A few days ago we developed a horrendous smell in the cellar of our 1905 house. Drains are fine. Smell seemed to come from a mysterious wet spot in the cellar floor. I mark the spot (like a crime scene). It is growing. I envision the worst: broken pipe in concrete, jack hammers, new sewer line, thousands of dollars. Call RotoRooter (stupid move). They send over Brad the Boy Plumber who recommends that we buy and use their ecologically correct drain cleaner. Thanks, Brad. Then (on neighbors’ advice) I call a real plumber. He comes by, is stumped, but dubious about broken pipe theory. Smells around for dead animal, finds none. Goes away, returns with Woody who has been working on old houses for hundreds of years. Woody develops a theory that someone years ago had installed a cellar toilet improperly, and something was backing up. (There is a mysterious abandoned lead drain/vent in the floor to support this theory.) Woody goes, returns with his crew and jackhammers. At last minute, not really trusting his theory, looks one more time for source of smell, and FINDS A DEAD CAT UNDER THE SHELF IN A CLOSET. He removes same, charges us $90. As far as I am concerned, Woody is the greatest man who ever lived, but don’t I owe these guys more? Any ideas?
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Replies
A dead cat each?
maybe a pot of stew?
In know it's not PC, BUT:
Do you know the value of a cat in Mexico?
Five tacos and a pair of mittens. ; )Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a carpenter to build one.
Not only is it not PC but it's stupid. I'm Mexican, and I take offense. Why do you need to give offense?
Yes, it is stupid, but many people still think it's funny. Please accept my apology.
Perhaps I should have said "in Colorado". The joke is about the dead cat, not Mexico. Or maybe I should have said a dog in China or a horse in France...
I meant no offense. If you were a regular here you would no that I have an irreverent sense of humor.Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a carpenter to build one.
You could have said Estado California.
That is also a joke. rg
You think so?
Joe H
Yes, I do think it's a joke. rg
P.S. Please feel free to make jokes about Cherokee/ English/ Irish/ Sicilian carpenters if you like. I've got plenty of them if you need help.
I live here, and it's no joke.
Coming soon to your state too.
Joe H
Oh, it's already here in the great state of MN. We also have Hmongs, Somalians, really rude eastern europeans, and a host of other nationalities.
The thing I don't get is how a thirty-five year old man with a family of five can be admitted to this country as a "student". A guy like that was the subject on a radio talk show here. That's also how Moussaoui got here.
I actually talked to an administrator at the U of M about it, and she said that they have to prove that they can support themselves for the duration of their education, and that's all. It must be pretty cheap for the Al Quaeda to do that.
Damn Proud to be an American! rg
I missed something here. How in the world did a conversation about a dead cat in the basemnent tuen into a smear campaign against immigration?.
Excellence is its own reward!
+++ MY FRIENDS, THE FOLLOWING IS A DRAMATISATION+++
Okay, so a Priest, a Rabbi and an Imam walk into a bar carrying a dead cat. The Irish bartender said, " Hey you can't bring that thing in here!"
The ACLU attorney sitting at the bar took the case pro bono and declared " You are violating their civil rights".
The group of drunk Native American men sitting across the room put their can of metallic spray paint down, and immediately began a ceremony for the spirit of the dead cat.
The Atheist sitting at the bar complained that the Indians religious ceremony was violating his civil rights.
A PETA member who collecting signatures for ALF outside on the sidewalk came in asking for a vegetable juice and soda, first asking if the glass was washed with soap that contained no biproducts of the petroleum industry.
An African American gentleman and his "friend" on the down low looked tough but tried not to be noticed slamming their forties of malt liquor.
The Hispanic drywall crew was taking a break, having the other half of the burritos they had for lunch.
The Cambodian gangbangers were obnoxiously revving their riced out Civics in the alley, so the Chechnyan cleaning lady shut the back door.
The Chinese fella who just walked in saw the cat and asked the Imam where he got it.
Meanwhile, Sven and Ole were standing at the end of the bar, laughing and drinking Windsor, celebrating how we are ALL the same inside.
My Point: People are too frickin sensitive. Learn to take a joke. BTW, I love my three cats, and would never let them hear this, as it might offend them. But then again, they would be appear offended anyway.
