The Continuing Saga

I feel the need to have "the continuing saga" be a subtitle to this post, however, I can't think of how to succinctly describe my mortgage/renovation/bank fraud situation in one word. If only it was that simple.

Also, I apologize for the string of vulgarities in my recent posts and this current one... what can I say, that's how I feel. And how I talk about these situations in real life, so why sugar coat it in writing? It's not like this is a literary publication. So, caveat aside, I am beyond pissed. I've noted much of the craziness that has ensued the last 6 weeks, but Monday evening something really put my anger over the top despite my breakdown induced zen-like state. Reason 3,115 why I could never be a Buddhist. My husband was working late because he had 2 big projects to finish, so I was at home making dinner after walking the dogs. Generally minding my own business. Trying to get through yet another Monday. No big deal.

Well, I hear him stumbling with his keys at the front door and he walks in with steam coming out of his ears. I'm like "What on earth is going on?" He said, "Well, I just got off the phone with Stan [the contractor] and he basically threatened us."

"What?"

"Yep, I just spent the last hour on the phone with him where he proceeded to give me the run down how in the 'old days' contractors would have gone in and chainsawed out the cabinets and granite since they'd not be paid or barricaded us in our house with a truck bumper.' And how that's what some 'old guys' recommended that he do."

"You're kidding, right?"

"Nope. And he posted it as being a hypothetical past situation to which I responded, 'Yeah, it's good things have changed, huh?'"

"So, he essentially threatened us?"

"Basically, yes. He's trying to intimidate us into paying him."

At this point I think I uttered a "Let me talk to the motherf*ing wimp-assed b*tch if he thinks he's threatening us." (What can I say? We just finished the series finale of The Wire - also known as the BEST show ever made! - so I feel empowered to use my full range of Northern Wisconsin vulgarity when expressing my anger - without asterisks or abbreviations in the original version.) I promise to calm down with the swearing one of these days, but I doubt it will before this shithead is paid and out of my life for good. Did I also mention that we arranged a meeting a few weeks ago that my father-in-law graciously moderated so that Stan could do everything but get on his knees and beg us to give him some money? Now, why on earth would I put myself out on a financial limb for someone who doesn't even have an iota self-respect or business acumen. Really?

Now my husband is a little beside himself because he is so astonished by this line of attack. You see, at the end of the day, we can still instruct the bank to withhold a certain percentage of payment for up to 90 days to ensure no liens are placed on the property post payment. So, why on earth would you want to give us any reason to believe that you are 1. Completely desperate and 2. Threatening our property, lives, and financial stability? Is that really going to want us make us play nice?

Certainly not in my world. And, as my husband (and Eric the vampire in such situations in True Blood) responded, "I don't like threats." Okay, I had to throw in the bit about Eric because he's the only celebrity crush I've had in almost 5 years and it's a bad one. My husband knows this and understands... or at least deals with it because it's so silly and I'm rarely, if ever, silly in anything. So it's just kind of funny. Not at all serious, just something light-hearted in a life that seems to be filled with nothing but anger, frustration, and bad tidings lately. I like a fictional vampire like just like the other 80% of American women. Oh well. I will say that in Twilight I am thoroughly a Jacob supporter and am not a fan of Edward at all. Another guilty confession of my reading habits of late.

So, anyway, here we are. It's been insinuated that we should be on our guard if we don't pay up - even though if he wants to threaten someone it should really be the bank... we're not the ones withholding his money. Or better yet, take it up with FHA or HUD since it's a government-insured loan. I'm sure they'll be overly sympathetic to a contractor threatening their clients. Tuesday I worked from home because I just didn't feel good and in the early afternoon I saw a big navy blue truck pull up in front of my house. I looked at the guy driving and he proceeded to immediately turn around. Now, that certainly could have been someone who has nothing to do with me... our neighborhood can be slightly difficult to navigate if you've never been there. However, we're the first house on a corner of the street so typically people drive down to the circle at the end. Regardless, I had a really bad feeling about him and it only fueled my anger. Here's hoping I don't go home at lunch to find my kitchen torn apart with a chainsaw. Although the contractor apparently had someone talk him down yesterday because he sent us a much more calm email. We'll see. I'm skeptical. And PISSED. Don't forget that.

This worthless P.O.S. ruined my vacation, my moving/settling in process, my post-breakdown peaceful state, my ability to sleep through the night, and my ability to concentrate on important work that must get done. He has ruined the last month of my life and my ability to enjoy my new home. Now he is ruining my personal feeling of security.

And there's not a damn thing I can do about it other than consult my advisers. And rant here, so that's what I'm doing.