Do you believe in Plumbing?

Bait n switch, that is my theme here, yep, the old Plumber trick. I am not going to tell you about Plumbing at all, I am going to tell you about Acupuncture. The only reason I can continue Plumbing is because of Acupuncture. I got a horrible diagnosis a couple years ago, Rheumatoid Arthritis! So, my wife (an MD) said "you need a specialist," I am not going to treat you. So, I went to a specialist and took Indomethicine and that gave me painful side effects, so I took another pill for that...I got worse, so I got Methotrexate, now that gave me mouth sores galore and another pill to fix that. After two years, I was still in pain, allergic to ALL Pain pills, I needed help so I drank Whiskey! Now, that worked well, for a while, but my fatigue symptoms got very bad. So bad I could not function. My pain got worse, steroids made me sick, I hurt all over, I was in bed one morning and tried to get up and the pain was so bad, I thought this is it. I am done! My friend Sharon told me to see an Acupuncturist for the pain, I did not know anything about Acupuncture except you got poked with needles. I hate needles. I had no choice I was desperate, scared and needing relief. So I went! The next morning my knee pain was gone, I stood with out pain. I thought this is something I need to get serious about, so I went again, and again. My pain was greatly lessened and I cut my Methotrexate dose in half because I was on the Maximum dose and this stuff was going to kill my Liver. I started taking Herbs the Acupuncturist sold me and I was getting better and better. So, I thought I can just go every two weeks instead of weekly. The second week, I was back to pain and fatigue. When I got treatment I was better, so back to weekly. I missed a weekly treatment again, and same thing, pain and fatigue. Acupuncture was the only thing that could make me feel like I could work at all. After a while I stopped all medications (pharmaceuticals), and I noticed I felt even better! So now, I am off the expensive pills and appointments with the specialist @$115 a visit on a monthly basis and not killing my Liver, and I am in very little pain. I found that the coffee I was using as a booster for my fatigue was causing pain in my joints. so I stopped that, my whiskey drinking was robbing me of my energy, so I stopped that. Now I have more energy, less pain, I am not on the road to being a drunk, and the absence of liver killing pills and whiskey. I stand a chance of being a Plumber again!
The question is, do I believe in Plumbing? or Pills and whiskey?,

For what it's worth, no matter what you believe in the Acupuncturist is Meggin Sullivan in Vista Ca. and I believe I owe my self weekly visits, at least until I can reduce them to monthly... as I do, I am able to continue my career as a Plumber making money doing that old "Bait n Switch" and living a relatively normal existence, and oh yeah, getting out of bed every day. Thanks to Dr. Sullivan OMD, and my loyal customers who let me serve them and put up with my passion for Water, Life and oh yeah, their money.

Internet access was voted more important than Plumbing

This is why we are in a housing crash. People vote for a President that will do what they think is right on abortion issues and such, but day to day realities are ignored. Instant issues, knee jerk, scandals, and the like are the issues at hand, no long term leadership or reality. People refuse to face hard facts and own up to responsibilities. Pushing off responsibilities to others is popular so we can blame the other part or person.
Water issues? yeah, the same goes there too.
Greg Chick

Comedy

I wish a good comedian would address water issues. Actually, I wish I was a good Comedian. You know how when it's "In your Face" and true exaggerated maybe, maybe not, it is funny? About Stuff and Insanity Cycle are videos on YouTube that address Water and People. I want even more "In your Face" Water issues that are kinda like Seinfield or one of those angry, yelling, stand ups that spit vapor atomizes the air around them when they are excited.

When water is pricier this will be the case. Guests will come over and hosts will yell threw the bathroom door "Hey what you doing in there @#$%^&&ing off ?!" Or insist to a hot female guest the house policy is to shower together;
gay or straight, depending on the show. Or having camp chairs with plastic bags for #1 & #2, and having crazy things happen with the bags. Tooth Paste you have to swallow; creativity that is beyond my conception, I am not a comedy writer, but you get the drift. I am ready to see this, and we need to make fun of this issue to bring it to fruition.

Gallagher could really roast the "Water Nazis" Come on folks, I need some Comic Relief. Did you know a prohibition on bottled water was passed for Congressmen and Women? It saved over a million dollars expense!

