#plumbed water cooler

[fazalkhan2914]

Steel fabrication companies in Bahrain-Rockspringtech With an emphasis on resource conservation, efficacy, and dependability, we provide a wide range of products and services to our clients in the mining, oil and gas, industrial, and governmental sectors. Contact us. https://www.rockspringtech.com/steel-fabrication.html

[royalspringsmelbourne]

https://www.royalsprings.com.au/water-dispensers-products/

Explore Royal Springs' premium water dispensers and products for a refreshing hydration experience. Discover innovative designs and cutting-edge technology to elevate your water consumption. Find the perfect solution for your home or office at Royal Springs. To know more about Rent Or Buy Plumbed Water Cooler click https://www.royalsprings.com.au/water-dispensers-products/

[sleep-0-deprived]

Could you write to a yandere neighbor who is a huge pervert?

Perv Yandere neighbor imagines~!

Imagine You being new to the neighborhood moving in you never seen much or your neighbor you knew his name and he was a few years older than you. Walking over one day holding a box of cookies you made as a get to know you gesture, “hello I’m your new neighbor nice to meet you sir!”

Imagine his door swung open and off the bat he was lanky and pale he looked as though he’s never felt the touch of a woman making you blink still trying to play polite bite it’s hard when his face is looking right at your pecs paying your face and the cookies no mind.

Imagine your bathroom window being right across from his bedroom, him watching you learning your schedule like a feral man touching and jerking off when he sees you in your shower, your hands washing your hair showing your pecs all wet from the water making him drool in delight snapping a few photos for “later”

Imagine a cook out hosted in the neighborhood and he would normally skip and stay home but as soon as he caught wind of you going he made sure to go as well, standing awkwardly thing to not get caught staring at you in your swim trunks.

Imagine Every one at the cook out thinking he keeps looking at the ground in embarrassment when he’s actually looking down at your ass enjoying how your back arches imagining giving you backshots right then and there bending you over the cooler and fucking you senseless.

Imagine your neighbor being so obsessed with seeing you and talking to you he starts doing more yard work deliberately when you are sunbathing in your patio chair, oh you’re laying out shirtless in your back yard well that’s the perfect time for him to start planting!

Imagine your neighbor being so desperate to make sure you’re his that anytime you bring men over or have hook ups they never make it back their car nor do they contact you again, your neighbor being very experienced with technology due to his lack of outside time making it easy for him to stalk every social account you have even if it’s five years old even if it’s private even if he has to hunt it down he will do it just to see any pictures of you he can.

Imagine your neighbor showing up at your doorsteps during the middle of the day, he claims he needs to use your bathroom the plumbing in his house is “messed up” he stumbles along to your bedroom claiming he thought it was the way to your bathroom! He stole pairs of your boxers from your clothes basket and set up a few cameras all over your bedroom making sure to get all angles.

[smarterwater1]

How to Buy a Water Cooler for Your Office?

Drinking at least 6 to 8 glasses of water every day is critical for maintaining good health. As we spend a considerable amount of time at our workplace, it’s important to have a water cooler that will provide fresh drinking water. Nowadays, multiple variants of water coolers are available in the market. Therefore, choosing the most suitable one for your office can be confusing. To make it simpler, we have shared some practical tips.

1. Decide your budget- The money that you will be spending on the cooler is the most important factor. While plumbed-in water coolers can require a more upfront investment, in the long run, they can be more cost-effective than refillable water coolers.

2. Storage capacity- Your water cooler should provide sufficient drinking water every day. Therefore, if there is a large workforce, you should look for a plumbed-in floor-standing cooler or other options that will provide an endless supply of water. Similarly, for a smaller office, a bubblers & under sink water cooler can be a good option.

3. Check the functionality- Modern-age water coolers come with numerous advanced features, such as hot and cold water dispensers, touchless sensors, and instant boiling water taps. Moreover, many environment-friendly coolers use CFC-free refrigeration. Plus, there are energy-efficient models providing excellent cooling quickly. You should look for a product that provides all the requisite features.

Shopping online for water coolers in Australia, you can find numerous water coolers in different sizes, models, functionality, and water usage. The above-mentioned tips will help you choose the perfect water cooler for your office. Some companies like Smarter Water also offer

customized products that suit your office space’s unique requirements. On a final note, we suggest you to find out about the care and maintenance that a particular unit will require.

For More Information:

Plumbed In Floor Standing 

Plumbed In Bench Units 

Plumbed In Water Coolers 

Bubblers and Under Sink Coolers

Source URL: https://medium.com/@smarterwater01/how-to-buy-a-water-cooler-for-your-office-94fa771f5b67

[shotmrmiller]

Toni... Blue collar worker simon....

i'm thinking of a plumber simon who doesn't (but can, obviously) fix toilets and whatnot. no, he usually installs plumbing systems in homes that are currently being built and he can do gas pipes too.

simon owning a van that has a bunch of long PVC pipes on top is making my head spin for no reason.

anyway, he gets up real early in the morning, depending on how far the job is he could be up as early as 4 am, packs his cooler for lunch which consists of sandwiches, a can or two of soda, two water bottles and a bag of spicy sunflower seeds. his lunch is shit because a lady tend to pass by in her food truck to sell the guys a proper lunch (they taste like simple home cooked meals) and its relatively cheap.

he buys lunch more often than not because of you, the lady's daughter and you're the prettiest little finch he's ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on.

you're a shy thing too, mumbling back a hello when he tosses you a greeting while waiting for his lunch to be warmed up. he likes when your eyebrow twitches every time he waits until the last possible second to ask for a drink to wash down his food.

a pest, truly.

