step 3, continued... sort of

I've been reading the blogs I don't (yet) link to of folks (here, here, here, here, here, here, now they're linked!) who leave occasionally comments here, I really enjoy seeing the thoughts of some of the folks that read my blog. One of them makes the comment that he really hates to wait. So do I. Combine that with general impatience and disdain for incompetence, and you get a feel for how Step 3 of this escape from Stepford is going.

Monday I had 6 different companies scheduled to do some work:
- get rid of critter in the attic
- fix garage door opener
- fix the refrigerator
- handyman doing cosmetic work around the house/yard
- fix sprinkler system outside
- measure for new carpet

Only 3 showed up. This is the problem with getting home-repairs done - many of the people are flaky. Or incompetent. It drives me nuts. The refrigerator was "fixed" Saturday along with the dishwasher, after a 4 hour hiatus when the guy went to go get a part...hmmm...and then it was the wrong part. Returns Monday to fix it. The fucking thing started gushing water Monday night. Well, fuck me with a shrub (and not the one in the White House, thank you, I want a nice one, nothing too gaudy, but nice). Grrr. And what was the cause of Lake Stepford in my kitchen revealed to be yesterday? Connection to new part was loose. Fucking idiot.

Garage door opener guy did not show up Monday either, he got stuck in Katy (about 50 miles on the other side of town from here) getting a part. Getting a part? I have the fucking part. I had told them I had the part but abandoned installing it because I realized it was beyond me. "Oh, sorry, we did not catch that." Well, here, catch this boot up your ass while I kick you in the head.

But the best one was the sprinkler people: I did not notice they were not here because of the general insanity associated with having everybody else here and working from home at the same time - which is terribly efficient, it took me 8 hours to do 4 hours of work that afternoon/evening. Anyway, at 7 PM I noticed they were not here. Hmm. So first thing Tuesday AM - I call. "Well, we came at 3 pm and there was nobody home. I'm sorry, but you are incorrect. I was at home, and there were 3 service trucks outside and the garage was open. Perhaps I was out back momentarily, but nobody came to the back of the house. And nobody called, either. No contract for you.

I absolutely cannot stand incompetence, whether it be on the road, in services, or our government. Thus, my occasionally (OK, maybe more than occasionally) cranky nature.