Phase One.  New countertop installed.

After disconnecting the gas cooktop, the sink, garbage disposal, et al, my job was to RE-install all of the above.  In and of itself, it’s not a difficult job.  That, of course, is assuming that everything just falls into place as it should.

It never does.

The drawer nearly sent me over the edge yesterday.  Today, it was the plumbing.

We had to wait 24 hours to install the plumbing, which was a good thing.  I probably would have take a sledge hammer to everything yesterday.

I came close to it, today.

Hooking up the faucet itself was relatively painless.  I had my plumber’s tape, the right wrenches… I got everything connected.  Turned on the water, and voila!  no drips!

I turned on the faucet and Yosemite Falls magically appeared.  Actually, Yosemite Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.  Two leaks.  Disconnect, reconnect, water back on and we’re down to one leak.  I take care of that one and we’re done.

Now for the disposal.

Those of you who know me well know that I have the patience of a Saint.  NOT!  While it generally takes me a while to work up to sledge hammer mode, once it hits, it’s not a pretty sight.

I had my plumber’s putty and everything else I needed.  Ready.  Set.  Stop!

It seems the new sink drain is towards the back of the sink and everything was plumbed and set up for it to be in the center of the sink.  The supply pipes are in the way.  The drain pipe is in the wrong place.

I am not amused.

I finagle things a bit and figure out that there is enough room to get it in there, but it’s going to be a tight fit.  What should be a relatively painless job is causing me much pain.  It’s now been three hours since I started the project.  I’m getting tired, cranky, and hungry.

I stop to cook dinner.  I have everything but a drain.

I needed quick.  Did I mention the cranky part?  I put some rice on the stove and chicken breasts on the grill.   Roasted corn in a pot.  Cranky.

When the breasts were cooked, I covered them with enchilada sauce and shredded cheese and stuck them under the broiler to melt the cheese.

20 minutes.

I semi-cleaned up, and feeling better, went back at it.  The disposal was hooked up in 5 minutes!

I hooked up the drain pipes, turned on the water, and…  yes, you guessed it, a huge leak!  I took off the trap, put it back, and perfect.  Dry as a bone.  It was just one final little “gotcha” from the gods of water and home repair.

And the sink?!?

All ready for lots of cooking!

Thursday 3/17 the back splash arrives.  We already took off the moulding and trim around the bottom of the cabinets and I have to remove the undercounter lights before they can install the backsplash.  At least with the undercounter lights, I’m not laying on my back shoved inside a cabinet.

Working standing up is so much more civilized.