Soul wrapped in skin ([info]preppyperv) wrote,
@ 2007-04-13 15:57:00
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RIP Mr. Drain Snake
Today, I needed to go to Homo Depot. I stopped on my way back from Charm City. I was wearing a rugby shirt, sneakers and plaid pj pants. So what? You wanna make something of it?

I didn't think so...

I ran into this leatherguy I used to work with and then ran into one of the ex's minions. Oh what joy to be dressed like this and seeing those folks. Then it dawned on me, who gives a shit what people I don't really care for think? I mean...really!

But this post is not about them...it is about my drain. My very slow moving drain. My same drain that I paid Roto-Rooter 300 bucks to come and fix last year. The dude used a 25 foot snake last time, so that is what I bought at the Homo Depot. His was electric, I opted for the mid range, metal model.

I got it home and immediately began to set it all up. I fucked with the snake and the drain for over an hour and a heap good manly stink to no avail. I looked up some hints and everything said just be patient. I was. I persisted. I took apart the overflow drain. That all looked fine. I kept pushing the snake into the drain deeper and deeper. I got about 20 feet out. I live in a condo, so twenty feet means it is in the main pipe, not my immediate unit. So, again, I am cleaning up other peoples shit, too!

I felt the snake jerk when I was winding it. It had caught something. I slowly pulled it back. I got most of it wound back when it would not budge. But I knew I had gotten the clog because the water I had put in the tub to tell me when I got it, all sucked right out, nice and fast.

I tugged and tugged. I grunted and tugged. I man-stinked and tugged. I sweated and tugged. Nothing.

So I crawled down there for a closer look and I saw why there was no give.

A hairball, the size of my head, which contained no hair from my head mind you, was trapped just below the drain basket. It was no use. The thing was so big it was not coming out. Unless I could get the basket out.

No go.

So, I got a mallet and screwdriver and broke the little basket apart. Out came the monster.

It was fucking huge.

And man, oh man, did it ever stink!

Dear sweet jesus, it was so nasty.

So then came the next phase, clean up.

I was going to have to cut away the enormous hairball from the end of the snake. Oh dear god...NO! Not with any of my sharp implements.
Fuck that, yo!

So, I figured this little equation out...

Cost of plumber 300 bucks, which I did not spend.
Cost of snake, 13 bucks.
Cost of me having to clean that ginormous, stinky, nasty-ass hairball out of it? Huh, there ain't enough money in the world!


Now I say, rest in peace my little drain snake. We only knew one another for an afternoon. But you served me well.

I shall return soon with a real live update on my life, as I am sure a few of you noticed, I hadn't done in a month or so.

So much to tell...but now, I must scrub my tub and take a much earned shower!



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[info]croyable
2007-04-13 08:18 pm UTC (link)
thanks freakin' nasty! i am glad you got that out, what a mess!!!

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[info]preppyperv
2007-04-13 08:34 pm UTC (link)
Dude, I tell ya it sucked. I have done some nasty jobs with home repair...but anything plumbing, has got to be the worst.

I had been growing my hair out all hippie/rock star/emo boy like, but maybe I will go shave it tonight...just to not contribute to the nasty in the communal drains!

When will you be here? I am so excited for you to arrive, we all have lots of catching up to do.

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[info]cocobuttr
2007-04-13 08:29 pm UTC (link)
*giggling hysterically*

So, um, want to come seduce the persistent clog out of my bathtub drain?

*ducking*

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[info]preppyperv
2007-04-13 08:37 pm UTC (link)
Now, honestly, C? You really wanna go there?

I could come up there and do it for you...but wouldn't you gain a greater sense of satisfaction from doing that yourself? No, you say?

Well, just saying in exchange for my coming up there and rooting out your drain...I may just make ya clean the end of my snake off!

Smartypants!

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[info]cocobuttr
2007-04-13 08:59 pm UTC (link)
Actually, I tried. I unscrewed the little strainer doohickey from the drain and then discovered that the drain itself had little cross-bars in it that made it completely impossible to get the snake into the drain. I didn't have the faintest idea what to do with that. I tried a little plastic hair-hooker thingy from Homo Depot, but it wasn't long enough to do any good. After that, I gave up.

I cut up dead things for a living. You'd be amazed at my capacity for coping with the gross factor. I started to elaborate, but then decided that that really wasn't fair and deleted the specifics.

