Public Service Announcement #2

I know we've all wondered about that little hole near the top of the bathroom sink. You know...that "emergency drain" thingy, that's supposed to keep the sink from overflowing if...say....someone had the foresight to soak an item, and then somehow forgot to turn off the faucet?

So, I'm lolling in a nice hot bath, and I hear this noise. It sounds a bit like water running. Possibly even dripping.

And of course Ma, being the scientifically-minded person that I am, (stop laughing, Loren) started to think...."Hmmmm, it sounds like water running.....or rather, dripping...."

I glanced at the toilet, to make sure it wasn't running over. This did not produce a lot of empirical evidence, since I am fairly near-sighted. See, normally, I don't bathe with my glasses on. But, detecting no flood-like glimmer, I dismissed any imminent danger from the toilet.

Checking off the list of possibilities, I wondered, "Could it be raining outside? Raining rather noisily?" (it's just so hard to place a sound with your glasses off. You really can't hear as well)

My fuzzy gaze returned to the toilet....*deep thinking*.....hmmmm, it was conceivable that the chain had caught inside the tank, and the gurgling water was unable to fill said tank, leaving a continuous flow of water, or as they say in professional plumbing circles: a "running toilet."

(The downstairs bathroom sometimes tries this little trick, whereupon anxious children come racing in a worried frenzy and cry, "Mommy! Something is WRONG with the TOILET ! This is when I go in with great aplomb and calmly lift the tank lid, relieving the tangled chain, not to mention any onlooking posterity.)

But I crossed this off my mental check-list and resumed the tedious process of hacking at my second leg with a dull razor.

Suddenly, it hit me.....I'd left the sink faucet running!!

"Oh NO!! "

Oh Yes. Yes, it was indeed raining. Raining right over the front of the sink cabinet.

And that little emergency drain hole near the top? Practically worthless.

Of course the floor had to be mopped up with towels. Of course it ran down into both vanity drawers. Of course any paper products became quite sodden and useless. (I know you're with me here, ladies) Oh yes, Loren....that instruction sheet for your beard trimmer? Well, those folded sheets are really difficult to un-fold when wet. They have a tendency to tear. Quite easily, in fact.

But, on the bright side, that part of the floor is pretty clean, now. And, I was gonna wash those towels soon, anyway.

So my advice is this:
-never leave running water in the sink
-always wear your specs in the tub. They definitely help you hear better.
-and above all, when installing new sinks, take time to do it right. Don't scrimp on safety measures.....

......get an axe and hack a few more exit holes around the rim.
 

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