Trying to beat the bathtub into submission

[mousme]

Yes, yet again.

I am trying to avoid calling in a plumber, as the last time I did it set me back over $100. Then again, I may end up going through $100 worth of Drano, so it may be worth it in the end.

*grr*

See, the bathtub in my apartment, from what I have been able to ascertain, is now permanently blocked. The drain, that is. To the point where no Liquid Plumber, Drano, or other liquid, powder, or other substance designed to unclog clogs has been able to do anything about it. Trust me on this, I've been doing this since November on a bi-weekly basis (and no, I don't mean every two weeks, I mean twice a damned week).

Given that the faucet on the bathtub leaks, like every other damned faucet in this place, this means I get the added joy of bailing out the bathtub at least every other day so my place doesn't get flooded. Joy reigns supreme.

Of course, I am a clean creature, so I bail it out every day after I take a shower or a bath. I take showers now, since they're faster and take up less water, and don't involve me sitting in the sludge that is probably sitting in the bottom of the tub. Say it with me, kids: Ewww!


The cat broke my favourite lamp yesterday. The cat came close to dying. Yes, it was George, in case there was any doubt. George has cost me more money than all the other three cats put together, including the World's Most Expensive Ear Infection. This is because George broke my computer last year, if you will recall. We can now add the lamp that I've had since I was three years old to that list. I hope it can be fixed.

Anyway, the added bonus to the breaking of the lamp into itty-bitty pieces is that, when the sparks flew, apparently that shorted out a whole 'nother circuit in my apartment. Don't ask me how that works, because I. don't. know. Really. I thought there were safeguards in place for this sort of thing. All I know is that now I have a grand total of three working outlets in my apartment, whereas there should be about six or possibly even eight. I haven't counted recently. The ceiling lamps have never worked in my room, but now I have the added bonus of their not working in half the living room. I can't use the small lamp in the living room, because I had to move one into the bedroom, which works only because I plugged it via extension cord into the kitchen.

Do we see where I'm going with this?

Naturally, the Idiot!Landlord has not answered any calls.

However, there is a potential light at the end of the tunnel. Once I have beaten the bathtub into sufficient submission to wash, I shall be performing my ablutions and going off to see an apartment later today! Yee! It's a bit more expensive, but much with the worth-it-ness if it means I can get out of the festering sinkhole of rotting wood, leaking roofs, sinking foundations, shorted circuitry, blocked and faulty plumbing, and rodent-and-wasp-infested badness that is my current apartment. Yay!

Okay. I think the bathtub may actually be draining a tiny bit. Off to go test my theory!

Comments

Re: Just saw this on a friend of a friend's page and thought I could be of service.

[mousme.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your advice. I shall certainly take all this into consideration in the future. I have no idea where the fuse box might be in this hell-hole of a place, nor do I have access to it, I don't think, sadly.

I have been asking the Idiot!Landlord to fix one of the short-circuits for three years now, ever since I moved in. He has failed to do so, and I don't have the money to pay an electrician to come in and do that for me. So, I haven't had any electricity in one part of my apartment for three years (the stairwell).

This is good for future reference, however.

As for the plumbing, a friend has offered me the use of their snake. My Idiot!Landlord, as mentioned above, will not front anything for a plumbing emergency. He does not answer his phone, nor does he respond to any attempt at communication. He is, basically, a slum lord. The only thing he understands is amounts withheld on on his monthly rent cheques, which is tricky since if I don't give him postdated cheques it's almost impossible to get ahold of him to give him his damned rent.

Basically, dealing with the man is a nightmare, and I'm very glad I'm getting out of here.

But your advice is going to be very useful under other circumstances, so thank you.

I've seen you in a number of my friends' journals. curtana, forthright and fearsclave, if I'm not wrong. What brings you to these humble pages? Certainly not my caustic political commentary, since that isn't exactly what I discuss around here. ;)

Re: Just saw this on a friend of a friend's page and thought I could be of service.

[montecristo.livejournal.com]

You have indeed seen me commenting in a number of your friends' journals. I have a habit of perving my friends' pages and today I was noodling around on ingenuemuse's friend's page and saw your predicament.

You're already friended by:

• curtana
• fearsclave
• forthright
• ingenuemuse
• prolixfootle
• sorceror

...who are on my friends list as well.

Heavens, you come so highly recommended that I feel I have been missing something by not reading you all that often. Would you mind if I subscribed? I wouldn't expect any reciprocation and I tend to comment when something strikes my interest, or my curiosity, which is insatiable, but I'm used to taking "No, mind your own business" for an answer to my many questions. What say you?

Re: Just saw this on a friend of a friend's page and thought I could be of service.

[mousme.livejournal.com]

I don't mind in the slightest. In fact, having seen many of your insightful replies to my good friends in their posts, I think I will in fact reciprocate.