Manual labor

[spedbug]

I have a new-found respect for my husband. Today, we jackhammered the basement floor and exposed the sewer line so we could tie into it for the powder room addition. I ran the jackhammer some, removed the pieces of concrete and shovelled the dirt. After MrBug cut through the old cast iron and removed a 3 - 4' section, we hooked up new 3" PVC pipe and fittings. It was back-breaking, sweaty, disgusting work but something I'll probably never have to do again. MrBug did it for over 20 years and still, on occasion (when unreliable men don't show up or just quit on him and something's scheduled), he'll still do it.

God bless manual laborers!

I'll probably post pictures, later.

Comments

[reggiesgirl2.livejournal.com]

Wow! I'm really impressed with you! A jackhammer!!

You rock!

[spedbug.livejournal.com]

LOL! - Thanks Reggiesgirl. I'm more impressed with my ability to stay in the basement after the old piece of cast iron was cut and removed. It turns out there was a hole in the sewer line and debris had gotten inside, partially blocking the line. When MrBug pulled the piece out, the basement blossomed with the most disgusting odor you can imagine. It was at that point, however, that he needed the most help so I managed to muddle through.

MrBug helped relieve the eye-watering stench by sprinkling purple primer (a solvent used to clean PVC pipe and ready it for the glue joint) around the dirt we were crouching in. Minutes later the fetid sewer smell was overwhelmed by the fumes of this solvent. Upon reading the warning label on the primer, I hurried around to open the basement windows...it's a wonder I have a brain cell left! ;)

[reggiesgirl2.livejournal.com]

Eeew, I can only imagine the smell (but I'm trying not to).

As for the purple stuff, the smell of it sounds like an adhesive Reggie used to use for work. It was eye watering too. Thankfully, he only used it at home once but I never forgot the smell. Even opening the windows and using a fan, it took a while to get it out of the house.

[spedbug.livejournal.com]

I love your new icon. I think I've just now started remembering who you are in BC but it'll be nice to be reminded. :)

It was an evening for strong smells. In the beginning part of the day, MrBug and I put a second coat of stain/polyeurethane on the floor-to-ceiling bookcase he built for Savagefuzzball's room

After letting it dry outside in the sunshine all day, we carried it in and set it up in her room (as you can see it still needs the box frame support installed, the bottom shelf put in, the "false front" at the bottom applied and the brace-to-wall bracket put in). Late last night, SFB came in to our bedroom and complained that the smell of the bookcase was making her throat hurt. Hopefully she'll be able to sleep in there, tonight. As you said, sometimes even opening windows and running a fan doesn't get rid of a smell very well.

[reggiesgirl2.livejournal.com]

Oh, whether it's still smelly or not, tell her I'm jealous of her new bookcase! Beautiful!

[spedbug.livejournal.com]

I finally pulled stacks of books out from underneath my bed. Her baby bookcase is emptied and in the basement. Yay!