 |
| Photographic Representation of the Concept of this Post (For my Visual Learners *wink*) |
You readers are not going to believe me! (Especially because of my Track Record)
Evidence dictates that my Luck is HORRIBLE. (I'm currently grinding levels so I can allocate points to my Luck Stat. It's taking a lot longer than I thought) If you've been following the blog for any reasonable amount of time then you know exactly what I'm talking about. (If you don't know, then read one of my "Bad Luck" posts. You can choose between THIS, THIS, THIS, THIS ONE and THIS TOO. In fact, [So you can feel the gravity of the situation] just read them all!) So many awful things have happened to me that it has gotten to the point where they don't bother me (much) any more. It's become the norm to have stuff run-a-muck or go awry.
Uber cool game is PS4 Exclusive, "Meh" *shrugs*.
Lovely Wife eats ALL my snacks, "Expected" *moves on*.
Friend's Fight Stick falls off my lap, "Hory Chit!" *freaks out*
(Come on readers, I'm human too you know. I can't be a level-headed, cool-calm-collected individual all the time. Plus, I can't afford to buy him a new one. Those things are expensive. But I digress...)
Things actually worked out for me in my latest debacle and I'm thankful beyond words.
My Daughter headed off to her final semester of University earlier this year. She's pursuing a Degree in Psychology (You heard me right, I said Psychology! I don't want to have my Conscious [and Unconscious] behavior critiqued and analysed [especially not by my daughter]. I do it to people all the time. I know what it's like [I don't think they like it either]. Can you imagine the painstaking task of having to choose all my words and actions more precisely than I do now? *shudders*)
In preparation for the journey we had to apply for a scholarship (because we're not that well-off), wait for it to be approved, celebrate its approval and sign 7 sets of multi-paged paperwork inclusive of Affidavits, Bonds, Signatory Notes and other Legal Documents (All in triplicate, because Paperwork likes triplicate). All the legal jargon comes down to: Daughter studies while Parents pay back the scholarship, after graduating Daughter works for a set amount of time to repay the rest of the scholarship (Parents help), so someone else can get a scholarship. (Apparently, this is how Scholarships work) HOORAY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS!!!
As the time approached for her departure, there was a bitter-sweet sense of anticipation in our home. We were all happy to have her chase her dream and we encouraged it. However, we would miss her dearly and wait patiently for her return (with Degree in hand). We spent the last few days before her flight preparing. Bags were packed, school supplies were bought, wardrobe acquisitions were made, accommodations were arranged, fees were paid, etc. We even had a special Food parcel packed and sent before hand because her Seniors let her on to the drastic void of "Local Food" (Food she's accustomed to) in her new scholastic abode. I believe they said something along the lines of:
"Dem nah even hab prapah chicken ova yah. So mek up ya mine fu nyam yard fowl!" (Translation: "They don't even have Store-Bought Chicken over here. So make up your mind to eat Home-Grown Chicken!") We couldn't have her starve (or worse, eat yard fowl) during her last semester so we did what we had to.
The night before her flight, we all went out for a Family Dinner to make sure we spent time together right up to the departure (and to fill her up with local food before she left). Her flight was at some atrocious hour in the morning (3:30am I think) so we all went to bed at about 11:00pm. My Lovely Wife and I woke up an hour before the Check-In time to do our final once-over, ensuring our future Mind Reader didn't forget anything (important). Our daughter was already up and had done her own final checks. She takes after me in that regard. (She likes to plan stuff and will double and triple check if need be. That way, stuff flows smoothly and hick-ups are few and far between. My Lovely Wife and our Son, however, like to play it by ear and let the chips fall where they may) [Balance] We got in the car and headed to the Airport. We did the Airport thing (Checked-In, Loaded bags, Filled out forms, Paid for Over-Weight Luggage) and waited for them to announce the flight. We said our farewells (Some of us cried) and let her get on the plane.
I read somewhere, "The best things you can give your children are: Roots and Wings!" DONE and DONE!!!
When my lovely wife and I returned home we were greeted by the sound of running water and the water pumps were whirring their signature whir. We both looked at each other and voiced "What is that noise?" simultaneously. I ran around to the back of the house to check to see if we had broken pipes. They were fine. I returned to the lovely wife and relieved her fears (She was more concerned about an intruder than the actual noises themselves. She's a scaredy-cat). We both proceeded into the house via the front door and we met 3 inches of gushing water and louder pump whirring. I waded into the kitchen assuming that we (and by we I mean not me) had left the tap running. Nope, that was fine as well. At this point panic is snaking its way up my spine. Partly because it was 4:00am and I hadn't slept well but mostly because there was water where it shouldn't be and I couldn't find the cause of it. I reigned-in my panic and harnessed the anxious energy as I waded towards the bedrooms. I got closer to my destination and the water level kept increasing, it was at 4 inches now and rising. I sloshed around the corner, up the hallway and saw my life flash before my eyes as I slipped. My gamer reflexes kicked in (I imagined "This is what Mario felt like as he ventured through Ice World") and I adjusted my stance and center of balance to maintain my upright alignment. I held the most awkward position until I was sure the worst was over and I wouldn't fall backwards, head first onto the tiles (All aboard The Concussion Express. Next stop, Unconscious!!! Toot Toot) I took my sweet time from then on. Choosing my steps wisely and firmly planting my foot before taking another step. The Guest Bathroom was up next and the rushing water the exited under the door gave it all away.