(if only you'd give him a chance, you wouldn't have to be in that truck slaving away in the heat when he could keep you nice and comfortable at home with the ac as low as you like)

[headspace-hotel]

I am a dedicated water enjoyer but i have such a hard time believing that the "recommended" amount of water you are supposed to drink per day is legit ngl

According to google you're "supposed" to drink 125 ounces of water per day (almost a gallon). (I'm tempted to call this bullshit even just based on the fact that it's just one of several different answers.) At what point in the evolution of our species would this have been possible, especially in hot environments where you're out sweating in the sun and would need even more water?

Like okay, for one thing, drinking water by lapping it up or with your hands makes it a lot more time consuming to ingest a significant quantity of water. Furthermore, drinking from stagnant pools will give you illnesses that will kill you, and clean springs and mountain streams aren't exactly everywhere.

Did hunter-gatherers that spent their days tracking large game stop 8 times a day to guzzle down water? How did they have the fucking time to do this? Where were they getting it? Were they lugging gallons of water with them all the time in animal skin bags or something? Could they drink 4 standard water bottles' worth of water in one go whenever they found a water source? A lot of springs don't even produce water that fast??

Humans have lived in literal deserts for thousands of years!! Indoor plumbing is a new thing! Our culture is so water-centric that "around the water cooler" is slang for a casual social situation at work, most buildings have fountains specifically for dispensing drinking water, lobbies and hotels everywhere have vending machines that dispense beverages, and an important form of self-expression in public is carrying large, decorated water bottles. And yet somehow we're all chronically dehydrated and should be drinking more water??

Why would evolution adapt us to require more water than thirst can or will signal us to drink, anyway? Isn't that the reason thirst exists? 

(Also, has anyone who makes this shit up ever tried to drink that much water?? I used to drink 32 ounces of water over a 2 hour period, and I needed to go to the bathroom every 10-20 minutes to avoid pissing myself, like I would be in pain within minutes. If my body is getting rid of such insane quantities of water that my piss is basically water and I'm going to the bathroom every 20 minutes, that seems like a clear sign that my body does not want to have so much water in it.)

But I digress. At what point in time before the modern day would it have been possible for a human to ingest 8 glasses of water every day or 120 ounces or whatever is supposedly ideal??? If "dehydration" is the default state and has been for millions of years what does "dehydration" even MEAN?? Make it make sense...

[adventuresofoswald]

"Outdoor plumbing and a water cooler?"

[rabbivole]

i made a video of avbar1 with a longer clip but this website can't post video anymore so the tab crashed. which is funny given that roadtrip has succeeded on its last ~4 video upload coinflips. i'll put it on youtube unlisted tomorrow or something

anyway man i need to talk to somebody who knows more than me about what state tfc is in. because it's clearly not the ~2004 executable in some small and subtle ways, so i FEEL like they've changed it, but i don't know how. they've been doing small patches over the last decade or so, mostly security fixes, but i don't see anything larger than that. it's weird shit like 'i'm not sure it's calculating visleaf culling like it used to, because i can now see this area through the skybox that i know wasn't visible when i was a kid'

anyway hey, that archive has a house i submitted to a community neighborhood christmas map, look

got a satellite dish on the treehouse (for internet) and a christmas light texture i painstakingly edited in paint shop pro. not animated. i think i figured that out later but it was even more of a pain in the ass in goldsource than it is now

made those present textures in paint shop pro too. a fish tank with no fish (but it bubbles sometimes). and the most fucked up brush star i've ever seen in my life. look, times were different then, i didn't know about things like 'vertex grid alignment' and making models to go in your map was something only the truly cool kids knew how to do

got a glass of water by the bed. important. i have always been weirdly hung up on small details like this, apparently

and... whatever this sink situation is here. i had to take a minute and put myself into my precocious child brain and remember that, well, a treehouse wouldn't have plumbing, so in my swiss family robinson dreams i'll just put a water cooler in my treehouse. i thought about this stuff way too much as a kid. you can also turn a stove on and climb into it and die instantly. the fridge opens but there's no fridge light. smh

based on the modified date on the bsp, i think i would've been 11 here. there's a sign out front with my old [very explicitly feminine-gendered] username on it which i made a choice not to take a picture of and i can't really explain why. i have more or less posted my legal birth name and have no particular animosity towards that but this feels more invasive somehow. possibly because there's a very real chance you could dig up my Sonic Krazy Kult-ass posts. because i was posting on the internet when i was like, 9. although [TWO DECADES OF MASS INTERNET DEVELOPMENT] later that's no longer abnormal

[dianewatersmart]

Plumbed In Smart Water Dispenser Chilled & Hot Water On Demand

Plumbed-In Smart Water Dispenser, Elevate your hydration experience with the Smart Plumb Pro, the ultimate plumbed-in water dispenser designed for modern convenience and efficiency. This cutting-edge water dispenser seamlessly integrates with your existing plumbing system, providing an endless supply of filtered, chilled, and hot water at the touch of a button. Effortlessly select your desired temperature and water volume with an intuitive, user-friendly touchscreen interface. Enjoy instant access to perfectly chilled or piping hot water with energy-efficient heating and cooling mechanisms that minimize energy consumption.

