USMB Coffee Shop IV

[saveliberty]

I wish I had someone like you, although my lawn guy will do a few things for me that I can't. Recently a small section of my gutter came away from the house in a heavy downpour we had...it was an easy fix but not for an old lady like me, lol...so I asked Alfonso and he fixed it. Gave him some extra $$.

There are just so many things that being an older woman living alone with some back issues can't do but really don't require a professional ....but it's hard to find even a handyman that doesn't cost as much as a pro sometimes.

That's why I'm downsizing and can't wait to get the heck out of here, every year there will be more things needing fixing.

I have 8 smoke alarms in my house and a few are in areas where I need the real tall heavy ladder and it's a pain, I can still do that but I'm sure there will be a day I can't an do want out of here before that.

My business is part-time, in addition to my regular one. It sort of morphed on its own to outside maintenance. Many older folks who need someone to keep them in their home longer. I usually lose them to memory loss. I should charge more. I have replaced lights/switches/sinks/water heaters and several other things.

 

[boedicca]

Morning all!

Foxy - I can't stand crows. A few years ago, a belligerent bunch took over our neighborhood. Now, we hardly ever see the morning doves and songbirds that used to nest every year.

Actually that's mourning doves, with a U. Named for their plaintive wistful sound.

Ah, thank you for the correction. I'm not a bird watcher, but I do love those sweet soft grey doves. One year, I saw over a dozen of them in the persimmon tree that hangs over into our yard. So beautiful.

Their call is the purr of the bird world. Pigeons are pretty close.

Yes. Sadly so. We have several cats in the neighborhood that terrorize the doves.

 

[CeeCee]

I wish I had someone like you, although my lawn guy will do a few things for me that I can't. Recently a small section of my gutter came away from the house in a heavy downpour we had...it was an easy fix but not for an old lady like me, lol...so I asked Alfonso and he fixed it. Gave him some extra $$.

There are just so many things that being an older woman living alone with some back issues can't do but really don't require a professional ....but it's hard to find even a handyman that doesn't cost as much as a pro sometimes.

That's why I'm downsizing and can't wait to get the heck out of here, every year there will be more things needing fixing.

I have 8 smoke alarms in my house and a few are in areas where I need the real tall heavy ladder and it's a pain, I can still do that but I'm sure there will be a day I can't an do want out of here before that.

My business is part-time, in addition to my regular one. It sort of morphed on its own to outside maintenance. Many older folks who need someone to keep them in their home longer. I usually lose them to memory loss. I should charge more. I have replaced lights/switches/sinks/water heaters and several other things.

I have some lights that have burned out and that's the way I leave them because I just can't get to them...

I guess I could ask a neighbor but I just hate asking for help...

 

[Foxfyre]

View attachment 120153

Good morning or good afternoon whatever the case may be and a good evening to esthermoon! Just drinking my coffee and reading the posts...

Nice day here, sunny and 80 and the only crimp in my day is the plumber coming at 1:00p.m. My garbage disposal isn't working and the drain is clogged...it's a double sink in the kitchen and at least the other side is fine but can't use my dishwasher because it drains into the clogged sink...I can live without the dishwasher since it's just me but it needs fixing.

This house is 17 years old and it's just been one thing after another lately.

Do you have the little metal crank that comes with the garbage disposal. When ours stops working, the crank usually frees it up and it works fine again. But I agree that house gremlins are sadistic. Seems like when one thing goes haywire at least one other some else does too.

 

[CeeCee]

Yes, I do but it didn't work...of course the plumbers might be able to do that, lol.

I'm a klutz!

Truth is I don't even know where mine is so my daughter gave me her extra one and I couldn't get it to fit but they're pretty universal, no?

Also, when I moved here I still had a man in my life so didn't pay attention to these things, then a year after my hubby died I met someone who moved in with me and he was good at fixing things but that's all he was good at and I just didn't love him like my husband and we split. That was 9 years ago and now I don't remember anything about this house.

 

[Foxfyre]

I wish I had someone like you, although my lawn guy will do a few things for me that I can't. Recently a small section of my gutter came away from the house in a heavy downpour we had...it was an easy fix but not for an old lady like me, lol...so I asked Alfonso and he fixed it. Gave him some extra $$.

There are just so many things that being an older woman living alone with some back issues can't do but really don't require a professional ....but it's hard to find even a handyman that doesn't cost as much as a pro sometimes.

That's why I'm downsizing and can't wait to get the heck out of here, every year there will be more things needing fixing.

I have 8 smoke alarms in my house and a few are in areas where I need the real tall heavy ladder and it's a pain, I can still do that but I'm sure there will be a day I can't an do want out of here before that.

