So, today was very difficult. I'm still working on my grandmother's audio video systems. We've totally taken apart the front wall with the fireplace and bookshelves. We're going to change the mantel, put in an arch, and then put the 60" Sharp LED TV inside of the arch. Then, we're replacing the bookshelves and putting in glass shelves with lighting. It's going to look really sharp. I've taken the doors off the side cabinets and we're having that covered with speaker material. So that's going to change too. I'm putting the subwoofer down in than cabinet. On the other side will be all of the A/V equipment. Also, in the ceiling, I'm putting five B & W speakers. It's a lot of work. But it's not easy at all.
Let me tell you about today's adventures in remodeling. Everything was going fairly well until the A/V tech found out that he couldn't install a speaker in a certain part of the ceiling…the hard way. He cut a hole in the ceiling and then found out that this is where the truss changes direction. I mean it was an honest mistake. He was being careful and using the stud finder to try and locate the direction of the trusses. It really was an honest mistake. He got the rest of the speakers installed just fine. Of course, there was me, my grandmother and the two cabinet builders in the room. My grandmother put on one of her famous displays which make most people run for the hills, some turn to religion and I turn red from embarrassment. I felt very bad for the guy. My grandmother was on the phone with the home theater store in a heartbeat. Tomorrow she intends to talk to the manager and complain about the tech. The tech really did nothing wrong. I can't side with my grandmother on this. While the tech was standing there finishing up his part of the job, I really felt the need to apologize for my grandmother's behavior. However, she's a grown lady and I have no reason to make apologies on her behalf. So, tomorrow after she and the manager have talked, I'm going to call him back and tell him that in my opinion the tech did what he was supposed to do. That there is nothing wrong with what he did. It's a small hole and it's easily repairable.
That brings me to another thing that bothers me. She was talking to the cabinet builder and he was going on about how they'll never match the paint, that the hole will always be visible until she paints the whole ceiling. He asked her how long ago it had been since it had been painted, and she said three years. Well…a lot has happened to that ceiling in three years. For one thing, hail had hit the roof and water started collecting inside of the attic, and bowed some of the sheet-rock sheets out. You could see nails coming out of the ceiling. She's since had that repaired and that part of the ceiling repainted. So you can see a line where the paint is newer in that part of the house. Also, she's had a problem with one of the ceiling lights which required some work. There are little square patches there too. Also, several years ago, the plumbing upstairs was bad and leaked into the ceiling…there is a square cut-out there which has been repaired. This ceiling has seen better days since she's had it painted last. But of course none of this matters because the tech cut a small 7" moon shaped hole in the ceiling…and then repaired it as much as possible.
The cabinet guy even said with all of the work she's having done, there's a good chance the guy whose doing the tape and bedding on the new wall might just go ahead and fix that for free…as a favor. So I see no problem. I promise, with a project this large, if that's the worst thing that happens, we're doing very well.
The fact is, my grandmother just doesn't like this installer. He's very quiet and reserved. He pretty much just wants to do his job and doesn't do all of the sucking up a lot of people do. He's just there to install A/V equipment. He isn't looking to add Facebook friends. We're not going to keep in touch and exchange Christmas cards every year. So get over it. He's not a salesman. He's an installer. Got a problem? Call the salesman. That's what they're there for. After the hole in the ceiling, everything of course became his fault. He didn't put plastic down on a sofa over four feet away. He didn't cover up the curtains lying on the ground with a tarp. He got his hand prints on the ceiling. (He really didn't but…) My grandmother just really wants to blame him for everything, and it's unfair. I don't like it. After she got through throwing her fit and even recruiting the cabinet builders to join in on the bashing she did this…now keep in mind, the tech is still in the same room with her. She spoke of him in the third person while the third person was still there. She looked at the cabinet builder and said "he didn't even act like he was sorry." Really?! How do you know what his emotional responses usually look like? Should he get on his knees and beg forgiveness? I just thought she was so rude to them.
After they left, she looked up at the ceiling and saw hand prints and said…"and look…he just left his dirty hand prints all over the ceiling and walked away." First off grandma, there were two other people working in that area…and for much longer periods of time than this guy. If he was leaving prints all over the ceiling, how come he didn't leave any prints on the rear speakers? As for all of the fucking dust in the room, could it damn well be from the motherfuckers tearing out the entire wall? I mean SON OF A BITCH!!! Of course here is where I get personally involved…I'm the one who hired them. So it's all on me. All she has done is bitch all day long. Even bitching about the fucking system I put together two years ago…"I can't get this remote to work right…come fix this!!!" Look grandma, I love you, but point the fucking remote at the equipment when you're pressing buttons.
Well, I'm sure there is more I can personally bitch about today, but that pretty much covers it. You get the idea.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot something. Tomorrow begins my forty day religious fast. I'm pretty much just going to stay in my room, read the bible, do some yoga and walk…but mostly just read the Bible. It's going to be pretty rough to begin with I think. But this is something I feel strongly about and want to experience.
The fast involves a lot of things I've never done before as well as stopping smoking cold turkey and no caffeine. I'm sure I'll feel like shit for about a week, have lots of headaches and withdrawals. But I am determined and we'll see how it goes.
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