One fateful morning I strolled into our kitchen to hear my spouse ask, "Do you realize that this is the original kitchen that came with your house?" An innocent enough concern I thought. I ought to simply stop thinking. It always gets me in problem. "Yes, I expect it is." I responded. Technically, it was a rhetorical concern, requiring no answer on my part, however my mouth can't appear to stay shut in such circumstances. It should come with a zipper. "We ought to renovate it," commented my charming bride of sixteen years. A recommendation; need to you hear such words come from your better half, run. Fast. And far. I did no such thing and as an outcome, I submit the following. read more Despite what my wife says, I'm a quite wise guy and I know people who have had their kitchen areas renovated. How hard could it be? (Oh, silly guy, you have no idea and the gods laugh at you.) Let's discover a specialist. My buddy Ray just had his kitchen remodeled and they raved about their professional. No brainer, call Ray and get the phone number. After a brief conversation with my pal, I had the number in hand. Phone rings and I talk with a great young female who notifies me that the specialist, Bob, will call me back in a few minutes. To my wonder, Bob does indeed call me back in a few short minutes. Up until now, I'm seeming like I struck the lotto. My sensations of elation are short lived as Bob tells me that he is booked for the next 10 months. On top of that, his minimum kitchen project price is fifty thousand dollars. Ouch! OK, strategy B. I ask Bob if he can suggest another person. He can't. Plan C, the phone book. I feel like a youngster as I recite in my head, C is for Contractor' and lo and behold, I find the contractor section of the yellow pages. Wow! There are a great deal of contractors in here. Maybe this will not be so hard after all. I simply start calling at the top of the list and leave messages for each one of them. After ten calls I figure this job is as good as done. And after that I await my prompt return phone calls. And I wait some more. The sun decreases. It comes back up. I'm still awaiting my telephone call. Days pass. I call the phone company to make sure the expense was paid. Still no call. I guess the guys at the top of the list get a great deal of calls and they're really hectic. I'll try a few of the other names in the book. Many calls and a few days later on, I finally have visits with 3 contractors who say they can renovate my kitchen. Yeah for me! Visit one: Contractor never showed. Call his number, goes right away to voice mail. Consultation 2: Contractor got lost and was almost an hour late, did not call. No issue, at least he's here. He takes measurements, doodles some notes on his pad and entrusts to a guarantee to call soon with a price quote. How soon is quickly? In this case, 2 weeks later on. Visit 3: Improvement, this contractor is on time. As he walks in your home, my nose hairs curl from the over powering aroma of what I assume to be a mix of sweat and Brut cologne. He takes measurements and notes. Guarantees of immediate estimate. Delivered 3 weeks later on. Another note of care: Make sure you are seated when you read such price quotes. They will be greater than you anticipated. Much greater. Well, this is still progress towards my goal of keeping my wife pleased. (That goal is never ever actually reached, its among those things that we believe might exist, like Bigfoot, but we can't really prove it.). After much consideration, monitoring of licenses and insurance coverage, calling of referrals and a quick journey to the post workplace to see if his photo was published there, I have actually selected Joe, whom I hope will be the very best of the lot. (Why does it feel like I'm taking the least rotten apple from the barrel?) He shows up at my house to sign the contract and collect his deposit (incredible how he's on time to get checks). I read over the contract, making sure all the details we have discussed are listed within. I do voice some issue at the term 'very first born' under the payment schedule and discover it a bit disconcerting that I am being asked to sign in my own blood. Apparently this is to have a sample on hand in case there is none left in my body at the end of the project. I keep in mind the approximate conclusion date listed on the agreement and make a note to put it on the calendar. (Another note: This date remains in metric weeks. Double it and include thirty to get the real conclusion date.) Last action; write the deposit check. Is it regular to sweat and have your hands shake at a time like this? As my new specialist, Joe, owns away, I feel a true sense of achievement. In a couple of short weeks, our task will be well under way and my other half will be pleased (yes, I know, see remarks above). 2 weeks after the date they were supposed to start, employees actually appeared at my house to start my brand-new kitchen. When they do not appear again for almost another week, I bribe them to come back with cookies and cold drinks. Besides the dust, the sound and the loud music (are accordions actually essential in every song?), I can hardly inform they're here. Little price to pay for the kitchen of my (better half's) dreams. Up until now, things are advancing well. As long as I do not lack cookies and soda, what could fail? Never, never ever ask that concern. The universe will be only too delighted to provide you a response. As my (spouse's) kitchen began to take shape, the world lulled me into an incorrect sense of security. Then Joe came by to tell me that the plumbing in our home was not up to code and would have to be changed. I took it like a male. I didn't cry. Up until later, when I was alone. Like I stated, deep space will constantly offer you a response. Eventually, in spite of whatever, our kitchen was at last finished. I stared in amazement at the billing Joe provided me for the balance due on our simple kitchen remodel. I justified that the kids could still get a great education at community college. I wrote the check. I beinged in my (spouse's) brand-new kitchen and enjoyed my mac and cheese. My wife asked me a few days ago about renovating our master restroom. I believed about it for a while. Then I went to the garage, got my hammer and hit my hand until the idea went away. I figured it would injure less in the long run. My website: http://pedagogyoftheoppressed.tumblr.com