Boring Life Stuff Part 1

Over the Chanukkah week and the last week of December when all the Goyim back in the states go crazy, I had a brief respite from my otherwise steady workload (avalanche.) I've been feeling pretty good about work, like they seem happy with my telecommuting plan and it will continue for at least some time into the future. Also, since the rains started, the hike up to Rafi and Galila's place just to do a load of laundry has been a bit, eh, uncomfortable. And never mind the number of hours I'm losing which I could be more productively spend working or playing video games.

So I decided to use my spare time buy a washing machine. I decided to splurge a bit and buy new, so I won't have to be dealing with hiring a mover or worrying about repairs.

The washing machine arrived right on time. There's a first time for everything I suppose. Of course, this is Israel, so the guys who bring the washing machine aren't the same as the guys who install it, so I had to call the washing machine installer company, who dispatched a plumber just as soon as they could. One week later, he was knocking on my door. Took all the plugs and seals off, ran the hoses through my cupboard, and got to the part where you plug it into the main water line.

The Zanussi Aquacycle 1000 finds its new home.

"Hey, look. They stuck a plug in it!"

I looked, and sure enough, where the valve to connect to the washing machine should have been, was a plug. The valve was sitting on the floor.

"The valve was probably leaky. Looks like you have to replace it."
"How much?" I asked.

"I don't know."
"What do you mean? How long will it take you?"
A brief laugh. "No, I'm the washing machine installer. You need the valve installer."
There goes another hundred fifty shekels.

"You mean you can't do it? Why not?"
"Because it's not my job."

So, off he went, and I was left with a crippled washing machine.

I took the valve in pocket and went jogging. Now, I spend my telecommuting days drawing pipes, valves and fittings, right? And I worked for a summer building piping systems for scientific experiments, right? So why not just do it myself?
Bought a replacement valve and teflon tape and returned home. Tried to find the main water shutoff valve but couldn't.

The tools and the valves, old and new.

Avi the landlord came by and I mentioned to him that I needed to shut off the water to his house for a while so I could replace the plug with a valve.

"Uh, maybe later."
He was none too thrilled, but I kept bugging him. Eventually he had to admit that he didn't know where the shutoff valve was. Meanwhile, I've been loathe to invite him into the apartment because I don't want him to see how nasty the bathroom is. I need to clean, but before I can clean, I have to take care of all of this laundry. And before I can do the laundry, I need the valve.

I saw Avi again, this time I was insistant. Finally, he admitted he had no idea where it was, so he called the contractor.

"I see, it's in the bathroom, right, okay."
He went charging into my apartment before I could stop him and swung open the door.

"Elokim!" (Oh my god.)

He tried to keep a straight face, couldn't find the valve, and left.

Later, after pestering the contractor, we finally found the main shutoff valve and closed it. I got my wrench and teflon tape, swapped the valve, and water pressure was restored in fifteen minutes. Not a bad bit of work.

The Zanussi Aquacycle 1000 isolation valve, INSTALLED!

I called Avi, "You can use your faucets again."

"Uh, you know, we have a maid who comes every week to clean. Maybe she can clean your place too."

It rankled me at first, the idea of someone else coming into my place and doing the cleaning for me. But the fact is, it's hard enough to keep up with the laundry, so I might just have to do it.

Come to think of it, how do I use this thing anyway?