Adjustment to daily routines continues. I can no longer walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night through the kitchen, so thank goodness I cleared a path through the parlor before I turned out the lights! More involved, though, is getting to the back porch via the front door. Negotiating keys, (not yet drunk) coffee, laptop, notebook, and unlocking and relocking two doors is a bit of a production. Wearing something with pockets is very important.
Last night I sent the contractor specs for the washer/dryer, which resulted in a call from him that I’d need an additional circuit breaker in the kitchen. “I’ll need you to have your noggin workin’ in the mornin’ to decide where it goes,” he said in his Actual-Irish-Not-Southie-Irish brogue. I told him that, having had a couple gimlets-and-waters, my noggin was not quite working at the moment, but I’d be sure to have enough coffee for it to be working in the morning.
At 7 AM. That seems to be a popular hour for contractors.
And right on schedule, he appeared with the electrician at 7 AM this morning, and I was ready on the back porch, appropriately caffeinated, to greet them. We established a discreet location for the new circuit breaker, worked out where all the outlets would go (that late-night call reminded that I wanted an additional one), and then the issue of the garbage disposal came up.
“There’s no garbage disposal here, Robert,” said the contractor.
“Well, that’s not right,” I told him. “Daddy needs a garbage disposal!” More discussion. I finally said, “There’s a solution for everything!” (Something I often had to say to my reunion committees in Days of Yore.) “And you know what that solution usually is?” the contractor asked, his eyes crinkling at the corners. I said “Yeah, money!” smiling through my mask. We understand each other. But this is still my favorite solution.
A hasty search through my inbox revealed that a) allowance for a garbage disposal was in the contract, and b) I had never ordered a garbage disposal. I can tell I’ll be referring to that contract as often as I used to with hotels and caterers. He’s going to pick up a garbage disposal for me.
Then the plumber showed up, nice young man, who needs to shut off the water for the entire building for half an hour. Now I am deeply uncomfortable inconveniencing the neighbors without adequate notice, knowing how I’d feel myself. And it’s a myth that people respond more quickly to texts than email. As of this writing I have heard from only 50% of the building, but the other 50% are not really morning people. Hoping for the best.
I have a couple commitments in town today - how rare, in the Time of the Coronavirus! - so will be leaving this merry band in the afternoon to get on with it. So far the only surprises have really been the need for plywood for the floors, a new circuit breaker, and my forgetting to order a garbage disposal. That doesn’t seem too bad for 36 hours.