Frog and Goat

When we moved into the new house we quickly found out that one of the heat pumps was busted and we spent a few shiny pennies to get a new coil installed. Friday night I went by the old house to drop off some items the buyers had requested (they were going to be there with a contractor on Saturday morning) and I realized the furnace was just blowing cold air. I checked the thermostat and it was registering 52 degrees.

After dinner we went back over to the old house and discovered that the furnace wasn’t igniting the propane so no heat was being produced. Luckily that house has inefficient electric baseboard heating so we turned some of those units on and left.

This morning the heating guy (who is such a cutie patootie) stopped by and lit the furnace so it could complete a cycle and then ordered a new igniter assembly. Thank heavens this repair is less than $200 because I’m sick of writing checks for heating.

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As you may remember, I frequently have a problem with the local news organizations. This morning I was watching the weather since we have a mix of snow, sleet and rain out there today. The weather guy said something like tomorrow is March 1st and it is going to be cold. It will feel like winter out there. I just yelled at the teevee, duh, it is winter you big dork and then I snapped off the set.

This week I’ve learned one really important thing and relearned another. The first one is when I start my new job that I shouldn’t rely completely on the administrative staff. They lost a vital piece of my paperwork and delayed my start date. I feel somewhat bad that I already have some cynicism going into the job. I don’t feel that I need to pass out too much charity since I’ve been administrative staff. I’ve been administrative staff in an HR department and the last thing you muff up is someone’s start date.

The relearned piece is just because you pay someone to do work for you doesn’t always mean that they will do a good job or give a care. The original owners of our new house paid $9K to have repairs done to the interior of the house. What they got was a BOHICA. It is a sad and terrible day when I can spackle better than a professional, but that’s just what happened. My repair is undetectable under the new coat of paint and the professional job was so bad that I had to redo it.

I know I’ve publicly ranted about the abysmal customer service we usually receive at Lowe’s. Seriously bad customer service. I don’t think I’ve ever been in an aisle and had an employee ask me if I need any assistance. I have had them push past me so they can get to wherever they are going to stand around and ignore me. We sarcastically say “Assistance Needed In The Key Cutting Aisle” on occasion because nearly every time we’re in the store that freaking automated voice shrieks over and over again. People, find another key cutter. For crying out loud, Kroger will do it for you. Walk next door and get them to cut your key.

I have to confess that we recently bought a ceiling fan from them and we received a 10% coupon in the mail the other day that we are going to use. Why? Because we need another ceiling fan and they have a bathroom light fixture we really like. I’m dismayed but the Home Depot just isn’t beating them in the fan/lighting department.

I feel as guilty stepping out on Home Depot as I did the time my former boss and I missed our flight out of Orlando and had to hang out in the airport for 5 hours (or more) and we got our hair cut at the Hair Port. The haircut was her idea but I went along with it and then had to apologize all over myself when I went to my regular hair stylist to the stars and she could tell that someone had butchered my hair. I should point out that as soon as I sat down in her chair I confessed. That was back in the early 90s and I haven’t cheated on her since.

I’m sorry Home Depot.