I Want the Mom and Pop Shop Back

I am tired, very, very tired.

For the past week, I have work people in and out of my house, painting, new bath counter top, new windows, new ceiling fans, new shower door -- in other words, I braved another re-make job for my new home. All I wanted was to update my master bath (all pics will be next week, as nothing is completed yet), which led to hurricane windows (I am preparing...) which led to new curtains for the windows, which led to a new ceiling fan....

And I am tired.

Mind you, I am not doing any of the work, but I have acted as the general contractor, and have prepared and put back together.

Most went off without a hitch, except continually being pushed back due to scheduling. Then there is the plumbing. All I wanted was to have the faucet installed on the new bowl. It's been the fourth time he has come out. Really??? Really!!! In my hey-day, I have torn apart a bathroom and put it back together, I have watched many a faucet being put in, and really, anyone who owns a computer has access to You Tube which will show you what you don't know and want to learn. But this guy can't figure it out. I went to the place where I purchased the counter top, faucet and plumbing service (big box shop), and complained about the plumbing. This particular big box shop only deals with one small company who has one man for our area. While at this big box shop complaining and seeing about getting someone else to come, I learned that this company they work with could send another person out next week sometime, but he didn't know anything about plumbing. Really??? Really!!!
Upshot -- the guy came back today, and he said it is fixed again. I will run the water tomorrow, and am prepared for anything.

I want the mom and pop shop back. I knew the mom or the pop or the aunt or uncle or the daughter or son of the mom and pop, and I knew that when they said they would come, they came. And if it wasn't fixed right the first time (which it usually was), it was definitely fixed the second time.

The other thing about the mom and pop shop was I knew the quality I was getting because I knew who was making it. Back then, and I am not ancient, not everything was made in China -- people actually took pride in their work and I knew where it was made. In my hometown, there was Ropers (stove, microwaves, lawn mowers, etc.), Armstrong (flooring), A.O. Smith (water heaters), and General Foods (dog food), Today, I believe Armstrong is the only original left. And the mom and pop shops were replaced with the big box shop with brands that I have never heard of let alone know where they are made or how they are made.

I want the mom and pop shop back, the products made from people who live in the same town, and a plumber who knows how to install a faucet the first time.

But, right now, I am tired. Very, very tired.

Until Monday...have a great weekend.