Random Droppings

Upon returning to the task at hand, I found that the leak was not just from the chip around the bolt, but also from around the gasket. It was just a small slow leak, so I thought I would attempt a salvage by caulking the area under the tank around the gasket. I duly shut off the water, emptied the tank with the sponge, dried the area of interest and caulked it. The end.

Ha.

This particular caulk needs extended drying, so I went downstairs to sand instead. After working my arms to the point where they fell off my shoulders, I took a shower and went to bed. Little did I know....

This morning, we get up; I get the dogs outside and wait for them to finish, then we all go back in for breakfast. On the way in, Honey alerts me to the dripping water coming through the ceiling of the half-bath; the upstairs toilet had refilled and leaked.

To say that I was stunned would be correct, but oh, so inadequate. Our darling 11-year son had opened the water flow into the tank, and then only partly shut it off; the tank had slowly emptied itself onto the floor and thus through the ceiling. The leak had also wiped out my caulk as it never had a chance to set.

Kids. You can't live with 'em, and you can't make them into stew.