(e:robert) and (e:mike) and I went to lunch at o3. I am in love with their caper and citrus tuna sandwich. I literally licked the plate clean.

The water line going up to the new bathroom needed some repair work done and (e:robert) and I played plumber. I would rate us as excellent pipe cutters and solderers now.

I wanted to do it last night but I had purchased the wrong diameter pipe so when we woke up this morning we headed right over the the headware store on Summer between Main and Linwood. They had everything we needed.

Cutting the pipe is pretty simple. There is this tool that clamps onto the pipe and spins around until the pipe snaps off.

We cut on either end of the old leaking shut off valve and had to do four solders.

First cut the proper size bits of pipe with the clamping pipe cutter using the old piece of pipe as a guide for length. Then polish the ends and inside of the joining pipe pieces with a metal pipe brush.

Then paint the outside ends of the pipes that you just polished with flux. just cover the part you will be sliding in the shut off valve or other pipe.

Next step is soldering. Definately the trick is to hold the torch flame halfway onto the side of the pipe facing you till the pipe turns color a bit. Then simply hold the end of the solder up to the other side and if its thoroughly hot enough it sucks into the pipe and makes a seal.

It was exciting to be part of the celebration of the clean air coalition's success. It didn't hurt that the food was amazing.

What the heck are they extracting out of that ciminelli site at Main and High street? Its like there is some crazy gel they are vacuuming out. That place smells so bad.

I also don't understand why the fire hydrant has been open for three straight weeks either. Maybe its a clue to the puzzle.

Whatever kind of brownfield was at this space smells so sick like gasoline and chemicals. The smell seems so bad at night time. I hope I never have to work there but I can't imagine the land could ever be really cleaned. Will whatever is in there really not leak into the foundation. They have had suction trucks and tanks going for weeks. I really can't figure out what they are doing right now. Some sort of foamy water is being sprayed everywhere.