La Quinta, California: A lot can happen in a 25 year old house left empty for three months. Before we left, the water supply valve behind the guest bath toilet failed and needed to be replaced. Pedro (our plumber) came out and swapped it out just moments before guests arrived and I didn't give it another thought. We hopped in the RV and explored the Wild Wild West.
While the 4L's were here over Labor Day weekend, the valve in the powder room toilet failed. No worries - we just closed the valve and closed the powder room door for the remainder of their visit. (One thing this house is not lacking: toilets.) Pedro was called again and it was determined our water pressure regulator (whole house) had failed and the pressure was over 100 psi (it should be under 65 psi). This was news to us as we didn't even know we HAD a water pressure regulator. It is in the garage where the water system enters the house, where the whole-house water shut-off switch is located... next to the whole-house water softener system. (I am just trying to explain there are a whole mess of pipes in the garage.)
But one things led to another. There was some sort of water build-up in the attic HVAC blower condenser drainage system due to high pressure. That was cleared and cleaned. Before Pedro was able to replace the pressure regulator, our pool filter system sprung a leak. It's a Skeleton Dance, except with plumbing. So we now have a clean pipes in the attic, new water supply valves on all 4 toilets (not taking any chances - just had all the old ones replaced), a new pipe on our pool equipment, and a shiny new water pressure regulator in the garage.
All of this just took so much time and we were doing nothing but watching, hanging around waiting for repair people, and writing checks. As Jimmy would say: Waiting for the Next Explosion.
There is a new documentary, Occupational Hazard: The First Coral Reefers, out in select theatres. It was showing at the Mary Pickford Theater in Cathedral City, so we had ourselves a date night! (Okay, nevermind, DT thought we were going to some-sort of Jimmy Buffett play until the actual day of our date.)
Before the movie, we had dinner out (rare for us when we are at home) at a place Lisa loves, Porta Via. I assumed it was an Italian restaurant, due to the name, but they have a bit of everything and a lot of seafood. After our crazy week, I was just happy they had Tanqueray.
I wore a parrot brooch for the occasion. Our server (a 20-something male) commented on the pin, and I explained we were going to a Jimmy Buffett documentary. His face went blank. Ya, know, a Parrothead? His face remained blank. I explained Jimmy Buffett fans were called Parrotheads. He made some-sort of a confused shoulder-shrugging motion. So I asked him if he knew was a Deadhead was. Nope. He had heard of the Grateful Dead though, so possibly all hope is not lost.
The documentary, concerning the very (very) early years of Buffett's career, during the time he moved to Key West and started making music with all sorts of misfits, geniuses, sailors, writers, and hooligans. Early 1970's to early 80's. DT stayed awake, and I did enjoy the film. Lots of things I did not know, many photos and film clips I had not previously seen. Occupational Hazards will stream on several outlets beginning in November.
Cooking and needlepointing continues to keep me occupied. One night we had Loaded Sweet Potatoes with Black Beans and Cheddar from the New York Times.
This was super easy and just delicious. Can't wait to make this dish again. (Dried black beans were stewed in the slow cooker all day with garlic and onion powders and ground cumin and I used Tillamook Sharp Cheddar, sour cream, cilantro and avocado.)
Except last week was no vacation!
We also went out to lunch one day. Tacos Gonzalez is open again after their annual one month vacation to Mexico.
And just so you don't think I am now just sitting around eating tostadas and stitching, we are having our 40-plus-year old dining table (and 10 chairs) "lightly" refinished and I am reupholstering the cushions myownself. Goodness what an undertaking this will be. Removing the back lining and cushion fabric from the first chair, 127 staples were removed. Was the upholsterer in Taipei paid per staple? We have had the Jim Thompson Thai silk ready for years, but only a few of the cushions really show much wear. But as long as the chairs were going to be refinished and the pads had to be popped-out... here we go! And who knew needlepointing would prepare me with an industrial staple gun and professional upholstery staple removers? We will see how this projects goes...
And I haven't even mentioned our new security system install!
Until my next update, I remain, your never a dull moment correspondent.
$400 sounds very cheap for all that work done by the plumber, compared to what it would cost in Australia. I am looking forward to seeing and hearing about your re-upholstery project, as that is something I am wanting to do with our dining chairs.
Oh that was just for the part! Labor was nearly the same. 😩