To DIY or Not? (May contain negativity, foul language, and "TMI". Proceed with caution.)

I have been busy. 

Learning, growing, and experiencing the gifts life has to offer first hand. Getting things done all by myself.

Thanks to my friends who brought me tiles, tools, and their amazing know- how, I have taken on the task of home improvement, a.k.a. tiling my bathroom floor. It's fun, and easy, and makes me feel like I could tile the world.

So far I have spent $60 and almost have two new floors. This is huge since all I had before was some sub floor and a sloppy peel-and-stick vinyl job. That was before. Now I am willing to invest a minimum amount of cash and a maximum amount of stress and free time to achieve amazing results. 

Flash forward to reality...

Crapping in the woods on a rainy morning. This includes trekking across the yard in my slippers with a shovel in my hand at 7:30am (like clockwork) so I can drop my daily duty in a hole and bury it. 
All in the name of saving money. 

The issue is that my tile skills do not extend into the realm of toilets, valves, and water containment. My water has been turned off for a week because of the little valve on the hose that supplies the toilet with water. Mine is broken. I need to fix it. Now.

This morning, as the tip of my shovel pierced that first slice of earth, I gave my new ritual a name.
The Trek of Shame. With shame being that I am almost ready to admit maybe this project is a bit over my head. Soon I may do the unthinkable... which is to just call a plumber and pay. Paying for a job I could rig myself is one thing I hate to do. Balancing over a hole while trying not to drop the t.p. roll in the morning dew is now on my list of things I hate to do as well. I am experiencing a true dilemma. 

I have put off writing about this because when we started the project I was pumped! Learning how to use a power tool, hanging with friends, feeling the love of group labor- I never thought things would slowly turn on me. I never thought my negativity would almost take over after everyone went home and it was just me and the wet saw. I never thought I would be on day 9 of burying my shit in the woods, swatting mosquitoes from my behind, boiling water for cleaning dishes, filling gallon jugs at work, and fantasizing about flushing. 

It's not my fault.

I didn't know about the valves.

Today I am on a mission. If you see me, hints and encouragement are welcome. I can do this.