What did you do today?

Thank you very much, Mr_David. I'd have to look again, but since it was not the original handle, I think it had a plastic "universal" adapter. The cold water one is a porcelain cross & it works fine. I'm thinking of getting another porcelain cross for the hot water and maybe looking for extra adapters just in case. I saw one that they don't have in stock that comes with multiple adapters for different styles.

Frodo, is the outer sheathing called a "stop tube"? Or is that something completely different?

In other news, I joined the ASA Alumni Friends & Family group on FB. They are trying to find record of my father in the service. Unfortunately, the Army told him his records burned in the fire in St. Louis-- but when I checked online, the info about the fire said that only Army records from 1912 to 1960 burned and he served from 64 to 68. He was able to get stuff re-issued, but I don't now what the deal is. I mean, it's possible they just lost them somehow (which would be in line with my family's luck) or there might have been a few stray files after 1960 that were destroyed but not widespread enough for it to show up on the internet-- which would also be my family's luck.

Sad to hear about your dads records. My dad served in the army during WWII so I am in the same dilemma.

Sorry to hear that, Richard. I think they said something like 12 million records were lost (either that or 12 million veterans had their records lost). 80% of the files for the Army during the aforementioned time period were lost.
I've been told there are still ways to get some information, but that many records were a total loss-- no backups, etc. It must be harder with records from WWII because there are fewer people alive to give information.

I got a new handle/knob for the hot water on the tub. Made sure it fit tightly and turned the stem. Still no water coming out. Not sure what could be wrong, but I'm guessing it may involve opening up the wall to access the plumbing from the other side. I hope not though.

Have you tried pulling the stem. There is nothing you can do from the back wall unless you plan on b replacing the entire valve.
turn off the water and use stem socket to remove the stem. Just make sure the stem is open.

Having a heat wave here. Working on replacing some underground gas line.
Co-worker and some labors have been working on it for a week now.
I went today to help fuse some PE gas lines.
these are pic from last week. Maybe I'll get some more tomorrow.
Over several years we have replace several gas line that failed under ground. we would run the new line from bank of 14 meters to the unit tha had a failed line.
We ran out of room to run any more on wall over the garage so we had to open the concrete driveway and put them under ground.

Thanks, Mr_David. I was trying to figure out how to remove the stem without breaking anything. So, I need a stem socket tool? I might be able to swing by Lowes later on (taking a friend to a cardiology appointment in the afternoon so I'll be near the big box stores) to get one.
How exactly does it work? I've tried googling but keep finding info on the single handle shower levers instead. I was thinking I had to pull it out with plyers, but knowing there is a special tool is helpful.

Yesterday I went in to town and helped my friend when he was swapping out the doors on his old truck. He got "shaved" doors that had no handles and could only be opened with an actuator-- but the actuator he got didn't have enough strength so he was having trouble with the doors not opening & decided to put the original doors back on. He managed to get one of the doors swapped over before it started raining. The old driver side door has something broken in the latching mechanism so it is difficult to open, but it's still easier to get open than the one with the actuator.

most stem assemblies inside wall have a hexagonal part that is used to unscrew the with the right wrench.
make sure the valve is open before you try to remove it.
Once out maybe someone can identify it. could be the washer came off and is stuck inside.
there is usually a replaceable seat inside the valve as well. if it's pitted or rough, you will need to replace it.

Thanks, Mr_David. That is very helpful-- especially the part about making sure the valve is fully open.
So, I should turn the stem as far as I can to open setting & then with the wrench I turn counterclockwise to remove it?

The picture of the socket set you provided really helped as well. I was able to spot it in the store easily. Tomorrow I'm going over in the afternoon to pick up my friend's fiance so she can help me clean up. She wants to thank me for taking her to doctor's appointments and buying her lunch. I might see if I can get the stem out either before or after I pick her up. I'll probably shut off water to the pump instead of using the water shutoff valve in the well house because it is faster & easier that way. Hopefully I can make it to the hardware store before closing to get any o-rings or washers without having to keep the water off for too long. I really do need to add an access panel to the wall though. I want to see if there are shut-off valves there. If not, I want to add some & then it will be a matter of shutting off only the affected fixture instead of the whole house.

Meanwhile, I discovered that one of my orange cats (who is only about 6 years old) lost ALL of his teeth. Some had fallen out from a gum problem before & the vet pulled a few, but now even his canines fell out and he has no teeth at all. He still eats just fine and his gums don't bother him now, but I feel sorry for him bc he is literally toothless in a fight. He got into a fight outside a couple days ago and got his butt kicked. He was so upset that he just hid in the thornbushes & wouldn't come out. I had to go in and get him. He hasn't left the house since. He's currently on my left arm while another cat is on my right arm.

I cleared off the top of my mother's chest of drawers that were in front of the wall panel behind the shower, cleaned the top & sides with Pledge, & had my brother move the drawers out of the way so we could try to get the wall panel off. My friend still has my prybars & the rest of my tools so we tried to pry it up with a flathead screwdriver. Didn't work so we put stuff back & this morning we went to Lowes & got some access panels-- a 14"x14" to access the lower portion (largest one they had) and 6"x9" for the showerhead area. I think I'll paint it or hang something over the top one so it won't be obvious-- might get some acrylic paint and paint an elephant or something because Mom loves elephants. Or I could get a cheap mirror or something from Dollar Tree to cover it. I just need to figure out the right spots/heights to put the panels.