[fazalkhan2914]

Plumbing contractors in Bahrain-Rockspringtech Whether it’s water treatment products or services, we offer excellent quality that meets the customers' highest expectations. We have been providing our services in various sectors like government, oil, and gas, industrial, etc. so you can look for us. https://www.rockspringtech.com/plumbing.html

[nichenarratives]

Hurricane Heller 16

A Niche Narratives Fanficiton.

last | first | next

16. Poker Face

They pass the kitchen and head into a corridor at the rear of the property, the bare bricks and a slanted, corrugated iron roof barely trapping any heat. His breath mists in frigid air as they walk the width of the diner before entering yet another door at the far end, which leads into the domestic kitchen at the rear of an adjacent property.

Unlike homes in the slums, where a table and an open fire often constitute an entire kitchen, there is a solid mahogany, custom freestanding unit pushed back to one wall with delicately carved doors, freshly waxed to a shine and beautifully offset by apricot worktops. A lime green coats most of the walls, while an accent of mustard tiles protects directly the wall behind the worktops from splashes.

Matching yellow tiles have been carefully mounted in the old fireplace too, gutted to fit a wrought iron stove heated by an open fire beneath. The tiles reflect light outwards producing a glowing orange aura, bright enough to illuminate most of the kitchen without need for lamps, while also making the room stiflingly hot compared to the lean-to corridor frosted with ice.

Most of the remaining floor space is taken by an oversized table and chairs of matching wood, a glass-plated table top glistening in the light. On the opposite wall, a plumbed sink glistens, not a wayward drop of water from its spout. Finally, beside large arching doors at the far end of the room, a coat rack sags under the weight of a half dozen hats and coats; it would seem he's the last to arrive, 

Mordecai doesn't have time to wonder if his late arrival was contrived before Kendall offers to take his coat. Far too hot, he rushes to oblige, balancing the box in an arm to shift the other from its sleeve. Kendall takes hold of the collar so he can repeat the process with his other arm without the thing falling to the floor. It's awkward, and he could have put the box down, but he doesn't want to risk it getting dirty from an unseen mess.

Only once she's hung up his coat does he remove his hat and scarf as an afterthought, earning an eye roll before they're taken and stowed with his coat before the double doors are thrown open. As Kendall walks into a dark parlour, Mordecai follows obediently and is glad to find the heat abating as they step into an entry hall beyond, a single closed door the only additional room they pass. He breathes the cooler air deeply, glancing at an apparently disused front door, then follows Kendall up to the second floor.

She takes the stairs gracefully despite her inch-high heels sinking into the plush carpet, turning on the gas lamps along the way, fluffy tail swaying gracefully with each step. Having never worn outdoor shoes on a carpeted floor, it's weird to feel the cushion of fibers beneath his hard soles, muffling the clunk of feet on wooden steps beneath. He tried not to think about the dirt they've just walked into the runner as they reach the landing, skirt around a second staircase and come face to face with one of three doors, the one to a room at the front of the property.

Kendall pauses to fix her hair - a pointless effort, with most of it bundled seemingly haphazardly atop of her head - then raps on the door. Mordecai perks his ears at the rhythm, the same one his driver uses to summon him to interrogations; two slow, three fast. A universal code? It's information he stores away as the door swiftly opens and a single man steps out, closing the door behind him.

The gray tabby towers over Kendall, his tiny eyes narrowed to mere specs in a large head, his neck the same width as his jaw and a thick, pink scar running from one brow to his upper lip. Kendall doesn't seem scared, only holding up the invite with a coy smile. "Las' one, darlin'," she says sweetly, waiting for him to take the Christmas card to elaborate, a sly glance back over her shoulder at the tuxedo. "The boss' new favouri'e, Kosher. I'm sure they're all dyin' to meet 'im."

Felt ears rotate back, subtly communicating his uncertainty. Mordecai feels comfortable enough in his capabilities that their approval isn't a requirement; he wants to keep his head down and earn sufficient funds to move his family to decent housing, while keeping himself comfortably housed with the surplus, not be praised for bureaucratic excellence.

He's been too good at his job and gotten noticed. Again. 

The persian turns and Mordecai leans back against the stairs to the third floor to allow Kendall room to pass, box held in both hands before him. The woman doesn't take the space offered, instead approaching him and leaning closer. A warning murr rumbles in the tom's chest as she sweeps a strand of hair from his eyes, fingers lingering on his cheek as she whispers softly.

"I'm off at six," she says, close to his ear, her hot breaths make it twitch. "Bring tha' switchblade I've been hearing so much abou' down t'the diner, butcher. I'd like t'see ya wield it up real close an' personal."

As swift as she approached, Kendall is gone, halfway down the stairs before the grimace or disgust can curl Mordecai's lips, eyes staring after her until the bodyguard clears his throat. Emerald eyes shift from the stairs to the hulking man now holding the door open wide, motioning for Mordecai to step in with the hand clasping his comically tiny invite. Straightening back up, the tuxedo reaffirms his grip on the box, firmly affixes the Isaiah Fitzgerald mask, and steps into the meeting.

Much like the rest of the home, the rectangular reception is large and plushly decorated; thick carpets from wall to wall, heavy drapes drawn to allow in bitter winter sunlight, and a deep red wallpaper beneath a picture rail framing the space. Ceiling molding encases newfangled electrical fixtures with a multitude of inset bulbs, gleaming brightly in ornate arms of two chandeliers set at opposite ends of the room.

