Tribute to the homeowner

It was -8 overnight and it snowed Sunday and Monday. This is fine! I love snow. I like scrapping it off the windshield at 530am on my way to the gym. I don't mind taking my time walking to and fro places so I don't fall on my face. I don't mind these things cause I like snow. I love the crunching noises it makes. This snow is crispy type and not slushy. I can't wait for dog sledding and snow golf. There are also sled drag races down in Taylor. I found out where to rent skidoes and I have ice fishing on my list of things to do before I leave.

But I don't like it when we have to install a meter underneath a mobile home in the snow. Especially one that had a sewer expode 2 years ago. After this explosion the homeowner layered lime over it to cover the smell. Apparently highly toxic. Picture: Winter jackets, toques, 1 mobile home, 2 installers, shiat, lime and one incomplete.

This is the worst case scenario. Our boss doesn't expect us to deal with this so it gets to be funny rather than painful. So no we didn't roll around in it.

But he does expect us to deal with most every homeowner. The word "homeowner" for me officially mixes up a bunch of crazy emotions like never before. (Josh I understand). Weird how life experiences affect you forever...The word homeowner may give me the creeps till I pass away. The homeowner (who ever it may be) is the enemy. We maybe dealing with a special "breed" up here but come on....

I have not had one homeowner who hasn't had to apologized for one of the following (based on real events not my imagination):

1. not knowing where there rather vital main shutoff is (if u dont know, find out - you have one, honest)

2. not even knowing how the water magically gets into their home.(water line people!)

3. not cleaning up before we came (sure lady, your lunch is still on your shirt and it's 5pm, I'm sure you were just about to clean your 32 yr old son's room...) this I might add is only one example! I'm going to do my best to describe - Husband's/son's excavating buisness, one large dirty shop. Door to the shop enters into the kitchen. Door enters the tv room/office from the kitchen. THE most disgusting bathroom I have ever witnessed enters from the kitchen(which is where my meter lays - was under the garbage pile - not garbage can ok, free flowing garbage pile) The floor of either one of these 4 rooms looked the same. I almost barffed on her old meter and told her to change it out. But you know me...she apologizes for the "mess" and I say "sure sure no problem..." She honestly thought it was just a mess...it's unsanitary and I don't understand how her body has become imunned to this.

4. not removing what ever it is that is rotting in their house (today - the mom "oh that smell you are complaining about? Yes, that must be my dog's breath, he is old and his teeth are decaying. What?)

5. discarding of dead cat carcasses (poor homeowner lost his cat and Gui had to break him the news that there was a kitty lying on his main shutoff....akward!)

6. fully understanding the harmfull effects of lime while smoldering sewage under your home -

7. doing home renos - using a garden hose as their new water line or building a wall with just a handle sticking out of drywall.

8. having the windows and doors all closed after smoking a pak of cigs (not joking..it seems everyone smokes up here...oh, how about the guy "ohhhh that appoinn't is today?....haha...shit...sure, come on in". Me, my 2 weiner dogs, and 4 cats were just getting high in my living room but I'm going to pretend there isn't a cloud of weed in this 2 room house and let the water lady in.

9. not showing to the appointment

10. not knowing if their valve works...therefore in case of an emergency line break they will be in full control and have a complete understanding how to not let water damage take down their entire home.

Who does that? The homeowner.