigh. Haven't seen 'em since. But the hummers visit it!

    Now what will work for grackles?

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  19. LOL!! Too funny! You should send this one to Readers Digest!! I bet they'd publish it!! :)

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