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Playing Handyman
May. 17th, 2004 12:18 pmWell, I spent the first week of break pretty much vegging out, but I decided I should start putting the time to use, so I went out to Sears Hardware today. I picked up some caulk, a toilet repair kit, and a set of Craftsman pliers.
A few years back, the toilet in the master bathroom started malfunctioning - the valve wouldn't seat properly, so it "sang" more or less continuously. I shut off the water and used the main bathroom after that. (Look, I said I'm a procrastinator, OK? I live alone; a single functioning toilet is sufficient.) Shortly afterwards, the other toilet went the way of the first. I shut off the water and bought a toilet repair kit, to fix the one in the master bath. This I succeeded in doing, and matters have stood thus since. But it's always nagged at me, so, as of about ten minutes ago, I once again have two working bathrooms.
The caulk is for the basement window, which leaked rather badly during the last rainstorm. I'll get to that later.
As for the pliers - I really only wanted a pair of needlenose pliers, but what the heck, you never know what'll come in handy someday. I wanted the pliers so I could have another go at the busted bulb in the living room chandelier. (Two bulbs give enough illumination; I don't need the third, but it looks unbalanced.) I've tried everything to get that bulb out - even the potato trick - with no success. At this point, there is nothing left in the interior to get a grip on; the needlenose pliers couldn't do the job. I may have to disassemble the chandelier itself to get the bulb out. Rats; I really don't look forward to that.
I'm nobody's handyman, but in the past I've been able to fix what needed fixing (although only when it became absolutely necessary). That blasted bulb is irritating.
But the toilet's fixed!
A few years back, the toilet in the master bathroom started malfunctioning - the valve wouldn't seat properly, so it "sang" more or less continuously. I shut off the water and used the main bathroom after that. (Look, I said I'm a procrastinator, OK? I live alone; a single functioning toilet is sufficient.) Shortly afterwards, the other toilet went the way of the first. I shut off the water and bought a toilet repair kit, to fix the one in the master bath. This I succeeded in doing, and matters have stood thus since. But it's always nagged at me, so, as of about ten minutes ago, I once again have two working bathrooms.
The caulk is for the basement window, which leaked rather badly during the last rainstorm. I'll get to that later.
As for the pliers - I really only wanted a pair of needlenose pliers, but what the heck, you never know what'll come in handy someday. I wanted the pliers so I could have another go at the busted bulb in the living room chandelier. (Two bulbs give enough illumination; I don't need the third, but it looks unbalanced.) I've tried everything to get that bulb out - even the potato trick - with no success. At this point, there is nothing left in the interior to get a grip on; the needlenose pliers couldn't do the job. I may have to disassemble the chandelier itself to get the bulb out. Rats; I really don't look forward to that.
I'm nobody's handyman, but in the past I've been able to fix what needed fixing (although only when it became absolutely necessary). That blasted bulb is irritating.
But the toilet's fixed!