I entered the bathroom and there was the hose that supplies the toilet waving all around. It sent torrents of water streaming into the air. Approaching the deluge was an issue. The hose was pressurized and constantly supplied by the pumps (In hindsight I should have just shut off the pumps) which meant that it kept darting back and forth, to and fro, dancing its snake-like dance. All the while emptying its nearly inexhaustible contents into my home. One repetition of the dance saw the hose flip its loose end into the wall and wrap around itself then spring back at me with a whip-Iike motion. I was instantly soaked from head to toe and pissed. I wrestled the hose under control to avoid being drenched anymore than I already had (I couldn't take another bath so soon). Then I turned off the water supply, watched the hose sputter its last and shielded my eyes from its death spray. (Gamer Reflexes FTW)
There was water EVERYWHERE!!!
The Kitchen had the least and my Bedroom had the most. This was thanks to the uneven slope of the house's foundation and the fact that the Bedrooms are closest to (and the Kitchen furthest from) the Guest Bathroom (The source of this calamity). I slowly but surely made my way to my Bedroom and instantly started to cry (internally).
My Xbox One was sitting (right where I left it... On the floor...) IN WATER!!!
 |
| (Not) Actual Picture of My Flooded Bedroom |
Forgetting the risk of injury (and/or death [My Lovely Wife would remind me about this, shortly] from slipping or electrocution) I dashed over, grabbed up my system and my heart sank as water cascaded from the vents on the side. I picked up the Power Supply and it too had water in it (No where near as much as my system did though). My Lovely Wife was saying something in the background but I had tunnel hearing! My mind couldn't fully comprehend (or didn't want to fully comprehend) what the possible (and most certain) outcome was going to be. My Lovely Wife then went over, unplugged the Power Strip from the wall outlet and the tirade of "Do you want to die?" began. She let me know that she didn't plan to be a widow any time soon and that I always do stupid things when my games are involved. I didn't really hear any of this though. (My mind absorbed it and filed it away in the "Deal with this later" section. My main focus was "My System is done for!!!") It wasn't until afterwards that I understood what she was going on about. Everything in the room (The TV, Xbox, Phone Chargers, Flat Iron) was plugged into the wall outlet via a Power Strip. Said Power Strip was floating inches from me and I was just standing there in the ankle-deep water holding (not 1 but) 2 water-logged electrical items that were live with power. The thought of electrocution didn't even cross my mind at the time. I only thought about losing my system and having to save up for a new one.
WHY!?!? Why did this happen? What had I done to deserve this? How can my luck be this rotten? These were some of the thoughts that surfaced after the initial shock. And somewhere deep in the recesses of my mind a tiny voice whispered "Hopefully, It still works..."
After we removed all the water from the house (A process that took 2 - 3 hours), investigated the cause of the flooding (The connection that held the hose in-place went bad), salvaged what we could from the dregs and put everything that we saved out to dry. We called it a day. (i.e. We went to bed. It was 7:00am at this point. I was exhausted [Mentally and Physically] so there wasn't much else to do) I woke up not too long afterwards (Around 9:00am) and expedited the Xbox drying process. I got a chamois from the car and forced it into all the grooves and crevices that I had access to. I love disassembly (Anyone who knows me knows how much I LOVE taking things apart) but opening my Water-logged Xbox was not something I would enjoy doing (So I didn't). I also sprayed the top vents with a can of compressed air I had lying around. (Hoping against all hope that it would dry the innards) I did all of this with disheartened anguish. Steeling myself for the (inevitable) outcome.
The moment of truth came when I plugged in the Power Supply and waited for it to melt down (or blow up or both).
Nothing (out of the ordinary) happened!!!
It lit up (like it usually does) and the light changed from orange to white (which is also normal). I plugged the Power Supply into the Xbox, crossed my fingers, said a prayer and hit the Power Button. It turned on (with it's regular chime) and booted up. At this point, I'm sure I had a MOST puzzled look on my face. This didn't make any sense! I picked up the controller, navigated the menu, launched a game!
 |
| (Not) Happy Dance |
The Lovely Wife was behind me the whole time (I didn't know this). She inadvertently received a flailing arm to the gut and reacted with a squeal which surprised me, in turn. I jumped because I thought the expected explosion finally happened but it didn't. We both laughed at the events. She, because my happy-dance hit her and her reaction gave me a fright and my system worked. Me, because she scared me and I jumped back (scaredy-cat) and my system worked. Thank you Gamer Gods, MY SYSTEM WORKED!!!
There you have it readers. The recount of how I still have a gaming console after my house flooded (Stupid Hose) and how my luck seems to be turning around.
(I hope things keep going in this new direction but I'm a realist so I'm waiting patiently for the return swing)
