Wednesday, July 26, 2006

why i am home from work today

What do you get when you cross an eight-month-pregnant woman with a clogged-up toilet that won't clear, even when your husband plunges it dozens and dozens of times? — A cranky, dehydrated, pregnant woman who wants to drink more water but doesn't want to see the toilet spill over the top four times in the middle of the night. By 4 a.m. that woman is so thirsty that she says "f*&% it all" and glugs down a couple of cups of tap water from the bathroom sink. Miraculously, the toilet holds. The baby kicks with happy, vigorous thanks for the drink. But the pregnant lady's face is sweaty and red and hot and sore-throaty, and she hopes she is not coming down with something.

Then, what do you get when your husband leaves for work and comes back in the house five minutes later to report that his car is trapped in the garage because the garage door has broken? — A second reason to stay home from work (the first being the aforementioned feeling of illness coming on) when you offer him your car.

The plumber was here by 11 a.m., thanks to Steve's diligence on Angie's List. How fortuitous that I happened to be home. He fixed the toilet, and I gave him a check for $95. How easily money can fly out the window when something goes wrong in the house. But I think it was a fair exchange.

And the garage door repairman will be here tomorrow morning.

4 comments:

LutherLiz said...

Em,

I hope that you are feeling a bit better after some relaxing today. Do you know if you have allergies? I think that Ragweed is coming out earlier than usual, I know I've been feeling it today.

At least the plumber was able to fix stuff and relatively quickly. And I'm glad you have central air too!

Lollipop Goldstein said...

Oh, sweetie, I was thinking about those last months and how my entire life revolved around going where there was easy access to a toilet :-)

Glad they were able to fix it quickly.

Emilie said...

Thanks, all. I'm feeling better today ... and have renewed gratitude for small things in life that really aren't so small ... like indoor plumbing. :)

Susanne, pregnancy truly is beautiful in many ways, and I have loved it, and I will miss it. So I don't think that's just propaganda. But it's true that pregnancy has its ups and downs, just like anything else in life. :) (And you're right - I feel very lucky to have such a supportive husband as Steve!)

Emilie said...

Ray - I love it! That makes me want to go put on the song right now ...