The Let Down

The Let Down is the name of my future all lactating moms emo band. Any and all are welcome to join. Our first hit single will be a cover of "I've Always Loved My Mama" by The Intruders.

The let down is also how I feel about the various men I have enlisted to work around this house lately. There's no getting around it, running a household, in particular one you own and thereby are totally responsible for, is a huge job. Come to think of it, since the bank technically owns this house for the next thirty years, shouldn't they have to pay for all the repairs and upgrades? Just saying. Anyway this time of year when my event is over and there's money in the bank is when I try to get to work on my endless list of home improvements and/or repairs. The results are usually mixed.

I had a yard guy come by some weeks ago to give me an estimate on replanting my front yard, which is on a slope and is pummeled by sun all day. Several years ago I spent $7000 on a complete yard overhaul - and have since spent about $5000 fixing all the mistakes they made with the lighting and sprinklers. And the sprinklers still don't work, which means all of the plants have died. Which means I have to start all over again. This yard guy, like all specialists, took some pleasure in telling me how much the previous yard guy ripped me off and screwed everything up (tell me something I don't know). Anyway, I went by his nursery to look at the plan he had for my yard and was in love with the ideas - but he didn't have an estimate for me. And I don't have the slightest clue what something like this should cost. Are we talking a few hundred? A few thousand? Many thousands? What? So he said he'd have a number for me Monday. No call. Tuesday no call. Wednesday I called and he said he'd have something by that afternoon. It is now Friday and no call. What the hell???

Also my painter guy was supposed to replace my rat-eaten screen so I can actually open my kitchen windows, which would be nice in this hot weather. I had paid for it and he was supposed to pop it in the next day. I have texted him about it four times. The first three he said he'd do it the next morning. The last he never even answered. Agh!

Now I've had the joy of listening to my pool drain along the side of my house for the past two nights. The filter still isn't working and the spa keeps draining into the pool and then overflowing it, which then drains slowly for about twelve hours, and I have to listen to it as it's inches from where my bed is in my bedroom just outside the window. The constant running water sound makes me want to tear my hair out. I have now paid over $1000 in pool repairs and still nothing works - during the hottest summer on record. Oh yeah, and Monday Oct 1st is supposed to be 102 degrees.

Yesterday I tried to sign up for the SMC forum and I got a polite note back saying I can't have access because I'm not a member. Huh?

I signed up for this organic farm delivery because a well meaning friend got me a gift certificate for my birthday. It came in a huge box with a bunch of special cooling pads that I read in the fine print I'd be charged for if not returned. I have been trying to return this box for a month and they just keep not picking it up. If I get charged for keeping it I'm going to lose my shit. And I really want this giant box out of my house.

It seems like everyone I know is experiencing this same level of constant little annoyances lately. Must be something in the alignment of the planets or something. I personally feel like I'm wearing a hair shirt - it's just one stupid little thing after another annoying me all day long. Or maybe I'm about to get my period, ha ha!