Monday, April 2, 2007...The Order remains on Stop.
It has been several weeks now since the last report...nothing has happened.
If you remember, on March 8th we received a letter from the CONtracting Manager that Nice Guys Corp received the Permit for this job, and that the Superintendent to the job would contact us...that has yet to happen.
On March 15th I sent the CONtracting Manager an email acknowledging his letter. On March 19th the CONtracting Manger replies by email that he has spoken with the girl in the Production Department, and that she would be contacting us as to Start and Completion dates to our addition...that has yet to happen.
However, on March 22nd an Inspector showed up as noted in the last page posted...nothing has yet to happen.
I did, on a lark, send two emails to Nice Guys Corp...the first one to the CONtracting Manager...hinting if the footer could be completed...no reply.
The next day I sent an email to the girl in the Production Dept. asking for Start and Finish dates if only approximate, and Cc the CONtracting Manager...no reply...that was a week ago.
JUSTIFIABLE PARANOIA?
In another two months ( June ) it will one year since we contracted for this SunRoom.
FLASH FLASH FLASH FLASH
This morning Monday April 2, 2007...0800 sharp.
Decided for the first time ever since contracting for this job to phone Nice Guys Corp.
A secretary answered the phone. Started with: "Good morning...such a beautiful day." She replied agreeing it was, "too nice to have to be working." she said. I asked her her name, which she told me. I then asked to speak with the Contract Manager using his first name only, and giving only my first name...cheerfully she connects me.
He answers the phone...I tell him who I am. He sounds youngish...pleasant. I then outline for him every thing that's transpired in reference to this job from the get go...he listens. I ask him how long he has worked for the outfit, he tells me ( longer than ten years ). I ask him his age...he tells me ( young-middle aged ). I ask him if he understands my annoyance...he says he does. I then impress upon him that it's not only me all this run-around impacts, and ask him if he's married, and he replies "No...but will be soon." He tells me who he's marrying, and where she's from. I go on to impress on him that then he'll understand he has to consider his wife. He may at times, when he's considered not to show enough persuasion in matters like this that he "has no balls."...as that's the situation now here with me. He got it!
I asked him what he did before going to work for Nice Guys Corp...he says: "The same thing - contracting.". To get a feel for the owner of Nice Guy Corp., I ask him about the owner. "Great guy...we go way back!" he responds. I then tell him of my past...sailing in the Merchant Marine, retiring, etc. Hearing that he sounded truly impressed. The conversation is amazingly remaining pleasant, and cordial.
He then meantions ( I won't reveal it here ) a volunteer-civic function he enjoys. That rang a bell...the wife had meantioned something similar that the fellow who had been here to the house had told her. The fellow who had brought the document I meantion a few pages back that pertained to the Permit, and had to be signed by us.
"Your not - - - ...who drives ( particular type of car ) are you?" I asked. "Yes...that's me." he said. I had wondered about this since his proper first name heard vocally could be spelled differently. Surprised, but then not so surprised I said: "Well, then we have met...you've been here to the house." to which he concurred. Since his vehicle and mine were of the same popular type I suggested he come over some day and we can compare notes. He revealed his was quite new...mine is now twenty-years old.
Injecting, as it might seem important to him, that we do have their trailer. "Yes..." I acknowledged, and "I'm getting good at manuevering around it to get out of my garage. What is in that anyways?"
"Your upright panels." he said. "For a while there I figured it might be a bomb." I said. He laughed. If all goes well, I'll send him my graphic by email. Ha ha.
All is going marvelously. He seemed truly concerned about our dilemma, and said he would re-consult with the Superintendant, and Production Department girl...who I asked after...if she was young...sort of college age girl, who had been here jotting down notes last summer. "No." he laughed..."she's not that young." So the Production Department girl is a "woman". Interesting only to the point she might have tenure...know her job.
He asked for my phone number. I told him to stick with the wife's number...the important thing is that she be updated on whatever progress he might conjure up for us. To conclude I asked that whatever can be accomplished real quick let it be the completion ( like tomorrow ) of the "footer"...that damn "moat" that keeps us from our back-yard. I repeated the name of that sub-contractor several times to him. "Get that guy here with his concrete truck tomorrow!" I said. He got the message. We talked for twenty-minutes...it seemed productive. He did thank me for my emails to him, even to the graphics/photos I sent. One last query was if he had his own computer...on his desk. He said he did. I closed with "Send me an email.". He said he would. Oh...yes...I did tell him I wouldn't be calling him by phone ever again no matter what. See What Happens!
We believe the sub-contractor who pumps in the concrete for the footer will be here today. Keep a lookout for this truck.