So, to watch a cute butch laboring over my stubborn tub drain, sweaty and stinky and maybe accidentally flashing some skin? Sure, I'll clean off the end of the snake.

*laugh*

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Dirty!
[info]preppyperv
2007-04-13 09:06 pm UTC (link)
I had those little crosshairs too...until I punched them out! Otherwise that dang ball and snake would still be down my drain.

I could promise you some good stink and a lot of the plumber butt, if that works, I am in!

On a serious note, you need a snake with a small head on it. The one that looks like the little corkscrew, then literally screw in through one of the little openings. Then just keep pushing, it is a pain in the butt! I know why the plumber was so much now...geesh! That is hard work. The snake will find its way though. When you meet resistance, screw it around with the handle, then keep pushing.

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Re: Dirty!
[info]cocobuttr
2007-04-13 09:20 pm UTC (link)
I'll take the plumber butt, thanks. ;)

As for the serious bit, thank you--I don't know much about plumbing and didn't know snakes came with different size heads. Maybe I should just try to get rid of the crossbars. How did you get the ones out of your drain? One of these days when I'm feeling very motivated (or very frustrated), I'll tackle it again.

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Re: Dirty!
[info]preppyperv
2007-04-13 09:27 pm UTC (link)
Excellent choice, my dear. My plumber butt is supreme. Cuz well, it means I am commando! And extra, extra tough for going commando in Carhartt work pants. That is something lemme tell ya...but I digress.

There is a tool you can buy/rent/borrow specifically for taking those baskets out. I had never seen one, you can try two screwdrivers and work them against each other, but it didn't work for me. That is a tough angle and leverage sucks. I would try a small head snake and go from there. The alternative is to removed the plate and stopper on the overflow drain and go down the pipe that way. I tried that and shoulda stuck with it, I would still have an intact basket. Good luck, C.

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Re: Dirty! (and proud of it)
[info]cocobuttr
2007-04-13 09:35 pm UTC (link)
How badly damaged is your basket? Perhaps I should examine it for you...?

*giggle*

It never occurred to me to try an alternate entry. I'll have to see if that's do-able. If not, I'll go compare snakes at the dreaded orange box store. Thanks. :)

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[info]redindigo
2007-04-13 08:39 pm UTC (link)
Um, Mister, I much prefer the building of Ikea bookshelves instead.

Ok?

Ok thank you.

P.S. - I demand a response to my texty-wexty!!! <3, ginger peach

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I know you do, Ginger.
[info]preppyperv
2007-04-13 09:10 pm UTC (link)
I promise that I will not ask you to do dirty things...ever!

Although, I did just get my new cd/dvd binders, leather no less, and I have all these cds to organize and stuff. I was wondering if you knew anyone who liked to organize? Maybe someone with a Pearl that could copy all those said cds?

I will respond...I was up in the air on the evening.

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Re: I know you do, Ginger.
[info]redindigo
2007-04-13 09:14 pm UTC (link)
*jumps up and down*

PICK ME! PICK ME!

Gawd, do you even need to ask?!

Organizing and IKEA! You sure do know how to turn a girl on, Mr. Perv.

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Re: I know you do, Ginger.
[info]preppyperv
2007-04-13 09:19 pm UTC (link)
I just love that icon...is that a tiny manthong you are knitting for me? You know next Saturday is my birthday! Just saying.

I will call you in a bit, to figure stuff out.

I am such a tease, huh? I just got two boxes of cds from G today. I have all my stuff and figure some Ledo's and pay-per-view while we all sit around my living room, alphabetizing and sorting, would be hawt.

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Re: I know you do, Ginger.
[info]redindigo
2007-04-13 09:28 pm UTC (link)
HAHAHA. Yes, a tiny manthong just for you. And a similarly butch one for Mr. Bun Bun.

That evening sounds fantastical. I'm awaiting your call. :)

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[info]croyable
2007-04-13 08:49 pm UTC (link)
plumbing jobs suck, especially when you don't know what you're doing (me, not you). i flooded my building one time trying to "fix" my toilet.

we're thinking july mid to late probably! will be nice to see you!

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Whoopsie!
[info]preppyperv
2007-04-13 09:02 pm UTC (link)
I flooded my old apartment by trying to flush a litter pan full of the scoopable, aka clumping, cat litter. What a mess. It was like a brick of concrete in the toilet. I learned that the hard way. I spent Christmas morning praying it didn't get to the apartment below, as I mopped up all the water...since I believe I probably flushed a few times thinking that would fix it.

