Ignorance is Bliss

by Shirley Hailstock

I'm doing a simple job -- updating the bathroom from 1980's yellow to something more modern. I got the estimates, chose a contractor and they started work. From the day they came, my life has not been my own.

I realize some things would come up and that I needed to be ready for changes (translated that to more money).  But every day, there is a new crisis, a new concern and a new dollar amount.

Is this a novel or not? Am I putting my characters up a tree and throwing rocks at them to make the story more interesting?  That's all fine and well when it's fiction, but this is real life.

Day One - Think of this as the Opening, the Prologue or if you're into novel construction, the normal world. It was an easy day. They demo-ed the bathroom. No problems, other than dust. Even though they put up plastic sheets and taped them to the ceiling and floors, the dust still found its way in. I got a Roomba for Christmas. It doesn't really pick up fine dust. I had to do it manually.

Day Two - Translated as Act One or Chapters one through three. The bathtub I  bought has the drain at the wrong end. I bought it a year ago when I hired a contractor who was doing such a bad job that I fired him. The current contractors tore the box apart getting the tub out. High stress ensues. I called the store and they agreed to take it back and sell me a new one. I have no truck, but the contractor drove me to the store and we replaced it for almost the same amount -- almost, but not totally.

Day Three - Climbing the tree to get away from rocks. There's a leak in the roof because one of the exhaust pipes had come loose from the inside pipe. I needed a roofer to come and repair a seal around the pipe. It's 30 degrees and snowing. No one can work in that weather, but momentarily hiding from the stones, I found a roofer who would come the next day. The temperature was 40 when they got here and fixed it.

Day Four - Bathroom is making progress. The walls and floor tiles are in, the ceiling has been closed. The light over my shower in installed as is the exhaust fan. While the painting is going on, the roofers returned to do the full inspection and what do they find? I have a squirrel living in my soffit and more in the attic. They can't get it out, so I'm called every animal control business in the region to try and get someone to come. My normal pest company wants a huge amount of money to come and do the whole house. They won't come for one squirrel or one opening.

Day Five is tomorrow. What's in store for the climax of this saga.

Thanks for being my sounding board. It's always good to have someone to bounce your plot idea off. All the while this renovation is going on, I've been working on a Heartwarming novel.  It's due to my editor at the end of the month. So trees, rocks, roofs, leaks, and all, words still need to be on the page.

See you soon. And keep reading.