EverPressured by EverDry

My mother-in-law will be moving in with us this coming summer. This is a great thing. She's a sweetheart and I'm really looking forward to having her here. Our basement already has a shower and commode in one corner and a semi-finished rec room with a fireplace, so we're finishing those areas and converting our garage into another room. She'll have a kitchenette of her own and a private bath - what more can you ask for?

Our problem: moisture and black mold in the basement. Before we can do any finishing work, we must remedy those issues. We've done our homework and have pretty much decided on a contractor to do the work. Ouch, what a pricetag. But we're talking health issues here, and we're talking getting it done right the first time so our finished basement rooms don't have to be ripped out to fix a problem down the line.

What I'm writing about isn't so much all of that, but my general disgust at sales tactics by EverDry (aka Ohio State Waterproofing). Since talking to this contractor's salesperson (who, of course said "I'm not a salesperson. I'm a manager with the company and I'm in town doing scheduling work" blah, blah, blah), I've done my homework online, and I've learned how just about everything the guy said to us is his company's standard line. We were given a schpiel about "downtime" and how we can save money on the job if we're willing to be on standby for a crew to come in and work with 24 hours notice. Of course, he cautioned that he only had TWO slots to fill for such customers in our area, and he needed to know in 24-48 hours.

This guy was a good salesman, I'll give him that. He drew little pictures and explained the problem (as they see it) and the steps to solving it. He had pictures. He had statistics. He had hundreds of satisfied customers names and addresses. (We knew one of them - saw her name when he wasn't looking - and called her later.)

I have to tell you, though, I hate pressure tactics and I abhor scare tactics. And that is the standard MO of EverDry. Throughout our cozy livingroom appointment, he kept using the phrase "want me to scare the hell out of you?" and then would proceed to tell us statistics about black mold, sinus infections, etc. He also said that his company had inside information that the government would, in seven months, release data of a study showing that our internal body temperature is the perfect temperature for mold spores to grow, inside our lungs. Jeez!!

I did some deep digging online and found a former employee of the company. He and I have been corresponding, and he's given us much enlightenment. I guess I shouldn't be surprised at just how much of this salesman's words were company lines, but I was. And I felt like we were lied to, manipulated. It made me feel gullible and used, frankly.

The thing is, I've also found through research that the package they offer, this multi-step system, does look like a thorough solution, even if it might be overkill. DH doesn't want to spend a few grand on redoing gutters and grading alone, only to find that the moisture problems persist. I can see that. Better to get it all done, and to have a guarantee. One thing this ex-employee told me is they are good to their customers after the sale.

Blargh. This is so stressful!

Sitting Pretty

Emma has this thing about sitting on things. It's not enough to sit on the chair next to Sarah; she wants to sit on Sarah. Same thing with the footstool or anything else handy. She's so bony and leggy, it's no wonder she wants more cushion. Being amply-cushioned myself, I can only imagine...But that must be it, right?

Sarah was grumbling, by the way. ;)

Tuesday's This-or-That...

Thanks to the Passionate Ailurophile, I now am inspired on Tuesdays. :)

1. Hershey's Kisses: with or without almonds?
Just straight chocolate, thanks. I'll eat whichever kind, though, if given the chance. Chocolate is Heaven-Kiss't.

2. Wizard of Oz: Scarecrow or Tin Man?
Scarecrow's a loveable sort, but his innate floppiness gets on the nerves. I'd have to vote for Tinman. Although Scarecrow is much lower maintenance, could double as winter mulch for a rosebush, and would be a comfy place to rest (ask Dorothy!). Oh, and Tinman is heartless, at least most of the time. Perhaps Scarecrow would be better. This is a trick question, one obviously not thought up by the brainless Scarecrow. Oh, the torment!

3. Meat eater or vegetarian?
Meatsa! Meatsa!

4. Buy books or borrow them?
It really depends on the book. Most novels I just borrow unless it's an author I know already, then I buy paperbacks used or deeply discounted retail. Art, humor, photography, gardening and other more research or coffee-table type books, however, I will buy because I like having them around.

5. At the bank: ATM or human teller?
Usually ATM, unless I am depositing money; I like seeing a face and getting a hand-stamped receipt in that case.

