Stickin' It To The Man..

Well, friends, I am finally moved into my house. I simply love it. But along with this wonderful experience that is part of the American Dream, there comes pure frustration.

Today has been a highlight of frustration for me when it comes to what we will refer to in this post as THE MAN!

Today, I was on the verge of becoming a Mass Murderer; and being a couple bullets away from becoming one I realized that mass murder is not as bad as people say it is. Of course, you know I am not serious when I say this...but my emotions were running high today, and I was quickly developing a taste for blood. Here is what spun this on:

1. I called last week to get my Cable Internet & Cable TV transferred from my apartment to my house. The soonest THE MAN would be able to send a guy to do this was today. I had to be home from 1-5 today; because apparently THE MAN has the technology to give you the world through a cable, but he can't narrow down his appointments past a 4 hour window. The technician arrives and I welcomed him with a happy smile. I love my internet...it is almost a basic human need in my book...so I was ready to be wireless again in the comfort of my own home. He promptly states that he will be collecting a COD of 60+ dollars for the transfer & installation fee. Hark! What is this? THE MAN is billing me to transfer my service with him from one residence to another, which is less than 5280 feet away from each other? I could feel the internal thermostat begin to rise. This was unacceptable. I quickly told the technician this was not possible, and that I would be totaling canceling my service with THE MAN. He left and shortly thereafter, I did just that. Now, I will have cable internet someday soon. I’ll just have to wait till they run their periodic promotion of waiving the installation fee. I just could not believe THE MAN was going to charge an existing customer $60 to keep his service.

2. With that stewing inside of me, I get a ring at the door and it is the plumber. I signed the papers to officially become the owner of this house the day before Thanksgiving. 2 weeks prior a home inspection stated that the hot water heater was operating well but operating well beyond the average lifespan (I think it is older than me). I start moving in that very day. Shortly after beginning the moving process, I quickly discovered the hot water heater wasn’t working properly. More to the point, I could not get any hot water and still can’t at this very moment. Because of the Holiday, it took me a week to get a plumber to show up at my door. On Monday, I was told by my Home Warranty Company that the hot water heater was covered under the Home Warranty I purchased on the day of closing. All I would have to pay would be my $75 deductible. When the plumber called today to get authorization from the Home Warranty Adjuster, THE MAN changed his mind and told me that the hot water heater would not be covered under the policy since it never worked under my ownership.

…

24 hours has transpired since I paused in my writing of this post. I still do not have hot water. I am on the verge of buying a new hot water heater and helping my brother-in-law install it in my basement. I am waiting, though, for my Home Warranty Company to call. Throughout the whole home-buying process, I have been thoroughly blessed with two of the greatest realtors known to mankind. http://www.donnapratt.com/ I am naming my first 2 daughters after them! When they found out that THE MAN was trying to weasel out of paying for my hot water heater, they started working the phones. Currently THE MAN is reviewing my policy and will be sending his final decision in less than an hour. I will have hot water someday…maybe tomorrow…maybe Monday. I will have hot water some day. It is going to cost me money…maybe just $75…maybe $300. I will have hot water though.

Through all my complaining, God has been there to remind me that I am blessed beyond my imagination and all I have to do is pause & remember...remember that some people in this small world are dying to receive any kind of education through the advance of knowledge. They would quickly take any kind of book in any kind of condition. Wireless hi-speed internet is just as likely to them as meeting the President. All I have do is pause & remember that some people in this small world are dying just for clean water…they would take any water at any temperature.

Into your hands, Oh God, we give you our lives. Help us, God. I believe. Help my unbelief.