Ballard Street by Jerry Van Amerongen for January 31, 2013

Phil used to be a rodeo calf roper before becoming a plumber. He likes to keep his hand in.Yes, this was his idea .Gladys would have preferred if he’d just used his snake and plunger !!!

Gladys may use Rotorooter next time…

Unlike the Watergate Plumbers whose motto was " We plug all leaks.."

I’m for an early night. ( 2am is late enough). In the words of the old song " I’ll be seeing you… in old familiar places …"Talk to you all later.

Anybody here………..

here……………?

……………………………….Here?

(her voice echoes in the empty street…..)

Sigh…. long day… not planned that way….

Gotta go over to the Tiki anyway…. just check on stuff….

Maybe somebody will be there…

I think Bev is right….

Phil wants to make sure his customer is safe…

And he’s absolutely gleeful to be demonstrating that he knows how to do it…

Not just safe from rising water…. safe from aggravation, safe from the sound of dripping faucets…And safe from having to fix the $@#&! toilet all by herself….Must be a nice feeling….

My question is this… will Phil, the happy friendly plumber,use his life-saving skill, upon which he prides himself…To save his customer from the predatory practices of some other plumbers?

Cos that would be a REAL life-saver.

Oh Red! Nice to see you!Sure, thanks.

Um…. Redtail, I think.A nice dark ale will do it.Please tell Fenton to get it from the case, not the ice, thanks.

Sorry…. I was thinking about my plumbing adventure.

Bev says I can fix my own….nice vote of confidence but it’s only minor stuff that I can handle…..

I would have hired a plumber had the one recommended not tried to swindle me…Kinda firmed my resolve to do it myself.Oh, he says… about my brand of toilet…“I haven’t seen one of those in 50 years.”(Lie #1)

“You really should replace it anyway…. it’s just going to get worse and worse…”. (Lie #2)

And his best one: (#3) “I’m surprised it’s still working.”

Oh…. thank you Red! Perfect!Cheers!

Sorry, Red…. I’m just trying to say that if Phil & Co. don’t pull things like that…I will gladly let him throw lifesavers.

You see, the reason that plumber wanted me to replace my toilet is he just happened to have one on the truck…which he would be happy to sell me and install…at a right now special price of only $500!!

Mine too, Red…. mine too.

And that guy was presenting himself as some sort of hero….

He could fix everything for poor, helpless female me …. AND give me a bargain….

only $500 for a probably $99 toilet and an hour’s work…because he was so worried (on my behalf) that a solid piece of porcelain was going to gradually stop working.

Oh thank you Red…. sorry I’m on about plumbers…. but I’m hoping Phil there is the great one we all need…The Lifesaver.

Hi pcolli…I’m not sure exactly what he said here…but he did post the very first day he was here that it was a one-shot deal…then he came back anyway.

I don’t think it’s premeditated at all….I think it’s unconscious.I don’t think he knows he’s in crisis at all.

He posts on AC cos he feels at home there.

He said felt like he was barging in on BS, even though we assured him that he wasn’t.

I’m not telling secrets…. only referring to things he posted publicly.

Goodnight Red…. happy dreams!

Why are you a superstar, pcolli? C’mon, you can tell me….

Pcolli…. Fame comes in mysterious ways…oh well… bask in it…..LOL

Phil also loves his business “cards.”He gives them to customers, and to their children (so they’ll always beg Mom and Dad to call the “candy plumber.”)

He throws handfuls at the Ballard St Mardi Gras Parade….

And if Millicent didn’t put any cookies in his lunch, well, he always has candy with him.

: D

Check out those shoes!

Eldo e-mailed me early this morning a couple of times . I am definitely worried. I am not sure how much is planned and how much is spontaneous and /or stream of consciousness.I pray that everyone over at AC remains patient and understanding. He really is a terrific guy.

I just love the high water bib overalls. No butt crack here. But if he bends over his voice pitch goes up to soprano.

Me too ! See you then Red.

Didn’t he work for Nixon. They were called the Plumbers.That’ll take ya back awhile.

I just posted something on Andy Capp that I thought maybe I should post here too, as some in this forum are also concerned about our friend:

x_Tech and I both noticed that Eldo’s comments have been blocked by GoComics….that’s what they refer to as banning.

Sometimes moderators do it; sometimes it means the comments were flagged multiple times.GoComics has thousands of unseen members, many even paid, who never comment, so even if a person’s friends don’t flag him, many strangers might.

You can view his profile HEREand see that he’s still commenting.

When you’re banned you can still read your own comments in the forums, so at first you may not believe that others can’t.

He can also read what we write…So Eldo… you may think you’re making sense but you’re not. We want you back!I urge you to PLEASE seek help! .

Well, I’m glad y’all heard from Eldo and he seems to be OK. I’m just looking at anything online about the Dr my chiro recommended, as she is not making much improvement in my neck and shoulders (with an inactive day inbetween each).

I stooped to taking a pain pill those 2 nights so I could sleep most of the night in peace (and naturally had to forgo any drinking). I want to be well NATURALLYm though! As I usually AM. I took one at 9 this morn because I need to be able to move a lot to freeze all the stuff I’ve been cooking and felt so normal but that’s not what I want (even though BP was better at 10 =146/73). I think she may not be doing enough adjustments on me.

My plumber is as reasonable as any and does nothing outlandish. He has replaced dishwasher (that he picked up for me at Sears) a kitchen faucet (that I bought at Home Depot) and more recently the water heater. His men spend too much time tho’ on anything like outdoor landscape – I just use the Latinos for that because of rates. I’m glad my man is HVAC (not plumbing – does not have to deal with smelly things usually).

Gnite ya’ll… headdin back to teh hooch yurt… tehn hangin low fer teh weekend, watch sum footsball have a few redales…. ez weekend ahed… meybe ahl chek in… ya’ll behave now… :())

munky got yer bak…!!!(clik*)

Since New Years Day started the year with my hot water heater bursting, and I have consequently, developed a couple of other water relate problems, the word " plumber " does not have pleasant connotations, for me.All I can say, is that January hasn’t exactly left me flush !

Ling, that is one project that HVAC shares with plumbers (he will replace water heaters) and did quite a few during my latest trip. His rates are not increasing the way big companies do because he has established customers and does not advertise. The mark-up on a WH is still sizeable though so I understand your pain. At least his labor is reasonable and I am very proud of all the work he does. I was glad to hear from my old place that even tho’ they are not looking for employees, they could use me if I moved back. Difficult part would be the care of my house and many furnishings. Art is all selected special for places where it IS and all the glass and delicate things. . .!

I just wish I could pop back and forth at moments notice like really rich folks because I need to be with him- he’s great!And yours burst? sounds like it was not properly installed (they don’t usually DO that). lack of a relief valve? controls set WAY too high?

First of all, I love Roderick’s red high-top sneakers. That being said, it is too much for Rod to expect every housewife he encounters to rush up, throw their arms around him, and exclaim “You’re a lifesaver!"

Read the credits!

https://cleoandcompany.net/january-31-2023/

Good morning Balladeers.

Hi Tigressy!