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No, I won't be changing careers anytime soon.

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But after my latest plumbing fiasco about a month ago when I dished out ONE HUNDRED TWENTY DOLLARS to a plumber for 15 MINUTES of garbage disposal unclogging, I vowed to don a Ms. Fix It hat for the next minor plumbing need.

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Which happened last week when my toilet handle broke off.

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Of course, plumbing problems always strategically occur right before out-of-town company arrives.  Have you ever noticed this?

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The handle broke off the night before my sister was set to arrive for <strong>Wine and Dine 2011</strong>.  After plumbers had shut down for the night.

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I found a 24 hour service on the Internet.

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<strong><span style="color: #008000;">Me:</span></strong> "To get an idea of a cost comparison, could you please tell me what you would charge for a 15 minute garbage disposal unclogging?  You know -- like when oranges and carrot peels get stuck?"

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<span style="color: #993300;"><strong>Useless 24 Hour Service: </strong></span> "We have no way of giving you a quote over the phone."

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<span style="color: #008000;"><strong>Me:</strong></span> "Sure you do.  Routine 15 minute declogging for Americans shoving too much stuff down the disposal."

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<span style="color: #993300;"><strong>Useless 24 Hour Service:</strong></span> "Sorry.  We have no way of quoting you."

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<span style="color: #008000;"><strong>Me: </strong></span> "Okaaaayyyy.  Have a nice night!"

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I then decided that this was not rocket science.  That I could take this matter into my own hands.  With the help of Dad.

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I called Dad.  I described the problem.  Dad assessed and gave me a Plan of Action which involved sticking my hand into the toilet tank ("It's actually clean water, Michelle"), removing the old broken handle and lever thingie, and then asking Mr. Helpful Lowe's Guy to help me select new handle and lever thingie (prererably metal to avoid future breakage.)

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Sounded easy.

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And it was.  After two tries.  Mr. Helpful Lowe's Guy sent me home with the wrong part on the first go-round.

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But who cares when you're saving $120+?

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