6. Oil or gas (or other) heat?
Gas heat is warm heat. ;) Seriously, it's nice.

7. Pen or pencil?
Lovely smooth-writing, non-fading, non-smudging, archival gel pen!

8. Drive or use public transit?
Public transit? What's that? I'd have to drive my car into the city in order to enjoy public transit, but by that time, what's the point?

9. Who IS James Bond: Sean Connery or Pierce Brosnan (or any of the others in between)?
Oh, Sean. Always. Schmashing chap, that Sean.

10. Your ideal breakfast: full (bacon/sausage, eggs, pancakes, etc) or continental (bagels, muffins, fruit, cereal)?
Full. *burp* Preferably the Sunshine Skillet or Pot Roast Hash at Bob Evans, served with a steaming cup of black coffee, buttery biscuits, mind you, not toast or rolls. Aaaaaaaaah.

Sweet Chevy

I've been working on an eBay listing for one of Howie's co-workers this week. I liked how the photos came out, so I thought I'd put together a gallery for my site. Man, it was so fun photographing this car last weekend. The cars from the 1930's and 1940's are so fluid and fun, especially when you can see stuff reflected in their paint. I'd love to hae a classic car some day; we could afford a newer classic car, but I'd be concerned about upkeep and finding parts for it at a good price. In the meantime, I can just look at these shots, lurk around eBay Motors and dream. Presenting...JT's 1941 2-Door Chevy Sedan. Droool.

Popeye Arm

For those of you who've been wondering how my brother-in-law Steve is doing, I've updated the webpage about him. Again, I strongly caution you if you have a weak stomach for nasty medical pictures. His arm was crushed in a machine accident at work on August 19, and I took pictures for him at the beginning of September and posted them. At the bottom of that page there's an update, along with pictures just taken last night. Like I said, don't go there if you're squeamish.

For those of you who'd rather skip the images, let me just say that prayer and talented doctors can work miracles. He's doing great! Here's the text from the website:

Steve's arm looks so much better now! He had the hardware removed some time ago and had a skin graft done. They took the skin from his upper arm (the very pink skin you see is new growth at the site where they removed the top layer of skin for the graft).

He said the place they removed the skin from hurt worse than his whole arm hurt, ever. Can you imagine? You know how it hurts when you get a bad abrasion - ouch! As you can see, though, things are healing up really well. There's still a lot of swelling (we jokingly call it his Popeye arm), but he continues to regain use of his arm and fingers.

The scar tissue at his elbow limits his movement, so he'll have to endure a few more surgeries as they remove/modify scar tissue to allow more movement for his arm.

Like Sands Through the Hourglass...

Actually, it's Sand in the Gears I'm reading lately. This is some good stuff! From politics to his four-year-old's epiphany and resultant curiosity about breastfeeding, he kept me reading - and thinking.

P.S. Waaay on the other end of the breastfeeding spectrum is this.Yipes!

Tear-Stained Chicken Feet

Jan lost it again on Survivor Thailand. It wasn't a bat this time, but a chicken. Its pieces-parts are now snugly nestled in beneath the sand next to young Oliver the Bat's wee grave. With Helen spouting off recipes like she does, I'm surprised she didn't come up with one for chicken feet. I've a friend in South Carolina who swears by them (crispy!). And I know some Cajuns down the Louisiana way who definitely would know how to make good use of them, though it'd be a lot of work for just two bites. That's why we've told our friends not to divulge the ingredients in our meals until after we've consumed them, LOL. Anyway, I think the Survivors are a little too well-fed if they don't consider the feet as something marginally edible. Shii Ann would have eaten them. ;)

Vikki's Friday Five

Vikki's home-grown, very own Friday Muses. Now these are questions I feel comfortable answering. Whew!

1. If this planet wasn't named Earth, what would you name it?
The Planet Formerly Known As Earth or maybe Earth...NOT!

2. Does 'black' go with everything?
It goes with everything except dog and cat hair.

3. What one food/drink gets your bowels moving the fastest?
Tomatoes. Lookout, people, lemme through!

4. Out of all of the hardwoods, which makes the best wood for building mountain dulcimers?
I prefer a softwood. That makes my dulcimer far more portable, as I can fold it neatly into a square for packing.

5. Do you sprinkle Parmesian cheese on your pasta?
If at a restaurant, yes. At the Olive Garden I tell 'em to be generous with that grater, baby! If at home, no. I mix it into my sauce while cooking it.

