Survival of the fittest!



Mountains in Missoula



Perhaps that’s a small exaggeration. For anyone following the forlorn faucet failure of 2011, you know I have survived—and on my own, might I add (a bit smugly). Actually, I couldn’t have done it without our land-people’s assistant (Jessie). She totally saved the day.

Our first day was awful! It seemed the world was against us. I know zip-zero-zilch about water pipes. I’ve never had to deal with this before in Arkansas let alone on my own (insert cheesy Les Mis song here). Scott is in the lower 48 and our land-people are in Mexico.

I started the day off at 6am scared to death I would find myself swimming to the kitchen. Thankfully, it was still only about 10 degrees outside so nothing had the chance to thaw yet. At 7am sharp I was on the phone calling the three plumbers in Sitka. Plumber number one wouldn’t help me without a contract with his business. Plumber number two scoffed and hung up on me for not knowing more about my situation. Plumber number three said he would help but left me waiting the whole day until he swung by for .3 seconds to tell me he was too busy to help us. We went to the phonebook and were out of Sitka plumbers.



Missoula county court house



Jessie and I were feeling pretty low at this point. It was dark and freezing cold. We couldn’t find the access to get under the house or the water shut off valve. Feeling desperate and relying somewhat on survival instincts we turned to our neighbor, who we had seen working on his house off and on that day too. So, with big watery eyes and little, pink, cold noses we shamelessly asked for help. This was our turning point.

The gentleman was kind enough to come over in the freezing cold dark and crawl around the bottom of the house until he found the access panel. He lugged over a diesel fuel heater that looked closer to a rocket engine than a space heater. After fueling up we realized we still couldn’t turn the water off without locating the shut off valve so we bailed that night and decided to wait till morning when we could find it.

So started day two without water. The first thing one figures out pretty quickly without water is you don’t have a potty. I promise to skip all the “potty” humor, but not being able to flush-- stinks… har har har (feel free to roll your eyes and shake your head in disapproval).  I reached deep down inside of me and found my frontier woman. I boiled snow so I could wash my face and brush my teeth. Eventually, I made my way to the store and got some bottled water to replace the nasty snow.



Missoula campus



But being a working gal, I had couldn’t spend another day sitting around waiting on the flaky plumber. So, I headed off to work leaving Jessie to handle it. Half way through the day I called her to check in and she was hard at work. By the time I got home she was in full gear with a head lamp on with a friendly handy man that had the broken pipes replaced, the water running, and life back to normal. Elated, I went to shake the man’s hand and introduce myself. Before I could get out my name he scornfully said, “Well, you must be the young lady who doesn’t make her bed.” My jaw dropped and I was speechless. So busted!

I could feel my mother’s shame radiating from Arkansas. I was always taught to leave a clean house in case of an emergency-- point very well taken Marma. What can I say? Scott was out of town, and I was alone and in crisis mode.

Oh, and on a completely and totally unrelated topic—If you have never tried Haagen-Dazs White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle ice cream, get up right now… don’t worry about finishing this blog… go right now and get some. Eating this ice cream made me have a “should have sent poet…” Jody Foster moment.

So there’s my little story while Scott’s been off having his own adventures.

Scott had a rockin’ interview in New Hampshire. He said the area was beautiful and the hospital was really friendly and inviting. Today, he spent the day touring the fair city of Missoula, Montana. He got to go to museums, historical down town, the Missoula campus, and several beautiful parks.  He took some picutures with his phone and sent them to me to share with you guys. Tomorrow (3/3) is his all day interview so keep him in your thoughts. Most of his flights have been good but I know he is extremely tired of flying and ready to come home. So, come on home darlin’, I’m a waitin’.

Love you all and thanks for your support,

S/A



Sign on a play ground in a park