Personal issues and a little window into my world....
To the anonymous who is praying
for me and all others likewise engaged....
As always, thank-you.
This is just a personal note.
Nothing profound, but an explanation regarding my lack of web activity.
We're fine, I'm just insanely
busy. This summer has been especially bad in terms of 'after-hours' work. I've
been dealing with the electric company which is a nightmare. In fact, that job
I just cancelled. I did so because it has been a dreadful experience and it has
reached the point of absurdity.
One day when I get to my 'Life
in Babylon' series that will basically be a small book...I hope to share and
elaborate on my observations and experiences regarding the Christian
interacting with our economic and social system. I have much to say.
I also have several other
clients who seem to be burning up my time with email....endless questions and
modifications.
I get home at say 600....eat,
spend time with kids...we're reading Exodus, and have just finished studying
Alexander the 'Great', the same Alexander who is a Beast in Biblical categories.
We're now moving on to Seleucids and Ptolemies. With the older kids I'm still
working through Church History. We're up to era just past the so-called
Glorious Revolution.
These things are critical to
me. There's little point in pouring my time into writing if I neglect my
children. The years with them are going by so fast. Only now do I realize how
short our time is with them....
Then about 830 or 900 I sit
down to work on drawings, email clients, pay bills, or deal with something
else.
And the day is over before I
know it. I get up in the morning and work on stuff. I'm making progress, but
without larger time blocks...the progress is slow.
Being self-employed has a lot
of detriments and benefits. It's very different than working somewhere and
punching a clock. One thing is I do have some control over my schedule and at
this point I have enough work that I'm actually trying to trim down my
schedule. I've wasted many hours with two clients....one the electrical job and
the other some remodeling. The one job has proved a horrible experience in
dealing with the electric company and trying to set up an inspector.
As I said, I've dropped the job
entirely. It's not worth my time.
Thus far I haven't made
anything and I've wasted a bunch of effort. I sent the following letter to the
client this morning.........
xxx,
Unfortunately this project is not going to work out. I'm not sure what
exactly is happening but Penelec in my book is a reprehensible company.
I could wax philosophical about the problems of public utilities in the
hands of private monopolies, but suffice it to say on a practical note they are
nothing less than a nightmare to deal with. It's so bad, it almost sparks a
seed of conspiratorial suspicion on my part.
There are electrical contractors who have established 'contractor'
accounts with Penelec and then there are the handful of people like me who do
'Service' work, are fully capable, and yet because our area is rural...don't
encounter these projects but once a year or so. Thus it has been with me.
And I've had my share of troubles when it comes to installing new
'services'. Not just with the Penelec bureaucracy, but with no-show inspectors,
which really puts you on the spot. My work is not the issue. I've never had
even a hint of displeasure with any inspection electrical or otherwise.
It has been whispered in my ear on more than occasion that these events
are not accidental, but a subtle form of protectionism on the part of a shadowy
group we might call...the electrical establishment.
All kidding aside, I just about gave up on doing services a couple of
years ago and thought this time...I would give it a go.
Alas, but I have plunged into yet another nightmare. After several
hours of wasted time on phones, trying to navigate the awful joke they call
'customer service'... I have been defeated.
For days I have called the W--- Line Office, left numerous messages and
couldn't get anyone to answer my call. The voice mail identification was
ambiguous and I began to wonder if even had the correct number. Suppressing the
imprecations wishing to pour from my lips, I called the Penelec 800 number once
more, endured a long spell of transfers, 15-20 minute hold times and
finally....in frustration when I got a person on the line I said....
'Cancel the accursed thing!'
Of course then I had to try and get the $110 back. I felt like Kafka in
a dark alley dealing with dark minions.
If I engaged in such practices I would be rightly called a thief...but
they, with large placarded buildings, painted trucks, and uniforms are granted
a social legitimacy someone like me can only dream of.
