Had a busy morning making phone calls trying to move along the hail damage stuff. My handyman Phil came out to repair the sheet rock in the ceiling downstairs that was water damaged due to the garbage disposal failing last week. While he was here, I had him measure the west and north side of the house so I could send those measurements to the contractor that is working up a bid to repair the Efis. Phil understands those things much better than I do and he drew some diagrams that show the measurements. I scanned them and emailed them to the Efis guy.
I called Pella windows hoping they could work up an estimate from the original window order from when the house was built. No such luck. They have the original order but like to do on-site estimates when it is that big of a job. They are coming Wednesday afternoon to measure and work up an estimate. I have 20 windows and doors that need replaced. The local glass person is coming Wednesday morning to give me an estimate too.
I got an email from my insurance agent asking for a copy of the divorce decree so she can take Jim’s name off the policy. I called her and reminded her I had sent that when we removed his cars from the policy in January. She remembered it then and said she had taken the cars off but forgot to take his name off the main house policy. I sent another copy just in case. The insurance adjuster can’t send me any information or dollars until that gets taken care of.
I called and got a haircut schedule for the week that I am leaving for England in September.
Tagen came home at 10:00. He had finished his Vo-Tech class early for the day and didn’t have to be at his high school class until noon. He had gotten a text saying he could pick up the Mustang so we went in to Cottonwood Falls to do so but the shop was closed. Tagen got a text later from the owner saying the owner’s dog was sick and the owner had to take the dog to the Vet.
Tagen left for town again to go to his high school class and took the pickup. 20 minutes later he called me to tell me the pickup quit working and he was stuck in the intersection at 6th and Graphic Arts Rd. I told him to flag someone down to help him push the truck to a safe spot and I would head in.
I called Michelle and she left work and went to where Tagen was. Tagen called his girlfriend and she was there too by the time I got to town. They managed to get the car into a parking lot out of traffic. I called a tow truck and Tagen’s girlfriend took Tagen to school. Michelle went back to work.
The tow truck showed up quickly but while they were loading the pickup they broke the hitch of the wrench. We had to wait for another tow truck to come with a replacement. 45 minutes later we headed to Cottonwood Falls to drop off the pickup with our repair guy.
While I was at the shop, I paid for the Mustang repair. The guy had come back to the shop, thank heavens. He gave me the Mustang key and Tagen can go get the Mustang tonight when he gets out of football practice.
Tagen’s pickup won’t shift into gear reliably and it won’t hold if it does shift into gear. We discovered the pickup is leaking transmission fluid. If it is an easy to fix leak, we will get it repaired. If it needs a new transmission we will not fix it. I have spent $600 on this pickup so far and Craig pitched in another $200. The pickup is only worth about $3,000. No use throwing good money away on it and spend more on repairs then the pickup is worth. We shall see what happens.
Phil got the hole in the ceiling repaired today and has put a couple coats of mud on it. He is coming back Wednesday to finish up the job. While Phil was here he looked at the siding and helped me come up with some options of what to do with it and the windows. I may use the insurance money and reside the entire house with a different product depending on how the numbers come in. I am going to get some bids for the other product so I know the cost of that so I can be ready to make a decision when I know how much the insurance is willing to pay.
This whole project is like a game of dominos and I can’t get ahead of myself. One link leads to another and then another, etc. The chain is broken if I try to skip a link.
Now I get to wait on others to make their move before I get to move something else. I need the Efis repair guy to send me his estimate. I need the insurance lady to fix the policy. I need the window people to come give me an estimate. I need the cement siding people to come give me an estimate. I need the insurance adjuster to send me his estimates of repair costs and the first check towards paying for the hail damage. I think I did all that I was to do – next move is in other people’s hands.
While Phil was here he told me the porch on the rental property I own in Cottonwood Falls has sunk even more on one side. Phil told me how he could fix it and I gave him approval to do so. He didn’t give me an estimate on the cost but I trust him and know he will only do what is needed and do it in the most efficient way he knows how to do.
I sure hope this is the end of unexpected surprise expenses. I have had more than my share this last week. I’m grateful I know who to call when they happen and have been able to get the process started towards getting repairs done but ……. I really dislike doing things like this and spending money on things like this. Enough already!!!!
I have been able to stay in a good head space today regardless of the day’s events. I turned 70 today and have been enjoying reading the texts, cards and facebook messages people have been sending me. 70 sure sounds old to me but I don’t feel old most days. Guess age is just a number. Not sure what 70 is to feel or be like since I have never been 70 before.
Grateful to be alive for another birthday, grateful the hail damage repair process is moving along, and grateful for all my friends and family that are sharing love with me today.