Scrub-A-Dub-Dub

Dad and the new tub...


We bought a new tub to replace our old tub downstairs that was cracked and chipped beyond repair. The repair cost was nearly the same as the replacement cost, so I guess you'd say the old tub was "totalled", except of course that we do not have comprehensive tub insurance, so we're stuck with the bill.

I want to have a functional tub downstairs, because the shower upstairs is on its last legs too, and if I'm forced to replace the shower this summer, we sure as heck better have a functioning bath/shower somewhere in the house! Hence the new tub.

So it was shipped to us in a big-ass crate, which the Yellow truck driver courteously helped me muscle onto the driveway. After I had a chance to inspect the porcelain for any cracks or damage, I was then faced with the challenge of moving a 400 lb tub somewhere out of the way.

I hate calling my best buddies over just to help me with some thankless manual labor, even though they always seem happy to help and happier still to have beer and burgers afterwards. But I was still trying to overcome my shame for never inviting them over for any other, real occasions when an idea popped into my head.

In the course of removing the ancient gas furnace from the attic this winter as part of the bedroom remodel, I found myself with about 50 feet of perfectly good, but perfectly useless 3/4" metal gas line. I was all set to just chop it up into little bits and toss it in the ol' Dumpster. But I realized I could use 3 foot sections of it to roll the crated tub almost anywhere I wanted to move it! I thought to myself, "surely this idea is just too dumb to work - my life is not a cartoon!"

Well friends, as the pictures above attest, my life is a cartoon after all. About half a dozen lengths of gas pipe suffice for a crew of hungry men. Someday we'll all be replaced by gas pipe.

... And yes, unfortunately, my garage really is that messy right now. I blame Alex, because he's too little to speak up for himself.

Wednesday night I leave for Beijing via LAX. I'm all packed up!