I didn't exactly get it back, but I was able to get it transferred to
my residential Penelec account which I always very deliberately pay
late...because in truth I loathe them and the political economic system they
represent.
Of course about two hours later...the Line Office calls and leaves a
message:
"Yeah, this Andrew with the Penelec Line Office. I'm returning
your call, but I see the order has been cancelled, so I'm not sure how I can
help you. Give me a call back if you have any questions..."
Indeed. I've only been calling him since Wednesday, leaving several
imploring messages....pardon my scepticism.
Anyway.... this afternoon I mailed a cheque for $--- to you and also
enclosed your key. I wanted to get that to you....right away. I have your -----
address....it was on the cheque you gave me.
After offering to you my profoundest apologies I can only suggest that
you contact a proper 'electrician' to do the work. There are a few guys around
who do a lot of 'Services' and can perhaps help you out.
One option, which Penelec has introduced to cut costs allows for the
electrician to do the 'disconnect' himself. Of course this is very dangerous
and entails purchasing 'lineman' equipment (flash vest, gloves, non-conducting
fiberglass ladder etc...) Thus far I have had no interest in expanding my
'services' into that realm. I'm sure it saves Penelec a lot of labour money and
time, but I'm not inclined to work with live wires and I have a feeling my wife
and my insurance company would not be overly exuberant either. And I doubt
Penelec will chip in when I get zapped....nor are they likely to help out when
I suffer stroke from trying to deal with their customer service (Orwell would
be proud) agents.
With regard to employing other local contractors...I would only
caution....check their insurance status. I'm licensed by the state, which in
Pennsylvania basically means you carry liability insurance (in case I burn your
house down, or you're injured on my worksite) and being licensed provides homeowners
a venue or forum to lodge complaints. I'm happy to say I have no insurance
claims and no complaints.
There are many unlicensed men operating in our area. That doesn't mean
that they're 'no good'...but it likely means they're not carrying any insurance.
Something to consider.
Caveat Emptor. But of course we're not allowed to practice it when a
monopoly like Penelec runs the show.
I hope you can find someone who can take care of this for you. I talked
with a couple of contractors I know and they too have basically given up on the
electrical service end of things....too much of a headache, or they (like me)
are unwilling to deal with the line coming in from the pole....and yet feel
funny about charging the homeowner for the disconnect fee.
So....if you find one of these other men, you might be spared the
disconnect fee....but, they will probably charge a bit more than I do for
labour. In the end, the price should be about the same.
Again, my apologies and truly, I hope you fare well.
And the other client has proved
one of those rare cases where it's just impossible to deal with them. They want
fixed prices and an exact plan but they keep changing everything. This about
the sixth time I've had to go back and revisit my lists and plan, adjust
amounts and re-compute. That in itself isn't offensive, but then trying to
schedule this project has proved nothing shy of ridiculous. The want firm
dates. I blame this on the 'advice' given by gay men on the Home and Garden
channel and all those 'fix your home' shows. They tell you how to deal with
contractors. I haven't seen many of these shows but the handful I have seen
I've been reduced to tears of laughter watching the way they just smoothly make
everything happen and often make it appear to occur at about 20x the real-life
speed.
So why can't I commit to a date
and please this customer?
The reality is I'm working on
another job. I'm 80% done and suddenly the property owner decides he doesn't
like the way something looks. Not because of my work, but because he envisioned
it in a different way. So we change the game plan and I tear into something
else...and find rotten wood or a water line we hadn't expected. So now there's
more work. This is fine, in fact financially, it's good. BUT, it just added a
week to the project which now means I can't get to the other job when I said I
would.
I can't exactly tell the
present homeowner or in this case a property owner with rental properties......oh,
I have to leave for a week or two and then I'll be back. Sorry about everything
being torn apart.
This is why contractors rarely
want to commit to dates. It's just about impossible. All I can usually tell
someone is that...you're next in line and I'm guessing if everything goes
well...a week, or two, or whatever it may be. And....I'll call you as soon as I
can to let you know I'm getting close and we can compare schedules.