Good Luck with taking that joke. rg
It's my fault (the thread wandering off track from plumbing problems to immigration issues). I took offense at the stupid Mexican/cat/taco joke. I am Mexican (on my father's side)and so I probably hear jokes like that differently than the "Anglos" on Breaktime.
and so I probably hear jokes like that differently than the "Anglos" on Breaktime.
No you don't. We all hear it the same way. Some people just think that stuff like that is funny, humorous, or in tune with the rest of the world.
To each his own.
Now, back to the "tip" for Woody. Since Woody found the dead cat, surely someone in the area around your home is missing their beloved feline pet. MAN HAVE I GOT A DEAL FOR YOU! I can send you, at no cost to you, 17 replacement cats to replace that poor lost kitty. Surely the person(s) that lost their dear beloved pet can find one that they like out of the bunch. Then you can give Woody the other 16 as a reward.
Please?James DuHamel
"The Power Zone" http://www.thepowerzone.org
James ! You're back ! Where ya' been, man ? We've missed you. Hope you're back to stay awhile.
Greg.
GREG!!!!
How ya been Buddy!
Man, it's been a wild ride for the last several months, but things seem to be getting settled a bit. Now I can get back to visiting you guys.
So, how's things going in your neck of the woods?James DuHamel
"The Power Zone" http://www.thepowerzone.org
James !!!!
How are you ??
It is very good to see you, my friend and brother. Stick around a while, will ya ?
And please say hello to Mary for me. BTW: what's it like living with an angel ?
: )
A good heart embiggins even the smallest person.
Quittin' Time
I plan on being around for quite a while - at least until I get run off (heh heh).
Living with an angel is a true blessing. Mary makes my day, everyday. We still laugh when we wake up each morning, and laugh until we fall asleep at night. Laughter makes the heart joyful!
It's the cats that drive me crazy. They're grown now - sooooo many of them too! I have been thinking about getting a dog - a REALLY BIG dog (heh heh). They are entertaining to watch though.
I've been trying to keep up with your saga, but unfortunately I have rarely checked my home e-mail in the last several months. I have only been able to grasp bits and pieces of what's going on.
James DuHamel
"The Power Zone" http://www.thepowerzone.org
I hope all the busieness is good stuff and not emegencies burning the tumbleweeds.
Excellence is its own reward!
Send them to my nieghbor hood.... There is a food chain in progress.
Who ever invented work didn't know how to fish....
I try to be an equal opportunity offender. Given enough time I hope to offend everybody. : )Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a carpenter to build one.
You called him to find your smell. He found your smell. He removed your smell. He was going to rip up you basement floor you agree to that. It would have cost you a lot more then $90.00. How is you may have a point that Woody may not be licensed to remove dead cats and he might be in trouble with the sated for removing a dead cat. but Woody did do what you asked him to do is find the smell and remove it. You own him the $90.00. Do you want to use this person the next time you have pluming problem or mister RotoRooter. that did not find your problem. Do you think Woody will ever work for you again when he remembers you don't pay your bills.
Fred, I think he is implying he owes them MORE then what he was charged. At least thats the way I read it, and it's not like I'm never wrong.
The Count-Down begins, 91 days left
That's the way I read it too. He was grateful. Thought Woody was a jeenyus. Figgers he should give them some sort of tip over and above the 90 bucks...
Good on him.
A good heart embiggins even the smallest person.
Quittin' Time
Not many out there like that, but could you imagine what he'd be saying if old woody would have jacked up his basement floor and THEN found the dead cat lol
The Count-Down begins, 91 days left
Edited 9/18/2003 6:53:30 PM ET by CAG
Javier wants to give Woody a tip.
He's asking for advice.
Apologize.
Who ever invented work didn't know how to fish....
c'mere fred....
whap !...
and next time be sure you READ the damn thing before you climb down his throat ...
...boy, some a dese guys.....Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Send real plumber and Woody each to gift certs for dinner.
Samt
Yeah, but not at the Chinese joint, LOL
Send Fredsmart there while Woody eats steak.
Excellence is its own reward!
