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Updatey stuffs.

I had home maintenance. Right now I am fixing the septic tank (I hate septic tanks). The lid to the septic broke when it was installed 10-12 years ago. The installer was supposed to bring a new one. A septic pumping guy was supposed to bring a new o e. Sigh. Like, if I had been around for that portion, I would have poked and poked until it was done.

Anyway, it's a concrete lid that sits in the concrete septic tank. I asked the fastest septic pumper about a replacement. And the answer is that they no longer make lids like that. They make fiberglass lids that sit above the ground, which makes life easier for everyone. But the place in town that makes septic tanks can hook me up with one of those! For actually much cheaper than I could find one online. So, that's good.

So, I have to uncover part of the septic and clean it off in order to caulk the new retrofit lid down. No biggie. Except for a chunk out of the edge of the tank. Which is also really no biggie, but it did require a bit of hydraulic cement repair so that I had a surface to apply caulk to...

And right now I am just waiting for everything to dry.

At least I'm not on a rented boom lift. And the tank was just pumped, so it's not overflowing or anything...

Other things...

Eldest did not do well in college. I do not know all the details, but we ended up bringing him home for his own mental health. Which was the main part of my huge stress posts.from last year. Of course, then meant that he went like 20k in debt. Which, yuck. He's working full time at Ace Hardware in order to build up some capital and to pay things off. He is probably going to go to a trade school, but right now he is taking g a mental break, basically.

Youngest finished his first year at community college. He's doing music production. And just got a summer job at Zaxby's. He's also in a... not sponsored. That's not the terminology used. But, sponsored gaming org. For... I can't even remember the name of the game. He's having fun. They haven't placed in any tournaments yet, but that's ok.

#3 is running me ragged. He's turning 11 in July and an epic Harry Potter birthday party will be held. I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

I had one last night, for no reason.  Was reading Crossroads by Emmyjean, got to a sad part, and just lost it.  It was a reaction way out of proportion to the situation.  I can only guess that the lack of sleep, stress, and other factors all snowballed and last night was when it hit me.  So, I sat at the PC, sobbing, trying to make sure I didn't wake up DH, who got up sometime before 3:30 this morning in order to catch a plane to NY. 

Still feel kinda weepy.

Went to Lowes last night to get plumbing supplies for the sump.  I don't know it they had an unexpected rush of customers or if a lot of employees called in sick, but customer service sucked.  Waited around 10 minutes for someone to cut tubing -- after waiting for about half an hour for someone to randomly pop up and asking for help at the customer service desk.  Ended up just cutting it myself.  Which was a mistake because the people at the register don't have the SKU number for the various sizes of tubing.

And why are men so impressed with a woman who can do plumbing?  I was praised by at least 3 men because I could go and pick out the supplies.  For all they knew I could have been working from a detailed shopping list and had to have someone pull all of it for me.  One gentleman was so impressed he even said that I could probably change a tire, too.  I assured him that I could.

Guys, women are not helpless.  Or, at least I'm not.  We appreciate help, yes, but a lot of times we're just stroking your ego when we ask you to do "manly" things.  The one time I was pregnant and some guy insisted on helping me because I was in "a delicate condition", I laughed my ass off.  I let him help because it was easier for two men to do that particular task, expecially considering my big belly, but I could have done it.

So, yeah, guys are amusing. 

DH left for the airport about an hour ago.  He should be getting there about now; his flight is in an hour.  And I can't sleep.  I want to play with my plumbing, but can't really do anything until it's light out.  I also have to go back to Lowes because I didn't realize I needed a part.  Five minute stop, tops.  Which is good, because dealing with the boys in Lowes is something from my nightmares. 

Also need to run by the petstore.  That'll be fun.  </sarcasm>

My birthday is next Sunday.  DH's present for me is already ordered and I know what it is.  It's hard not to when I send him an e-mail saying "buy me this".  Plus, it was ordered off ebay and for some reason he always uses my account to order, so confirmations come to my e-mail address.  Maybe he's forgotten that he had his own account at one point?

Anyway, I think I'm going to try to catch a few more hours of sleep.  Less likely to murder children that way.