Ever Lost Your Keys Down the Drain?

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In summary, the author lost a key, a ring, a dog, and a part of a necklace down the drain. He eventually recovered all of them, except for the dog.
  • #1
matthyaouw
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I was putting my bike away when I got home from uni when "cool person, plop, DAMMIT!" my back door key slipped out of my hand and into the drain. A hammer, a chisel, 2 gallons of black, foul smelling water, a fish net, 16 dead snails, 37,000,000 anerobic bacteria, one pair of unusable rubber gloves and 15 minutes of thorough handwashing later, I have my key back. Hooray!

What are the worst things you've lost down the drain over the years? Did you get them back? Find anything down there you weren't even looking for? Do tell me.
 
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  • #2
A blue opal, that I had shaped from the ruff stone. I was hand polishing it, and it just got away from me. Rolled across the floor and into the drain. I never found it :frown:
 
  • #3
Ouch, that's bad. Were you able to replace it?
 
  • #4
I can't even express how mad I was at myself for not working over a tray. The ring it was going into, was a very stylised art nouveau setting. I sold it to a friend who has put a bloodstone in it.
 
  • #5
My daughter lost our poor dog down the storm sewer, which is almost the same thing. Since she managed to hang onto the leash, she did get our dog back, but our poor dog was traumatized for life. The dog never actually hit the bottom of the sewer, but being hanged by the neck in a dark place was a pretty traumatic experience for her. My daughter decided it was best not to tell the rest of the family that she somehow managed to drop our dog down a sewer.

For years, the dog was terrified of bridges - in fact, she was terrified of anything resembling a bridge. A small metal plate three inches high to allow water to run under the sidewalk to a drain? No way to make the dog walk across it. She has to walk across the drainage channel. A major bridge that you have no choice but to cross? Don't even try picking the dog up to carry her across - she'll have a fit and wriggle out of your hands. You just have to drag the dog across the bridge by her leash - eventually her paws will get raw from being dragged along the sidewalk and she'll sit down - eventually her butt will get raw from being dragged along the sidewalk and she'll grudgingly follow with small spurts of resistance just to remind herself that her paws and butt are too raw to resist. And don't you dare come within 10 yards of a storm sewer. The only way to get across is to cross the street - a real problem if you happen to be at a busy intersection with storm sewers at every corner.

We eventually had to map every bridge and storm sewer in our GPS receiver so we could carefully follow a route that wouldn't result in an embarrassing struggle with our dog (people really look at you funny when you forcibly drag your dog across a bridge).

For years, we never had any idea why our dog acted so irrationally whenever confronted by any sort of bridge or overpass. Finally, after having moved safely out of the house, my daughter told us what she had done to our poor dog. She forgot that she still occasionally visited us and/or went on various expeditions with us. We pushed her out of a raft in the middle of Sunshine Rapids in the Royal Gorge. I'm afraid we've traumatized her...
 
  • #6
http://www.comcen.com.au/~scottford/userfiles/duck.jpg
:cry:
 
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  • #7
Oh No! I do hope the photographer helped out...
 
  • #8
I could have saved a fortune on bird-shot if I'd thought of building a duck trap.
 
  • #9
gurkhawarhorse said:
http://www.comcen.com.au/~scottford/userfiles/duck.jpg
This is evil.





But hilarious, nonetheless..
 
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  • #10
matthyaouw said:
...2 gallons of black, foul smelling water, a fish net, 16 dead snails, 37,000,000 anerobic bacteria, one pair of unusable rubber gloves...
That's were all my pet bacteria went! Please send 'em back!
 
  • #11
Please, have them! They smell funny...
 

FAQ: Ever Lost Your Keys Down the Drain?

What does "Down the drain" mean in scientific terms?

"Down the drain" is a colloquial phrase often used to describe something that is wasted or lost. In scientific terms, it can refer to the loss of energy or resources in a system, such as water or nutrients being drained away from a body of water or soil.

How does "Down the drain" affect the environment?

The phrase "Down the drain" often has negative connotations in regards to the environment. The loss of resources, such as water or nutrients, can disrupt ecosystems and lead to imbalances. It can also contribute to pollution if the drained substances are not properly treated.

Is there a way to prevent things from going "Down the drain"?

Yes, there are various ways to prevent resources from being lost or wasted. For example, implementing efficient systems to conserve water or using sustainable farming practices to reduce the loss of nutrients in soil. It also helps to educate individuals on the importance of conservation and responsible resource management.

Can "Down the drain" have positive impacts?

In some cases, the phrase "Down the drain" can have positive connotations. For instance, in scientific experiments, substances may be intentionally drained away as part of a process or to dispose of waste. Additionally, in some contexts, "Down the drain" can also refer to getting rid of something harmful or unwanted, which can benefit the environment.

Are there any solutions to mitigate the negative effects of "Down the drain"?

Yes, there are various solutions that can help minimize the negative impacts of "Down the drain". For example, implementing better waste management practices, using renewable resources, and finding alternative methods to conserve and reuse resources can all help reduce the loss and waste of valuable substances. Collaboration between scientists, policymakers, and individuals is crucial in finding and implementing effective solutions.

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