Yellow River by  I.P. Freely

Yellow River by I.P. Freely

You might think I’m talking about a new piece of art for my living room.

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But I’m not.  I’m talking about the fact that I fixed my leaky toilet today.  What a job!  It has been leaking a few drops out of the tank for about a month and I couldn’t figure out the source.  Finally, the drips became a stream and I had to turn off my toilet.  I have been a toilet pirate for about 3 weeks using everyone else’s toilet (we have 5 here) or going downstairs to the half bath by the family room.  Enough is enough.

I didn’t have money to call a plumber and I don’t have a “honey” for my “honey-do” list so I had to do it myself.  I didn’t have  the slightest idea how to fix it so I went to YouTube.  Of course, there was a video for that.  Turned out to be a big job.

See those two bolts behind the toilet seat hinges?  Those were completely rusted. The guy at a local large hardware depot who will remain nameless told me to get some rust spray and the “nuts will come right off the bolts.”  So I did….and they didn’t.  All it did was stink up the bathroom.

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My next option was to take the blade of a hacksaw and cut through the bolts using a make-shift hacksaw blade handle from a washcloth so I wouldn’t cut my hand as I sawed because you couldn’t get a tool between the tank and the bowl.  After a very long afternoon, I finally cut through and removed the tank. I replaced the bolts and washers and hurray…I can now pee freely.

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11 Responses to Yellow River by I.P. Freely

  1. Sally June 13, 2016 at 5:10 pm #

    You are quite the plumber!

  2. Barbars June 13, 2016 at 7:56 pm #

    You are so funny. Never would I try to fix my toilet. Great admiration for you. The picture of you with the mask and goggles was so funny. Can’t wait to see your next project.

    • Sherri June 13, 2016 at 7:58 pm #

      I am laughing so hard I’m crying!!!

      • Julie June 13, 2016 at 8:31 pm #

        Yes, and what makes it funnier is that it’s all true. I wore the mask because of the smell and the goggles because of the metal filings. I had gloves on, too.

    • Julie June 13, 2016 at 8:29 pm #

      The next project is to fix the fluorescent light in my closet however I am waiting for my best day ever because if I get electrocuted I want to go out on a good day.

  3. Brenda Scruggs June 13, 2016 at 9:39 pm #

    Rosie Riveter. #Iamwoman. Congratulations on a job well done that most of us wouldn’t think of tackling.

    • Julie June 13, 2016 at 10:18 pm #

      Thank you. Desperation makes for handy women.

  4. Ansley Monaghan June 14, 2016 at 7:59 am #

    I need new guts inside my toilet. Come on down to Savannah.

    • Julie June 14, 2016 at 10:26 am #

      That could be arranged. Let me pack my mask and goggles…

  5. Merry Carol June 14, 2016 at 8:55 pm #

    Be careful “advertising” your plumbing skills…next thing you know, you will be required to belong to the plumbers’ union and I understand the dues are “stinking” high.

    • Julie June 14, 2016 at 9:15 pm #

      I can assure you that they would not want me in the plumbers’ union. My underwear covers my crack and I take too long to finish a task!

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