Recently it rained, pretty hard, for the first time in a long time. I was awakened to the sound of running water. Unfortunately, running water cascading from our entry ceiling. The drain for our roof was totally clogged. Now the entry was the drain. After total trauma, peered down the drain pipe, and it just looked like the bottom. Then, to my horror, saw the telltale pattern of the seams of a .. tennis ball!!!

So that first rain had floated the tennis ball, (kids!) into the drain, which happened to be 3″ iron pipe. just large enough to allow a tennis ball under duress – but not so large that it flushed down.

Tried vacuum cleaners (too much hair on the ball), heated screws on the end of a pipe, pipe snake, …. nothing worked.

finally cut a section of the pipe out and flushed it out. What a royal pain in the behind. Needless to say, now have a screen on the drain!!

Those with the gadgets wander around aimlessly and can’t wait to get home.
Those without create mayhem and noise and roar around happily. It’s harder work, but I much prefer these kids!

It’s different with girls, they seem happy to dance and play regardless. The contrast isn’t there!