Delays

Our town has been booming lately.  Corporate headquarters of various large companies moving to the area have greatly increased the need for housing.  Chris has mentioned that we currently have more cranes in our city than in any other city.  I believe it as I drive through the city, and the suburbs, and see their looming presence.  James always asks me to drive slower or "turn around" so that he can study them at length.  GiGi gets impatient.  "Go!" she squeals through her pacifier (which obviously isn't doing its job).

Considering the growth, it's no surprise that it's been a bit of a challenge finding good contractors in a timely manner.  We are doing our best to work on referral, because we believe in the word-of-mouth reputation-- especially from people who have good reputations themselves.

Besides the challenge of growth, the weather has also been a roadblock often.  I don't know if it's just because the rain inhibits progress lately, but it seems like it's been rainier than normal this year.  One day, while my parents were in town, I spent over an hour sweeping (yes, sweeping) water out of GiGi's bedroom because of the holes in the roof.  I couldn't stand the thought of the water lingering there overnight and through Sunday until the workers could hopefully arrive on Monday.

Yesterday Chris called me to let me know that there were some issues with the framing that were going to prevent us from having the roof installed on Tuesday this week, as had originally been projected.  He was worried about approaching the framers about this, because the issues had been items he had previously mentioned needing to be fixed, but apparently his requests had been overlooked.  The trim guy was the one who had confirmed his suspicions-- that these issues could cause major problems down the line, if they weren't to be corrected.  The trim guy explained that the issues were amateur mistakes-- as if the framers were still in the learning process.  I could understand that, considering our framers are really quite young.  They are clearly hard workers, but there is definitely something to be said for the experience that comes with years on the job.  Needless to say, I had a pit in my stomach for the rest of the day, after hearing this news.  It was more for the stress I knew Chris was enduring, than for my own worry.

On the way home, the kids and I stopped by the house, said our prayers for the house out loud, and then blew them from our palms up toward the naked frame.  Crazy as it sounds, I felt lighter as I drove away.

As soon as I got home from work last night, Chris rushed out the door to meet a buddy who was bringing an associate of his over to the lot.  When Chris returned almost two hours later, he said, "I just met the nicest Hispanic guy.  Seriously, I think he was a Godsend."  I instantly thought of our little prayers we blew up to the house.

I just heard that familiar sound of rain on the roof of our office building.  It starts off soft... almost like the HVAC kicking on.  Then the rush gets louder.  I used to love the rain.  "I'm only happy when it rains," was Garbage's mantra that I could empathize with.  Now the rain changes things.  The next line of the song chants, "I'm only happy when it's complicated."  Complicated is an understatement to describe the effect of rain on this build.  Heck, complicated is an understatement to describe my life.  But then again, I do still love the rain, and I am a sucker for complication, I suppose.