Open Thread

Then I guess I’d go with what the guy from national grid said. I’m surprised they didn’t shut off the gas but I guess if they were only minute they don’t think they are a problem.

I guess they probably don’t want people monkeying with the line ahead of the meter b/c it’ll look like you were trting to hijack some gas at some point. That might be a problem.

I think Master Plumber will answer your question when it gets posted.

Oh, & get this! The guy doing the inspection yesterday said there’s an average of 8 leaks per house in all these inspections. Only 25% of owners have signed up for the audit. Whole City is a gas explosion waiting to happen! (Although, as I said, the leaks are microscopic -you can’t even smell them- & my house is a sieve.)

Re taxes, there are certain colleagues I know who have started their own companies — moved out of NY. These are companies which do not need to be incorporated in NY, where the principals are mobile and much of the business is technology-based. Main reason: TAX.

Today I had something very discouraging happen. Lately I have been a little fed up with a sense of loss of certain things about where I live. The shootings in Fort Greene really affected me (especially how accepting everyone was about it. My neighbors are sheep. they are nice, but they are sheep). Also stepping around drug dealers every morning on the way to work. And I did not have a dry cleaner around me that was any good for 5 years (I used to go to my old dry cleaner in Brooklyn Heights), then last year we got one and I really like the guy. I got back several pieces of clothing this morning which were …. well….ruined. Two black jackets severely faded and one jacket which was a kind of maroon-ish brown with white threads and small gold threads came back pure black and white. Brown gone. totally destroyed color.

I decided not to say anything today (picked up in morning with idea to wear one to a meeting today) but I will go and have a heart to heart with the guy to tell him that something went very wrong with his cleaning process recently. Probably tomorrow night after work. He will be all upset and I guess I can live with the loss of these things but the worst thing is I am hesitant to go to him any more. As much as I like him. I can’t afford disposable clothing.

Well, as far as problems go, this is pretty minor in the cosmic scope of things…..I could be worried about radioactive water like some friends in Tokyo…..but it really took the wind out of my sails this morning. I was annoyed, but more depressed than mad.

I’m having an energy audit from Nat’l Grid. Before the audit they send someone to find leaks. Guy found 5 yesterday – teeny ones you can’t smell & aren’t detectable w/ bubbles, just his sensitive meter. He said that 2 are gas co. responsibility. My plumber says it’s mine. Ex-bf who was a contract consultant says you’re liable for prosecution if you touch gas co valves & agrees w/ the fellow from yesterday. One is an elbow joint & one is a valve – both before the meter but after the cut-off from the street.