The nearest short wall is obscured by heavy bookcases, all of which house thick tomes of classical literature, complete encyclopedias and other reference materials. An armchair and a chaise lounge in deep moss green sit opposite, a rug - surely unnecessary in a carpeted home - of greens, golds and reds beneath a mahogany coffee table covered in gifts finishing the set. It's all brand new; luxury decor at its finest.

Set into the opposite far wall, a fireplace spits behind its wrought iron fireguard, the remnants of kindling slowly being suffocated by hot coals. An intricately carved mahogany table is centered below the second chandelier, a glass cover protecting the detailed lead embossed top from damage. Its surrounded by eight matching chairs.

Seven sets of eyes watch Mordecai as he steps inside, an unerring silence befalling the gathered men as they study the newest underboss, sucking on cigars or sipping scotch. 

Mordecai doesn't notice as he's prompted to put his gift on the coffee table, wide eyes scouring over more books than he's seen to date, the collection putting his budding library back home to shame. More accustomed to heavy handed mannerisms, he's taken aback when the bodyguard on the door doesn't laugh at his wonder or manhandle him around but instead, clears his throat to get his attention.

"You got t'remove yer jacket an' holsters," he says, gravelly tones not consistent with his manners and flawless suit, even if his accent errs towards commonality. A meaty hand opens but Mordecai doesn't immediately comply, the idea of being without his pistol in the current climate giving him pause. The bodyguard doesn't become defensive, only adding. "No weapons at th'table, Kosher. Boss' orders."

The assumption everyone else was honest and gave up all their weapons doesn't sit well with the tom, but he hasn't got much choice; his position amongst these men is arguably the least stable. Should he be found to retain weapons after an explicit request to remove them, he likely won't walk out of this room alive, but be carried out in an old suitcase by an unlucky team of underlings from the diner next door. 

So he shrugs off his jacket a moment later, handing it to the large tabby before unclipping his holster. The letter opener still resting in his inside jacket pocket, he raises a pants leg to retrieve Jimbo's stolen switchblade from his sock garter, a swift flick of the wrist turning it around for the bodyguard to safely procure. The tabby takes everything in arm before motioning to the other side of the room apparently trusting him. "Have a good nigh'." 

Following his gesture and finally noticing the many eyes on him, dark ears turn backwards before he can suppress the anxious response. The ensuing awkwardness is thankfully short-lived; Gabriel stands with a cigar pinched between his sharp teeth and his face cracked into a broad smile. 

"Kosher!" He exclaims the greeting, looking almost casual in just a shirt and suspenders, collar unbuttoned and tie loose. He closes the distance between them swiftly and embraces Mordecai, pulling the stiff feline into a brief hug that ends as the pale persian pulls back and digs sharp claws into tensed biceps. "Glad you could make it! The boys didn't think you'd come, being… you know. Kosher, and all."

Mordecai can't tell if the man refers to his inherent character or his ancestry, but he doesn't have time to ruminate before Gabriel has an arm around his shoulders and is walking him towards the crowded table. "Let's get you introduced, yeah. Want a drink? Old Frank - that lug on the door - will find you anything you want, so what's your poison, eh? How about a scotch on the rocks? You look like a classic kind of guy."

With a lot of information to suddenly process, Mordecai lets Gabriel's incessant questions ground him, tearing emerald eyes away from the crowded table to meet yellowed irises. "While I appreciate the offer, I don't drink," he states, unsure if it's rude to refuse liquor, but definitely not about to indulge. "If I may enquire, what else is available? I'm partial to tea, in particular an Earl Gray."

The persian chuckles softly, as do a number of others at the table. Mordecai ignores them; he's quite used to being the comedic relief by now. "You don't come to Christmas poker and drink tea," Gabriel asserts, pausing to suck on his cigar before taking it from his teeth, heavy smoke leaking from his nose and mouth as he taps Mordecai's chest affectionately. "Tell you what; I'll get Frank and Kendall to bring up a couple of those cordials and soft drinks they sell in the diner. Maybe you'll find something else you like as much as tea."

Mordecai twists his lips with disbelief. "I highly doubt that," he mutters under his breath, then sighs in defeat. "Very well. I'm sure something will be… adequate."

"There ya go," Gabriel praises, jostling his shoulder with his iron grip and chuckling deep in his chest, releasing him to turn back to Frank. The tuxedo's arm is decidedly sore when he finally lets go, and it takes most of his self control not to shudder to dispel the lingering feeling of an unwanted arm around his back. "You heard the man; get Kendall to make a couple of cordials, no skimping on the juice or sugar. We'll sweeten the old butcher up yet!"

The next few minutes are a whirlwind of information as he's introduced to the entirety of the table and their expertise all at once. With the quickfire crash course in underbosses at Gabriel's jovial hand, each man is cataloged by appearance, name and job title only, providing Mordecai with an influx of people to research in his spare time next year, though there are two distinct men the tuxedo takes intricate note at the time of introduction.

First and arguably the most important, the large, black feline at the head of the table. Despite seeming to be of a similar height to most, the silky shorthair possesses a number of exaggerated features compared to his brethren: a heavy brow and large forehead overshadow small eyes so dark, they appear black across the table; an equally heavy set lower jaw; stocky shoulders; and thickly muscled arms.

