Hot Water

A while back, our hot water heater died. We'd had it for about 9 years, so it seemed well within reason to get a new one. My husband is very handy, and asked if I minded if he tried to replace it himself. I, being chronically cheap, of course said yes. Worst case scenario we had to call someone if it didn't work, so it seemed like a great idea.

He somehow did replace it himself (wrestling it up and down the steps alone). Everything seemed great. Except. Except for every few days the pilot light went out. We could not explain this and it seemed to have no rhyme or reason. He kept relighting it, and we figured maybe it was just something that would mysteriously "fix itself".

I often get up very early and drive for 3 or 4 hours to get to my destination. One day I had to get up at 4:30 in order to be in the mountains by 9:00. Now, I am not a morning person. The shower is pivotal to feeling human when I do have to get up at this time.

So, I roll out of bed, turn on the shower, and of course, no hot water. I get my poor husband out of bed, but even once he relights the pilot light, there is no way it will heat up in time.

I really don't know what to do. I am not awake, and somehow have to get ready without the shower. I know what you are thinking, just take a cold shower. I agree this sounds good in theory. Reality, no way. I attempted it, it just wasn't possible.

Now, to add to the problem, I have weird hair. Really, I do. It is thin and fine in a way that doesn't seem possible in humans. It defies science by being both oily and frizzy at the same time. Without a shower and a mix of expensive products, I look like kramer from seinfeld. It's basically the consistency and texture of chicken feathers.

In my limited time to get ready, I decided to straighten it with a flat iron. It seemed like the only option. It was pitiful. Not only did I look weird, but I kind of smelled like burnt hair, b.o. (I put a layer of new deodorant on top of smelling weird from going to the gym the night before), and then I topped it all with too many spritzes of perfume. It was a mess.

However, you can't call in "smell bad" and "look weird". So I went. It was really awful. Of course I made it worse by telling every customer I met with that day the whole story (I am a chronic over-sharer).

My husband did a little research and found a pivotal piece of the hot water had been left off. He fixed it, the whole thing was cheaper than hiring someone, but I paid a price.