Excellent on the July front. I will be around for most of the summer. No more travel for work at the new job.

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Re: Whoopsie!
[info]croyable
2007-04-13 09:09 pm UTC (link)
yikes! i think i didnt that once too, ah...learning the hard way...

well, i have no idea what i will be doing at this point, gotta find a job, i havent given notice yet here, and we're going to be looking for places in takoma park in the coming weeks online--plus we'll visit in may probably just to orient ourselves with the area. big fun...

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Re: Whoopsie!
[info]preppyperv
2007-04-13 09:12 pm UTC (link)
I just got a new job...thankfully. I start on Monday. You want to be doing the same thing? Let me know if I can help with stuff here.

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Re: Whoopsie!
[info]croyable
2007-04-13 10:07 pm UTC (link)
i;m so glad to hear you got a new job, i hadn't seen any posts about it---! yay! i am very sure to reach out when we get there. i think we may spend a little time getting set up and then try to take a little camping trip, but i will need to get cracking on getting a job if i don't end up getting one before coming down. i will probably look into staying in my field, but i am open to looking outside it if something interesting comes up. thanks s.

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[info]lookslikelori
2007-04-13 08:50 pm UTC (link)
Well hell ...

I got me a snake a couple weeks ago and had one hell of a time making it work. I couldn't get the sucker down the drain. But I didn't spend an hour trying.

I need YOU!!!!!

It's aweful pretty down here this time of year ;)

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[info]lookslikelori
2007-04-13 08:50 pm UTC (link)
But I DID cut wood and fix my flower box today ...

I'm sure that means something but I'm not sure what.

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[info]preppyperv
2007-04-13 08:59 pm UTC (link)
I think it means that you are right suited for that country living, my dear. I miss splitting wood, when I did that I used to have good arms and shoulders, but um, well that has been a long while.

I am jealous you get to have a yard...mine is evergreen astroturf! But I got some herbs coming back.

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[info]lookslikelori
2007-04-13 11:58 pm UTC (link)
You are welcome to come play in my yard any time .. Bring the snake ;)

Actually, I'm right on the edge of Spotsylvania and would love to have you visit some time soon .. with or without your snake :)

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[info]preppyperv
2007-04-13 08:57 pm UTC (link)
It was tough stuff, I couldn't tell if it was the bend in the pipe or if it was a clog. I just would push till it resisted then grind it. It eventually worked.

I bet it is pretty down there. I still want to plan a visit sometime. You aren't that far from my mom in Spotsylvania.

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[info]whimsicalpops
2007-04-13 09:03 pm UTC (link)
Some day I will tell you the story of the very large tampon and the clogged drain... with landlord, plumber all involved in the process.

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Oh dear god...
[info]preppyperv
2007-04-13 09:08 pm UTC (link)
You win! You win! I declare Pops the winner, in front of the world.

Uh, maybe we can just catch up and skip that story? Heehee!

Although, I am tougher than I think, so I will take you up on that.

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Re: Oh dear god...
[info]whimsicalpops
2007-04-13 10:34 pm UTC (link)
Hey I censored myself in my typing I didn't use the word "used"...

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Re: Oh dear god...
[info]preppyperv
2007-04-13 11:13 pm UTC (link)
Uncle! Uncle! You really win now, Pops. I might beat ya, if I had a smell function on the camera...but then again, um, yeah, you mighta won that round too.

I am not gonna sleep tonight, I just know it. Big used tampons with frightening wigs that stink will be trying to lure me into the bathtub....to my death!

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Re: Oh dear god...
[info]whimsicalpops
2007-04-13 11:33 pm UTC (link)
Oh jeeze you would put a wig on it!

zipping my lip and laughing so hard my chair is going to slip out from under me...

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Re: Oh dear god...
[info]preppyperv
2007-04-14 12:38 am UTC (link)
Look, this Monday, I will walk into work at one of the largest eco orgs in the country. So, if you think I got that job by being wasteful, you got another thing coming, big fella!

Of course, I would recycle the hairball and make it a wig in my dream, er nightmare.

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[info]irregularjoe
2007-04-14 01:54 am UTC (link)
First, you looked supercute in the plaid pants this morning. Super. Cute.

Second, you could probably have turned that chunk of hair into a lovely felted Christmas ornament, or cat toy, or nest for homeless birds. Too bad you're handy, not crafty.

I am crafty, but I wouldn't have touched it either.

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