contours provocations - 2006-0327

contours provocations
journal - 2006-0327 - mon 2000

Doors; Lights; Pipes; Accounts; Money; Meds; Weeds; Qi

At last I have a new back door. It was installed this morning; even though I'd been told when I bought it that it would be installed Tuesday of last week. I waited patiently Tuesday for someone to show up; called the store; waited some more; called the store again; got a call back and was told that the installer would call me to set up a date. Apparently, the clerk was new and none too sure of what he was doing. However, there was another clerk with him who seemingly was equally lost.

I know this is one of life's little inconveniences, but it is something that could have been avoided. In this case, it screwed up my entire day. Certainly points up a poor employee training process.

The installer pulled into the drive around 8:30 and went directly to work. Within ten minutes, he told me the height of the new door was about two inches taller than the old door. Which means extra work which translates to an additional fee ($40).

The new door really looks nice. And is much more secure than the old door: this one is steel with a double lock.

I've made several trips to complete the lighting upgrades. A couple of weeks ago, I added the single-bulb track light in the hall. Yesterday, I installed the three-bulb track light in the bath. (An item that I had to take back, because several of the parts were missing from the box.) Of course, I broke one of the glass shades. On the box, it says to call the company if you encounter such a problem. Which I did this morning. Their 800 number says that their customer service is not available and to leave a message. Which I did, but I never heard back.

The living room had a ceiling fan which I knew I'd never use. I most definitely do not like the feel of constantly stirring air. So I'm replacing it with another variant of the track lighting design. I will be far more careful with the bulbs and shades this time.

I'm also adding motion-detection lighting on the carport and for the front steps.

In the midst of all this, the drain pipe for the sink in the bath burst. On my first trip to Home Depot, I got the wrong size pipe. I got the right size on the second trip, but then discovered that the old coupler at the wall would not come off. My first efforts to insert and seal a new pipe into the wall drain resulted in an immediate leak. I finally decided the wall drain itself was clogged. So my solution was to drag a garden hose from outside and insert it into the pipe. It made a hugh mess with water and black sludge pouring all over the floor. But then the water became clear, so I knew most of the sludge was gone. This time I inserted a pipe and sealed it with plumber's putty. And it actually worked, not the tinest leak.

By the way, the cats found all this most amusing. They kept coming to the door as if to say, "What are you doing, you big goof?"

Somewhere along the line, I also realized I didn't have enough money to refill several drug prescriptions. I opted to return the lock set I'd bought with my bank check card and was planning to use when I change out the front door.

One catch, it takes three or four days for the credit to show up on the checking account. Purchases, of course, show up immediately. I'm sure the bank does this very deliberately, so you'll think money is in the account when in actuality, it is not. That way when you make your next purchase, they can stick you with an insufficient funds charge.

So this means, I have several medications waiting at the drugstore but can't pick them up.

I also decided to close out the joint checking account that mother and I had. That turned out to be a very simple process. The remainder was less than $100. Then I had to turn around and give $40 to the door installer. Which still does not give me enough for the prescriptions.

There was a certain sentimental value attached to that account since it dated from August of 1952 when my father opened it. I think it was his first.

I've also been in the process of closing out a joint mutual fund account that my mother and I shared. Far more complicated than I anticipated. You can only write checks on the account for amounts of $500 or more. The balance was around $200, so I couldn't write a check.

When I called last week, I was told I'd have to send a copy of her death certificate and a notarized letter indicating I wanted to close the joint account, open up a new individual account and then liquidate it. They in turn would send me an application to open the individual account.

I sent the death certificate and the letter last Tuesday via express delivery - next day by noon. The seven-page application arrived last Friday. I called this morning to check which parts I should complete. Then mailed that off this morning.

Earlier, I used the phrase "one of life's little inconveniences." This does not fall into that category. This falls into the fucking inane category. Think how much simplier and less costly this would be if I could have just written a check.

For a week or so, I've been eyeing the front yard which has become filled with springtime weeds and flowers. So I decided I'd risk upsetting my allergies by mowing it. Fortunately, the electric lawn mower still works. I had to dodge around several trees, roots and stumps and a birdbath surrounded by ferns, but it turned out not to be overly difficult.

If I trim some limbs, it will be easier next time. I don't know what to do about the roots and stumps. The birdbath and ferns are a nuisance and downright unattractive, so they will have to go.

I've noticed for the last couple of weeks that I'm feeling disconnected. I've heard the expression "an imbalance of Qi." For some reason that phrase appears to fit how I feel. (See Qi - Wikipedia.

PAX!