We have a guy that works alone and we call on to do those things that we can't do anymore. He is an HVAC specialist who changes over our heating system to A/C in the spring and our A/C system to heat in the fall, but he is also really handy with other things. He has a provisional plumbing license so he can do things like install a garbage disposal or plumb in the new refrigerator/freezer unit, etc. We pay his going rate to do all of this of course but we know he's honest and he'll do it right and he never pads his bill--I suspect he shaves some off of it for us . And he also knows a whole bunch of other contractors he can recommend who he knows are honest and trustworthy and affordable when it is a job he doesn't have time to do or doesn't feel he is competent to do like a complicated wiring job.

I can't tell you what a blessing he has been to us.

 

[Foxfyre]

Yes, I do but it didn't work...of course the plumbers might be able to do that, lol.

I'm a klutz!

I'll admit I don't do it either. But once a disposal really starts giving problems it is usually best just to replace it.

 

[Foxfyre]

All caught up again!
Who knew carburetors could be so...incomprehensible! My students are struggling through their carburetor lab, some are falling behind. Just wait until the get to the pressure carbs! OMG! I am patient and try to explain how things work, and most of the principles are basic physics, but some things are tough to get your head around. Still a helluva lot of fun for me. I enjoy watching most of my students when the concepts finally sink in and their understanding becomes clearly writ upon their face. So far, I have brought clarity to most of my native English speakers, my Iraqi, and two Korean students. The Japanese student is having a language problem and I am teaching him the proper vocabulary, he can translate as needed to Japanese. If only I could speak any of their native languages as well as they speak English...

We were spending a rare few days in Vegas once and I was at the blackjack table. A couple from Italy was also at the table. They spoke pretty good English but were having a terrible time figuring out American money--sort of like when we are in Canada, we are pretty much at the mercy of the honesty of the Canadians when it comes to paying and making change. A Japanese couple, also at the table, spoke very little English, but they absolutely understood the money.

 

[saveliberty]

Yes, I do but it didn't work...of course the plumbers might be able to do that, lol.

I'm a klutz!

Truth is I don't even know where mine is so my daughter gave me her extra one and I couldn't get it to fit but they're pretty universal, no?

Also, when I moved here I still had a man in my life so didn't pay attention to these things, then a year after my hubby died I met someone who moved in with me and he was good at fixing things but that's all he was good at and I just didn't love him like my husband and we split. That was 9 years ago and now I don't remember anything about this house.

When you say it does not work, do you mean there is no sound/doesn't turn on? That is usually the fuse and there is a little red button on the disposal you press.

 

[CeeCee]

I wish I had someone like you, although my lawn guy will do a few things for me that I can't. Recently a small section of my gutter came away from the house in a heavy downpour we had...it was an easy fix but not for an old lady like me, lol...so I asked Alfonso and he fixed it. Gave him some extra $$.

There are just so many things that being an older woman living alone with some back issues can't do but really don't require a professional ....but it's hard to find even a handyman that doesn't cost as much as a pro sometimes.

That's why I'm downsizing and can't wait to get the heck out of here, every year there will be more things needing fixing.

I have 8 smoke alarms in my house and a few are in areas where I need the real tall heavy ladder and it's a pain, I can still do that but I'm sure there will be a day I can't an do want out of here before that.

We have a guy that works alone and we call on to do those things that we can't do anymore. He is an HVAC specialist who changes over our heating system to A/C in the spring and our A/C system to heat in the fall, but he is also really handy with other things. He has a provisional plumbing license so he can do things like install a garbage disposal or plumb in the new refrigerator/freezer unit, etc. We pay his going rate to do all of this of course but we know he's honest and he'll do it right and he never pads his bill--I suspect he shaves some off of it for us . And he also knows a whole bunch of other contractors he can recommend who he knows are honest and trustworthy and affordable when it is a job he doesn't have time to do or doesn't feel he is competent to do like a complicated wiring job.

I can't tell you what a blessing he has been to us.

I just had my A/C replaced last summer for $5,000 but thankfully my daughter and SIL payed for it. I just had my free air filter change and inspection that was included in that deal..I get one more in the fall for free.

What I didn't know is that they also do plumbing and I so that's who I callled now for the disposal and it's free this time for them to come out and see what the problem is...of course I'll have to pay for whatever they do but my last visit from a plumber from another company charged $125 just to come out...it was an $8 dollar part that needed replacing and something a man could have done if I had one, lol...so that bill was around $135!

 

[CeeCee]

Yes, I do but it didn't work...of course the plumbers might be able to do that, lol.

I'm a klutz!

Truth is I don't even know where mine is so my daughter gave me her extra one and I couldn't get it to fit but they're pretty universal, no?

