Yesterday was pretty hectic. Ray was getting ready to head out of town on a field trip to Cloudland Canyon with 15 students and 3 more professors. He had been trying all week to get eerything done, with teaching his other classes too. We were supposed to go in early, but left the house only about 5 minutes before we usually do. I had asked him to turn the solar water  heater on before we left. It wasn't quite warm enough, because the sun was just coming up. He couldn't get the faucet to close, because it was frozen. He thought it was broken. Then he decided to just open it again, and he couldn't get it open either. Water was spraying onto the porch. My Mom was getting up and we told her not to worry about it. Ray was it a state, not surprisingly. But on the way in, we talked about it and he calmed down. He told me what to do later in the day when I got home and it was warm. I took him to the store--he had to buy some groceries for the breakfast he was responsible for (French toast for Sunday morning). Then I took him to get the van and met him at his office to transfer everything out of the car. So I was about 30 minutes late for work. It didn't really matter because Meredith was there. She had urged me to stay home if I was too sick, so was not surprised not to see me. I finalized the newsletter and did a few minor things. About 11, Ray called and asked if I would go to Normal Hardware and pick up a rock hammer for  him (he couldn't find his, which must be in the garage somewhere, unless he left it on a previous trip). I said sure, I would do that (before  noon). I was trying to send a fax, but it wouldn't go through. 

 

Then I heard my father's voice in the hall. I couldn't imagine what he would be doing here. I went out and escorted him into my office. He said he just wanted to talk. I wanted to shake him--what do you think the phone is for?? "What am I supposed to do about the water?" he wanted to know. "Nothing," I said. "I'll take care of it when I get home. Is it still dripping?" "More than dripping," he said. He also said  he didn't know why Ray opened it, since it was going to freeze again that night. Then I had to explain it all to him and assure him that I would be home early in the afternoon to take care of it. As I drove to Ray's office with the rock hammer, I called him on the phone. "My father came to the office. He says the water is still spraying onto the porch. He really can't just show up at my office and get me all upset about something going on at home." Ray reassured me. When I asked him to call the plumber and see if he could come today, he said he would do it right then.

Back at the office, I worked for a few more hours, then headed home about 3. It was a beautiful sunny day, although not really warm--45 or so. When I got there, the faucet was not dripping any more--there was no sign of water. My father wanted to climb up on the railing and turn it off, but I insisted on doing it--with a stepladder. Ray said the railing was starting to break from him climbing on it to turn the thing on and off. Then we went down in the cellar and arranged the buckets to catch the drips. That's the part that shouldn't happen--apparently there is a faulty valve that the plumber was supposed to be replacing, but he never called Ray back. 

Later in the afternoon, the phone rang and the Captain answered it. I could hear his end of the conversation and it was the plumber. He never offered to let me talk to him, but took it on himself. Then he told me he was on his way here. When he got here, my Dad met him and escorted him around and he left. He said he had just gotten the new valve. He and the Captain agreed that there is nothing wrong with the faucet on the porch roof. And now we should not have to empty buckets any more. Yay!

After a delicious supper, I went to see a funny (and a little bit naughty) play called the Love List. Becky and Kent met me there and we enjoyed it greatly. Allen Rowell, Bryn Adamson, and Jeff Evans were the cast. Rick Rose directed. I would love to tell you the whole plot, but my fingers are already tired. I saw Harriet there and many others. They were turning people away--for a Second Stage production! I was in bed just after 11 and slept well.