He greets Mordecai with a smoker's gravel imbued with the deep tones expected from a man of his size, his assertions bringing an end to any idle or other conversations from pure respect. The hand clasping his cards are three times larger than Mordecai's finely dextrous ones, while his shoes could comfortably house a feral cat and her litter in a pinch, their toe caps enforced with steel for integrity over utility.

This is Stanley Savage, current head of the family, the man who plucked Mordecai from his comfortable position running the races and pressed implements of torture into his hands. The tuxedo greets him politely, complementing the home as his mother raised him to, even as the suppressed distaste for his abusive role simmers angrily beneath the surface 

He could be Hashem Himself, Mordecai would still hate the man who cost him the dregs of his morality just as fervently.

Second, the predominantly white feline sat at Savages's right hand. Accented with sandy yellow splashed with black, incomplete spots, most of this colouration favours his dorsal area, though it covers his ears and face, and even coats the backs of his hands. His suit is immaculate, jacket still worn over an armed shoulder holster. Calculating, narrowed green eyes study the newest addition to the inner circle.

Sipping his scotch and holding eye contact seamlessly with the tuxedo, the speckled feline nods wordlessly when he's introduced; Jackson Jameson, personal triggerman and as required, bodyguard for the Savage family boss. As the only man at the table openly armed, it's obvious he's considered more trustworthy than anyone else in the room, something Mordecai makes explicit note of as he's shown to the empty seat at the other end of the long table.

Despite Mordecai's initial uncertainties, the small gathering is surprisingly amicable; most conversation revolves around the rapidly changing work environments each man has had to deal with these last few months, rising amenity costs and a lament of fewer excess funds for seasonal gifts or their preferred vices. Mordecai is generally quiet unless engaged directly, though he doesn't share much personal information. He talks only of the business troubles, and the closing of his launderette, which placates most of their questions.

One man however - Kimberly Daugherton, a particularly small and weasley looking man with numerous furless scars adoring his muzzle and face - has an unhealthy interest in the tom's torture moonlights, making uncomfortable queries regarding his favourite tools, technique and 'soft spots'. He's a disquieting little man with a twitchy demeanour that Mordecai is thankful not to be seated directly next to, but that doesn't make his queries or suggestions any less repulsive to the unconventional butcher.

Having enough after a particularly vulgar description of how to disembowel a man without killing him outright, Mordecai places his empty glass of cordial - a delightful tart cranberry and raspberry, with a touch of soda water - aside with more force than necessary. "If you're so desperate for a demonstration," he states coldy, staring at the man who sinks regretfully into his seat under those sharp eyes. "I'll request my switchblade returned and provide a personal experience of my favourite techniques. How does that sound, Mister Daugherton?"

"N-No, th-thank you," the small feline stutters out, oversized gray ears pressing to his skull and he fidgets nervously with a napkin in his lap, intensely focused on its crinkled edges. "I-I'm good. So good! All… good." A rolling chuckle echoes around the table, especially as Kimberly makes excuses to leave a few minutes later, missing the poker game entirely.

It swiftly becomes apparent Mordecai is terrible at poker; as Gabriel would express through a rolling chuckle. "The poker face is only half the game," he explains after Mordecai folds on a bad hand in the first round. "You have to bluff, make us think your hand is average even when you got a flush in the wings, so we go in thinking we got you beat with a three of a kind and bet recklessly. That's now you win big."

He understands the logic, but the concept is irrational, so he continues to play as he had before and ends with almost as many chips as he started. While the other players don't see it as successful, Mordecai does. He retained his integrity and most of his fabricated funds, a true win compared to those undermining their trustworthiness for a simple game. 

Though the event continues until almost three on Christmas morning - and despite the heavy smoke, slowly intoxicated company and being absolutely awful at poker - the evening is not as unpleasant as Mordecai feared. His coworkers are cordial and respectful, refraining from anti-semitic humour the entire evening, even when issues arose during dinner, and Mordecai is returned to his apartment full, content and surprisingly jovial.

Mordecai may not be fond of much of his profession, but he finally seems to be reaping the rewards of his hard work and sacrifices. It puts a smile on thin lips, even as he's forced to layer three blankets to stay warm; life is somewhat good, and it can surely only get better from here.

[raisindave]

[Chapter 3] Seeing the World Through Ballistic-Tinted Glasses

The hard water left phantoms of orange streams along the presumably beige shower tile. Most of the time, showers had to be limited to five minutes, ten if you whine about it. Nobody could tell you that you couldn’t indulge in a fifteen this time. It’ll be hard to even think of it as a fifteen-minute shower when you have to punch a button in the wall every 60 seconds to remind the plumbing that it doesn’t have permission to stop. 

Cool streams of water stream over your skin. It feels heavenly. The military isn’t famous for its luxury showers, nor is rural Russia. Every second counts, scrubbing your face and body in pace with your five-minute regular showers, permitting a tranquil ten minutes of nothing but the sensation of trickling water across your searing skin. In a way, the overzealous force of the water flowing from the faucet was more of a perk, offering a kneading massage across aching shoulders. 

One final mouthful of water left the taste of bitter pennies in your mouth, pushing aside the plastic curtain shielding you from the cooler bathroom air. Pessimism aside, the shower did a fantastic job of cooling your nerves, literally or figuratively. A quick towel dry did the trick, making the standard-issue cargo pants chafe against your skin, only reminding you of the bliss you just stepped out of. At least you got to have your own bra and underwear. That’s a luxury the higher-ups didn’t get to take from you, though the natural tradeoff of function over form meant beige and black were the sole options. Wet hair, mostly brushed, clung to the back of your black tee shirt as the bathroom door clicked shut. 

