Leak update

Well, I gave it my best shot but I couldn't pull it off.
I spent a good part of Sunday and most of Monday trying to get the leak fixed - I thought I had it on Sunday, when I listened to the guy at the Home Depot when he told me that all I needed was silicone tape.
I dug up the yard, isolated the leak turned off the water to the cul de sac and put the tape on the leak. Covered the hole back up and turned the water back on - all was good until I woke up Monday morning to find that the front yard was a swamp.
So, back to the drawing board I went. Or in this case, back to the Home Depot as soon as everyone had left for the day. I dug up the yard again, and turned off the water. Went back to the Home Depot to return the water key I didn't need, and to pick up the part I thought I did.
Turned out to be too big, so back to Home Depot.
That turned out to be too big also, so back again to Home Depot.
Back again, and this time he assures me that this is it... the correct part.
I've also managed to cut a piece of the pipe in question off, to make sure I'm dealing with the right size for the pipe.
Guess what - no matter what I do, I can't get the piece to work. I'm sure it's something I'm doing wrong, so I go back again and this time get talked into buying a pricier part, but one that he assures me, will work without a hitch.
You guessed it, wrong again.
So now, I'm back at the Home Depot ready to spit nails. It's getting later and later in the day and I'm dying in the heat; not to mention that I'm working on a deadline of getting through before anyone gets home because in order to do this fix, I've had to cut the water for 12 units.
So, that'll be around 22 people coming for my head on a pole if I can't get this fixed before they get home and want dinner, showers, laundry, dishes, etc.
Little late to make this long story short, but crux of the matter is that I ended up surrendering to the inevitable (especially when the last time, I was sure I had the issue resolved except for a minor leak, tried to adjust it and the connection exploded in my face) ...I gave up. I called the Association's plumber of choice, and he came out and repaired the disaster in less than an hour.
Cost? $193.93
And came to find out that I was on the right track and could have handled the issue myself had Home Depot supplied me with the correct part in the first place.
I did learn a lesson though...there really are some things that you have to pay for instead of doing them yourself.

Vindication (of a sort)

This isn't really a vindication, as that would imply doubt as to the veracity of my statements.
However, since most people won't or don't believe me when I talk about Lady Sintana's burlesque past, I offer this: Ladies of Burlesque.
That was Sintana back in the day.

Strange how the Universe works

Spoke last night to your Uncle Ian - it turns out that one of his new friends in the Dahlonega area belongs to a coven called Ravenwood. After a bit of discussion, it turns out that indeed, this is the current incarnation of the group I belonged to.
Further discussion revealed that Sintana has moved back to North Carolina from the Pacific Northwest, and is living with her daughter.
There is some medical issue involved, however quite honestly I believe it's a result of the breast enhancements she had done for her career as an exotic dancer. I've seen the Xrays, and those weren't your standard bags. There were wires and shit holding those things in place. Add to that, the material of choice for filler would have been silicon instead of saline, as this was prior to the discovery that silicon in breast enlargements was a bad thing.
From what I understand, she's having medical issues - I've been told Alzheimers and I've been told Lou Gerhig's. I don't know, but whatever the case, I want to see her again.
That's an interesting situation, in and of itself. Her daughter, who was raised in the craft, has renounced it in favor of Baptist Christianity.
Talk about Karmic situations. Mother, who was one of the driving forces behind the acceptance of Wicca as a legitimate religion, now living with a born again daughter.
I'm going to try and reestabish contact with Sintana. No matter what, I will always love and respect her, and honestly, I want to see her again.
Besides,maybe now she'll teach me how to make the incense.

July 16 (A new rant)

I admit it, I'm getting incredibly sloppy about posting.
I really will try to do better about this - however it seems that the only time I'm posting now is when I've got something to complain about instead of something wonderful like your arrival, Andrea.
Anyway, in that vein, another rant.
Last year, I had an issue arise with the condo (big shock there) where I had an unidentified leak in the front yard. I let it go for a while, then took the advice of one of the board members, and informed the management company.
I was originally told by them that if it was an outbound or sewer line, then it would be my responsibility to pay for repairs, but if it was the incoming water line, it wasn't my responsibility but instead the HOA's.
So, I let the management company contact their plumber and the leak was found to be the inbound line. Suddenly, their story changed and it became my responsibility to pay for the repairs. I didn't have a leg to stand on, as it was apparently misinformation in the first place, and I ended up having to cough up around $300 to get the line repaired.
Why am I bringing this up now? Because the damn leak is back and in the same location.
However, this time I'm taking a completely different tack. I watched closely the last time they did the repair and I'm certain that I can handle this one myself instead of forking out another $300.
Of course, I'm going to do my research first before tackling this, and if the leak isn't where I believe it to be, (ie easily accessible) but instead beneath the concrete sidewalk, then I'll turn it over to professionals and let them hash out who's going to be paying for it, as it certainly won't be me.