Wow. That didn't hurt at all!

Dare I say again...Friday five time

Friday Five, and I've not much to add.

1. Did you vote in your last elections?
Yep. Braved the cold and the rain and did it.

2. Do you know who your elected representatives are?
Mostly.

3. Have you ever contacted an elected representative? If so, what was it about?
Nope.

4. Have you ever participated in a demonstration?
Nope.

5. Have you ever volunteered in an election? What was the result?
Nope.

Gee, do you notice a trend here? I'm one of the marginally-apathetic masses. I do study up on issues and vote my conscience, but I don't rally, march or argue.

Real Guts

Jacqueline Saburido has a lot more intestinal fortitude than those who are afraid of looking like wusses if they don't grab their keys, stagger to their cars and drive their sorry asses home. I think this speaks for itself, but I'll still say it: Yo - Don't drink and drive, ever. This could be one of the folks in the car you plow into because your reflexes are just a little too slow. It could be your wife, or your husband. It could be your mother. It could be your child. Or you know what else? This could be you.

God bless you, Jacqui, and thank you. You are a woman of exceptional courage and I wish all the best to you.

One for the Big White Guy

Yes, it's Gardenwife.com, serving your gold monkey lamp needs since 2002. A picture which Randall posted in his blog last week reminded me a lot of this monkey, so I thought I'd post him here. This lamp is but one of a bunch of shots I took at Hobby Lobby. Have you ever been in a Hobby Lobby? Wow! I was just blown away by that place, as the staff could see; they saw me excitedly wandering around there with my mom for a full three hours one evening a few weeks ago. It's some of the best merchandising I've ever seen; the colors are coordinated and the collections are displayed in a really eyecatching way. I had to take it all in. I had to take pictures. I was conspicuous, but I didn't care. The folks there are proud of their store, and they should be!

Sushi Blues

I finally tried sushi today. Don't ask me what it was, for it was at a buffet at our local Chinese restaurant. There was some sort of green paste in a dish, too, so I took a dab of that on my plate. I have one word for this experience: YUCK. I thought it was as good a time as any to try it, seeing how it was on the buffet, but...Ewwwww. I like just about anything if it's batter-dipped and deep-fried, and I like some fish broiled or grilled, but this raw stuff was really not my thing. I barely touched the tip of my tongue to the bitter, nasty green paste and that was enough to spoil my appetite. But then I further tortured myself by likewise barely touching my tongue to this rolled up concoction. *sigh* I will never be trendy or hip.

Got Cramps?

This has got to be one of the strangest and most disturbing inventions I've seen. Anyone tried 'em?

The Friday Five

Time (already??) for the weekly Friday Five...

1. Were you raised in a particular religious faith?
I wasn't raised in one at home, but my grandma in Ohio was a Christian and she and I talked about God sometimes. In gradeschool my mother and I began attending a church and I got involved with their Pioneer Girls program. In about fifth grade or so, I prayed to accept Jesus as my Savior, but I didn't have a lot of follow-up or encouragement so I never really grew in my faith until years later.

2. Do you still practice that faith? Why or why not?
Yes, I do. I think I have mellowed a lot since rededicating my life to the Lord in high school, though. Back then, I was extremely black and white in my views. I was also hard-headed and really judgemental of people who didn't fit my image of what I thought they should be. I've learned grace.

3. What do you think happens after death?
I think there is an afterlife, that our spirits are eternal.

4. What is your favorite religious ritual (participating in or just observing)?
I love to observe worship dance. At our church, there is a ministry team that does the most beautiful interperative dance to music. It's more than just dance, though; they also incorporate beautiful, fluid sign language into the dance and interpret the words of the music. As far as what I like to participate in, singing is what I enjoy. There is something just so right-on about singing with a group and harmonizing. It's the greatest.

5. Do you believe people are basically good?
That's a tough one. I think mankind is fallen, that the horrid things people do to one another point to this, but I think there's the potential for great good in every person.

The Big Hand is On...Wait! There Are No Hands!

In response to my smart-aleck husband's comment, "You think she is forgetful, wait 'til she tries to tell you what time it is in her car", I write this. This has to do with my dental visits, oddly enough. On Wednesday, the day of my initial consultation, I left my headlights on when I went into the office and returned to find my battery dead. I was in there for just under an hour, and all I got was a few clicks when I turned my key.