I’ll have to face them again eventually. Just rip the band-aid off and meet them again. At this point, they have every right to shun me. I’ve been nothing but a fucking nuisance. It’s just not meant to be. It’s over before it even started.

Rounding the corner leading from the so-called women’s wing, the common room hosted two of your teammates. Or so it should have been. Craning your neck to see the gym or office, still no one. Maybe what you said was so obscene that they returned to their rooms in shame, or perhaps this is your sign that you can pack up and leave. The shame swirling in your gut grew for a reason beyond your compensation. They’re still assholes, whether they're here or not. 

Just off the common room, a flash of movement passed over the circular window on the kitchen door. A deep sigh and you crossed the distance to press your fingertips on the swinging door. Soap and Gaz were under the sterile fluorescent lighting of a 1970s military-issue standard kitchen. Your appearance halted them in the middle of their conversation. The kitchen was a wreak, open sainted wood cabinets revealing shelves that had clearly been rummaged through.

“Hey,” you breathed, rolling on the balls of your feet, “Sorry for freaking out, heh.”  

“Yeah, Laswell gave us an earful, but even before that, that’s pretty shitty.” Gaz rested against the linoleum countertop, folding his arms over his ‘SAS’ tee shirt, “She’s got us-”

“I hope ye’ like fuckin’ birthday cake,” Soap interrupted through a slanted grin, doubled over a mixing bowl. 

The scene of the kitchen became crystal clear; two grown men, in reality mostly just Soap, were frantically baking a boxed cake at the behest of a disgruntled superior officer. Considering the main tools to work with were tools salvaged from an abandoned bunker, paired with basic MRE equipment. Restaurant-grade single-use butter containers littered the countertops, clearly a last-ditch attempt to make up for the oil requirement. Gaz was trying to dissect a MRE trail mix pack, separating M&M’s from nuts and raisins. 

“Don’t sweat it. Getting chirped at is just part of the fun… I’ll consider it water under the bridge if I can return the favour back at you.” 

Soap looked up from his whisking as if he’d taken some grave offence.

“Of course, you can. Are you fucking kidding me?” 

“Not gonna’ lie, when you talked to us earlier, I was scared shitless. Bloody hell , I thought Canadians were supposed to be nice!” Gaz added, scratching at his stubble. 

“Are you ready for this?” he fumbled with the lid of the vanilla extract bottle that had probably been there since the Cold War. “Y’a ready? This is what I like to call the Scottish Touch,” proceeding to deposit a glugging dump of vanilla extract, eliciting a shout from Gaz.

You gave Gaz a raised eyebrow, reaching for and flipping over the boxed cake mix to reveal the instructions, clearly disregarded. It didn’t even call for vanilla. Suddenly, you felt less ashamed of being incompetent while rucking. 

“Aye,” Soap swiped the box from your fingers, “it's gonna be the best cake you ever had, better than mom used to make. And you’re gonna fucking like it.”

—

The cake was a sight to behold. It had finesse in the weirdest locations, delicately displaying evident incompetence. A lumpy, watery topping was the obvious result of applying the icing to a still-hot cake out of the oven. At the same time, there was a delicate, skillfully placed ring of M&M’s arranged in a repeating order on top. 

Standing around the kitchen counter again, Soap volunteered to begin cutting into the lumpy cake with a KA-BAR knife- which he immediately licked clean. Responding to your disgusted face as if he forgot he wasn’t the only person in the room. 

“Look, clean!” showing his knife proudly, catching Price’s gaze as he pushed open the kitchen door. 

Snatching a slice of cake onto a Folger's coffee tub lid, Soap handed you a spoon, clinking others to Gaz and Price. Gaz awkwardly adjusted the fit of his baseball cap, an obvious nervous response to Price’s attempts to hold in his laughter. 

“Sergeant, what the fuck is that,” Price bellowed. 

“No, no, no, no. Gaz, you’re in this with me. This is a team effort.”

“I want nothing to do with this cake. All I did was the decorations.”

“Excellent job on the decorations, Gaz,” Price added.

“Ya’ haven’t even tried the bloody thing yet! Go on, Lua, try your fucking spectacular cake.” Soap took special care to enunciate his words with a chef’s kiss motion with his fingertips. 

“If this kills me, I’m haunting you forever,” you spoke up, smiling widely at Soap’s agitation. 

“Shut it.” 

You lifted the bite to your lips, cautiously biting the spoon and working the flavours over your tongue. Bone dry but paradoxically greasy. Sweet, courtesy of the non-perishable vanilla cake mix, but that’s about it. Despite being below average for a shitty cake mix, at the very least, it had the delightful pillowy warmth of a freshly baked dessert. Raising your eyes to the audience of grown men patiently expecting your response, you thoroughly and teasingly smacked your lips to unveil your conviction dramatically. 

“Tastes like a fuckin’ birthday card.”

“Can’t say I’m familiar with the taste,” Price quipped, timidly placing a piece of the sweet treat into his mouth on the back of his knife. What’s with these men and their knives? 

Soap just shook his head, dunking his spoon into the entire body of the cake, correctly assuming that nobody intended to go for seconds. He, too, momentarily pondered the flavour, only to contort his face into a cringe. 

