Well, first one of the pipes that carries heat up has developed a drip

[conuly]

And after a variety of patches, that drip has just gotten drippier. We are going to have to cave and call a plumber.

Then, one of the water pipes downstairs froze. My mother, for reasons beknownst only to her, neglected to leave the tap running a bit. Her reaction? "Are we absolutely sure we love this house?" Ha, ha, ha. You know, she thinks she's funny.