He's a perfectionist. He never cuts corners. He's ethical and fair with his prices.
Guy has rebuilt a porch for us. Guy has built out a pantry for us. He is dependable and takes pride in his work.
Alas, my cheating ways have put a crack in this relationship.
Guy is so good that he has become very busy. Unfortunately for us, he now has to put us off because of his busy schedule. I really don't like being pushed back after other clients. It makes me nervous to have projects lined up and no end really in sight for some of them.
We need a dedicated power line for our new refrigerator and a new outlet put in. I cannot wait any longer, so I called an electrician who is going to do the work for us. I tried to time the appointment with the electrician so it would be after Guy had left for the day after working on our bath remodel.
As luck would have it, the electrician came early, and Guy was leaving late. The look Guy had on his face when he saw another contractor made me feel like a cheating slut. Guy looked so betrayed and I felt such remorse and shame. I felt worse than if my husband had walked in to find me in bed with another man. That is how bad I felt.
I tried to explain to Guy that it was only an electrical outlet, but that didn't take away the sting. He was so hurt. I felt like a total sleazy slut.
Then to show how truly rotten I am, later that afternoon, I hired another painter to come in and paint the bathroom that Guy had remodeled. (I'm lying to Guy and telling him that Alex did the painting.) I feel bad about this lie too, because I very seldom tell a lie.
You know, unless I really have to.
I would feel bad, too. Truly. I hope Guy doesn't show up while the painter's there. I have a plumber that sounds a lot like Guy. Always on time, great work ethic, super job, very reasonable prices. In fact if it's a small job, he sometimes doesn't charge at all. The man's so good that he doesn't even advertise, and he's licensed. To top it off, he's funny, great personality and drop-dead gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteOMG I feel the same way when I have to use another hairdresser because I need my hair cut right away and I can't get in to see her for more than a week. Oh....the guilt!
ReplyDeleteAlso I need some drywall work done and my friend said her friend could do it for a decent price. One problem was that he didn't have a driver's license so it was going to be a little more trouble. In the meantime, the insulation company I'm using said they could do the drywall work at the same time and it would be over and done with. The price was about the same. Now I'm lying to my friend's friend, saying that a relative is doing it. Sigh....I'm hopeless.
That would make me feel bad, but I think you should tell him the truth, that it's because you need work doing quickly and you know just how busy he is etc. I'm sure he would understand.
ReplyDeleteWe wouldn't mind finding someone like Guy. They are very thin on the ground here.
Babs, he gets very upset over us using anybody else. He wants to do it all. And I want him to do it all. But I just don't have the patience to wait until November to get the damn bathroom painted. It's done now and looks fine. (But Guy will find fault with it even if he's told that Alex did it.)
ReplyDeleteValerie, I know exactly what you are saying! I hate to disappoint or not show "loyalty" to anyone, but sometimes a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!
ReplyDeleteGuy really is a love. And I really do feel bad about not giving him all my jobs. I have this terrible need to be the most important client.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind waiting for major work, but have no patience, waiting around for smaller jobs to be done either.
ReplyDeleteGuy put in our new floor in the bathroom, the new toilet and sink as well. He did a beautiful job (as always). I am waiting until later this month for Guy to paint the kitchen, put in new granite countertops, put in the range hood, and build us a table. That in itself is a lot of work, but I'll wait. (The painter I used today really wanted the kitchen job too, after Dingbat Alex asked him for a quote for it.) Painter X (the one we used today) is cheaper than Guy, but nobody does as good a work as Guy. So I'll wait on the important stuff and let my main man take care of it!.
ReplyDeleteA girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!
ReplyDeleteHey Linda! Oh, how I feel for Guy. But hey, he's being paid, and it's not like you didn't try. Perhaps he'll get the message... Don't mess with Medrano! Indigo x
ReplyDeleteI'm working on my patience is a virtue thing. I am canceling the electrician. Guy can do the job better and cheaper. So I'm going to start meditating when I get the urge to "get it done" NOW. Yeah, I really do feel like I cheated on my good man!
ReplyDeleteI know Fi. I just feel guilty about it.
ReplyDeleteSo at one point you were juggling 3 contractors? Boy, you're good.
ReplyDeleteI approve of patience, but sometimes you just need things done NOW. Be strong, Linda!
ReplyDeleteSince I'd been away I've missed your posts. Now that I've caught up I see you've had need to do a lot of cursing; just want you to know I'll help you say all those nasty words if it makes you feel better. Now, for the part about cheating on Guy...sometimes all you can do is lie to save face!
ReplyDeleteOh Shoot, SuziCate, I don't curse (much).
ReplyDeleteWhat Guy doesn't know won't hurt him. Just like the Prada pumps won't hurt Alex until he sees the bill.
Actually, right now I have 5 contractors I'm dealing with. And believe me, it takes a lot out of a girl!
ReplyDeleteLauren, I really do feel bad. Guy is a gem. It's just, I don't want to wait for his schedule.
ReplyDeletePrudence is good too, Indigo!
ReplyDeleteI once "fired" my contractor - who was also married to a friend of mine - for the very same reason. It was tough and my girlfriend called me up asking if her husband had done something wrong... ugh. If I could have, I would have lied. It really is a no-win situation.
ReplyDeleteGuy should feel lucky he has as much of you (er, your house) as he does. Unless he professes monogamy (or whatever you call it in contractor-ese), then you are both free to see other people. I mean, if he didn't want you going around behind his back, then he should have put a ring on it. Or something like that.
ReplyDeleteYou know how men are, Margaret. It's all right for them to do it, but if you do it, it's BAD.
ReplyDeleteGuy was here yesterday. He said "Alex did a good job on the paint." Then I really felt like a heel. Oy vey!
ReplyDeleteI struggle with this too. I have a lot of regular sub-contractors I use because of real estate. Some I like better than others and try to be loyal. BUT I don't want to wait behind a lot of other jobs. If they aren't available I move on. Yes, I feel guilty but I also sometimes feel badly that they take jobs with people because they offer bigger jobs than what I currently need. I get that they like the big ticket items, but I am a returning customer who has referred a crap load of business their way. I kind of feel like they need to squeeze out the hour or so to put in the outlet or whatever the current problem is. Don't I sound bitchy?
ReplyDeleteNo, Cheryl, Honey, you sound smarter than me!
ReplyDeleteYou shouldn't feel badly at all.
ReplyDeleteI mean, you really can't wait for those types of things to be handled while remodeling! And you would have given the job to Guy if he had the time!
You have a lot of love to give. Spreading it around is okay. xox Guy will get over it. Flash him one of your wonderful smiles.
ReplyDeleteYou are so sweet and I've missed you, my dear Nubian!
ReplyDeleteHaahaha! Awwww...I'm sure Guy will get over it. At least I hope he does! You don't want shoddy work from now on!
ReplyDeleteGuy is over it. I wrote him a check.
ReplyDeleteOMGgggggosh,
ReplyDeleteis that Guy?
WWWwwhewww. Xxxx
Sweet, huh?
ReplyDeleteSigh. But it was necessary.
ReplyDeleteHe's beautiful, talented, honest and wonderful. But, alas, he's also very busy and doesn't always put me on the top of his list. I have ex-husbands who can attest to how bad a mistake that can be, Merri!
ReplyDelete