No Connection

Update: The bathtub is in!  It is great! It is wonderful! It is magnificent! It is......hopefully the last.  Now it is drywall and paint time. 


Two summers ago, my family of 6 ventured to Europe.  As i was looking through one of my journals that I was in need of using, I found a quick blurb about a day in Strasbourg.  I thought I would fill up some space with this past perspective.

June 8 2010

A bit of historical perspective
Polka music plays in the distance.  The murmur of conversation and clopping of feet from inhabitants on the stone road counter the upbeat song.

Sitting on three small steps in a very small section of the large edifice known as the "Cathedral of Strasbourg:"  We will soon walk inside and take an audio tour of this enormous visual marker of time continuum.  Soon my head will be filled with too much detail to remember.

This morning, after breakfast, we were out upon the streets of Strasbourg - imagining the once familial inhabitants surrounding the public square.  I think of those terrifying hours leading up to WWII. I think of the celebrations of life, the dancing, the music, the food and the essence of life that took hold of the city dwellers.

Strasbourg is a medieval town. This is a great place to share with family and children - but i find myself a bit resentful.  This is not the escape of 'My" Europe trip.  every time I pass something that should be treasured or remembered or every time i have to explain something in Cliff Note version, my tolerance meter fills.

Sitting on these three steps, I glance over to my oldest son, who has been asked to partake in this short writing exercise.  His back is up against a wall of this place that leaves me without word.  He sips on his Orange Crush like drink and when I ask him, "Why aren't you writing about this place?" He responds with, "My mind is a blank."

So, there ya go. Time is up.

The Power of an Ending

1:30 this afternoon, I am very preoccupied within someone else's significance.  My phone rings.  "Katie, the tub has arrived.  It's here at the dock and I will be installing it on Monday."  "Oh, you are just FANTASTIC!"  "What, we have a bad connection....what did you say?"  A little louder: "I SAID...YOU ARE FANTASTIC!"  People show a sign of curiosity as their gaze transfers from their place to mine."  "I'm sorry....what?"  I move to where I think the connection is a bit better, but more people are gathered, "YOU....ARE....FANTASTIC!!!!"  laughing heard on the other end.

Wednesday evening, after I had come home to make numerous calls to this distributor and that, I had to take Perry to church.  On our way, Tim (Plumber), calls on my phone.  "Katie, I am just feeling so bad.  I made a few calls and I found a tub up in Duluth and my own distributor in Plymouth can supply the surround.  They are going to charge a pretty penny to ship it down here, but they say it can be here within 2-3 days.  Go home, make your decision and call me, as they want money on the spot.....so, it has to be fast." 

I immediately call Home Depot, talk to the manager and politely ask to have them taken out of the picture for this bathroom.  It would simply take way too many days and by the hour of that evening, even they said that it would be a small miracle to have that bathroom completed by Christmas as this is a very busy time of year.  I call Tim back, tell him all is a go and arrange to meet him Thursday....somewhere between jobs. 

Thursday late morning,  we rendezvous in a Wendy's parking lot.  I hand over the check in the freezing cold and could not contain myself.  I had to hug him.  He responded with, "Lady, I'm not so sure what this is all about....but for some reason, you and I were meant to cross paths in this life.  This whole 'thing' has been a very unique experience."  I looked over at him and said, "Yep, and to think that it came from me sending out a blind email asking for help."  (After the first plumber's disaster, i didn't know where to turn.  I looked up a few independent plumbing contractors and Tim was the only one to respond and my email was entirely a "PLEASE HELP ME" call of desperation).  We departed our seperate ways, I went home, made a few more phone calls and called it a day.

Today, I was able to return to my place and tell Joy and her family that her tub and shower will be installed on Monday.  Not two weeks from Monday, but on Monday (knowing our luck on issues of late, I will not get excited until I hear that all have taken a shower and nothing fell down upon this family.  

Monday afternoon, I will call back my two guys who do drywall and for the third time, they will come out, wall and mud and sand the new wall around the tub.  Then another fresh coat of paint and ....drum roll please....this bathroom will become a mere memory to share at parties.  A "remember when" moment in time.  It will turn from being the most substantial trial in this family to something rather mundane.

Or so, that is what I am shooting for.
Keep me in your thoughts on Monday and.....
Thanks for listening.

Thank you Pressure Creek Plumbing
http://davidplaisted.bbnow.org/about.php

A Bathroom Story

Almost 9 months ago, I said out loud, "I HAVE to change that bathroom.  I began to write emails and make phone calls. On April 19th, I was given the go ahead by Home Depot Corporate Office to call my local Home Depot and make arrangements for assisting me in this desire of change.  That was 7 months ago that I have been physically active in all accounts trying my hardest in doing something extraordinary good for a friend and her children after the death of her husband.  The vision of his moment had to be erased.

A demolished bathroom and remodel all done quickly in a weeks time.  Donated material from HD was free but cheap.  Plumber was free and took short cuts to get job done.  Visual looked good, but in days time, turned out to be a non-working bath and shower.

Take 2: New Plumber - expert plumber.  Paid Plumber.  Leveled an uneven tub, but in the process, the cheap tub took a beating and began to flex in places it shouldn't have.  Water began to pool in places and within days, began to drain over the edges of the tub - creating a waterfall effect onto the floor.

Called plumber back, met at the home, assessed the bathroom issue and concluded that the tub must come out.  A top of the line model is what is needed to sustain this family.  Again, back on the phone, talking to tub reps, Home Depot managers, UPS delivery, and plumber.

Almost 3 weeks ago, I ordered the tub that came by recommendation - as Home Depot does not carry a tub of that size in their store front, but they do sell it online.  I order the tub and schedule the plumber for today (Wednesday). I met him there at 9am, he took out the surround, took out the tub, through it all in the dumpster that is now on the driveway and went to get the new tub.  He and his co-worker bring it in, get into the bathroom and shout my name.  "It's backwards.  The drain is on the wrong side.  We need a right hand tub and this is a left hand tub."

Back on the phone. Plumber makes calls to all his contacts.  "Is there anyway to get a 32" tub here today?" is the question of the hour and he and I pass each other up in our paces of the floor. 

It is concluded that I need to go into Home Depot and have a meeting with the Store Manager.  A bit of face to face time.  A bit of time that I can not afford.  The 2 year old has not napped all day, has not had a decent lunch and is now going with me to a meeting of sorts.

Sitting down for 40 minutes, the Manager and I find out that Home Depot Online does not sell a RH Tub, but only a left hand one.  The right hand tub has to be special ordered and no, they can not express deliver it because it is too big.  It will take an additional 12 days for delivery.

I left defeated.  tears in my eyes.  This family now has no tub in their bathroom.  No shower for 12 days. 

This is not how the picture was to look like 7 months ago.  Why is this room giving me such constant issue?  When I have that answer, I will share it with you.

Thanks for listening.
http://davidplaisted.bbnow.org/