Looking out the window which frames the tree that flips me off, I can see blue sky bright with sunshine wherein puffy clouds drift lazily. I think, "It's December," with no little amount of astonishment. The odds of the contracted roofers replacing our worn patchwork quilt of protection before the winter snow arrives grow shorter by the hour. "It's coming, it's coming," my mind whispers, lest the snow gods hear me and come bearing gifts of enchantment and treachery.
It all started several months ago, actually in early June, when around these parts the late spring gives into summer's insistence and the tornadoes threaten wide swathes of retribution on the evil and the good alike. We aren't particularly evil...but then we aren't exceptionally good, either. So, it all comes out a wash, I guess. Anyway, our proverbial number was up.
Some background, first. We had endured many a season here ensconced in a snug if sprawling house with good bones but a terrible, old, worn out flat roof. Alas, fixing a flat roof is a crap shoot and the patch job performed before we finalized the purchase of the house lasted approximately 6 months. Coincidentally (or was it?) at the first rain, we had three separate leaks inside. Fun. Ah well, at least we had enough buckets.
My husband being an enterprising young man rigged syphons in the low spots - first using left over evaporative air conditioning tubing (did I mention that up until about a month ago we haven't had central air for about four years? Ah-- yes, well, I digress) and later, after the cooler tubing wore out, some fresh poly tubing. Easy peasy -- if you don't mind going out in every snow and rainstorm and sucking on the tubing to get the water flowing. (and yes, we've both done it, though to be fair, he's done it much more than I)
We knew it would be a loooong time till we could afford to have the roof redone, so we reconciled ourselves to the 'sucking'. (metaphorical usage intended)
Then came last June, and the tornadic weather which brought us - our whole town, really - a blessing disguised as a curse: the worst hail storm anyone can remember -- and we've got some folks around here who are in their 90's and still sharp as a tack. So, yeah. Looong time.
Not a skylight emerged intact from the wrath of that storm, unleashing it's fury in the form of softball sized (yes, really) stones.
It all started several months ago, actually in early June, when around these parts the late spring gives into summer's insistence and the tornadoes threaten wide swathes of retribution on the evil and the good alike. We aren't particularly evil...but then we aren't exceptionally good, either. So, it all comes out a wash, I guess. Anyway, our proverbial number was up.
Some background, first. We had endured many a season here ensconced in a snug if sprawling house with good bones but a terrible, old, worn out flat roof. Alas, fixing a flat roof is a crap shoot and the patch job performed before we finalized the purchase of the house lasted approximately 6 months. Coincidentally (or was it?) at the first rain, we had three separate leaks inside. Fun. Ah well, at least we had enough buckets.
My husband being an enterprising young man rigged syphons in the low spots - first using left over evaporative air conditioning tubing (did I mention that up until about a month ago we haven't had central air for about four years? Ah-- yes, well, I digress) and later, after the cooler tubing wore out, some fresh poly tubing. Easy peasy -- if you don't mind going out in every snow and rainstorm and sucking on the tubing to get the water flowing. (and yes, we've both done it, though to be fair, he's done it much more than I)
We knew it would be a loooong time till we could afford to have the roof redone, so we reconciled ourselves to the 'sucking'. (metaphorical usage intended)
Then came last June, and the tornadic weather which brought us - our whole town, really - a blessing disguised as a curse: the worst hail storm anyone can remember -- and we've got some folks around here who are in their 90's and still sharp as a tack. So, yeah. Looong time.
Not a skylight emerged intact from the wrath of that storm, unleashing it's fury in the form of softball sized (yes, really) stones. We called our insurance peeps a week later -- after someone advised us we should. What did we know? We thought, "Flat Roof -- no one's gonna touch it," so we didn't call at first. The adjuster came out and totaled the roof, though.
And we've been waiting ever since to get it fixed. (There was the little matter of the heating and air conditioning guy who stopped up the progress by 'intending' to do this or that, showing up without calling, doing about an hour and a half worth of work every sixth day and letting new leaks rain water down the new holes he sawed into our already overtaxed roof...But I digress again.)
Yeah... But we do have our dining room finished -- except for six pieces of trim that we cannot match (still looking) -- but then we did that job 100% on our own, too.
Last night my husband said, "I'm through depending on other people. They always let you down." Aw! That is sad. This man is not that kind of man. He's always hoped for the best, prepared for the worst...but kept on believing the best -- of everyone. That he said something like that? Is not a good sign.
And now... just got a call from the bank -- at 5:02 pm (riiight) telling us our debit cards have been turned off due to some "suspected fraudulent activity". When I asked the bank rep "how much we talking about here" she said, "I can't tell you anything about it, I'm only calling you (at 5:02 pm, when you have to sit and STEW all night long worrying about it but be unable to DO anything because the bank hours are set to 'closed') to let you know why your card wouldn't work should you try and use it..." Great. Hope we don't bounce any outstanding checks while we work this little snafu out.
Our life is full of many blessings that cannot be measured in dollars and cents... but when it comes to dollars and cents...
It's always somethin', idn't it?
No comments:
Post a Comment