“What the fuck did you do, Gaz? It’s fucked!” spat Soap, cheeks still full of cake. 

“Me? You’re the one who said we could use water instead of milk, and you said to add all those butter packets!”

A choked laugh barked out of Price. 

“It must just be the Scottish touch ,” you quipped, grinning mischievously as you took the opportunity to slip away from the carnage that was certain to follow. 

The commotion accelerated in the kitchen as you passed through the common room. A member is missing from your cake-walk, not just Laswell, who had the excuse to stay in the commander’s suite. Another glance at the gym on your way down the hall to your room showed that, to your knowledge, Ghost was nowhere to be found. He was probably starting fires or popping beach balls. He seems like the sort. 

Sleep doesn’t come easy. Your mind is in a tortuous replay of the events of the day. Try as you might. Cold shame forbids your conscience from slipping into the rest it desperately needs.

What the fuck is wrong with me? All that drama over some banter with the rookie. I just got here, and I’m already scrapping with people. What reason do they have not to ship me back home at first light? Chuck was right; there will be no more pity parties. No more resting on my laurels.

After hours of consideration and tortuous recaps, relaxation washed over you, and you drifted into a dreamless sleep.

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Master List

[canichangemyblogname]

So, years ago, there was a peer at my college who wanted the school and our student government to gut the entire interior of a residential building just to install a water cooler (drinking fountain) because he believed that our predominantly white private college surrounded by mansions had bad water infrastructure and unclean water, and because he genuinely believed drinking fountains filtered the water (they don’t; they only chill the tap water). 

At one of our meetings, I gave a long presentation documenting how drinking fountains do not filter water. I brought in a contractor in to discuss the cost of a project like this. They would have to gut and entirely renovate the building. Like. They couldn’t just tack a drinking spout onto the wall. They needed the internal plumbing infrastructure to install the fountain. That means tearing down existing walls. And given hallways and entry ways would still need to be ADA compliant, they would need to completely redesign an entire floor just to fit in a fountain.

It would costs hundreds of thousands and require a gut and renovation of the building, including a redesign of the floor layout, just to install these fucking drinking fountains.

So, I included in my presentation that it would be much cheaper to buy LITERAL ACTUAL FILTERS (our student government budget was— like— $10,000) and attach them to sinks to quell fears of lead contamination. I also included 5 years of water testing reports from the surrounding city to show there is no lead in our water. Also, would you also like to hear a word from my sponsor: a sanitation engineer who works at the local water treatment plant? 

Needless to say, it was a lengthy presentation on how shortsighted this student’s plan and proposed resolution was. We couldn’t just sign the money over to his project given he needed— like— half a mil. He still got up there to rebut my argument and talked about how filters are burdensome and clunky and difficult to use & install and not perfect (dude 🙄). Also, something about people having more faith or being more comfortable with a fountain than a filter.

After my big, long presentation, I was parched. There was a drinking fountain in the next room where the water was cold. Or there was a sink in our room with cups conveniently nearby. I didn’t want to leave the room during his rebuttal of my argument and I didn’t want to miss anything, so, I walked over to the sink and poured myself a glass of tap water.

As I didn’t want to keep getting up and sitting down for water, I kept to the back of the room and proceeded to watch his speech/rebuttal while drinking my water. 

Two of my peers & gov colleagues came to me afterwards and one told me something to the effects of, “Dude, that was cold.” The other told me, “I never thought I’d agree with a liberal on fiscal responsibility.”

And I remember looking this kid— who was a sophomore at the time— in the eye and telling him that some of the most pragmatic and “fiscally responsible” approaches to budgets are progressive in nature. Those who endeavor to spend money on assistance for the people— like, say, water filters to set the community’s mind at ease— as opposed to sinking money into fantasies and projects that will never get off the ground, are often “progressive.” For example, the United States sinks money into planes that don’t fly and millions a day into Russian yachts that don’t float. Meanwhile, child poverty has soared.

I advised that he see the allocation of our monies as a moral decision and a budget as a moral promise, as we can see what a legislating body values based on what they put money into. When our legislators choose to fund bombs over pre-k, what does that tell you about what we value?

The US values war above all else.

He didn’t believe me at the time. He kinda rolled his eyes and gave me some thought-stopping cliche about “leave it to liberals to turn this into peace and love and flowers.”

And I still think about this. I wonder if those words nag at him, somewhere in the back of his mind. Or does he just remember the “cold power move” the preceded my words?

[dearbisexual]

tip: if it's going to get below freezing overnight where you live, it's a good idea to keep one of your faucets running overnight, just a little. it'll keep water moving through your plumbing and will keep your pipes from freezing and bursting which costs a lot of money to fix.

tip if you have well water like we do: COVER YOUR WELL HEAD! you're supposed to have an insulated well cover on your well head in freezing temps, or else your well will freeze and you won't have any water. in a pinch, a plastic insulated cooler on your well head will keep it from freezing.

[softersinned-arc]

hi hello tonight we're thinking abt astoria & magic!

her magic is almost always water-based. nearly everything she can do is largely reliant upon finding and manipulating water in something.

healing hurts! the tips of her index finger, middle finger, and thumb on both hands are all numb due to accidents and errors when she was first learning how to heal with her magic.

because she can regulate her own body temperature fairly easily, often without really thinking about it, she's able to wear pretty much whatever she wants without being subject to the whims of the weather. the flip side is that she's very cold when she sleeps. she clings in her sleep in all verses but it's worst when she has magic.

when she's using magic, her pupils dilate, and she loses a lot of color in her face. this isn't always immediately visible, because she's fairly pale anyway, and she's usually wearing lipstick.

using her magic for too long or for spells that are too intense will leave her hands shaky and she'll be pale, and she'll almost definitely have a nasty headache. when it's particularly bad, she cries, often without realizing it, and the tears are tinged with blood.

