Category: my kind of politics

Satisfaction

This is going to seem like a post about dis-satisfaction but it is not, honest.

At my house this week, we are experiencing the frustrating, man-made phenomenon of absolute waste.

Next door to me, there is a perfectly lovely home, built in the late 1980’s.

My neighbor had to sell. I understand that. But she sold to a builder of McMansions…(look it up)

Many of us tried for months to get permission to salvage what we could from the soon to be demolished house, for recycle, reclaiming and re-use. I’m talking about perfectly good appliances, beautiful hardwood flooring, lovely tiles, great carpet, two complete sets of kitchen counters and cabinets, shelving, French doors, and beautiful bathroom vanities!

That process was so political. So slow!! Like molasses! Before she moved, we, at least, were able to get the brand new refrigerator out of my neighbor’s student apartment. Perfect timing as we have just moved into our own basement apartment so that Son and Grandsons could move in. But the rest of what would have furnished a sweet kitchen, bathroom and bedroom for us downstairs, well, we just couldn’t cut through the red tape fast enough.

It’s been frustrating to say the least. Especially because James is a custom home designer and builder and is a master at reclaiming older reusable parts and pieces for new homes. Oh, what he could have built us!

At least, several neighbors showed up to save a whole mess of strawberry plants and a stunning long row of Lavender!

So at this point you are wondering what in the world this has to do with Satisfaction.

I’m almost there…

Well, the backhoes showed up yesterday. Here’s what James wrote in his family email.

We watched as the machine ate the neighbor’s house like a Tyrannosaurus Rex, gobbling and crunching it like so much soft meat. 

I could not have said it better…except maybe to add the word Bulimia in there somewhere! Chewed it up and vomited it right back out!

In a matter of hours…destroyed…consumed…

the offending backhoe in its “food coma”

OK, OK Satisfaction already!

Trying to ignore what was happening next door yesterday, we focused on fixing up our little apartment, mostly the tiny kitchenette. I was grumbling because the carpet in there is destroyed from a burst pipe earlier this year and has been covered with ugly throw rugs. James was grumbling because he had recently finally thrown away a piece of good carpet he’d kept for years that now, would have come in handy in this kitchenette.

Next thing I know, he is tearing across the lawn between us and the house destruction project. He grabs the project manager, has a quick talk (over the backhoe noise) and literally minutes before the Tyrannosaurus bites into it’s next gourmet house section, James rips out a whole room full of brand new carpet and hauls it across the grass to its new home…our kitchen!!!

Take that, you lazy, wasteful developer!!!

Now THAT was satisfying!

PS I have to admit I also found it very satisfying that there was a clandestine project for the last several nights. After the work crews left and after it got dark enough, a young family, Mom, Dad and 3 little kids, showed up night after night, and for hours, dug out the brick driveway pavers, one beautiful brick at a time. The young man told me they have a place where they can sell them for a lot of money (which they desperately need). And just so you don’t think I support theft, the project manager told me yesterday, they knew it was going on and ignored it. Also satisfying!