Clearwater Plumbers -June/July 2020

Clearwater Plumbers -June/July 2020

ClearWater Plumbers

June/July 2020

Broken Glass for Breakfast

And Worse …

Amy and the girls were in the kitchen, and at first, they thought it was funny. Then, they started to worry. I was trying not to speak because it might make the sharp glass go down my throat further and cut my guts up. I decided to gargle two raw eggs, thinking that would coat my throat and help me gag. It did. I had the drain covered and no water running, and I was on all fours like an archaeologist sifting delicately through the raw egg and a little bit of dinner. No luck and no glass. I went back and told the girls it was nice knowing them, and because I was gagging, my eyes were red and watery. It looked like I had been crying. They were all a little more scared that they were going to lose their dear ol’ dad than I intended. To lighten the mood, I proceeded to tell them a story I thought I had surely told them before. I said, “Girls, you know this isn’t the first time I’ve swallowed glass, right? This isn’t anything! I ate a glass stink bomb when I was your age and had to go to the ER.” Turns out they had never heard that one before. How had I not told them? I was in the fourth or fifth grade, and I had bought some stink bombs that my brothers and I were holding on to, plotting the perfect prank. They were like little bottles of fine champagne to be cherished. They were full of opportunity and totally sealed in glass. I don’t know how they sealed the glass with the liquid inside. They were about the size of a tube of chap stick. There were some Eagle Mountain elementary schoolmate girls who were having a party in our Eagle Mountain Lake neighborhood, like an end-of-school celebration. We were going to sneak out and get them. You know, knock on the front door, run around the back, and stink up the house. The stink bombs were said to smell like rotten eggs and farts. (Hint: Do not eat.) We were going to deploy these potent stink bombs in such an epic fashion that we would be forever known as the ultimate party crashers. Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn would be jealous of the Longspaugh boys!

In my travels, I acquired a commercial fridge with a glass front door. It is in the garage, and it tempts me, especially as the weather warms, to grab something refreshing to drink inside. Amy sometimes likes to buy Topo Chico, a mineral water bottled in Monterrey, Mexico. I really don’t love it, but I do drink it occasionally due to having a cold glass bottle staring at me from the fridge. It is a thick, heavy, old-school looking bottle, and the tops don’t twist off. You need an opener of some sort. The brand has good packaging and presentation. A couple weeks ago, I was wrapping up a late-night project on a Tuesday evening around 9 p.m. I grabbed a cold glass bottle of Topo Chico because I deserved a break. I opened it with ceramic tile nippers (a plier-like tool my mother-in-law gave me years ago that is useless for everything except notching ceramic tile), so I never use them for anything other than opening bottles in the garage. I took a big swallow and suddenly realized I had an out-of-the ordinary feeling at the back of my throat. It was dark in the garage, but on my next drink to wash that feeling down, I could feel that the bottle was missing a chunk at the rim. I realized I must have broken the lip off of the bottle and accidentally swallowed it. I tried some interesting vacuum-type tricks with my tongue and cleared my throat, making every attempt to bring the glass into my mouth so I could spit it out. It was a crescent shaped piece about 2 nickels thick based on what was missing from the bottle. Well, it did not come up. I Googled it and determined I should make myself throw up the glass.

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3 Fun Activities for You and Your Family

it completely customizable for each member of your family. While all good sundaes need three key ingredients — ice cream, sauce, and toppings — you can mix and match the specifics to find the perfect combo. So, put together an ice cream sundae bar and let the kids have at it! Check out how at SwirlsofFlavor.com.

Don’t sit around and twiddle your thumbs wondering what you can do this summer. There are plenty of fun activities you can do to increase your family’s fun! Check out these three DIY projects below. Splash Pad To stay cool this summer, make your very own splash pad with your kids! Splash pads are simple and cost-effective and only require a large tarp, tent stakes, a clothesline, and fat pool noodles. First, you need to string the pool noodles together with the clothesline in a circle. Be sure to make it somewhat tight, as you don’t want large gaps between them. Then, use the stakes to secure the ring to the ground. Spread the tarp loosely over the noodles and secure the corners down with the stakes. Grab the hose, fill the tarp with water, and have a blast! To watch a full tutorial, check out the video on the IndyNAL YouTube channel.

Bike Wash Station Riding your bike is a good way to enjoy the outdoors and get around town, but it also means your bike will get dirty. However, the prospect of getting down on your knees to clean your bike is a daunting task that usually results in an aching back, neck, and legs. To make things easier on yourself, try building a

Ice Cream Sundaes There’s something about turning an ice cream snack into an ice cream sundae that makes it even more enjoyable. Plus, you can build your ice cream sundae with all your favorite treats, making

bike wash station. It will elevate your bike to a more comfortable level and greatly reduce any additional bodily stress. Global Mountain Bike Network has a fantastic step-by-step video on YouTube to help you build a DIY bike wash station for your bike.

Take these three easy projects and have a blast this summer!

