Maintaining a house can be expensive and can use up a lot of your time but that’s just the way it is. It seems that there is always something that needs fixing at home and it always involves spending some cash to replace some busted plumbing fixture, leaking roof or maybe  just replacing a busted light bulb.

Today I just did a much needed maintenance work at home. I installed two new shower heaters all in one afternoon.

About two or three months ago, my wife complained that the shower heater at the ground floor got busted after some 10 years of use — my estimate. It was installed when both my parents-in-law were still living here and it finally got busted about two or three months ago. For all those weeks since then, my daughter went upstairs whenever she needed to take a bath because she’s not used to cold showers haha!

And then suddenly yesterday, the shower heater upstairs in our bathroom got busted also! We have used this shower heater for some 15 years already — my estimate. We bought it in Davao City and used it for a good number of years there. Then we brought it with us when we were transferred to Pampanga where we lived for seven years. Then we brought it with us again when we moved to Santa Rosa, Laguna after my retirement. Yesterday, that good old shower heater said goodbye as well. After about 15 years, the white plastic parts became brittle and could no longer hold the water pressure and it leaked. I believe both shower heaters can still be repaired but I have decided to buy new ones instead. It served us well all those many years.

At Ace Hardware, I learned from the sales lady that the old shower heater lasted for a long time because it was non-electronic. The new ones that I bought are electronically controlled. Let’s see how long it will last. I was told that the warranty is for five years so we will see.

Well, that was how I spent my senior citizen afternoon. I installed two new shower heaters to the delight of my wife and daughter. I guess i could still be handy at home even though I’m already sixty four haha!

I thank the Lord for allowing me to enjoy life and love in him and with my family during my senior years.

For ladies, birthdays and anniversaries are important dates to remember. For many ordinary men like me, I’m just content with staying at home. I’m fine with it. But from what I know, most ladies would want to go out and celebrate.

At Italliani’s on Our Wedding Anniversary

It was our 39th wedding anniversary yesterday and so off we went again restaurant hopping. This time we went to Italliani’s for our dinner last night at the Vista Mall in Santa Rosa. It was our first time in this restaurant. I noticed right away that many of the diners were of the classy type of folks and a few were foreigners. I would say, middle income group but who are able to afford the pricey (a little bit pricey) menu at this restaurant.

But no worries, my wife and I are senior citizens so we are both entitled to a 20% discount and I have another card (The Bistro Group Restaurants) which entitled me to another discount. We were given a total of 40% discount. Not bad for a wedding anniversary haha! It turned out to be not so expensive at all to eat at this classy restaurant.

We were delighted with the waiters and staff. My wife and I noticed right away that the ladies were all beautiful and the men were always ready to serve. They even surprised us by singing a song for us and gave us ice cream with little candles making our celebration even more memorable. We did not expect them to sing for us on our 39th wedding anniversary. They surprised us. Thankfully, my daughter was quick to video record the event.

So, would I recommend Italliani’s  to all? You bet! It’s a great place to be. We had a great time there. And oh by the way, the food was great! We loved it! And they gave us extra bread as we left! For free! And coffee too!

I thank the Lord Jesus Christ for being with me and my wife all these years  from our teenage years together even up to now in our senior years. Enjoying life and love in Jesus Christ!

When things go wrong… well, it seems they always will! This is how we feel sometimes when a series of bad things happen to us. It disrupts our normal routine and it unsettles us. It ruins the fun we’re having at the moment.

Just last week on our trip to Baguio, I had an unexpected car problem in Tarlac. We decided to check in at a nice hotel for two nights. It was a challenging situation but it was fun as well. Not really, totally bad. We faced the challenge positively, not losing hope. I realize that God does allow bad things to happen to us sometimes according to his own good purpose. And sometimes, we may never know why God allows something evil to happen to us. We just have to continue trusting God fully that all things will work out for good in the end. The Lord helped us and we were able to reach Baguio and back home safely after that interesting stopover in Tarlac.

On our way back home, on the way down along the wet and foggy Marcos Highway, there was heavy rains in some parts of the road. At one time, I did not see a really huge pothole and we hit it really bad. I felt pity for my 18-year old car. It’s the same thing at EDSA. There are a lot of portions where the road is really in bad shape. It can cause damage to a car’s under chassis parts.

After a few days I noticed strange noises underneath my old Ford Lynx. I went to an under chassis shop and suggested to the  mechanic that he check the stabilizer links. I was right. Some parts loosened up. The stabilizer link needed re-tightening including the front-right shock absorber. At least it was just a simple problem. I was relieved when it was fixed and the noise was gone.

It was time to relax at home again. But then again another unexpected car problem came up! We need to buy food and groceries after our trip in Baguio but the car won’t start! The car battery was totally drained! Then I remembered that the night before, for whatever reason, I connected the car alarm at the fuse box. I usually unplug it. It could have been the reason — just maybe — for the battery to be totally drained. I should not have connected that old alarm system which I don’t use anyway! I also noticed some loose wire in the trunk and the rear left signal lights casing was filled with rain water. Hmm… I think that I should have the whole electrical system checked for loose wires or anything that is causing the car battery to discharge too fast.

Anyway, I called up Motolite and they are re-charging my car battery at this time. I’m using their spare battery at the moment. If my battery was just drained, then re-charging it is just fine. But if the battery is no longer charging, then I need to buy a new one. Ouch! I will soon find out. Maybe tomorrow.

And then there was water leak in the bathroom! After so many years, the shower knob just suddenly got busted and water was gushing out profusely! It was hard to control the water pressure so I had to to close the main water valve. From a car mechanic, I was now a plumber this time. I bought some needed short pipes, pipe fittings, valve and other items at Ace Hardware and did some plumbing work. After about 24 hours without water, I think that I have fixed the plumbing problem. I just plugged the old and busted shower valve with Vulcaseal and created a new piping system leading to the shower head (see featured photo above).

Well, not bad for a senior citizen. I think I can still be a handyman even though I’m now 64 haha!

I hope to have a another wonderful week. Hopefully, there won’t be another interesting challenge for now so I can relax a little bit. Thank you Lord for taking care of this senior citizen!