A Few Things I Don't Understand

>> Tuesday, April 27, 2010

I'm sitting here at my kitchen table (in front of my computer, no less), trying to answer this question:

If my contractor says his team is going to be here sometime between 8AM and noon, what on earth are they doing?  I understand giving somewhat of a range for afternoon service calls for travelling repairmen.  I don't like it, but I understand that you can't really tell how long it will take to fix Mrs. Johnson's washing machine.  I get that.  I even get, "I have to finish a job first thing in the morning, then the team will clean up and go right over to your job, so expect us sometime after noon." 

What I don't get is a range for a construction start that begins at 8AM and runs until noon.  Apparently, we are the first job of the day, because what job is there for a handyman or construction team that can end early enough to let them get here by 8, especially considering the local traffic situation?  So, what could they be possibly doing that might delay them?  Are they just not setting their alarm clocks and waiting to see what time they wake up?  Are they bringing in workers from West Virginia?  What is going on here? 

Not knowing when the other repair guys are showing up today, if at all, is a whole different story.  Their truck brakes aren't working, and they will get here when they can make it here, if not today, then tomorrow.  I completely understand this strategy.  They want to get here alive, with all of the materials intact and not trailing down the highway, and they want to be able to stop when they hit the bottom of the street without running into my house to do it.

Totally understandable.  But just establishing a window of 8 AM to noon for the first job of the day?  Yeah.  I don't understand that.

While I am on the topic of a few things I don't understand, let's hit a few more, shall we?

Have you ever noticed that when people on TV have a costume party, they always have the most spectacular costumes ... even if they are on the Love Boat?  This begs sooo many questions in my mind.  For example, even if you know there is a costume party, do you travel with an extra suitcase for your Marie Antoinette ball gown?  'Cause I don't.  I don't even have a ball gown, and I wouldn't want the rental fees to take one on a cruise anyway.

For that matter, how come all those college kids who have costume parties always have the most amazing costumes that must cost a fortune to rent?  I don't have that kind of money now, much less when I was in college.  Come to think of it, I don't know where the costume rental store was in college.  I'm sure there had to be one, because TV would have me believe that you can't have a college with a Greek system without also having a costume rental place for the obligatory costume party.  I don't even know where a costume rental shop is here, now, in a much bigger town.  (And, no, I don't care to Google it.)

I guess I'm just not the costume type.  Either way, most of the people I hung out with were more concerned about where they would score the next beer.  Come to think of it, some of the people I still hang out with have the same view on life.

I guess some things are just beyond my comprehension.

2 comments:

kadiera April 27, 2010 at 9:38 AM  

That 8-noon thing: They have 4 jobs lined up this morning; they'll draw straws when they all gather at 8 and decide who goes where and which job gets done first. :)

Karin Kysilka April 28, 2010 at 12:59 PM  

kadiera, that's as good an explanation as I've heard.

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