Reusing Your Plastic Water Bottles Reusing plastic water bottles has been a huge topic for quite some time. Many sources — from scientific journals to the Federal Drug Administration — say the materials used to make the water bottle determines how much or how little the water bottle can be reused for drinking. When plastic water bottles are reused, they become thinner and cracks appear along the surface, a sure sign of the plastic breaking down. Although plastic water bottles may not be the best to continually drink out of, it doesn’t mean it’s the only way we can reuse them. There are thousands of unique DIY ideas online to turn your plastic water bottles into a number of interesting items. Cute DIY Projects YouTuber MissDebbie DIY has several videos on her channel about how to turn plastic bottles of all kinds into a variety of useful objects to give your home a little extra something. In one video, she leads her viewers through a step-by-step process of turning a plastic bottle into an adorable pencil case using fabric, hot glue, and a little bit of tape. But she doesn’t stop there. MissDebbieDIY has a number of videos

that will help you turn your plastic soda bottles into cute piggy banks, plastic jugs into fruit and candy holders, and plastic jars into cute vases. You can find all her videos at YouTube.com/MissDebbieDIY. Outdoorsy DIY Projects If you’re looking for new ways to liven up your yard or garden, a plastic water bottle can be just the thing. HandiMania.com, a perfect spot for all your DIY needs, has a number of useful ideas for putting your plastic bottles to use. With a plastic bottle and two wooden spoons, you can create your very own bird feeder. Another easy project is to poke a hole through the cap, fill it with water, then hang it upside down over your plants for a perfect slow-drip irrigation for your garden. By cutting a bottle in half and using a little paint, you can also turn any plastic water bottles laying around into flowerpots, for both indoor and outdoor use.

Put on your creative hat and get working to turn your reused plastic bottles into creative projects!

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From Your Very Own Whole-House Water Filtration System Guaranteed Crystal-Clear Drinking Water Drinking water every day keeps us hydrated and healthy. Our bodies are made up of 60% water, and we need it for our joints and vital organs to function properly. But is the water you just poured yourself from your kitchen sink something you actually want to drink? Far too often, someone will pour themselves a glass of water only for the water to appear cloudy or taste gritty or foul. Luckily, there is a way to improve your tap water: a water filtration system. Water filtration might not be something you’re new to. Many households use a small water filter device, such as a detachable filter that connects to your kitchen sink or a filtered jug they keep in their refrigerators. While these are a step in the right direction for clean drinking water, they don’t give you the same quality that a whole-house water filtration system does. When you have a whole-house water filtration system for your home, you filter out any pollutants that would otherwise make it into your drinking water with very little effort on your part. Typically, municipally supplied water is high quality, but in the time it takes to travel from the treatment plant to your kitchen sink, it could pick up a few unwanted impurities. Outside forces can put contaminants, such as chlorine, iron, and hard water, into your drinking water, but with a filter in place, you increase the quality of your drinking water. Although you might be eager to head out and purchase a filtration system for your home, keep in mind that these systems require professional installation, repair, and maintenance. This is where our team at ClearWater Plumbers can help. Our team will install your whole-house water filtration system and provide the services you need to ensure it functions properly year-round. Whether you need a replacement filter, a tune-up, or an evaluation, we are here to guarantee your quality drinking water is top-notch.

Inspired by AmbitiousKitchen.com

INGREDIENTS •

8 oz penne or fusilli pasta

• • • • • • • • • • •

2 tbsp olive oil

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp sea salt Pepper, to taste 2 tbsp lemon juice

3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese

2 large fresh peaches, diced or sliced 1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced 1 pint heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved

1 cup corn

6 cups arugula, packed

DIRECTIONS 1. In a large pot of boiling water, cook pasta for approximately 9 minutes or until al dente. Drain pasta and place in a separate bowl. 2. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Drizzle the dressing over the pasta and toss with the feta cheese. 3. Add peaches, red onions, tomatoes, corn, and arugula to the pasta mixture. Lightly toss to mix well. Add more olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste.

To talk to us about installing a whole-house water filtration system, do what you otter — call ClearWater!

Our quarterly raffle winner, Julie! Julie got $500 for referring!

Quarterly Raffle

Remember ... every quarter, we draw a name for a $500 cash prize! Every time you refer ClearWater, your name goes in the pot. Keep on referring! May the odds be in your favor.

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6954 Boat Club Rd. Fort Worth, TX 76179 817-296-0670

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ClearWater Plumbers

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Broken Glass for Breakfast

Family Summer Fun!

Useful Tips to Help You Reuse

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Get Refreshed Through a Quality Drink!

Broken Glass for Breakfast

Broken Glass for Breakfast ... continued from Cover

Well, guess what the boy genius (me) did?

In the midst of planning, I guess, I wore myself out with mental fatigue. I fast fell asleep … with the sealed glass stink bomb in my mouth. Don’t ask why. I woke up gasping for breath and heaving. I had chomped on the completely sealed glass vial in my sleep, and the prank went off in my mouth. All that thin, sharp glass was in my mouth along with whatever chemical potion that made it smell like farts and rotten eggs. My mom came running in to save the day. I don’t know how it was explained that I swallowed a broken glass stink bomb because I was all gag reflex and stink mouth. Poison control was contacted, and they instructed her on what to do. Mom grabbed two gallons of milk from the fridge and a big stainless steel mixing bowl. As my dear mother sped to Harris Hospital, I was drinking the milk and throwing it up into the bowl, dumping used milk on the street at the stop lights. I survived, and it was definitely worse than the Topo Chico bottle. I save pickle jars, mayonnaise jars, wine and tequila bottles, you name it. I fight my family to save odd glass recyclables like it is fine crystal. They let me keep some of it, and I have a good stash of repurposed

“vases” for wild flowers to give away to neighbors. I actually have a really hard time throwing away cottage cheese containers, too. I picture them full of screws and labeled with a Sharpie. Maybe I’m too practical … my poor family. As much as I love glass as a packaging material, I hate broken glass. I’m a barefoot guy. I like glass in the house and plastic outside. That is one reason I love plastic blender bottles. I have one with me all day. It is either filled with filtered water or coffee made with filtered water. Most people assume it is a protein drink, but no — it’s coffee. I haven’t broken a blender bottle yet, and they are so easy, very healthy, and good for environment. Plus, I don’t even think I could find a way to swallow any part of it. I’ll do my best to keep the glass out of my throat and keep the plastic out of the landfill.

–Jeff

Your ol’ buddy (aka The Boy Genius)

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