My friend is running an errand for his grandfather but is going over to his house afterward to gather up my tools so I can pick them up. I need either my reciprocating saw or my jig saw for the job. It's best to get my stuff out while nobody is staying there bc the mice have been going crazy up in there. They chewed through the P-trap on his lavatory. He wants to borrow some of my cats, but considering how long its taken to get back my tools, I'll pass. LOL. If I thought I'd get her back quickly & that she wouldn't freak out, I'd bring Itsy over because she's our best mouser. She caught 7 mice in the last two weeks.

My friend's fiance came over the other day and helped me clean up, clear out a bunch of cardboard boxes & trash, and organize some stuff a bit. She plans to come over & help with more cleaning again-- probably will take several visits. She's 20 years younger than me so she has a lot more energy & her back doesn't bother her.

Hi guys, long time no talk.

Hi, Chris! You been doing ok? I saw in another thread that you've been keeping busy. How is your family adjusting to the new home?

Zanne said:

Hi, Chris! You been doing ok? I saw in another thread that you've been keeping busy. How is your family adjusting to the new home?

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Loving it! We need to stop having visitors for a while. I've been super busy lately. Hoping it will slow down by the fall

Good to hear that! I heard it was rather chilly in Idaho the other day. Friend who is a nurse over there posted pics of frost on her car and ground. Not sure which part of Idaho she lives in though.

I've been playing taxi service for friends & taking my cat with cancer to the vet. She now needs injections once a week to shrink/slow the tumors on her face but bc of the brain tumor, her coordination is getting worse. She's eating like she has a bottomless stomach though. She gained 0.8lbs since last week. My friend's fiance landed in the ER the other night with chest pains. She currently can't work due to cardiac septal defect which causes her to pass out. She's waiting for them to schedule her for surgery. I took her to apply for SS/disability yesterday. One of the clerks said from what he's seen, she will probably be out of work for over a year since she will need to recover after the surgery-- they were very nice and sympathetic. I didn't want to offend her, but I really think she could qualify for disability for mental defect. Girl is sloooooow. It took over 2 hours for her to fill out the forms on the computer. I had to read things out, explain what they meant (sometimes more than 5 times) and at one point I had to just start clicking and typing for her bc her brain couldn't process it. The ladies working behind the counter were very patient and came over multiple times to help with things. At one point I had to grab the mouse and stop her from clicking something that they had told her 5x to NOT click and she almost clicked it. Every time we go somewhere and she has to fill out forms, I have to go over the forms with her and help her fill them out. I think some of it is lack of confidence, but I also think bc she was homeschooled by an idiot, she wasn't properly educated and her reading comprehension is low. What she lacks in intellect/education she makes up for by being a very sweet girl.

The high point of the trip was going to IHOP and having the belgian chocolate pancakes with chocolate mousse.

How is everyone doing?
I've still been playing chauffeur for friends. My friend (the one with the slow fiance) injured his elbow at work so I had to take his grandfather to Lake Charles awhile back. He'd taken the wrong meds & it made him narcoleptic-- which made for an interesting trip. Kinda funny when he fell asleep looking at a catalog then woke up & started singing "I saw the light" and then went right back to sleep. Wednesday I'm taking the friend's fiance to a cardiology appointment in Shreveport. I'm hoping the weather won't be bad. I'll have to take the truck through the car wash bc the road has been very mucky. Watched a chevy truck in front of me with no 4wd slipping & sliding all over. The girl is even more stressed out now because one of her foster sisters was killed in a hit & run. But she just got food stamps so now she can get food & still be able to afford cleaning supplies & toilet paper.
One of my cats is very ill and I've been taking care of her constantly. Vet misdiagnosed her-- mistook facial abscesses for cancerous tumors. They had to be lanced & she was given antibiotics. I've got her in an open front box (the kind they put frozen chicken in at Sam's club) on my bed with some fuzzy clothes & a waterproof pad. She's sleeping peacefully.
A possum has been coming in through the cat door and hides behind the dryer in the laundry room. The two younger dogs went ape$#** over it. Older dog doesn't bark or do much other than eat, sleep, crap, piss, and trip people.
I'm planning to get some sort of little curtain to go over the cat door because my brother broke the flap off somehow and mosquitoes have been swarming inside & biting everyone.

This Domino.
90% blind but I stick him out on the back patio he always finds his way back in.
if I leave the slider door open next to the Doggie door, he knows how to get in through the doggie door.

ninja warrior dog in his hoody

Is that job in penesquitus

journeyman said:

Is that job in penesquitus

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You referring to the gas job?
No. It's near University Town Center. La Jolla Village Dr and Town Center Dr.

How's thing Mr Journeyman ? R you the guy I met I Mira Mesa once? You were working For JT at the time.

Here's another job I finished yester day.
City came in and repaired a 6" going to a fire hydrant.
That's what the landscapers told me.
It ran under a 2" meter for a landscape irrigation backflow valve.
They broke it off, fixed their leak, back filled the hole and left.
2 weeks later HOA management wanted us to reinstall the BF.
Had to dig it up and find the broken end. it was 3 ft deep.
The RPBFV leaks from dump valve after I turned it back on.
Should of taken some more pics. I only popped some before and after.