Day After Monday

Last week was a bit much.  We had several companies come over to give us a bid on replacing our roof.  I've felt some pressure to get it done.  I'm not good with tons of company, especially if it is strangers.  Our home is my safe place.  It felt like every single day had someone new here.  Shaking hands is something I avoid at all costs.  I dislike sweaty/cold/too strong/limp handshakes.  I always want to run wash my hands as quick as possible.  I shook far too many hands last week - and all of the dislike categories of handshakes were covered.  (Yup, I'm socially awkward.)  The men were tromping all over the yard, up on the roof, in the attic.  Everywhere.  We were with them most of the time, but finally I gave up and just let The Husband handle them.  It feels like that's "guy stuff" anyway.

The first actual bid was ludicrous ($120,000).  I should have just laughed in his face.  And in retrospect, I'm thinking he must have a sort of "script" he follows, his paper didn't have just one spot for a bid, it had three columns, so I'm thinking they start really high and plan on coming down.  And for a bit it felt like I was buying a car with the constant phone calls to his superior, getting approval on this or that.  He kept reducing the price (as well as swapping out quality shingles for less good ones, trying to sell us their ugly overstock, etc.) in addition to letting me hear him tell his superior that we really liked their product and their plan - which was an outright falsehood.  After three hours I finally had enough.  In the very beginning, The Husband said, and I followed up numerous times with the comment that we weren't signing any contract that day.  But he was determined and used the "hard sell" tactic that I so dislike - and that's unfortunate because that just caused me to dig in my heels. Even if he'd come down to only a thousand dollars, I would never do business with that company.  

So we used the weekend to think and talk (and I worried and mentally fussed) and even pray about what to do.  It's a big chunk of our retirement, made more expensive and complicated by the solar panels.  We are pretty close to signing a contract, even with an additional little hiccup.  But right now I'm comfortable with the company, with the product and am hoping the weather will cooperate and we'll get a good roof on in a timely manner without issues. 

Today's physical therapy went well.  Jon actually laughed at me when I said I could move my arm a bit further but it still hurt.  "This is only your second time here!" he chortled. "Just relax." Which made me laugh because as I told him, "I don't really know how to do that." By then we were both laughing which was good because it actually made me less tense for at least a couple minutes.  He's very pleased with my progress, I don't have to go back for two weeks this time.  And he thinks that might be my last time.  I'll be so happy when my arm will allow me to go back to yoga.  I still don't love the yoga.  But I miss how much better my arthritic knees feel when I'm faithful about attending class.  (Not to mention that I actually miss seeing class attendees friendly faces.)

We were actually able to get out for a walk this morning.  The air was finally clear enough that it felt safe to be out breathing it.  However did we handle it when we had the bad air inversions for weeks at a time in January? Walked out the front door and had to stop and take this picture of the moon (it looks way better on my phone).  It was such a lovely sight.  And the moon played peek-a-boo with us among the clouds all through our walk.   

And please, take a minute to read this article.  He's got some great thoughts.

Make Kindness Our Specialty

I'm grateful today for repentance.  I surely do use that principle a lot.  And for people who know enough about our bodies to help us feel better. For just enough in savings to be able to re-roof our house and do it properly. I'm grateful for things to read that encourage me to be a better person, and for good examples around me.