Reviews from

Keeping My Hands Clean

My 10-minute stint as a plumber's assistant

27 total reviews 
Comment from phill doran
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Hello Liz
You see, this is what I mean. I would not be surprised to read this in a magazine. Like many of your pieces, there is a very simple pace (it is very difficult to make it look simple) and it is the real world - 'normal', seen through your eyes, where the trivial serves as a touchstone to connect us all, but seriously considered: well written, well articulated and rolled out with great timing.
This is not 'literature', but that is irrelevant, it certainly is a style of writing that is commonplace in magazine publications and you might want to think along those lines. You have so much material to plunder, and expand upon. And you have a talent.
I 'enjoy' these pieces, and first and foremost that is what writing should be about: engaging the reader.
I wish you well with your continued writing.
cheers - stay safe.

phill

 Comment Written 26-Sep-2021


reply by the author on 27-Sep-2021
    I am honored! I shall print this out and have it bronzed.

    This story is basically true; I added the flourish of spilling the glass of water. We went to dinner tonight.

Comment from tfawcus
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Only you could make such a gripping tale out of a blocked pipe! I felt for poor Chuck. There's such a thin line between heroism and abject failure! I'm glad that, between the two of you, you were able to solve the problem.

 Comment Written 26-Sep-2021


reply by the author on 27-Sep-2021
    This story is basically true; I added the flourish of spilling the glass of water. We went to dinner tonight.

Comment from Sanku
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

WoW! and that is a real wow! and you rightly took him to dinner .
I enjoyed reading this all-too familiar scene.I too keep prodding and prodding till I discovered a powder 'drainex'. ....

 Comment Written 26-Sep-2021


reply by the author on 27-Sep-2021
    This story is basically true; I added the flourish of spilling the glass of water. We went to dinner tonight.

Comment from karenina
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

You're magic! Okay...points to Chuck for maybe loosening some pipe gunk...but I would like your 1-800-Call-Liz! number please, for my next plumbing issue...

I'll buy YOU lunch!

Karenina

 Comment Written 26-Sep-2021


reply by the author on 27-Sep-2021
    This story is basically true; I added the flourish of spilling the glass of water. We went to dinner tonight.

    We've been together-not-together for 12 years--we live 2 miles apart and so we will remain--close enough--and far enough!--he comes to dinner daily--we knew from the start we'd never marry, on account of religious conflict
reply by karenina on 28-Sep-2021
    Your flourishes are always brilliant!
    Karenina
Comment from Wendy G
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Lol. Well that was quite an unorthodox way to fix a plumbing problem but it would have saved you heaps. Also Chuck's self esteem. And you can take due credit yourself - for trying just one more method! Well done. A fun read.
Wendy

 Comment Written 26-Sep-2021


reply by the author on 27-Sep-2021
    This story is basically true; I added the flourish of spilling the glass of water. We went to dinner tonight.

    We've been together-not-together for 12 years--we live 2 miles apart and so we will remain--close enough--and far enough!--he comes to dinner daily--we knew from the start we'd never marry, on account of religious conflict
Comment from blondie560
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

You have the most interesting people in your life! I'm glad you didn't have to call the plumber. You were right to add the $$$ signs. I have no idea what the going rate for a plumber is. Our home repair projects that are my husband's expertise are always a "family" project, whereas say mending clothing or cleaning out cabinets are "my" projects. Now that he's retired it's worse!

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 Comment Written 26-Sep-2021


reply by the author on 27-Sep-2021
    This story is basically true; I added the flourish of spilling the glass of water. We went to dinner tonight.

Comment from Jay Squires
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

How well I know your plight, Liz. I go through the ordeal every year or two, get it thoroughly cleaned out, and then it's a slow accretion until the crap builds up again. I pay about $100 to have the Plummer do his number. I figure that's not too bad a price to pay every couple of years. I would not even consider doing it myself.

This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.

 Comment Written 26-Sep-2021


reply by the author on 27-Sep-2021
    This story is basically true; I added the flourish of spilling the glass of water. We went to dinner tonight.