Lead Tests

We should hear later today about Evelin's blood lead test, but this morning I gathered the samples for our water lead test. Basically, the pipes had to be still for at least six hours, so no flushing, brushing teeth, washing hands, etc., after 10:00 p.m. last night and I took the first draw when I woke at 5:30 a.m., seven hours later.

Sometime yesterday, WSSC dropped off two plastic bottles at our door. The 1-liter one is the first draw bottle. It gets filled with the water that comes immediately from the pipes without any flushing of the lines.

The 16-ounce bottle is filled after the first sample is collected and the line is flushed for two to three minutes. (Ever obsessive compulsive, I used the kitchen timer to make sure the tap had been open 2 minutes, 30 seconds.) The samples were taken from the kitchen sink; I think that's the tap most likely provide the water we ingest.

Today, I need to call for a pickup of the samples, and then I'm not sure how long it will take for results to get back. I also don't know if the fee is just added to our water bill or what. There was no mention of payment on the instruction sheet.

Other Things

Pregnancy: Today is the last day of the 12th week of the pregnancy. Which means Saturday is the start of the second trimester (unless you count the end of the first trimester as 13 weeks, 3 days, in which case Tuesday starts the second trimester).

Garden/Yard: The first primrose was fully open yesterday, and a few more blossoms have popped on the camellia. Daffodils are also starting to open. And the cherry trees by the Tidal Basin have a dusky sheen to them, which usually means the blossoms will be open within a week or so -- right on schedule.

Grocery Strike: Today's the last day of the contracts for Washington-Baltimore area UFCW members working at Safeway and Giant Foods, and it looks like we may be headed toward a strike (a vote is set for Tuesday unless a contract is signed before then) that could be as nasty as the Southern California ones that just ended a few weeks ago. I noticed in the Sunday papers that Safeway was already advertising for "temporary workers" (read, scabs). Thankfully, with spring starting up, the farmers market is going to have more producers each week, and we can supplement with the food co-op, Whole Foods, small ethnic groceries, and similar sources if the strike does drag on.