Hey.
Remember when we lived at our old house, and we were about to move, and the septic tank went all cuckoo? And we had to spend a whole bunch of money to fix it?
Well.
Look what’s in my backyard right now.
We seem to have some sort of sewer problem. Because for the second time in two months, the rainwater has caused some, um, overflow from the sewer.
Oh, it is a treat!
The good news is that since the lines belong to the city, they’re fixing everything.
The bad news is that given the last year and a half, I think it’s safe to say that we seem to have an above-average number of waste management-type issues.
And I have a feeling that I’m about to read a whole bunch of really lame punchlines as a result.
Let ‘er rip.
April 7th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
You will hear nothing from me. Because even though I don’t believe in luck or karma or any such thing, I have a septic tank in the backyard. It would just be too ironic for me to make any comments, only to find my own septic system had gone awry.
April 7th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
“Let’er rip”?
Yeah .. that’s what did it, all right.
April 7th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
I bet it’s clogged with a big o’sack of money to fund the trips that you are dying to take…..and you better get out there and tell them dudes to just get it out and hand it over….and maybe give them a lil ole tip for getting it out for ya!! ;)
April 7th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
sorry, it was because the thai food i ate with los and heather…. :)
April 7th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
I’m with Staci. We also have a septic system, and I would never joke about the problem you’re having lest it bring upon my own yard an overflow of sewage. And, really, that’s something I can do without.
Good Luck.
April 7th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
No septic tank here.
I think your situation is just crappy. :)
April 7th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
well…look on the bright side…that area in your yard will be plush, green grass…very well fertilized!
April 7th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Good one, Jennifer!
We had septic issues recently, and had to have the whole tank pumped. Now, every time I get frustrated with my job, I think about the dear man who pumped it. That always makes me feel better, because at least I don’t ALWAYS have to deal with other people’s crap. =D
April 7th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
At least all the foliage is in bloom — so it looks lovely even if …
April 7th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
When we had septic issues, we finally found out what happened. Apparently, we had been using premium toilet paper. Charmin, the super thick stuff, you name it. Turns out that you can’t use that with septic systems.
So now we use the thinner stuff. Oh, and if you use bathroom wipes? Even if they say flushable? Don’t do it.
April 7th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Well poo, I hope that doesn’t happen to me.
April 7th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
At least with a septic tank if it overflows it just goes in your yard. With sewer when it decides to go all crappy (pun intended) it goes all over the bathrooms. No fun. Have had experience – way too much experience.
April 7th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
We have lived in this house four years and have spent $5000 on plumbing and sewer line repairs. I feel your pain.
April 7th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Oh my, what a mess!
So sorry, but you know, ask and you shall receive.
Hope everything cleans up quickly.
April 7th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
I got nuthin’! I’ll probably think of something in a couple of weeks and then leave the comment and make entirely no sense at all.
April 7th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Well, dookie. That stinks. =)
April 7th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
We had an issue a couple years ago. Turns out there’s a limit to the amount of paper products you can shove down a toilet at one sitting.
I have four girls; may God bless our septic system and increase its capacity like the loaves and fishes.
April 7th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Oh,poo. I had a good one but Butterbean stole it. And now I’m too *drained* to think of another. I’ll probably wake up in the middle of the night with a brilliant pun to throw in here – that’s about how fast my brain works. I’m perpetually *behind* schedule. Sorry.
April 7th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
We live in a neighborhood where it’s required to pump your tank every year. I try to avoid doing it in the Summer at all costs. That poor man needs a shower and some sweet tea after he visits our house.
April 7th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Well that surely stinks!
I am glad I live in the city and don’t have to worry about things like that!
April 7th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Hey there – I had a few of my own…waste management…issues today! Come by and read all about it if you’d like. I’d tell you, but frankly, I’m tired of thinking about it!
Wanted you to know that I come by daily to read what’s going on with you. Sure enjoyed your recent question and answer session:)
Come by and pay me a visit some time – I’m doing a little giveaway right now, so stop by if you’d like to enter :)
April 7th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
I feel your pain. Draining the septic system was an annual ritual during our 8 years of home ownership in England too. Take the above advise to heart: NEVER drain during the summer months! From the photo, it looks like tree roots may end up being your problem. They can be very damaging to sewer lines.
Beth
April 7th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Man. That just stinks, Sophie.
Sorry. :-)
April 7th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Oh BooMama! We are soul sewer sistas! We came home from vacation two weeks ago to bedroom carpeting that was destroyed by two overflowing toilets and showers!
Last Friday, the toilet started gurgling again! The plan is to have a backhoe tear up our front lawn on Wednesday.
Till then we are nursing our sewer system along so it doesn’t treat us to another “visit”.
http://rainydaydiamonds.blogspot.com
See the pictures yourself!
Hang in there, Soul Sewer Sista!