Because the only folks I saw walking around nearby were very elderly (I'm talking unsure-on-their-feet elderly, here) I didn't want to ask for someone to jump my poor battery. I called my knight in shining armor, instead. He drove out to jump my car, bless his heart, and I went on my merry way to finish my errands.

This is where the confusion began. Flash forward to Thursday morning. I noticed the car's clock was off, but not by very much. As I drove to the dentist's office, I did some mental calculations (and this is the source of my DH's smart-aleck glee). I knew that my car's clock had been an hour fast (due to the time change and my reluctance to figure out how to reprogram it on this goofy car stereo). I was fine with the discrepancy; I just remembered it was an hour fast and I was okay with that. But then came the dead battery.

No problem...My car's clock had been an hour fast before, so I subtracted an hour. I realized that it had been 11:30am when Howie jumped the battery, which in turn re-set the clock to Noon. Okay, so it also gained a half hour. So what did I do? The logical thing: I subtracted an hour to compensate for daylight savings, then added that other half hour back in to arrive at the right time. With me so far?

I picked Howie up at work Thursday evening so we could have a little date and go out to dinner together on his lunch hour (Pizza Cottage's BLT pizza, yum!). We weren't sure how long we'd be gone, so I consulted the car stereo's clock. As we drove back to his job, I noted the time and explained how I figured the right time now.

Honestly, up until that moment, it made perfect sense to me. As I explained it to him, however, the utter ludicrousness of my methodology became painfully apparent. After he roared with laughter (right along with me, might I add) there was a pause. I said, "Please don't tell anyone this".

He replied, "that's so confusing I wouldn't begin to know how to tell anyone what you were thinking." Now, THAT'S bad.

Are you glad I am not an accountant? Are you relieved I do not chart airline traffic? Do you consider yourself blessed it is not I who handles payroll at your company? You should be. I'm a word-woman, definitely not a math-matron. My Indian name would be She Who Murders Numbers, I think.

Halloween Goof

I just got back from having my teeth clean. Mmmmm, they're nice and shiny and tartar-less. I noticed the hygienist had on a cute halloween sweatshirt and pants, along with fun earrings, but didn't think anything of it. As I was leaving, I saw the receptionist was wearing jammies and had freckles painted on her cheeks. I blurted out, "Oh, that's right, it's Halloween!" She laughed and replied, "I sure hope so! I like to dress comfortably, but I don't think I'd normally wear this to work!" I honestly had forgotten today was Halloween until I was confronted with a baby girl making appointments.

Tooth Hurty

Ok, for those of you who have never heard that riddle, here it is:

Q: What time is it when you're at the dentist's office?
A: Tooth-Hurty

Actually, my teeth don't hurt. They're just wickedly stained from coffee and I was years overdue for a cleaning and exam. We've not been to the dentist since we lost my good dental coverage at my last job and our dentist wasn't on hubby's new plan. The good news is, I have no cavities! Wooo! The semi-bad news is I have a little bit of gingivitis, but not too bad. By the time I left, I found out that both the dentist and hygienist like dogs. Leave it to me to sniff out fellow dog lovers. Howie's having his first appointment tomorrow and I'm getting my teeth cleaned. This dentist is really thorough, so the cleaning comes on your second visit. Yeah, there's not a lot going on in my life...

Oh, well, other than it only being 23 days until vacation now. Wooooo! Every day my Cajun friend Lisa's been sending me a countdown and link to something cheap/fun to do in her area of Louisiana. One link she sent was for the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans. Now, THAT looks awesome. We won't have a lot of spending money on our vacation, but that is one place we have got to see. The other thing we're definitely budgeting to do is The Cajun Man's swamp tour. One other thing that sounds fun is hearing some MUSIC. Today's countdown link was for The Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum, and their homepage says there's Cajun music nights...Only $1 to get in, so it passes the cheapness test.

Other than that, we'll pretty much hang out with Lisa's family and see some sights. I've never been to a place with a tropical climate like Louisiana, so I'm pretty excited about seeing the wildlife down there. The only other tour I would considering paying for is one of a cemetery; I've always wanted to see the New Orleans cemeteries, but Lisa cautioned that they're not safe for people to just walk around in alone, and that we'd better plan on a tour group if we want to see one. The way I zone out in my happy little world when taking photographs, I'd probably be a prime mugging target, LOL.

