Yesterday the electrician came and put up the new light fixture and the ceiling fans and fixed the piece of cable that just stuck out of a jagged hole in the kitchen that appeared to have been punched through with a screwdriver, and probably was (yeah, I’ve lived with it since the kitchen remodeling in 2004). He was great, a super nice guy and a bargain. I’d told him I was fixing the house up for sale, and we had a lovely bitch session about the economy - in FL in particular. His business is really hurting. He has been here 20 years and at one point had a client list of 9000, and now he’s lucky if he picks up odd jobs like mine. I told him about being laid off in Dec. and not having so much as a nibble for a job, and he just nodded in sympathy. He was thinking about going back with a big electrical outfit for a steady paycheck, but nobody's hiring the way they normally do, and he's overqualified for the very few openings he's seen. (Tell me about it honey.) Normally, when the housing industry slows, the remodeling work picks up - people who might have “moved up” decide to add a room or remodel what they have - but this time, nada. Zilch. Remodeling is as dead as construction, and we agreed that we are freaked out by this. Never mind “might be” in a recession, we are up to our eyeballs in one NOW.
The dogs enjoyed the electricians' visit immensely - he brought two helpers, which surprised me, but it was great because they were in and out in an hour. Because they were working in all of the bedrooms and on the patio too, there was no way to really lock up the dogs without risking having to replace a door because Dudley would be trying to drill through it, so I had to settle for "Come here! Stop kissing him! NO, really, stop kissing him, let him work!" Fortunately they loved the dogs, didn't mind assembling fans while a friendly Yorkie sat in their laps, and they said they wanted to take Dudley with them by the time they were done. During the installation of the fan in my room, Dudley sat on the bed, all alert and fascinated, and watched every bit of it - he even braved the occasional whine of the power screwdriver! Dudley would have gone with them if I didn't stop him from running out the door when they left. Apparently that is his idea of The Life - watching human males do interesting things involving power tools and getting petted and called cute, it's the perfect day.
The bedrooms have pretty new ceiling fans and the ugly rusted exterior light on the patio is gone and replaced with a pretty new fixture, and a couple of other odd things are now fixed. I promised him that when other items are revealed by a home inspector - and you know there will be - I'll call him to fix them.
Today I washed a small, smelly dog, put flea stuff on both of them because Murphy was scratching suspiciously, and later a huge pile of trash will hit the curb. That's how I tell time now that I live on unemployment time - tomorrow is garbage day.
I did send a resume to a job I'd really like to have, I think, so please send a little positive energy in that direction.
Years ago, my dad came over to work on my furnace. He had the bottom cover off and had slid almost into the furnace itself on his back, and was using both hands to hold up the heavy blower motor. At that moment, my Yorkie, who loved her grandpa, jumped onto his stomach, ran into the furnace, and started kissing him. It was so funny---I had stopped paying attention to her because she seemed content to lay on the floor in the other room and watch.
ReplyDeleteGotta love those men with tools.
ReplyDeleteooops - I just heard a dog fall out of the Big Bed upstair.
Hmmm, I think that's my idea of a perfect day too!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, the trades are suffering greatly atm.
ReplyDeleteCrossing fingers here and saying prayers for you to get that job you would like. You are overdue for good news.