I have had two plumbing technicians out to the house during 2018. The first one was in the summer and the second one was on Friday. The first one was to figure out why the sewage was backing up into the house. The second one was to do a seasonal inspection of my furnace. Please note, I have no furnace and told the person on the phone I have no furnace. More about that later.

The first tech looked like Alexander Skarsgard except the tech’s hair was blonder.

He was in his mid-20s, very personable, and very knowledgeable. He was able to send a cable with a camera on the end from one end of the line to the other and pinpointed where the PVC line was broken at an elbow and leaking into the sand. He found a root obstruction as well. These were marked with fluorescent paint on the ground. A time and date was set after I agreed to the ASTRONOMICAL quote to repair just the broken and blocked areas, but there were even worse quotes for a total re-dig and replacement of the lines.

What happened between then and the appointment is that I was talking with one of my friends, who said her husband used to do that kind of work when he was younger and that I should have him take a look at it. He easily dug through the sand to reach the problem areas. He said he could not only repair it, but he could fix the slope of it coming out of the house so it drained properly into the septic tank, and all at a fraction of the cost. Although I had a twinge at saying yes, do it, as the tech had used his high tech equipment to pinpoint the trouble, the amount of money he was asking was abusive and exploitive to an old lady like me. I told my friend’s husband to go for it. He had the whole line dug up and the problem areas, including the slope issue, fixed in 2 work days (16 hours). Total cost, with parts and labor, was ONE-TENTH of what it would have been using the tech’s most intensive work quote. That said, I already had scheduled the actual plumber to come out and replace a hot water heater, so believe me when I say they got their money through the other job.

One thing the tech did sell me was a well-check service plan for $15/month. This covers quarterly checking of all heating and cooling equipment, as well as plumbing and septic. It comes with big discounts on any work that needs to be done, and half price for emergency service calls. A couple of weeks ago, I got the call that it was time for the quarterly check. I told the caller that I had no furnace and everything was working properly. I said I do need to have the thermostat turned up on the water heater, as it was set for safety when the plumber installed it. Sorry, I live alone, I’m an adult, and I need HOT water for my baths. With these new water heaters, you have to either go in through a panel in the front or get behind it, and I didn’t feel comfortable doing either, so I asked if the tech could come out for that. The rep said sure, and of course no charge because it’s under your plan.

On Friday afternoon, the tech showed up. It was a different guy – but this one looked like a young Eddie Vedder!!!! 

He had shorter, darker hair, but other than that, the spitting image (although taller.)  He was here and gone within a half-hour. He re-explained the service plan and left more great coupons, another to-do pad and water drop magnet.

All during the times both were here, both were 100% professional and serious but sociable. All during the times both were here, I was thinking do these guys even have a clue at how good-looking they are? Angelic faces and tall lean bodies.  I thought the first guy was a fluke, but when I saw the second guy, I immediately thought that the (very successful) plumbing company hired these startlingly handsome techs in order to sell their outlandishly-priced services.

When I started writing this, it wasn’t going to be about the plumbing company at all. My original intent was to confess my temptation to fly to fantasy land over both of these guys; to imagine myself again in my 20s and happening across them, say, out at a club. The other aspect I wanted to talk about was how promising both of these guys were as far as potential. Not everyone is so blessed with their kind of looks. Where we have two “Alexanders” and two “Eddies”, one Alexander and one Eddie are creative, talented, and internationally known for their works and the other Alexander and Eddie are making house calls for plumbers.

Could the techs get tired of their lives and be spurred on to become male models, musicians, or actors someday? Perhaps. By the same token, could the other Alexander and Eddie tire of the bright lights, stalkers, and all the rest that goes with celebrity? In either case, may you be so blessed to have any one of them knocking on your door.

The Word Challenge of the day is promising.

Fandango’s FOWC of the day is temptation.