The Midas Touch

This is Midas, our friend's cat. As you can see, he's a very busy kitty and, though blurry, I think this shot pretty much captures that. He poked around in the woods behind us when we took a walk, taking his good old time and falling behind. As soon as I'd stop and turn around to take his picture, though, he'd dash up my way expecting scritches. Gee, think he's conditioned? ;)

I think I'll make Midas here the focus of my homepage's index page. He's just hangin' out in the woods, checking everything out, kind of like I was the day I took that shot.

It's done.

MM...With Minutes to Spare

My, what an assortment of questions today for Promoguy's Monday Mission 2.43:

1. Ever do anything over and over just to make someone else happy but discover you actually hate it?
Well, something I've discovered in life is it ain't all about me. Of course there are such things I've discovered I've hated. But sometimes in life you grit your teeth and get through the stuff you hate because you love someone enough to sacrifice and step outside of the land of flowers and butterflies. ;)

2. What kinds of obligations do you enjoy?
I struggle with enjoying obligations, per-say. That word has a negative connotation to me, equalling "joyless chore". I do enjoy being married and the obligation and permenance of that relationship. I enjoy helping my mom and mother-in-law learn the joys of computers, too.

3. What are your feelings about celebrating Halloween?
Bah-humbug. I think the trick-or-treating is fun for kids, but I don't like the really gory displays. And I have a personal aversion to the color orange because my father was obsessed with hunter's orange and the spray-painting of such things as trash can lids in said color. That doesn't leave a whole lot of love for Halloween orange, with the exception of real pumpkins, other squash, and leaves.

4. Are there any stories of bodily functions you would prefer people not share with you in conversation?
It depends on the person and the context. I dislike hearing about zits and their poppage. :P

5. What do you think is the most important aspect of personal hygiene that bothers you when people overlook it?
Basic cleanliness and deodorant usage. Oh, man, who can't afford $1.50 for deodorant every few months? And there's running water and soap just about everywhere if you really care to be clean.

6. Ponder the thought of being forever young, living on endlessly, being immortal. What would that life be like for you?
It would be lonely. I can't imagine having to leave those I love behind, to watch the decay and death prey upon them as I saw no end in sight.

7. What's the last thing you felt was "worth fighting for?"
Generally I'm a little wimpy in speaking out about issues, especially those of a more limited interest. I do, however, think the freedoms we have here in the US are worth fighting for. Just the fact that I am free to express such things - that is something worth fighting for.

BONUS: Sooner or later, they all will be gone...why don't they stay young?
Cute, considering. Forever Young.

Today's comment question: What is the last thing you do before going to bed?
Usually, if I haven't already gulped it down, I jump back up and go take my birth control pill. A decade ago, I got into the habit of taking it as I went to bed. Hey, it makes sense since bed is...well, you know, a happenin' place sometimes and we don't want kids. The association has stuck, and I've only missed a few the last 3,650-odd pills I've ingested these last ten years.

Into the Woods

We spent the afternoon at the hilltop home of one of Howie's coworkers today. She owns 13 acres and she built her cedar home up at the top of the property. The property's marvelous, full of old trees and all that wonderful understory of undisturbed woods. Her house is really cool, too, and decorated just as Howie and I would decorate. I told her, she would be the easiest person in the world for me to shop for since all I'd have to do is pick out things I liked.

This get-together was the second in a series the gardening folk at Howie's job decided to do; we've been having a potluck at each person's home every month or two, making the rounds. It's so cool to just kick back and visit, and to tour the different homes and yards. We had two types of chili today, along with a really nice, beefy veggie soup, jalepeno cornbread, rosemary bread, and all manner of toppings on homemade vanilla ice cream. *burp*

I got a chance to see more of the surrounding woods when Teresa took a couple of us to see her favorite tree on the property, a huge old oak that grew into three trunks. What an awesome tree that is! I also found, by seeing some growing on her property, that the wee little sapling I have growing at the foot of our sycamore is a cedar. I think I'll let it grow. :)

P.S. Why is there so much space between this last line and my row of thumbnails? Can anyone help me out here?