As expected, I had a restless night, not able to wind down and relax after all the excitement of the flood. What to do? What to do? Ugh! Even though the phone calls had been made and as much handled as could be handled, my brain was still busy. My arms, legs, and back, along with eyes, were ready to sleep, but not the rest of me. I will make up for it with an afternoon nap.
This a.m., after Justin and I got the stuff moved around from his bathroom last night, the plumber is coming to replace the works in his toilet. I got the name of a guy who worked for Nancy when her shut-off valve went bad in January, and they could come first thing in the morning.
Set for 9:00 a.m., I sent out an e-mail letting my neighbors know, and went to tell Gus in person as he has no Internet. Gus asked me, "What can I do to help you?" So sweet! He actually has a control valve built into his unit to shut off the water for the 'stack' of units above his, so was going to be ready to pull the lever if needed. That's my guy!
Johnny (a funny name for a toilet repair guy!) came about an hour late, but that's fine with me, making quick work of the project. I apologized more than once for hovering, explaining how delicate the plumbing is, asking him to handle things gingerly. I showed him the results of yesterday's flood so he understood how scary it is for me. At least he said he did....
In fact, Johnny gave me a slight discount, and just over a hundred dollars later, he was out the door. He gave me his phone information in case I needed him back again. Nice! His company charges a minimum rate to come out, and before leaving, he asked me if there was anything else I needed doing as long as he was there. I told him 'no', but later thought of a couple things. Never mind, not important right now.
Mike K. was coming by around noon to look at the wet drywall and give me his opinion and perhaps an estimate. In the meanwhile, I kept busy with some church projects, printing and preparing for mailing the Prospect newsletter. On the address side of the folded page I include service times and upcoming special events. This time it was midweek Lenten and future Holy Week services. My, the time does fly!
When Linda is here next week, a group of ladies are going to Basketique to have a Tea Party again. I had to make some arrangements for that today. The previous one, in early February, was not met enthusiastically, and only 5 of the seven who paid to attend actually came. We loved it, and word spread. Now, I am nearing the maximum number they can serve properly. When I mentioned it at Ladies' Group, Twila said, 'We heard from you all about how great it was'...I guess they needed to hear it from someone else than what I told them about it!
The Ladies' Group is also having a Mother's Day weekend brunch at Honey B's on Fleming Island which I will miss because of being in Manty. I made the sign-up sheet and prepared the postcard invitations which will be distributed when it's closer to the date. It is good to have such projects to keep one busy when waiting for the repair man to show up!
Mike brought his moisture meter and detected very soggy drywall. He took the can lights down to open the air space above them, so the air from the blower, which he set on the vanity, can blow into the holes. He said it might take a week or so before it would dry. If I wanted him to, he could replace the drywall and be done with it, but he suggested I call Mr. Drywall to come and do it quickly. Mike now works alone, since his brother is ill (Andy, Jr.), and it would be awhile before he could do this. The big thing is that Linda is coming and would need this bathroom, but we can adjust!
As far as the bedroom ceiling goes, he is unsure how to address that issue since the ceiling is actually concrete with a finish over the top (or bottom) of the slab. I suggested spraying it with Kilz, and he was not crazy about that idea at first, but once he thought about this, maybe changed his mind. I showed him other areas in my home where similar damage has taken place and how it was addressed, or not addressed. He suggested Mr. Drywall might know how to proceed, which is fine with me.
Later, he called me back, having given it some thought. He will come back on Tuesday, hang some temporary lights from the ceiling, leaving the space open to breathe, so Linda can use the bathroom at night. When it's time to sleep, we can simply shut off the blower so it's quiet for sleeping. Linda can use the shower in there and the potty, and use the sink in the hall bath, or baby wipes. During the day, she can use the hall bath..so all is well! Mike said he just had to think about it a little while. Mr. Drywall can't get here until Wednesday to look over the job, so that's why Mike came up with the plan!
Before Mike left my home, I showed him the completed booklet and Time/Talent sheets, giving him his. I told him the plan of not putting them in the mailboxes until Sunday so that folks have them in hand when he gives his talk. He found that idea to be well-thought. Wow! We had met about this on Ash Wednesday and the project is already out the door! The last time the sheets were completed was 5 years ago and so many things have changed since then, with half the names appearing on the sheets no longer in the congregation.
Justin came home from work, the landscape job, and got cleaned up right away. Jesse and he were finally going to see "Act of Valor", the movie about the Navy SEALS. I have the night to myself and my pillow, hoping to have a good, solid nights' sleep. As Linda suggested via Facebook chat, she wished me 'the sleep of the just'. I just want to sleep!