Also, when I moved here I still had a man in my life so didn't pay attention to these things, then a year after my hubby died I met someone who moved in with me and he was good at fixing things but that's all he was good at and I just didn't love him like my husband and we split. That was 9 years ago and now I don't remember anything about this house.

When you say it does not work, do you mean there is no sound/doesn't turn on? That is usually the fuse and there is a little red button on the disposal you press.

Yes, no sound at all...I don't see a red button....but even though I was very careful using that sink because I knew the disposal wasn't working, the sink won't drain anymore...so can't use the dishwasher.

 

[saveliberty]

Yes, I do but it didn't work...of course the plumbers might be able to do that, lol.

I'm a klutz!

Truth is I don't even know where mine is so my daughter gave me her extra one and I couldn't get it to fit but they're pretty universal, no?

Also, when I moved here I still had a man in my life so didn't pay attention to these things, then a year after my hubby died I met someone who moved in with me and he was good at fixing things but that's all he was good at and I just didn't love him like my husband and we split. That was 9 years ago and now I don't remember anything about this house.

When you say it does not work, do you mean there is no sound/doesn't turn on? That is usually the fuse and there is a little red button on the disposal you press.

Yes, no sound at all...I don't see a red button....but even though I was very careful using that sink because I knew the disposal wasn't working, the sink won't drain anymore...so can't use the dishwasher.

The button is small

Most of them have one.

If it is not draining, it is possible it is clogged and the motor burned out, which means replacing it. I'd still look for the button though.

 

[CeeCee]

Yes, I do but it didn't work...of course the plumbers might be able to do that, lol.

I'm a klutz!

Truth is I don't even know where mine is so my daughter gave me her extra one and I couldn't get it to fit but they're pretty universal, no?

Also, when I moved here I still had a man in my life so didn't pay attention to these things, then a year after my hubby died I met someone who moved in with me and he was good at fixing things but that's all he was good at and I just didn't love him like my husband and we split. That was 9 years ago and now I don't remember anything about this house.

When you say it does not work, do you mean there is no sound/doesn't turn on? That is usually the fuse and there is a little red button on the disposal you press.

Yes, no sound at all...I don't see a red button....but even though I was very careful using that sink because I knew the disposal wasn't working, the sink won't drain anymore...so can't use the dishwasher.

The button is small

Most of them have one.

If it is not draining, it is possible it is clogged and the motor burned out, which means replacing it. I'd still look for the button though.

Is that on the bottom of the disposal? Is that what you need that tool for?

I physically can't see the bottom on my disposal, so I'm just feeling around for the reset button.

I e put drano in that sink which might have been a mistake...this morning I tried the plunger and water shot out of that little hole thingy that's on the sink and it must have gotten on my favorite Nike black jacket because I noticed little red dots on it like when bleach gets on something....good thing it didn't get in my eyes....I'm a disaster.

It was my favorite jacket and was getting worn and when I told my daughter it was ruined she cheered.

 

[saveliberty]

Is that on the bottom of the disposal? Is that what you need that tool for?

I physically can't see the bottom on my disposal, so I'm just feeling around for the reset button.

I e put drano in that sink which might have been a mistake...this morning I tried the plunger and water shot out of that little hole thingy that's on the sink and it must have gotten on my favorite Nike black jacket because I noticed little red dots on it like when bleach gets on something....good thing it didn't get in my eyes....I'm a disaster.

It was my favorite jacket and was getting worn and when I told my daughter it was ruined she cheered.

That particular model has it on the bottom, might be on the backside somewhere too. You have to cover the other drain hole in a double sink in order to get the plunger to work a little better. Keep the jacket, you never know when you need to annoy the kids.

 

[saveliberty]

Scary part is that may be the best advice I give all week.

 

[CeeCee]

I also noticed some white crystals forming on the unit yesterday and I don't remember seeing them last time I messed with it so that worried me and that's why I called the plumber...maybe there's sitting drano in it...

Here is a photo...I tried to take a pic underneath but couldn't really see what I was doing and just kept getting half of the unit.

 

[CeeCee]

Here is part of the bottom...

 

[saveliberty]

I see the model is 1 79A, but I can't see the name. Insinkerator? Kenmore?

 

[CeeCee]

I see the model is 1 79A, but I can't see the name. Insinkerator? Kenmore?

IN-SINK-ERATOR DIV
EMERSON ELECTRIC CO
Is what I see and I also see it says push red button to reset but I don't see a red button anywhere...

 

[Pogo]

I see the model is 1 79A, but I can't see the name. Insinkerator? Kenmore?

IN-SINK-ERATOR DIV
EMERSON ELECTRIC CO
Is what I see and I also see it says push red button to reset but I don't see a red button anywhere...

Ah no wonder -- Ralph Waldo Emerson was a good writer but horrible at electrical design.