That's exactly right -- I'm looking to give a token of appreciation that would not be seen as condescending. I like the dinner gift certificate idea. And, naturally, I will praise these guys to the skies if anyone needs a plumbing referral. How did the cat get in? I leave cellar windows open so I can get long pieces of lumber in (I have a workshop). The poor cat must have been dead for some time -- it was extemely ripe and crawling with maggots. You can imagine my wife's reaction.
If you feel like a tip is in order, it probably is. Woody may not feel the same, but you've got a problem solver to keep on your list. Recommend him to others.
OK, I'll ask. Javier, where did the cat come from and how did the critter die?
True story.
An old partner of mine had imported machine parts from Russia and the container landed in England prior to transfer to another ship.
This was during the English mad cow incident.
The container arrived on Friday and was to be transfered on Monday. Monday comes along and the local dock inspectors smell this rancid rotten meat coming from the container and proceed to impound the container and order it fumigated. Once that was done the smell was still there and emptied the entire contents on the dock, can't find a thing and release it for transfer a week late.
The loading crane picks up the container to load it and find a dead cat underneath.
Lost a week and a half, 500 british pounds for fumigation, 250 pounds for storage and no apology.
In shipping internationally, if you complain, your shipments start having a lot of bad luck.
We now return to your regularly scheduled programs.
Gabe
Stinky basements are a dime a dozen these days with all the rain we have had this year.
So I get this call to inspect a basement that has this unusual odor that several other contractors came in and said was mold. As soon as I my foot hit the basement floor, the homeowner was asking " do you smell it, do you smell it ?" I told her no, and kept walking around. Once I got to the boiler room, I smelled it. Turned out they had a leaking can of paint thinner dripping down a shelf unit. How could anybody think that smelled like mold ?
carpenter in transition
How 'bout treating him to a night in a "cat-house"?
Sorry, couldn't resist. Bonus cash is always appropriate, but use your imagination to come up with something special. How about a certificate covering dinner at the best restaurant in town?
Or if he's the drinking sort, a bottle of single-malt and a couple $10 cigars. Depends on the guy.
Spread woody's name and refer him lots of business if you can. Thats probably one of the best ways to pay him back
A few months ago I began to notice the unmistakeable odor of a dead animal in my shop. After some careful snifing around I decided it must be coming from the stud cavity in the wall behind my grinder/sharping bench. Rather than cutting an opening in wall to remove what I figured must be a dead rat or squirrel lodged in there, I decided to just tough it out and eventually the smell will go away.I suffered for awhile with the smell and gradually it went away. Then one day a month or so later I had the need to use my grinder. I reached for my water bottle that sets on the bench to fill the resorvoir on the grinder. What came out of the bottle almost made me puke. Along with the water,out came this long slimey gray mass (the skin)followed by some bones and decayed flesh of what was probably a mouse that had fallen in the bottle and drowned. I learned a lesson and always keep a cap on the bottle now and any buckets without a lid I store upside to narrow the possibilities of it happening again.Be not afraid of going slowly. Be afraid only of standing still. chinese proverb
That was AWESOME!!!
hey...at least it wasnt a skunk.
Not that I want to get too far off into a fresh subject, but I use windshield wiper fluid for my grinder. it doesn't freeze in winter and helps keep it cleaner than water. The gallon jug comes with it's own cap too.
;)
Now to get back on topic...
I did a home inspection for purchaser the other day and ran into a foul smell as soon as I ended up in the cellar. I happen to have a fairly good snout so I just followed my nose (remember that this is an inspection - I need to know if the waste pipe is cracked or blocked) and it only took about two minutes to find a dead mouse behind a rack of shelves..
Excellence is its own reward!
I like the stew, but I'd throw in a case of beer, too.
Javier -
Personally, I like to give a little extra cash - like when the truck driver backs all the way down my winding dirt driveway to deliver ICFs to the jobsite and doesn't bitch about doing it - I gave him $30 and said "Man, I appreciate it...I know you didn't HAVE to back all the way in...Have lunch and a snack on me"
Also did the same with my concrete pumper operator - he actually helped us screed footings and later ICFs.
Both seemed genuinely shocked by the 'gift' and were appreciative.
I guess my point is that cash always seems to work well for me...
Jamie