Best part was
it wasn't even planned. I really was going to just finish the job and put the sprinkler away when they appeared.

They had their revenge in a way, though- at my current house I found a sprinkler in the shape of a rabbit in the garden and started cleaning it out, then hooked it up to the hose. I turned it on and nothing came out, so I walked over to look and see if anything was happening- it was the sort that just had a sprayer in the top rather than the kind that spins- and I thought I might see some water leaking through or something. As it happens, the water did start to leak out a bit, so I wiped my finger over the sprayer to clear off the dribble of goo that was starting to emerge.

Apparently this was a Very Bad Idea, as the dribble of goo was the equivalent of the first little dribble coming from the dam wall. The water found the opening and washed out the caked mud from inside the sprinkler all at once, coating me from the waist up in dark brown splatters.

All three of my kids witnessed this and were leaning against the house, laughing until the tears came. And yes, I was laughing right along with them as I dripped mud from my face...
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Tue 18 Dec 2007, 17:51, Reply)