April 7th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
I had my own “poop” story this morning – though not anything like your problem- I am feeling your pain today! visit my blog for the story — mine was courtesy of my three year old!
April 7th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
It’s good to know we can still count on “BM-the Blawg.”
April 7th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
What have you been feeding Howard?
April 7th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
I’m just completely at home after this post. I’m positively beaming. And giggling inappropriately.
You know what they say….the grass is always greener….
I have just one word for you Sophie. Roughage.
April 7th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Well “it” really hit the fan, huh?!
Good luck with your situation!
April 7th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
I feel your pain… at our first house, my husband and I had two separate major sewer line repairs, one that required excavation of our basement floor, and one that pretty much destroyed our front yard while we were in the middle of a miscarriage. I was a basketcase! Oh, and the plumber that was working in our basement came upstairs at the end of a workday and washed his hands IN MY KITCHEN SINK!!!! Needless to say, I used a good 3 or 14 gallons of bleach cleaning the sink after that!
April 7th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
You poop in it and you can’t clean it?
April 7th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
nothing you can doo
April 7th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
For some reason I’m feeling the need to watch Mike Rowe’s show on Discovery.
I just love the way he says Poo.
April 7th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
so sorry to hear about your sewer “issues.” when we were trying to sell our house a year ago our ancient terra cotta line installed by our city in about 1890 collapsed and caused a “bubblin’ crude” of sorts in our basement. unfortunately, our city passed a code that the sewers (because they know they are all ancient and falling apart) are all the homeowners responsibility. we had to pay a plumber to jack hammer up the sidewalk, fix it all and then put new cement back down. in the end it was about $4,000. lucky for us the problem didn’t go out under the road. if it would have, we would have had to pay the city to tear up the road and then repair it. fun, fun, fun. your crappy situation will be in my prayers.
April 7th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Because the system belongs to the city, I guess it is their “duty” to get it fixed! heehee! :)
(being the mature adults that we are, my husband and I always get the giggles when someone says the word, “duty.” We are a classy folk!)
April 7th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
I can’t help but think of Meet the Parents at this time.
April 7th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
I empathize completely. My sweet husband and I bought our first house last August (3 months into marriage) and since then, we have had to replace the wax ring on our toilet no fewer than a half dozen times, our sewer line backed up into places it should not have been backing up, our crawlspace flooded up into the air vents and nearly into the house. We had to turn off the heat for three days in 40 degree weather to let the water get out of the vents. Then we found mold in the house…then this weekend, the line into the water heater busted open and started flooding. So…these water/sewer/yuck problems. I know what you’re feeling.
April 7th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Sorry you are having to deal with that crap. That stinks. I wish I could just wipe it out of your memory. I know you hate to whizz money down the drain for stuff like that.
heh heh, best I could do.
April 7th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
I wanted to write something clever, but I’m just too pooped.
Tanks for a great post, though.
April 7th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Don’t you know it’s poo poo to have doo doo in your yard?
OK, I’m sorry. My nine year old son made me do it.
Hope your problems are cleared up soon, and I agree, your yard looks fabulous.
julie
p.s. I went to the taping of Idol Gives Back last night and it was fantastic. You have to watch on Wednesday. You won’t be sorry.
April 7th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
What would Martha say if she knew you were discussing this with the internet?
April 7th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
What a crappy day.
April 7th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
well, that just stinks. Hope they get it all wiped up soon. :D
April 7th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
What do you call the city sewer system technician who gives you guidance on how to handle this situation?
A too-tor.
This sounds pretty serious. I wouldn’t poo-poo it.
April 8th, 2008 at 5:35 am
Hope it doesn’t tank your property value.
April 8th, 2008 at 6:30 am
I didn’t read all the comments before me, so if someone has already said this, ignore me! We seem to have a lot of problems when we use Charmin (or any other super thick “fancy” brand) Stick with the cheap stuff!
April 8th, 2008 at 6:35 am
I wish I had a rippin good punchline, but I’m just no stinkin good at such things. So I’ll just tell you that I’m sorry that happened to you and hope that there is something you can doo in the future to flush out the problem. I’m sure you’ll be pumped if it doesn’t happen next year.
April 8th, 2008 at 7:12 am
I feel your pain–really I do. We are in the same situation at the moment. We too are trying to sell our house and our septic tank is having issues. It’s brand new (only 2yrs old) and yet we have ‘leaking’ in the yard on a daily basis. we’ve already fixed a broken pipe that somebody duct taped back together (I kid you not)and then buried under two feet of dirt. But apparently it wasn’t the only broken piece of equipment.
April 8th, 2008 at 7:28 am
Hmmm… I got nothing. And I’m usually quite quick with the potty humor, if I do say so myself.
April 8th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Well that is just a load of crap… : )
Sorry you have to deal with it. Your posts always make me smille :)
Rox