I am a bass player, not a plumber

I came to West Tennessee today to help mom out with a few things around the house. I thought I would work on her kitchen floor and fix a few things with the laminate floor. Well, the toilet handle had been not acting right so it needed to be replaced. The cutoff valve for the toilet would not shut if all the way so I had to turn the water off tho the entire house. I took the next hour getting all the new innards of the toilet replaced and put back together.

Voila, everything is back together and working. But, an hour later I am downstairs and a drip drops on my head. I look up and there is a wet spot on the beam right above me. The bathroom is right there above where I was. I walk up the stairs and meet David coming down with a bunch of toilet paper rolls that have been soaked and says, "We have a problem."

All the work we did was fine and was not leaking, but the valve started leaking. Apparently from when we tried to get it to shut off all the way. Now there was water on the floor on the second level and dripping on the beams downstairs. OK, I tried to tighten the coupler on the valve and then water just sprayed in my face like out of a garden hose and you put you finger over it to create pressure. I run outside and cut the water off to the house again.

Now I realize that I have to replace that valve. I am in rural West Tennessee and it is after 7pm. I get in the car and drive 2 towns over to Lowe's. Luckily the lady there in plumbing realizes I did not know what I am doing. She goes and gets every part I will need to do the job. She wants to know if I have a 1/2" water line or 3/8" coming in to the toilet. I don't know. I forgot to look, and I have never done this before. I thought it was standardized. I have her give me the parts for both. I also need a hacksaw to cut off the old valve.

Get to mom's. Cut off the old valve with the hacksaw. Neither one of the parts she sold me fit. Everyplace is closed until the morning, my mom has company and there is no running water in her house. Sorry mom! Happy early Mothers Day! I guess your guests will have to relieve themselves outside until I get the right parts tomorrow.

That's what you get when you get a bass player to do a man's job. :-)