Friday Jan 25 What a day: snow shovelling, home heating oil, flooded basement, guitar gig

Yesterday was a particularly busy day during which a strange thing occurred. We got some snow overnight, not much, maybe 3 inches. So I went out and shoveled the driveway and walks. Good way to get some exercise & fresh air. Then I brought some firewood in. Had a great breakfast of eggs, bacon & potatoes courtesy of the Better Half. I then set about getting my guitar gig equiment in order and sitting through some sheet music, prepping for a coffee house gig at Bay House Artisans in Alexandria Bay, NY.  The gig was from 6-9:00. About 2:30 a knock on the door. It was the truck driver for Philly Fuels. He was supposed to top off the fuel oil tanks at the neighbors house across the street. Instead filled up ours. 200 gallons. We didnt expect that but decided the easiest thing was to pay him for the oil and absorb the unexpected expense. Then he went across the street and filled the neighbor up.
Then he was back at our door. His company told him he had to inspect our fuel oil tanks. This is a liability thing with the oil companies. They will not deliver oil to you the first time without inspecting your equipment. We never had Philly Fuels deliver to us before so the company was concerned. Anyhow, I took to the back of the house and went into the basement and WOW: Our basement was knee deep in water. Had the driver not mistakenly filled our tanks I never would have caught this flood until  I don't when. I don't go into the basement every day.

This unexpected crisis now added something more to my day to deal with. It turned out that the hose came disconnected to the sump pump. It was fairly easy to clamp it back on and get it up an running again. by the time I go home form the guitar gig the basement was almost all dry again.