This picture is NOT related……but it cracked me up so I used it.  It is of Ben and Steph and some celebration for one of my cousins (Matt or Steve) in Fort Wayne.  I was LOOKING for a picture of Ben shooting something at a Buzz Lightyear thingy at Disneyworld, but you don’t have to read that far back to understand how jacked my computer is right now.

But at least I can report that EVERDRY (not the owner, but the really upstanding Production Manager and crew…..who I would LOVE to work with) came out today and dug a hell of a trench, sealed it, and then FILLED IT WITH WATER, around my house…..AND, no water inside.  If these guys ONLY OWNED THE COMPANY I would recommend them forever!  But they don’t.  I did however, put a call in to the carpet installer, so I hope we have all the carpet currently sitting in our dining room installed by Christmas.

I did however, file a second complaint with the Better Business Bureau.  I have asked for a FULL REFUND.  It seems that the only way to get them motivated is to complain.  I am just glad to be almost done with them.

But tonight my mind goes back to a joke I told Ben yesterday……..”What did the Blue Cheese say to the guy who opened the refrigerator?”   Answer, “Close the door, I’m dressing!”  Ben WAILED at this and went right into see his grandma (Nanny) and tell her………

Ben…..”What did the Blue Cheese say to the guy who opened the refrigerator?”  Nanny…..”What?”  Ben…….”Shut the door, I am getting dressed.”

Some people just can’t pull the trigger.  I thank God that I am not one of them……

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Yes, tonight’s pictures are intentional.  The first one is of Amanda (and Ben although he is still in her stomach) waiting to check into the hospital to deliver.  The second is of our entire family leaving the hospital (photo credit copyright Carol Mongold 2007 DO NOT MESS WITH HER SHE IS MY MOTHER IN LAW).

But I needed to both find them and post them as I was here ALL DAY waiting for EVERDRY, who was to be here around 2, but who I called to find out that their truck had broken and that they could not be here until tomorrow……..of course the truck broke down the night before (supposedly) and no one could call me to let me know I need not hang out all damn day.

But while I was waiting I got a lot done.  I fertilized the entire lawn, I laid brick in three basement window wells, and I actually burned ALL the fallen limbs and branches in the yard.  My PREFERENCE however was to see them here and to get this done.  Tomorrow is IT.  I was not available tomorrow as it is the awards program at Ben’s school and he is getting an award…..so if they do not show tomorrow I will personally drive up there and parade back and forth with a sign at their entrance.  I am done messing around.  It is fixed tomorrow and it will be on my terms.

So picture one is of waiting……and picture two is of resolution.  As you may be able to tell I am pretty damn stressed.  I do not like dishonest people and I rarely deal with them.  But I will get this done and deal with their dishonesty after I get my house back.  Enjoy the pictures…..

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Wow, it’s a lot harder to find pictures you want when your files are all jumbled in a restore, so tonight in honor of my dad’s 97th (I mean 77th) birthday, I am posting this, the ONLY picture I could find of dad, my cousin Matt, me, and my cousin Steve (from left to right) back when my dad was just in his 80’s.

But I never forget to call him and remind him of how old he is, since we are almost exactly 25 years apart……so when my birthday arrives on the 19th my dad will only be 45.  My dad however is in EUROPE with my daughter, my sister, and my niece.  It however did not prevent me from calling him today (in France).

Of course I always get to draw first blood.  He will call me on the 19th (if I remember to answer the phone) and strike back.  It is all in good fun though as Tirman males over 50 really don’t have much of a life other than these annual calls, but we have faithfully been doing them as long as I can remember.

And yes, even though it was a local call for me, I will pay for the call.  I actually got to talk to Steph too who was right there with him which was something I didn’t anticipate.  I was just hunting him down for his birthday…..you know, the old slow one of the herd that tried to hide out in Europe to avoid my call.

But he once again failed and I got through……so Happy Birthday Dad.  I love you and I am glad you are around.  After all, where else could I ever hear about how Abraham Lincoln and you were friends in school.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

Today has been a pretty busy, but good, day.  I was able to join the good people of St. Matthew’s in Nashville, Indiana this morning for their service and enjoyed it very much.  And I returned home in time to take my truck up to the body shop in Muncie to repair the damage to the roof from getting hit bu the piece of steel (see https://www.frtomtirman.com/?p=179) and the damage I did to the side a short time later when the portico of our house abruptly jumped out in front of me. (I did not take a picture of that)

But I am now “test driving” my daughter’s baby blue Civic (hybrid) and boy oh boy do I feel manly in that car.  The good news is that she is in Europe for 10 more days and doesn’t need it, I need to do some work on her car anyway, AND gas is now at $4.00 a gallon.  My truck is a full-sized double cab, so it doesn’t get quite the mileage of the hybrid, but the baby blue color does irritate me enough to make the cost differential close to worth it…..regardless it is being repaired.

But tomorrow is D-Day for our basement contractors.  I will hopefully hear from them and they hopefully will be unbelievably responsive RIGHT THEN to have my problems resolved by the end of the day……if not we will not be walking any further together.  The problem isn’t their workers, they are great guys.  The problem is their management that doesn’t support them to the extent they can correctly complete their work.  I have only held back out of my respect and concern for them.  When they were here I often bought them lunch and drinks (no alcoholic) and got to know them.  They are all stand up guys, and it is unfortunate that their futures are mired in such unethical practices above them.  We will see.

But today I am posting Ben and his sunflowers from his room.  He is pretty excited about getting them into the garden.  And posting this helps keep my focus upon the good day I have been a part of.

Off to bed before I screw all this up!

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+

I didn’t post last night, not for poor intentions, but rather because I was fuming mad and in no condition to do anything productive.  Our basement, which we have paid to have professionally waterproofed is STILL LEAKING and a mess.  And the company (Everdry of Northern Indiana, whom I would not recommend to ANYONE at this point) was SUPPOSED to come out and not repair, but FINISH the job we paid for.  I had to harp them to get them to agree to come then, and they NEVER EVEN CALLED, let alone COME TO MY HOUSE.  And that is despite my calling them and having them tell me that they were still on their way.  It is an AWFUL MESS….just like our basement which they have destroyed.

So anyway, I waited for them all day today too, as they work on Saturdays……but NO, they didn’t show….but with that, I had to miss the belt testing at Taekwondo.  And this stupid company is also why I was not testing myself today too.

Yes, today I missed it, but Ben and Amanda have now both moved beyond me.  Ben is now a white with yellow stripe belt and Amanda is a yellow belt.  AND, I am very proud of them both.  I am pretty sure, even with their high level of skills, that they are not the right people I can get to deal with Everdry, but I will say that if we are ever broken into at least I have them and that sleepy dog to defend me.

But the day is done and I do have this great picture to share and the boards that Amanda and Ben broke at their testing signed by all the black belts.  I will test next time…….that is if I do not drown in my basement first.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless!

Tommy+