It Really Is What You Think It Is!

Yes, Friends, this IS the inside of a toilet. Our toilet, well "ours" is a very subjective term, but it is what it is. You know what? It doesn't matter who's damn toilet this is...BECAUSE I FIXED IT! (also, please note how clean it is now) That's right, you heard me! I am woman, hear me roar! This toilet wouldn't stop running and I looked at it, Matt looked at it and we both decided we didn't know what was wrong with it. Lifting the water level thingy didn't make it stop running, like it does 9 times out of 10 and it wasn't leaking from the stopper. Our great solution was to just turn the water off so there wasn't any water to run in the toilet! Genius! So the next day, I get up and go to the bathroom. As I'm sitting there (and it's too late) I remember...hey Self, the toilet doesn't have a water supply unless we let the water run continuously. So that's when I decided to take matters into my own hands.

As any amateur plumber does, I went straight to the internet, where there are about 3,520,000 entries on the subject. So I pick the most reliable and well known source available on the internet...You Tube! It just so happens that I pick a video that is more than 9 minutes long, video is taken with one hand while the other hand is fixing the toilet, and you also learn in the video that the man giving the tutorial is not wearing shoes. However, this video was incredibly informative, each step was easy to understand and the directions were very explicit...if you make a mistake you are an idiot. ...well omit that part if you watch that video with the intention of fixing your toilet and fail miserably. :)

So I head on out to the Home Depot with every intention of looking like I know exactly what I'm doing. I walk quickly, with my head held high, and I don't look around too much as to show that I have NO idea where anything is in this massive warehouse. My only rescue is that the first person to ask me if I need help is a woman. Fwew! I tell the woman that I'm looking for a "toilet valve replacement kit", still trying to hang on to some of my do-it-yourself dignity, because I figure if you at least sound like you know what you are doing, then maybe there's a slight chance you actually DO know what you are doing! As we are walking towards the appropriate aisle, I lose focus and let my guard down. I admit that I watched a YouTube video and now I'm at the Home Depot with the impression that I can fix my own toilet. She gives me a sweet smile and admits that she's done the same thing...thank goodness, my secret is safe. So we get to the aisle and I'm elated to see the kit on the shelf is exactly the same one that my barefoot Mr. Miyagi had used in his toilet repair! Perfect, no guessing and back to looking confident! Then the Home Depot "plumbing expert" appears like he just walked out of a cloud of fog. When Craig asks if I need any further help, I just start to laugh. I hold up my toilet valve replacement kit and sheepishly admit I watched a YouTube video and that now I have every intention of buying this kit and going home to install it. He also gets a sweet smile on his face, but I don't think it was because he had seen and used the same YouTube video. So after an awkward pause, I said, "Craig, am I delusional? Am I going to flood my bathroom? Am I too naive enough to realize I'm not really capable of this? Should I put this back?" At this point, the sweet smile has erupted into laughter. "No, you are capable of doing this. Can you tell me the process you intend to follow? That way I can help you with any questions you think you might have along the way. And while you are at home, if you need some help, you can feel free to call me here. I will remember you."

Thanks. Thanks so much. I have a feeling I will fondly be remembered as the YouTube watching-wannabe plumber-neurotic girl who probably flooded her bathroom.

But alas, I fixed that toilet. And without major water damage, if I can just brag a little. As you can tell, I feel pretty good about myself. I like fixing things. Now if I could only make my kids listen to me. Do you think there is a kit for that at Home Depot? I must have missed that aisle.