"ani why does she have haemolacria" look it has about as much scientific basis as magical nosebleeds but i think crying blood looks cooler so that's what i'm doing.

when she's using her magic regularly, she needs to eat a lot more than usual, and she needs a lot of protein. she also needs to hydrate.

her reliance on water for her magic means she's fucking useless with fire. she can't light a flame magically. she can't even light a match. she only manages to keep a lighter lit if she's deliberately rerouting magic from her hands. when her cigarette burns too low it fizzles out before it's finished. if she's left to tend a fire alone, she will accidentally kill the flame.

it's rare that astoria experiences emotions that are really completely out of her control, but when she does, her magic goes haywire. she has rib fractures from when she was under her godparents' care, and which she healed with magic, and her magic will re-break those ribs and then heal them again, all without her intending to do so. she'll accidentally influence the temperature and pressure of the water around her, be it a natural body or indoor plumbing.

she can control someone's body with a lot of focus and energy, but she can't control their mind.

[myblogs1]

Plumbing Works in Dubai: Common Issues and Expert Solutions

Dubai’s rapid urbanization and rise of sophisticated residential and commercial buildings have highlighted the crucial role that efficient plumbing systems play in maintaining the city’s infrastructure. However, even with modern construction techniques, certain plumbing issues are common across homes, offices, and high-rise buildings. Understanding these challenges and their expert solutions is key to keeping buildings safe and functional. Here’s a breakdown of the most frequent plumbing issues faced in Dubai and the professional approaches to solving them.

1. Low Water Pressure

Low water pressure is a prevalent issue in many older buildings in Dubai. High-rise structures, in particular, face this problem due to the complexity of pumping water to higher floors. The cause can range from simple sediment buildup in pipes to more significant issues like faulty pressure regulators or leaks in the system.

Expert Solution: For low water pressure, plumbers first diagnose the root cause by inspecting the main water supply and conducting pressure tests. If sediment buildup is the issue, cleaning or replacing old pipes can restore normal pressure. In cases of faulty regulators, professionals install or recalibrate pressure boosters to ensure consistent water flow throughout the building.

2. Clogged Drains

Blocked or slow-draining sinks, showers, and toilets are another frequent plumbing works in Dubai. Over time, hair, grease, food particles, and other debris accumulate in pipes, leading to slow water drainage or complete blockages. If left unchecked, clogs can result in unpleasant odors and even flooding.

Expert Solution: For minor clogs, plumbers use drain augers or high-pressure water jetting to clear blockages. In more severe cases, video inspections of the drain system are conducted to locate the blockage. Once identified, plumbers may replace old, narrow pipes or suggest eco-friendly drain cleaning solutions to prevent future buildups.

3. Leaky Faucets and Pipes

Leaky faucets and pipes not only waste water but also increase utility bills. In Dubai, where water conservation is a significant concern, these small leaks can have a substantial environmental and financial impact if not addressed promptly. Leaks can be caused by worn-out washers, corroded pipe fittings, or high water pressure.

Expert Solution: Plumbers in Dubai use advanced leak detection tools to locate hidden leaks. Repairing leaky faucets usually involves replacing washers or O-rings, while pipe leaks may require replacing sections of corroded or damaged pipes. In some cases, adjusting water pressure levels can prevent future leaks and extend the lifespan of the plumbing system.

4. Burst Pipes

Although rare, burst pipes can be a significant issue in both residential and commercial properties, especially during the cooler months. In high-rise buildings, water pressure issues or old, worn-out pipes can lead to bursting, causing severe water damage and costly repairs.

Expert Solution: Preventing burst pipes requires regular maintenance checks. Professionals conduct pressure tests and visual inspections to identify weak spots in the plumbing system. In the case of burst pipes, emergency repair services involve shutting off the water supply, removing damaged sections of the pipe, and replacing them with more durable materials.

5. Water Heater Issues

Water heater malfunctions are common in Dubai, particularly during winter when the demand for hot water rises. Problems include inconsistent water temperatures, rusty water, and strange noises coming from the heater. These issues can stem from sediment buildup, faulty heating elements, or outdated equipment.

Expert Solution: Regular maintenance is the key to preventing water heater problems. Plumbers flush the water heater tanks to remove sediment, inspect and replace heating elements if necessary, and ensure that the thermostat is functioning correctly. In cases of outdated systems, they recommend energy-efficient replacements that reduce both water and electricity consumption.

6. Sewage Backups

Sewage backups are one of the most unpleasant plumbing issues any property can face. In Dubai’s densely populated areas, sewer line blockages can result from tree root infiltration, damaged pipes, or improper disposal of waste materials. When sewage backups occur, they pose significant health hazards and require immediate attention.

Expert Solution: Addressing sewage backups begins with a thorough inspection of the sewer line using cameras to identify the source of the blockage. Plumbers may employ trenchless sewer repair techniques, like pipe relining, to fix damaged pipes without extensive digging. Regular maintenance and proper waste disposal habits are essential in preventing future occurrences.