My complaint letter

I sent this email today. I though I'd share it. I'm not publishing this link on Facebook, so if you found it, it's because you are actually interested in my blog!  :) Welcome, thanks for reading. It's been a long couple of days, waiting to hear something ...so I put my energy into what I hope is a reasonably positive complaint email.

*** Update: I guess it was effective, it generated the call I needed.  We are planning on the crew beginning work on Friday (30th)!

- - - - - - - - - - - -

I am very frustrated. I called Brian on Monday, I emailed Susan on Tuesday. I've heard nothing back.

I called on Friday, the 15th, to let you know that we had electricity and water, and that the final furnace connections were going to be done on Wednesday the 20th.  I called on Friday the 22nd, let you know that the furnace was operational, as planned, and the house is warm.  I was told both times that Troy and crew were working on another home that week (18-22), and that they would be here on Monday the 25th.  We discussed the fact that it was Thanksgiving here, but that since Troy already had his deer, he wouldn't be needing to take time off to hunt.

I thought we had a good understanding that they'd be here on Monday.  I assumed (obviously wrongly!) that if anything was different, that you'd let me know.  I had the cleaning people come and give me an estimate on Monday, assuming that Troy would be here and we'd be able to discuss how many days he thought it would take to finish.  Without input from you or the crew, I tentatively scheduled the cleaning for Wednesday and Thursday, December 4 & 5.  I had hoped to do that on Monday and Tuesday, and move appliances, furniture, and belongings from storage in on Wednesday and Thursday, but I don't want things to be rushed, and thought perhaps weather or unexpected delays at the prior home had kept the crew from being there Monday.

Now, with still no input from you, I have no idea when to expect the construction crew to begin - much less when I can expect them to finish!  I have the insurance adjuster asking me, as his initial estimate had us back in our home on December 10.  He has been extending authorization week by week for the hotel, but to go past December 10 for him requires approval of his superiors, so he's asking me why it is taking so long.  I have no answers for him.

I had planned on Teresa and Phillip coming home from college for the weekend of December 7 & 8.  That's the weekend that Winthrop does the holiday parade, and all the local craft fairs.  I was hoping we could do those things, and let them unpack their rooms.  (with all of the posessions they packed in storage - a whopping couple of boxes each.....)  At this point, that's quickly becoming not possible.  It's ok, we'll just adjust the plan - but if I need to book the hotel for them, I need to know, and get approval from the insurance adjuster.  Each of these things costs the insurance company real money, and I have to justify why it's necessary.  Quite frankly, "I haven't heard from my builder" is not really a great answer.

I am so discouraged right now.  I have contracted with the earthmoving, foundation, the electrician, the electrical utility, the plumber, the heating company, and the well drilling company, carpentry for the back deck and all outside stairs, and EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM has done what they have said they would do.  I can no longer do anything to move this process forward, it's now your responsibility to get my home completed.  I understand that things may have delayed the process on your end, but I find the lack of communication inexcusable.

My glowing recommendation for Hayden Homes is at serious risk right now.  I hope you can redeem it.

It happened!

I was just reading an article that mentioned having pictures of their son when he was young, doing something, unimportant the specifics...  It started to make me a little sad, as I thought, I used to have pictures like that.  I felt sad that the photos are gone.  But then, I thought about the fact that it really happened.  The photograph did exist, but now doesn't - but it doesn't diminish the actual event.  It really doesn't matter if the photo exists, and is in a pile in a corner somewhere that I can't find anyway, or if it doesn't exist anymore -- either way, I'm not looking at it now, but I am remembering it.  And the event that was recorded in that photograph really happened, whether or not it was recorded, and whether or not I can locate that photograph.

Life happens.  And we continue on, living more.  And sometimes we have "proof" that we did things - and sometimes, we just have the joy that we did those things. 

Finding the joy in the past, without needing the proof.  That's the challenge.  Remembering, without sadness - because what I'm sad about is not having a physical reminder.  I'm still grateful for the moments, and happy to remember.

It doesn't matter if I can prove it.  I don't need to.  For centuries, people lived by telling stories, describing things, without photographs.  We've all heard that "a picture is worth 1,000 words" - but perhaps, sometimes, the words are just as compelling.

Since you asked ...

Since you asked --
     NO, we are not in the new house yet.
     NO, we do NOT know when we will move in.
     YES, I expect we will be in by Christmas.
I'm hoping the week after Thanksgiving, actually, but that is already December.

On a good day, yes, I'm excited to be in for Christmas.  However, I have done NONE, ZIP, ZERO Christmas shopping.  I like to be DONE by Thanksgiving, so this is a very strange situation...

I will have some familiar ornaments - my mother has some for me.  We often go to the craft fair in Houlton the weekend of Thanksgiving, and sometimes we'd buy the same kind of ornament.  I remember some sleds with mice painted on them that we got one year when I was first working and having my own tree.  She's also promised me some ornaments that my grandmother had made. 

I've even started making a few decorations:

(Oh, and I take it back ... in my crafting bag I have a Christmas present I bought for my mother! So I guess I'm not doing that badly ...  things WILL be ok!)

It's going to be an interesting Christmas.  It will be great to have the kids home for Christmas Break, and to really be "home".  In our new house, as it becomes home.