Miracles Abound!
School starts Monday, so this may be my last post for a bit. I’ve made some minor adjustments to my schedule, and my new classes are:
Intro to Social Work
Social Work Practices [including 30 hours of mand. volunteer work-location of my choosing]
Abnormal Psychology [schizophrenia, eating, sexual, emotional, and psychological disorders]
Biology: Connections and Impacts [focusing on stem cell research, DNA,and Heredity]
I’m so excited! I’m taking on a major course load, but am super excited (especially) to be taking Abnormal Psychology. More good news: I’ve been accepted to Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) to begin work on my BA in Sociology (minoring in Psychology), starting in June. My dreams are literally coming true. 🙂 (Yes, that’s a smiley face!)
But here’s where the miracle comes in: I have running water again- already. This morning, I called three local plumbers and compared prices and time frames. The earliest I could get a plumber here would be Friday (and then Wednesday- five days away), and the prices would start at $90 per hour, and that’s just so the plumber could stand in the yard; pipes, other equipment, etc. would end up in the hundreds. I had $50 on my Paypal card from selling a print. Bare bones.
Eventually, I want to go to poverty-stricken countries and work with street kids, teens, battered women and the elderly, so I’m not allowed to complain and gripe from having no water for four days. But I still need to take a shower and do my dishes before school starts! But how?
I noticed a work van across the field from my place. I couldn’t make out his service number, so I took a telephoto shot of his truck, zoomed in and read it. Voila! I called him immediately, as he was finishing up his work for the day. I asked him if he fixed busted pipes; he said he’d stop over and have a look. (I tried to control my excitement.)
Being the wheeler and dealer that I am, I met him in the yard 20 minutes later and we struck up a fast deal. $150. I asked him if he would accept a post dated check (for $160, for 3 weeks away) and almost fainted when he accepted. I gave him $40 cash from my print sale and a new book from my shelf (as a tip) and he went to work immediately, and I do mean immediately. (All told, I ended up tipping him $50, which was the least I could do.) He wasn’t even wearing a coat! A fresh, new snow had just begun to fall and I felt a bit guilty that he was out there sawing and connecting PVC pipes in the cold. The man was nothing short of amazing.
He left twice to go and purchase new parts and other things; he came in and checked my water heater and faucets and in less than 5 hours- he’s gone and I have running water again and can take a hot shower! I feel like the least I can do is promote his business so that if anybody Googles him, they’ll be able to read this. I really wish I could do more, but I’m limited.
J. B. Gohl
Remodeling
Alterations Repairs
(502) 379-1094
Absolutely awesome service, super friendly repairman- goes the extra mile- BEST DEAL IN TOWN.
There you go. For what it’s worth. ;0)
Even some people in the nicest houses with loads of cash still have busted pipes tonight. I’m counting my blessings daily.
Miracles abound.
m o n o c h r o m e j u n k i e † 
YAY! and good luck with your classes!
January 9, 2014 at 9:55 pm
Thanks. :0) Feels good to come up for air…heheh. x
January 9, 2014 at 9:56 pm
indeed, sometimes these little life challenges bring out the best in us all…
January 9, 2014 at 9:59 pm
I agree 100%. The trials make us bitter or stronger. I choose stronger. ;0)
January 9, 2014 at 10:17 pm
That’s awesome (the college and uni things and your pipes being fixed). Your pipes fella sounds like a real diamond of a guy 🙂 things are looking up here. I finally took delivery of a wheelchair yesterday afternoon, and today holding onto it I managed to walk just over a mile before needing to get in and be pushed, and I had no light headedness nor did my heart rate go too high. Was my first time out of the house just for ‘fun’ in almost 10 months.
January 10, 2014 at 6:36 pm
Almost a mile? WOW. Way to go, you! Be sure to take it easy. (I know, it gets old taking it easy and sometimes, we need to walk on the wild side.) I’m glad you’re heart rate is stabilized: I’m so glad you’re finally getting to go outside. “Real photoshoots” aren’t far off; you’ll be back at it in no time. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and great New Year. Here’s to hoping this year is MUCH better than the last, eh? ;0) XO Good seeing you!
January 10, 2014 at 8:31 pm
Oh yes, definitely hoping this year will be WAAAY better than last year. I’ve been out again today and only needed to be in the chair for the last about 1/4 of a mile on the way home, mum took me to a local-ish (3 mile bus ride away) pub for a birthday meal. One of my Christmas presents was a new camera with a bigger optical zoom range (equal to 25mm wide to 875mm at the telephoto end), it’s a beauty!! (I am still planning on picking up a 2nd hand canon dslr body and a nifty fifty, also considering getting a holga or diana). I am so excited at being able to go out again, it definitely seems to have given me a spark back. I’ll have to shoot you a link for my Flickr stream 🙂 take care of you xxx
January 11, 2014 at 5:13 pm
Oooh, nice. A 28MM + Holga is an excellent combo. Those’ll make for some nice shots. And you can never go wrong with the Nifty Fifty. It’ll always be one of my favourite lenses. Happy late Birthday, by the way! And yes, feel free to link me up to your Flickr stream any time. :0)
January 11, 2014 at 5:19 pm