What A Week....

I know that it is only Wednesday, but I have a very interesting week already under my belt.

Sunday, as mentioned in an earlier post, I spent at IKEA determining what sort of storage unit to build in the new HOD (House of Dodds). What I didn't mention was that I started the morning off walking to a wonderful bakery called Tartine's with Sam, her sister Cindy, and her nephew Dylan. I have to say that is one plus mark for living in the city because you can walk places and get unique experiences. I also went and got my hair all whacked off and the front part is blond again, which the Queen was very excited about because now I am her true ABBA again (Aries, Blond, Blogging, Aggie). Well, when I stopped at home between the walk to Tartine's to drop off my pastries and jumping in the car to drive to the hair whacking place, I met "John" on the elevator. Turns out John lives in 413 to my 417 in the building. We made chit chat on the ride up and said "see you around" as we stopped at our respective doors.

Monday, I went through a series of very draining meetings at work and then raced home so that I could be home at 1:00 to meet PG&E to turn on my gas stove sometime between 1 and 5. I walk down the hall of my building at 1:05, mind you I saw NO PG&E truck in the street and NO PG&E person in the hall or elevator, I come to my door and there is a note there that says "Sorry we missed you. We were here at 1:05. You will need to call and reschedule." I was FURIOUS!!! I walk in the door, grab the phone, and call the number only to be dumped into call system hell. After 10 minutes of "press 1; press 3; etc." I am in tears. Not just watery eyes, but full blown sobbing, snot running, can't speak tears. I'm screaming at the computer call system that I want to speak to a person and finally, miraculously I am connected to one.

I actually feel very sorry for the guy on the phone who had to deal with me. I started out explaining that I was here at the apartment on time, can I help it if the service guy was probably early and decided to go to lunch? I then screamed at him that I can't take ANOTHER half day off from work to wait for the gas man. I said I'd been living in this place for 2 weeks now and couldn't cook and had even called my daddy back in Texas, even though I knew he couldn't do anything to help me out. I explained the situation, I tried to light the burner, I get the click, click, click but no flame; my building Super came and looked at it and said no gas is getting to it so I needed to call PG&E and have them come light the pilot, even though it really needed to be turned on at the main. The entire time and heaving and sobbing and apologizing for crying. Eventually the guy on the phone said, "let me speak to my supervisor" and the next thing I know, he is back with me saying "somebody will be back out today between now and 10:30 PM.

This entire time I've also been texting Sam and letting her know about my frustration. She calls almost as soon as I'm off the phone and I sob a little more, then let her know that they will be there before 10:30. She comments that is unacceptable as we have dinner plans with our French friends at 7:30. She tells me I should call them back and tell them that I smell gas and they need to send somebody out immediately. Of course, she also says that she knows it isn't my nature to do that. And, I'm like, well "I can't lie, besides, I've already told them that the gas is turned off at the main, it would be a little fishy for me to call them now and say I smell gas." And she agreed. We hung up and a little bit later her wonderful Mum calls me to see if there is anything I need and to tell me that I need to let go of my innocent, Texas manners and get city tough. She also asked if I would like for her to call and give PG&E a few words for me.

At 2:30, my phone rings and it is PG&E downstairs. He comes in, turns on the gas, comes up to the apartment to see that it is working, and explains how to use the stove. I was so grateful that I actually asked him if I could give him a hug. He declined the hug siting some Sexual Harassment BS, but I told him that I was mentally hugging him. I'm sure he went back to his PG&E buddies to let them know that there is a crazy woman in 417!!

After the gas fiasco, I felt great and ready to go to dinner with Sam and the French crowd, which will actually be another blog....

Tuesday, I woke up with a migraine and ended up staying home from work, so there really isn't anything exciting to comment on there.

This morning, Wednesday, I get up, still having residual migraine issues, but need to face the day at least for a little while. I get dressed and open my front door. There leaning up against the door is a bottle of wine and a note welcoming me to the neighborhood. And it is signed "John from 413".

Could I actually have a budding friendship here? I guess there will be more to come on this!!