I think I found my new home!

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by WernherVonTrapp

On The Leaking Spigot:
So much has changed since I used to do plumbing, almost everthing in fact. On second look at that spigot, it looks like it might already be a "frost free" model, but a much older one. Mine are all stainless steel or aluminum alloy. If that's the case, you should just get it replaced and forget trying to tighten anything.

I was wondering because to me (altho I haven't looked at it closely in a few days) it looks like everything is all of a piece, what should be the packing nut doesn't appear to be a separate piece that can be turned one way or the other by itself. Unless it's all so caked over on the outside with something that you can't tell where one part ends and another begins.

[WernherVonTrapp]

Originally Posted by frau kaleun

I was wondering because to me (altho I haven't looked at it closely in a few days) it looks like everything is all of a piece, what should be the packing nut doesn't appear to be a separate piece that can be turned one way or the other by itself. Unless it's all so caked over on the outside with something that you can't tell where one part ends and another begins.

Yeah, the older models are made of brass, which oxidizes outdoors (rain, sun, etc.). That's not to say you probably can't still buy them but, I would opt for an aluminum alloy model. Depending on who and how they installed it, you should just be able to shut off the water supply, unscrew the old one, pull the length out of the wall and then screw in a new one.

This is what mine looks like:

Brake fluid will remove paint quicker than Coke.

Yeah, we tried that one too.

[Wolferz]

Originally Posted by WernherVonTrapp

Yeah, the older models are made of brass, which oxidizes outdoors (rain, sun, etc.). That's not to say you probably can't still buy them but, I would opt for an aluminum alloy model. Depending on who and how they installed it, you should just be able to shut off the water supply, unscrew the old one, pull the length out of the wall and then screw in a new one.

This is what mine looks like:


Yeah, we tried that one too.

You should see what it does to a vinyl roof.

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by WernherVonTrapp

This is what mine looks like:

Ooooh shiny.

I'd show you mine but Neal has rules about that sort of thing.

[Wolferz]

I'd show you mine but Neal has rules about that sort of thing.

You have a spigot!?!?

Let's see then.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by WernherVonTrapp

This is what mine looks like:

Pfffft. Doctor Who has had one of those for years.

[vienna]

The canned pop is what I take to work, 2 a day and that way I can limit my soda intake during the work day. One for the morning caffeine hit (I don't drink coffee) and one for lunch. Once the soda runs out I drink water unless I'm really, really dragging and then I might get a third Coke near the end of the day. We have a fridge in our lounge that is stocked as well and we can buy a drink from there for 30 cents a can but if I find it cheaper or the same price in the store I just buy it there and bring it from home.

...

I'm in the no coffee camp, also. If I ever drink it, it is because there is no alternative source of caffine. The number of times I drink coffee a year is less than the fingers of both my hands. I do like tea, though I often make other people cringe when I drink it strong and neat. As for milk, I also cannot stomach it straight; it has to be a part of some other element...

Regarding the soda, I quite literally live on Coke and really can no longer function without at least a can or two a day, although my consumption is rather greater than two, usually. I worked at a compnay where there was a fridge stocked with sodas available to the staff for free. I would go to the fridge in the morning, take out three or four cans of Coke, take them to my desk, and be set for at least until lunch. My consumption of Coke became a bit of a legend; whenever my boss, the CFO, had to tell me some bad news about a project gone bad or some new, last minute project, he would come by my desk and plop a six-pack of Coke down as a signal I wasn't going to like the news. I am known to be lenient to those bearing tributes of Coke...

I very happy for you the moving process has progessed with minimum problems. Did the return of you old apartment keys finally end alright?...

<O>

[frau kaleun]

Originally Posted by vienna

I'm in the no coffee camp, also. If I ever drink it, it is because there is no alternative source of caffine. The number of times I drink coffee a year is less than the fingers of both my hands. I do like tea, though I often make other people cringe when I drink it strong and neat. As for milk, I also cannot stomach it straight; it has to be a part of some other element...

Regarding the soda, I quite literally live on Coke and really can no longer function without at least a can or two a day

I like Coke well enough, particularly as a substitute for morning coffee... I don't know why, but it just seems better first thing in the morning. But for general consumption I've always been a Pepsi gal. I only buy Coke to take to work and will only drink it at home (provided I have it on hand) if I run out of Pepsi. It's also nice to have some at home for the occasional guest who prefers it.

I very happy for you the moving process has progessed with minimum problems. Did the return of you old apartment keys finally end alright?...

I sent them to the building manager via Express Mail last Tuesday - I have a printed verification of delivery from the USPS saying the Express Mail envelope was delivered on Wednesday morning. I still have not heard anything from the building manager or landlord.

It's very possible that the manager and her husband are out of town on vacation, and have no one on deck to handle things while they are gone. In the past when I had to call them (fortunately this was rare) for emergency situations in the building - serious water leaks, for instance - I've had my call get forwarded to the manager's cell only to get her and be told that they were out of town and I'd have to deal with it myself ("just call a plumber"). On those occasions I'd call the landlord's home directly and he'd come out and fix whatever it was himself.

Of course even if the manager was in town it was like pulling teeth to get her to deal with anything. We once had two families basically living as squatters in an apt she insisted was empty and they did something that resulted in the fire dept coming out and evacuating the building until they could get inside and make sure it was safe. Even when I called about that she was like "well I don't know what you expect me to do, it's the weekend." Gee lady I dunno, HOW ABOUT YOU DO YOUR JOB?

[vienna]

I like Coke well enough, particularly as a substitute for morning coffee...

Same here...

I sometimes get comments from people who say something like "Ugh, how can you drink Coke so early in the day?" while holding their cup of coffee. I just point out Coke is mainly water, caffine, and sugar; so is coffee, although I'm not going to put milk or cream in my Coke (regardless of Laverne's yen for Pepsi and milk)...

<O>

[AVGWarhawk]

Coffee, milk and water is about all I drink. Only one cup of coffee in the morning. I can not stomach coke to much. I like it with pizza. The caffeinated products give me heartburn like nobodies business.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by frau kaleun

Even when I called about that she was like "well I don't know what you expect me to do, it's the weekend." Gee lady I dunno, HOW ABOUT YOU DO YOUR JOB?

I am most fortunate to live in a place that recieves a subsidy from the state. The management works out of an office on-site. I can walk over and talk to somebody any time. When the office is closed there is a person dedicated to handling emergencies. If something needs fixing or replacing I can fill out a form in the office and the cool handyman will be by to fix it in one day max.

Of course I only got in here by virtue of being officially OLD, so that comes with its own negatives.

[Wolferz]

Well, after you recharge the batteries.