Communication Is Key

The siding is up on the kitchen bump out.

This post originally appeared on the Hermit Haus Redevelopment website on 2016-02-03.

The Blue Ridge project is still running behind schedule, and there were a couple of developments that will put it farther over its budget this week.

First the good news: the cabinets and countertops are in in the kitchen and both bathrooms. The granite countertops really pop against the white cabinets, which are not quite Shaker style. We even had the folding table in the laundry room topped with the granite.

And the siding is up on the kitchen bump out—the one where we had to remove the brick facade last week. Part of it got knocked down, and it was safer to remove the rest of the brick than to repair the remainder. The horizontal HardiePlanks echo the siding on the other three sides of the house. It looks good, even in the weird default primer color. It will look even better painted to match the house.

That brings us to the bad news and the title of this post. Last week, we messaged the contractor, Chris, a picture of the color fan showing the color we wanted matched against a wall. The contractor asked if we were sure, and we responded that we were without really understanding what he was asking. The problem is that each blade of the color fan has a range of shades of the color ranging from very pale to dark. We had used the lightest at a different house, and that one had a note written on it. Chris thought we wanted the color with the note, and we thought he would understand we wanted the one that matched the background against which we took the picture of the color fan blade. Neither of us actually mentioned the name or color code.

So when I showed up to inspect the property today, I asked in all innocence if they had just sprayed the house with primer. “No. That’s the actual color you guys chose.” Argh! The whole exterior of the house is the wrong color. So we get to buy more paint and pay to repaint the house: More money over budget and more time lost!

The bottom line is this: when you are talking with your contractors (or human beings in general), be as specific as you can. If you’re talking about paint, talk color codes and names. It’s an easy mistake to make and a difficult lesson to learn—again. Get Sue Ann to tell you about the time I had her house painted orange.

 

Oops! Wrong Color

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

Yesterday ended and today started poorly. Suna didn’t sleep last night worrying about the house getting painted the wrong color, in spite of my saying repeatedly that we would get it fixed. The way the world works, we are extremely lucky to be this far into the project before the first miscommunication happened.

And I take ownership of this one. She told me what color she wanted the house, but I got confused when we only picked out two colors. That was because she didn’t realize we were painting the body of the house as well as the fascia, sophets, and trim. Sigh.

The fascia looks good…better when it’s painted.

The contractor was very nice and volunteered to eat part of the cost of repainting since he was involved in the miscommunication—even though I had already told him it wasn’t his fault. He even said it wouldn’t throw us that far off schedule. He will pick up more paint and have it fixed by the time we get home from work tomorrow.

I guess it’s part of getting older. I make more mistakes than I used to. Or maybe I’m just more willing to admit them.

While we were talking about the paint, he also pointed out that one of the vent caps on the house was missing. I guess it blew off in one of the storms. We hadn’t noticed because you can’t see it unless you are standing in the neighbor’s driveway looking at the chimney. At least we know how the squirrels were getting into the attic.

Friday’s Gluttony

Friday’s Feast is still silent, but Suna more-or-less (more less than more but nonetheless) tagged me with a meme. I usually don’t like to answer lists this long, but…

1. Were you named after anyone?
Yes, I’m a junior. [See, Suna! I’m trying to do better with these silly binary questions.]
2. When was the last time you cried?
I remember crying, but I don’t remember when. I seem not to hold onto negative data like that. It’s just too easy to flush the buffers.
3. Do you like your handwriting?
It depends on whether or not I’m trying to read it. I often get compliments on how pretty my handwriting is—usually followed by questions about which writing system I use.


Liverwurst on toast with onion, cheese, and mayo—yum!

Photo source: Guy Albertelli

4. What is your favorite lunch meat?
Liverwurst followed closely by Salsalito Turkey.
5. Do you have kids?
Yes, but I have sired none. My bit for population control. All problems facing humanity today can be seen to stem from overpopulation.
6. If you were another person would you be friends with you?
Probably. “I think I’m an alright guy,” as the Todd Snider song goes.
7. Do you use sarcasm a lot?
Not a lot. I have trouble recognizing it, so I try to avoid it. But it does creep into my communication style.
8. Do you still have your tonsils?
No.


Some creatures are made for bungee jumping. Humans aren’t

Photo source: funadium

9. Would you bungee jump?
That would be a “Hell, no!” I wouldn’t even get close enough to the edge to be pushed.
10. What is your favorite cereal?
Honey Nut Cheerios
11. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off?
Sometimes—especially if they won’t come off otherwise.
12. Do you think you are strong?
There are many measures of strength. Everyone is strong just as everyone is weak.
13. What is your favorite ice cream?
The flavor in front of me.
14. What is the first thing you notice about people?
Different things with different people. Just say their comportment.
15. Red or pink?
On what?


I notice different things first on different people, but some always seem to be wearing a mask.

Photo source: Estella

16. What is the least favorite thing about yourself?
I haven’t conducted a poll to find out. My least favorite thing about myself is that I often miss the point of oblique communication. Why can’t people just say what they mean? For example: “I guess I’ll put that” away does not mean “Lee, please put that away.”
17. Who do you miss the most?
I’ll go with Suna on this one: I miss my mom, even though I still talk to her every day. She doesn’t answer back as often as she used to.
18. Do you want everyone to send this back to you?
“I think I speak for everybody here when I say, ‘Huh?’”
19. What color shoes are you wearing?
My feet are nekkid.
20. What was the last thing you ate?
Some mixed vegetables.
21. What are you listening to right now?
Skylight.
22. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Again, the premise of this question is false, so any answer would be equally false. I’m not a crayon. How could I know what color I would be if I were?
23. Favorite smells?
See! More oblique communication! Does this ask if I have favorite smells? Yes, but I might not. Many people are olfactorily challenged. Or does it ask what those smells are? Fresh coffee and freshly turned fertile earth.
24. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
A time-vampiric, panhandling leech known as a telemarketer.
25. Do you like the person who sent this to you?
Duh!


Sometimes I even fall asleep watching football on TV. I guess I’m just not that much of a sports fan. [Is that one guy trying to pull the receiver’s pants down?]

Photo source: jmtimages

26. Favorite sports to watch?
Another one! If I interpret the stem correctly, football. Then whatever else is on if I’m not doing anything else.
27. Hair Color?
No, this is my natural color.
28. Eye color?
I guess I may have misinterpreted the previous question. Depends on what I’m wearing. It changes.
29. Do you wear contacts?
No.

At this point, the original interrogator got too lazy to write cogent stems, and I grew bored enough with the game to truncate the list. I assume that if I got too bored with my own fascinating opinions to continue, anyone reading this would have fallen asleep by now. [Does that count as sarcasm?] See you next time on the Interminable List of Questions blog. [That surely does.]