At least raindrops aren’t falling on my head
For those Slanty-ites that don’t live in Vancouver, now is not a great time to move here. We’ve just recovered from two weeks of cold weather (snow almost never stays on the ground in Vancouver, nevermind for two weeks), and now we’re being hit by not only the run-off, but record levels of rainfall. No joke. Some roads and bridges have been closed, potholes are appearing everywhere (nasty ones, at that), and two houses have literally slid off a cliff in North Vancouver, probably resulting in a fatality or two.
On the home front, Blondie and I have been dealing with a little basement flood. It’s always a little troubling getting called at work with the message “there’s standing water in the basement”, but I suppose its better than discovering that after a long day at work. So, we’re recovering, we’re hanging on to the rental wet vacuum just in case. We think we’ve positively identified the source, but regardless of our two possible sources, insurance covers us. Thank goodness.
So the next few weeks will be a world of boxes and drywall and paint. If I approach you with a slightly dazed “I need to escape from my life” look in my eyes, treat me nicely and don’t send me home immediately.
16 comments Wednesday 19 Jan 2005 | 24601 | SlantyNet - General
North Van called a state of emergency. Some roads were closed… the park outside my office turned into a massive puddle. The birds were having a field day feasting on the worms that were coming out.
On the subject of leaky basements, my parents old house has had a leak almost every year… whenever there’s a massive rain storm. You fix one leaky area, and the next one pops up. Ugh. As a home owner, you should buy your own wetvac… just in case.
In all fairness, our number one suspect in the leak is a drain that seemed to have gotten overloaded/plugged just outside our back door. To the best of our knowledge, the foundation is OK with no leaks. (knocks on wood)
Wet vac might not be a bad idea anyway….
Good lord…I should hope that it was a sump or drain tile or drain problem, ’cause if you had leaks big enough in your foundation to cause ‘standing water in the basement’, you’re in for a world of trouble…
Still crappy, though…
We also have a leak…it seems to come through the walls/cement floor? after a sustained period of torrential down pour…usually in the middle of the night:) We also have a wetvac. on hand and a handy alarm clock (Ryan) who wakes us to check the basement approx. every 3 hours (hehe!)
I do believe the Healey Clan is supplying WetVacs for all our friends…my parents is now at K&J&R’s, and mine at G&J’s.
It’s one of those evil things. You don’t want to have one around cause it takes up a lot of space, but when you do need one, you’re glad that you’ve got one.
I think it was two years ago now that our basement backed up. Luckily the house is a bit sloped and only the unfinished basement got the four inches of water. The sewage pipe got blocked up at the street (something about not throwing your dental floss in the toilet for 20 years). Anyhow, it back up something fierce one monsoon of a night. My dad was out in the sump bailing water out for a few hours. Apparently the neighbors could hear him swearing the whole time. I think I was drunk at the time (thank god) and not answering my phone
Ciao
Wolf
Are one’s house insurance rates cheaper if you don’t have a basement? Cause every basement I’ve been in has flooded at some point.
Speaking of being drunk
flooding is not fun. up here, we had to treat someone for severe frostbite last night since it was -62 in the wind. it’s kinda nice that it never rains here in winter. just snow and more snow. with the winds, the snow drifts can be a problem though. last week’s blizzard created snow drifts 30 feet deep and 100 meters long requiring big tonka trucks to dig people’s homes out.
Sweet!! I got 48 meters! I love it ’cause it’s true!
A whole different order of challenges, Bard. Nothing too serious out here, just a temperature change of 50 degrees from Saturday to Wednesday. Quite nice, now.
It took me a while, but 55 metres!
55, 55, 55, who’ll give me 60?
Hum, I hit 60 meters on the nose…trying for more now. I’m thinking this might be better with shots though, let me just go pour myself one…
Damnit! I can’t get past 80! 79 is as high as I can get.
I have to stop now…his eyes are starting to freak my out. It’s like they’re looking into my alcoholic soul…
“Comeon baby gets over here!”
And now a game you should play drunk. Cause, you know, it isn’t hard enough already. Dam Ninjas.
Wow, at the moment our greatest concern when we leave the house in the morning is “now did I get SPF 30+ absolutely everywhere”.