Orangeburgh?

Okay, I have to vent somewhere, and for me, this is about the safest place to do it. I am just overwhelmed right now.

At one point this weekend it seemed like there were fifty people in the house (actually, it was about 9) and I was being pulled every which way to do one thing or another, be it play something, clean something, whatever. In and of themselves, all the houseguests would have been quite welcome. They were the two girls we babysit, their older sister, my mom and step-dad, and the neighbor child, along with my wife and I. It just seemed like I had no time to even breathe.

Then, Monday comes.

RAW SEWAGE has backed up into our showers, the washing machine drain backed up and flooded the laundry room. The toilets flush slowly. So, I call "Mr. Rooter" (No relation to Roto) and they come out lickety-split and quote me $208.51 for the job. "Git R Done!" I tell 'em.

Throughout the course of the day, I learn all about some God-forsaken substance known as Orangeburgh, and how it was all the rage in the 50's (when my house was built) but now anyone who has it has found out that it is really just glorified tar paper, and it collapses after a few decades.

My $208.51 quote kept creeping up through the day to $800...$1500...$2000...$7000...$9000...and finally, after a call to City of Little Rock... $20,000!

Please do kiss my entire backside!

Through neighbors and fellow churchmembers, we are trying to work out a cheaper solution. Mr. Rooter is going to be out in the morning once more to "Locate" the stop, but once they do that, I'm going to have them mark it, pay them, and send them on their way.

Meanwhile, no laundry, and no "solid" waste in the Casablanca household.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!