Men in ... Oops! Check That ... Men Filling Holes

A new hole! It looked as though it had just been cut and the crew 

was getting ready to install another section of water line.

I was on my way to a swimming session and could not stop,

intending to pester the men with questions about the new line,

as well as the fire hydrant, afterwards.

Two hours later, I came out to find that not only had

the pipe been installed, but the hole was filled and ... and ...

and they were cleaning the cement truck!

OMG! Another missed opportunity!

All with the help of their beautiful assistant, Clarice.

(I made up the part about her name. There was 

a "Clarence" at the other end of the project.)

Black Pipe

I was a little late to my swimming session this evening 

because I saw some pictures that needed to be taken.

Across the street from the IUPUI Natatorium, 

black pipe had been laid out and stacked,

ready to be laid for new water lines.

I remember when my ex and I would go to 

the hardware store to buy black iron pipe

for plumbing for a number of home projects. 

That has been replaced over the years,

but I don't know what material was

used to produce this pipe,

though it looked to be some sort of

synthetic fibre. 

Nosy Parker

Okay, I have to admit it, I want to know what's going on when I see holes being dug, streets being scraped, men going down into openings in the street. Agatha Christie's Miss Marple called such people "nosy parkers," and I guess I'm one of them. After all, "inquiring minds just want to know." When I saw these men with their big truck with all the dials and indicators, I couldn't resist.

As it was explained to me, the truck is a rolling vacuum cleaner of sorts, which they use to suck stuff out of the city water lines. The sections of tube were attached to an opening in the water line, then connected to the truck. When the vacuum was turned on, things such as gravel that might have eventually blocked the line were sucked into the tank on the back of the truck.

Duly impressed, I thanked them for their information, then asked if, when they were done with their shift, they might come over to vacuum out my place; it needs more help than Hoover, Dyson or Oreck can handle.