At this time I've invested many
hours with these folks, visiting their home multiple times, spending time with
them on the phone...which usually involves repeating for the 8th
time everything we've already gone over.
I understand on one level.
People have been burned and ripped off and a lot of people have a hard time
trusting people.
But this project involves maybe
5 days of work. The money will be okay but so far the headache is driving me to
the point of saying....forget it. It's just not worth it.
It probably doesn't help that
these folks are good Evangelicals. It may be a surprise to some but often
Christians are about the last people I want to work for. It can be pleasant and
sweet or in some cases an awful experience of me gritting my teeth, keeping my
mouth shut and trying to get out of there.
It didn't help when the guy
sent me the following email.......
Prayer needed
|
We are asking everyone to say a prayer for "Darkhorse" 3rd Battalion 5th Marines and their families. They are fighting it out in Afghanistan & they have lost 12 marines in 4 days. IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE the message spread if more people could pass it on Nothing has been in the media about these guys because no one seems to care. They are: Justin Allen, 23; Brett Linley, 29; Matthew Weikert, 29; Justus Bartett, 27; Dave Santos, 21; Chase Stanley, 21; Jesse Reed, 26; Matthew Johnson, 21; Zachary Fisher, 24; Brandon King, 23; Christopher Goeke, 23; Sheldon Tate, 27. All are Marines that gave their lives for YOU this week. Please Honor THEM by forwarding this. I just did. |
Since I really don't want to work
for these people but don't know how to politely extract myself I wasn't
terribly worried about offending him.
I'm also very tired of
receiving these types of emails from people. I've reached a point where I
refuse to just sit by and keep silent.
So I responded....
Oops I think you may have included me on the wrong list....
Anyway, I did want to email you. I'm still progressing. Right now it's definitely looking like about another 2-3 weeks. I just can't pin it down yet. It keeps changing. I'll keep you posted as I get nearer to the end-date...and then we can figure out if that's going to conflict with your plans.
When are the floors being done? We can do the ceilings and painting after, but it would be nice to take care of it ahead of time.
Let me know.
Thanks,
Anyway, I did want to email you. I'm still progressing. Right now it's definitely looking like about another 2-3 weeks. I just can't pin it down yet. It keeps changing. I'll keep you posted as I get nearer to the end-date...and then we can figure out if that's going to conflict with your plans.
When are the floors being done? We can do the ceilings and painting after, but it would be nice to take care of it ahead of time.
Let me know.
Thanks,
He then replied......
We are
really counting on you being done by the end of Aug.
I sent
that email to all my contacts as a reminder that young men are still giving
their all for us.
To which I responded......
The end of August will be a tough deadline. I can possibly start by
then...but finish....I don't think that's likely.
Yeah as far as the group email....I guess as a Christian who forms his view of the world from Scripture, I can't agree with some of the assumptions in the email. Thanks for sharing though. My prayers would be quite a bit different.
As far as the media....I'm not sure what news you digest. It's received quite a bit of news.
Well, I don't know what to do about the August end-date. I'll see what I can work out over the next week or so. That would be the cut off for getting to your place and having time to mud and paint everything.
Talk to you soon,
Yeah as far as the group email....I guess as a Christian who forms his view of the world from Scripture, I can't agree with some of the assumptions in the email. Thanks for sharing though. My prayers would be quite a bit different.
As far as the media....I'm not sure what news you digest. It's received quite a bit of news.
Well, I don't know what to do about the August end-date. I'll see what I can work out over the next week or so. That would be the cut off for getting to your place and having time to mud and paint everything.
Talk to you soon,
After this we went round and
round a bit about the timing of the job. We pulled up a previous email where I
had suggested August as a possibility but had also said depending on what
happened with a particular project...it could be October.
He didn't want to pursue the US
military issue any further. I was kind of hoping he would.