Ugh

I'm not sure where this should go. I'll just rant here.

Today we were out driving and happened to pass by my Grandmother's house right when the fire engine was parked out front (oop! ack!). I pulled over to see what the problem was. It turned out to be ok. Her basement has flooded and apparently you can call the fire department to have them pump it out (who knew?).

The firefighter was really nice and handed me the number of the plumber (that he copied off the side of something - not even sure what - in Grandma's basement). He told me her sump pump was busted and that the pipes were clogged too. He said there must be a high water table around there (uh yeah - way back when some genius decided it would be smart to drain a SWAMP and build a neighborhood - that's Grandma's house). He asked me about three times "you'll take care of this?" and I said yes each time.

Unfortunately, that number was for a plumber who refuses to come out anymore. Sigh. Back in her old days, Grandma scared a lot of people away with her, ahem, strong personality (She yelled a lot. At everyone). Well, with the help of Lexapro, she's mellowed and doesn't yell so much. Now she scares them away with her dementia. Apparently she called this plumber one day and then forgot she had done so. Then, when the poor guy came by, she called the cops on him and said someone was breaking into her house. So yeah, he won't come by anymore.

I called my Dad. He said to go ask the neighbor if she knew a plumber. When I was a kid living there you could walk through the backyards but now the yards are fenced up so I would have had to go around to the other side of the block (backyard neighbor). The universe helped me out though because at that moment Claire came walking into her backyard, apparently just home from work. I haven't seen her in decades. She babysat me a few times when I was a kid and she was a teen :-) Anyway, she gave me a name and said that the number was in Grandma's address book.

So, groceries getting warm in the car, I got the kids into Grandma's house and found the address book. Uh, no, the number was not in there (maybe she has more than one address book?) but with the name, I dialed information and got the number to leave a message for the plumber.

I called my Dad to let him know that I had left the plumber a message. Meanwhile, Dad asked me if I could take Grandma to get her hearing aids checked since she suddenly can't hear anything (which is wreaking havoc with doctor's appointments). He said it was just a "walk in", you don't have to make an appointment so I said sure, we'd do it tomorrow. Since I was going to see her anyway, he asked if I could also give Grandma her daily meds so I said sure.

Getting home I thought you know, I better call the place just to be sure. Googled the address Dad gave me, found the number, called and it's NOT a walk-in place. The earliest appointment they had was for November 7. Sigh.

So I called around and found a place a few blocks from me that can see us Wednesday. Halloween.

Ok, the appointment is 2:15 but that should give me time to get it done, drop Grandma off and be ready for dinner at 5 so we can trick or treat after. So tomorrow go visit and give her the meds, and then Wednesday go pick her up and take her to get her hearing aids checked. I've already bribed the kids with the promise of McDonald's after if they will just try and be patient during the visit (and now it occurs to me, will I have time to take them to McDonald's after dropping off Grandma and still get home in time to make dinner for me and Robert and trick or treat at 6?).

At this point, I'm beginning to feel a bit stressed but it's ok, I can deal.

Then Dad calls again. The plumber can come Wednesday "sometime after 12:30" and Dad gave him my cell phone number to call. My voice a mix between panic and annoyance, I told Dad I'll be at Grandma's hearing aid appointment, I can't deal with the plumber at the same time. Dad insists it will be ok, that if I can just get to Grandma's early to let the guy in, we can leave the guy in the basement when we leave with Grandma. Fine, whatever, but I told him that someone else needs to be on call when I'm at the appointment. I don't want to have to deal with the hearing aid people and Grandma and my bored kids AND field calls from a plumber all at the same time.

ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Thursday I have a doctor's appointment for ME. Nobody better ask me to do ANYTHING for them because I'm telling them where to go if they do.

Calgon, take me away!