Greg Chick

Un willingness to be Proactive

I am called on a daily basis to "rescue" the effects of poor judgment in property management. It is never a good time to have plumbing problems, so, "This is not a time for pro-active choices" is the response I get from the people that are being called upon by "Reality" to pay up for past corner cutting.... When will the cycle stop? I know, when everyone says to themselves "Wow, I'm feeling like I got some extra money that I am not going to spend on top-of-the-line SUV and instead, I want top-of-the-line/safe potable water to my faucets. So, the answer is plumbing is needed therefore not worthy of expense? A trip to France, now that is a dream to come true!. Have you ever dreamed of having a good Plumbing system? or a sexy water heater, or a drain pipe that was a real treat to look at? I mean, have you ever dreamed of a top-of-the-line Sewer Pipe? Better Water? Why, what do you mean "Better Water?" Isn't all Water the same? It's pure as the driven water district isn't it? "They" (the Government) wouldn't let them sell me bad Water!.... Now, if the water district had a French name or something I might pay a bit more if I could have the logo in my front yard.... Members-only water, now that is the water I want. I can see it now, Toilet de Corps, (French for Clean Body or something). Perrie is that the name of that first designer water that came out a few decades ago? Smart Water is on the shelves now, at a couple dollars a gallon! But, we wont pay more than .0007 cents a gallon for water delivered to our touch of a wrist! If "they" try to raise our water that high, we will scream. I think if everyone knew our water was "imported" from hundreds of miles away, they might be forced to think it is pumped and that costs money. Not only that, if everyone who had a "right," or a contract to the water actually demanded it, there would not be enough! Yes, we are over extended there too. Filing bankruptcy on water has brought civilizations to extinction in past.

I actually have dreamed of perfect plumbing, water, and a better world, just consider water the fluid that binds us all.
Greg Chick

Happy New year

Just for fun lets re-think everyday assumptions. For example, what do you owe the world, today, right now? Yes, this is a ridiculous question, so go back to what you were doing and continue as if it owes you something. Why not, everyone else does. After all, you are a follower not a leader, why, to what end can you do or be anything anyway?
Just for fun, re-think such attitudes. Most people without realizing it have. Be someone who questions your own habits, question your own assumptions on a daily basis, just for a week, and see how selfish it is acceptable to be. I am cursed with the mirror in front of me reflecting my assumptions. Misery loves company, so give it a view and see if you really want to be who you are, or if you can be better by not assuming so much. More is assumed than I thought possible, I have found most of all we do is assumptive. This can be fun if you are into social behavior watching. I mean, if you forget about yourself and just impose this on everyone else....

What does this have to do with water? I assume we can let everyone else worry about that. Or can we? Social change is on the table, for if we don't reevaluate the norm we are going to continue in the direction we are going.
Get out of the box society has placed us and have fun, be responsible, and have a better year because you made it better, not a status quo bummer because they did it to us.....
Greg

I want an App

If an app was made for "Water Realities" should it be called such? Are Apps the future in public involvement with information? I think Apps should be useable, fun and of real substance if claiming to be. Would a App for Water be one of how to buy? or how clean it is, or what? I want one that tells you what Ground Water at your GPS is like. Where does that Municipal Water System get it's Water and what are the Contamination issues there. Cost per Gallon and records of violations the Wtr. Dist. has had in past. This way one could figure what type of Water Treatment System to choose. No, one size does not fit all. There are areas in this Country that have such Water Issues that Pharmaceutical Companies advise not to use some Medicines based on region! Sound like a good App now? I was asked if I had even ever been to an area before! let alone currently lived there. Keep in mind this regional issue is a moving target as well! How about traveling, do you want to know what pollutants are in the Shower or Restaurant water you consume? The Skin absorbs as much or more of some Chemicals than the Stomach. Water is changing as is the mix of Chemicals and complex reactions to them. I am not going to list details of where to find out which ones are a problem because it is different for everyone. If you are often sick or get rashes, or have conditions that elude modern Medicine, take notice and learn more about Water, it is on my Mind daily.
Greg Chick

HE Washing Machines, Smelly? or used wrong?

My good friend Jeff sent me a link @ Wall Street Journal "DC has ruined the Washing Machine" I read it, my response is I have an LG Tromm #2487. I have never had odor from my machine or clothes. I am a Plumber, I can get dirty, I get latex on my clothes, black carbon smudges from flappers, washers, and all kinds of schmutz on my clothes. I do not have soft water, I have extremely hard "City" Water. I read the instructions, before using and most often de-select the "warm" setting before starting cycle. I have twice washed a second time, a load of dirty truck rags that I use in my Van on a commercial level. I love my clean results, so does my very picky Japanese wife (Jane). We wash mats that the dogs lay on as well as 3 cats...this means Pet dander, hair etc. I consider my customer today who agreed with Jeff that HE machines stink to be telling me a true story. I think the model matters, brand is as much as model, and possibly miss use as per directions....I however must agree that a bad Machine even used correctly will still be a bad machine!, so, what am I saying? someone choose the wrong machine. I cant blame Washington DC. I will instead blame myself for demanding that DC make Standards and not insist products be tested beter first before going public. Just like the Piss Poor flushing Toilets of the 90"s and earlier this decade. We now have HE Toilets that work, as well as HE Washing Machines that work, it is time you go out and se for your self. Come back with some comments and model #'s....

Greg Chick