Among other things we need, we need a new water heater. I thought maybe the dog made the wet spot in the basement but it didn't smell like pee to me so I figured the kids dumped a cup of water on the floor. Two weeks later the wet spot is still there and -- aha! -- the fault lies with the 700 year-old water heater. It appears to have been leaking out of the rusty bottom for awhile.

I called our go-to handyman and he said he was finishing up a project and could maybe fix it mid-week.

When something's broken in our house (or on the verge of breaking) I have a limited ability to stay calm and be patient about it. I would really rather things never, ever break in our house. I would be much happier.

When I'm feeling anxious about something like an almost broken water heater what I like to do is drink more coffee than usual. So, yesterday I brewed up pot numero dos of Dunn Brothers Columbia Roast and pondered my situation. I looked up "water heater installation" online and thought to myself, Really. How hard can it be?

It's not rocket science, is it?

I hopped in the Honda and headed to Home Depot. I was ready to install myself a new water heater.

Problem 1: Large box. Very heavy.
Problem 2: Honda minivan too short.
Problem 3: The coffee was wearing off.

God bless him, our handyman called to tell me that he found a way to finish up the other project so he could get to us today.



He's good.