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January 6, 2009
The Plumber and I
Today the plumber was coming to our house. Something about a main bulb valve do-hickey that didn't work and O couldn't repair it himself because you had to turn the water off to our house to fix it and blah, blah, blah. Okay fine. So I called the plumber and requested his presence at our house. When can he come the nice lady inquired? AFTER 12 pm (this is a key part of the story as you will later see). Okay then, plumber coming to our house to fix valve do-hickey at some point on Tuesday after noon.
So I plan accordingly. I have a bike, a run and some core work to do today so I schedule all training to be complete by noon so that I will be home and ready for plumber.
I get on my bike a little before 8 am, inside. It's freezing rain outside which I deem unsafe riding conditions. On the trainer for a tempo ride we go! And I'm having a GREAT ride. I feel good, my legs are coming back to life, my HR is staying in check and I'm finally feeling like the fitness is coming around.
And then, about midway through the workout, I see the truck pull up - the plumbing truck.
OH NO YOU DID NOT!!!
I said AFTER 12 pm. Not 8:23 am when I am in the middle of a bike workout.
Now I know just about 99.9% of the population of this country would do the rational thing and get off their bike and let the plumber in even though he was 3 hours and 47 minutes early. But the other 0.1% of the population that consists of all triathletes, know what I'm talking about here. Unless it's a life or death situation, YOU DO NOT GET OFF THE BIKE IN THE MIDDLE OF A WORKOUT. Right? Anyone?
Anyway, that's the way I operate. No getting off the bike unless the house is burning down. And besides, it really was the principal behind the whole thing. He said he was coming after 12 pm so that's what I was holding him to.
But I still had a problem because he could totally see me through the window. So he knocked. I kept pedaling. He knocked louder. I still kept pedaling. (I am so rude it's not even funny). He called the house. I pedaled more.
Of course by this point Roxy is going crazy. And the plumber probably thought I was the biggest tool in the world. What can I say. He might be right. But seriously, I was quite focused on having one of the best bike workouts I've had in a long time.
So he knocked louder.
Okay fine. I wasn't going to get rid of him by ignoring him. So I ripped my feet out of my pedals and ran to the door. He smiles. I don't smile back. Roxy tries to attack. I'm holding her back with one leg and trying to talk through the glass porch door. I am dripping so much sweat he is probably totally grossed out. And I tell him in short order that he needs to come back when he was supposed to come because I'm in the middle of something and cannot accomadate him now.
He asked - didn't the office call me? NOPE - now move along! No time for talking here pal, I got pedals to push. And with that I closed the door and hoped he didn't hate me forever. Oh well. I guess not everyone can like me anyway. :)
Time off bike - 1:07. Back on and I finish up the workout well.
I called the office just to check and make sure he was still coming back AFTER noon which they say he is.
So I eat, do my core training and then get ready for my run. Run was good too, although a little slippery given the freezing rain. Little pellets of ice coming out of the sky makes the face hurt.
I get in from my run and now it's 11:47 and plumber calls again. Now he's coming in 25 minutes - will I be there? Yes, and I apologize for our earlier meeting. Sorry dude.
So I eat lunch and ice at the same time and now have about 3 minutes until he is to arrive. At which point it dawns on me that he's going to have to turn off the water to our house and I haven't showered yet and I'm cold, wet and slimey from my training. And if he's only going to have the water off for an hour okay but what if it takes all afternoon? I don't know what's all involved in the fixing of a main valve do-hickey! AHHHH!!!
I make the decision to get a shower in ASAP and pray he doesn't come when I have a headful of shampoo because that would pretty much be it for him and I. He would (rightfully) refuse to ever come to our house again.
But luckily, the quickest shower ever does the trick and just as I'm getting dressed again I hear him knocking at the door. I pen up Roxy, run downstairs and let him in and then explain the problem and show him where our basement is and let him do his thing. I think he was trying to get back at me though because he went in and out of our house about 7 times back and forth, back and forth through our living room and kitchen and not once took off the boots.
Oh the boots.
I was really wishing I had a pair of those little booties that surgeons wear over their shoes in the OR.
Needless to say, after he left I had some cleaning to do including scrubbing the entire front entrance and kitchen floor to rid them of the big dirty footprints! UGH!
I won't be that sad if I never see Mr. Plumber again.
Of course he's likely thinking the very same thing about the crazy bike lady that wouldn't even get off her bike to let him in. I wonder if he's blogging about me right now? ;)
Posted by beth at January 6, 2009 4:41 PM
Comments
I work with (manage) plumbers, and it's nice to know they are the same all over the country, not just in Hawaii. P.S. I'll check out the plumbing blogs to see what he says ;-)
Posted by: Maggs at January 6, 2009 7:57 PM
It is very annoying that he came early, but it cracks me up that you kept biking!!! If plumbers blog, you KNOW you are in there. He probably is just at the bar talking about it...or is that too stereotypical? That is really funny though.
Posted by: maija at January 6, 2009 8:01 PM
OMG you write so funny when you are mad! That was classic.
Posted by: Dawn at January 6, 2009 9:46 PM
ha ha. love your tenacity! maybe next time let roxy have at him :)
Posted by: kari at January 6, 2009 11:44 PM
okay...that is really funny! he probably did go and tell everybody about the "crazy lady". hopefully, your plumbing problems are solved now :)
Posted by: kerrie at January 6, 2009 11:48 PM
Beth, this had me rolling on the floor laughing. I love that you just kept riding when he showed up early! Hysterical.
Posted by: Ness at January 7, 2009 5:08 AM
The home working properly is a good thing. Especially in winter. For things I can't fix myself or have no clue on, in the same situation, I would have fixed the guy some breakfast. At least a hot cup of coffee. I agree, in a movie it would have been an hilarious scene.
Posted by: corrado giambalvo at January 7, 2009 11:31 AM
Yes - you did what any of us triathletes would have done - GOOD FOR YOU for sticking to your guns. :) Who cares what he thought, right? HE was in the wrong. :) Next time when you ride the trainer, maybe do it where random people can't see so easily... much easier to ignore. :) GREAT job with the workouts! Hooray!
Posted by: marit c-l at January 7, 2009 12:07 PM
That's awesome. And what was up with the boots???
Posted by: Chad at January 7, 2009 4:25 PM
I had to reread your post today because it just slayed me. . and I had one thought; what did "O" say about the plumbing debacle? What did he say about the "nice lady" turned rabid pedal pusher that is his wife? Please don't keep your delicate readers in suspense!
Posted by: dawn at January 7, 2009 5:51 PM
OMG I nearly laughed tea out my nose - teach me to drink tea while reading your blog! This is a fabulous story! Way to stick to your plan.
Posted by: Kathleen@ForgingAhead at January 8, 2009 4:58 PM
This is just too funny! I'm glad you are this dedicated to the sport ;)
Posted by: Ulyana at January 8, 2009 5:48 PM