Some of you know that I have had major issues with flooding in my basement for the past two years. We have had 6 inches of water from heavy rains at least four different times since Ian was born (including the day Chris was released from the ICU). I finally decided I had enough after the last time and my brother-in-law, Thomas, got a plumber he knows out to check the place over and come up with a solution. It was determined that an injection pit and pump would be installed, the current pipes would be abandoned and things would be rerouted to a different exit out of the basement. It is all too technical for me but that is the way I understand it.
Before this work can be done, a contractor had to bust up a certain area of the cement floor to make way for the pump. The contractor removed the cement when the job was done but there is still is a small mountain of clay and dirt residing in the basement until the plumber can do the work. Still waiting to hear when that will be...
Anyway, a few days ago, Vickie and I both noticed a quite unpleasant smell in the house. Could it be coming from the pile of previously mentioned clay and dirt, I thought? Or, could it be emanating from the cracked plaster on the dining room ceiling that occurred after my bathroom toilet leaked two months ago (yep, still haven't gotten that fixed), Vickie asked? Foolishly hoping the offending odor would just disappear, I didn't do much to find the source. BIG MISTAKE!
Vickie is sleeping over at the house tonight because Ian has a fever and is not sleeping well (a whole other story). She had a taste for a chocolate ice cream treat which she thought could be found in my downstairs freezer. Imagine her shock and horror when she opened the freezer to find everything thawed and a rancid smell that almost knocked her unconscious. Imagine my disgust when this very same smell wafted upstairs and infiltrated every single room in the house within seconds. Apparently, the freezer was unplugged at some point and none of us realized it. I shudder to think how long it sat there in that condition.
Vickie and I, armed with room deodorizer and dish towels fashioned into face masks, went into the war zone and did battle with the contents of the freezer. I am happy to report that it is thoroughly emptied, all thawed food has been thrown out (I apologize now to the garbage men), the freezer has been bleached and candles/room deodorizer have been working their magic. Not exactly sure if either of us will be able to eat any type of meat again but we can sleep easier tonight knowing that smell should be gone in about a month or so!
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