When life gives you S*^# …sometimes you have to call a plumber. Sunday started out to be such a great day. I lounged in bed until 7:45 which hasn’t happened since probably 2006. I am not even exaggerating. My husband left to do a job. He’s a mason and often does small jobs on the weekend. Carlos and I had breakfast and then decided that it was a perfect day for a hike.

We headed to a smaller local mountain. Carlos has really taken to hiking. This mountain has a road for cars but he insisted we hike the trail and off he charged. It might be smaller but the hike up the trail was steep. Carlos led the way.

Leading the way

He never complained and only stopped twice for a “catch your breath” break.

Quick Break

At the top is an observatory tower which we climbed twice. Last year Carlos couldn’t see over the wall at the top of the tower and now he can albeit on his tip toes.

Observatory Deck

We went down the same way we came up. I was beaming with pride when my 4 year old turned to high five me as we approached the car and said, “that was an awesome hike mom!” I couldn’t have said it better.

Just a couple more photos from our hike because it was such a gorgeous day.

View of the Connecticut River

View of Western Massachusetts

We took a quick trip to Trader Joe’s for a few goodies. Then we went home for lunch. Carlos played outside while I got lunch ready. His swing set is finally up in the backyard and his basketball hoop is assembled both of which were birthday gifts back in wintry December. So he was having a great time.

After lunch Carlos willingly settled in for a nap. I threw in a load of laundry just before going upstairs. When I came back down about 10 minutes later I heard what sounded like a cascading waterfall coming from the basement. I ran down to find our utility sink overflowing with mucky water.

I threw some buckets underneath to try to catch some of the water, stopped the washing machine, called my husband and shut off the water valve. Long story short my husband and a friend tried to snake the pipes to no avail so the town and a plumber both came to the house. Of course it is not a town sewer issue. Our home was built in the 1920s. The pipes are old and there are roots encroaching on the pipes causing blockages from time to time.

The whole house permeated with eau de crap. Carlos and I went to my mother’s house so I could shower just in case things weren’t resolved because I had to go to work later.

By 7 pm the basement smelled fresh and clean.  I smelled fresh and clean. I had dinner made. Carlos was ready for bed. My wallet was a couple hundred lighter (plumbers cost a lot more on Sundays). It was as if it had all been a dream…a bad one!

Actually my husband and I tend to weather these types of issues very well together. The day didn’t go as either of us had planned but when we said goodnight as I left for work we also thanked each other. Our lives our busy both separately and as a family. Because of our opposite work schedules we are like ships passing in the night sometimes. This September, Orlando and I will celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. We have been married twice on two different continents and I would say “I do” again in a heartbeat.