The "Curse" of Friday the 13th

 I know a people fear Friday the 13th (and I'm not talking about the movie).  I've always liked Friday the 13th (not the movie).  I was married on Friday the 13th and so far that's turned out well.  (It's only been 29 years.)  In general, I look forward to Friday the 13th.  It's usually a good day for me.  Usually...

For everything has its exception right?  As often as Friday the 13th comes, there have got to be some not so good ones, right?

Now Friday, February 13th wasn't the worst day of my life.  It wasn't terrible.  It wasn't awful.  It was just...annoying, frustrating and somewhat costly...

It was a busy work day for me.  (Why are Fridays becoming more and more crazy?  They used to be quiet days and that's gone out the window.)  Towards the end of the day, I was walking through the living/dining room and I heard a dripping sound.  A dripping sound is never good.  If you read this:  https://bfthsboringblog.blogspot.com/2026/02/what-i-did-superbowl-weekend.html, you can probably guess where this is going.  (If you didn't...why not?)

It's been very cold this winter.  It's been very snowy.  Cold and snow that didn't go away.  (Remember, I still haven't been able to take down my holiday lights because they are buried under a mound of snow that isn't going to go away anytime soon.)  This past week got a little warmer and yesterday was very sunny and above freezing.  Things started to melt.  For the first time in a long time, we could actually see the sky through our skylights (as opposed to snow and ice).  Snow, ice and melting...coming in by the front windows of the house.  (Not through the windows.)

I did not panic.  (Well not completely.)  I called my husband and we started to move items away from the window area.  I wasn't too concerned with the plants, but we do have a music system there that was getting dripped upon.  Hubby tore up a garbage bag and laid it down.  We moved a table and lamp.

I called my new "friend" at the roofing company since I had his cell number.  He didn't answer, but I left a message.  Then I called the company's office and got a very nice customer service rep.  I explained that K had been out for a problem last Saturday and now I had a problem in a different place.  I told her I called K's cell.  She took my info and said she'd text K as well and put in a service call ticket.  Within 5 minutes K called me back and said he was on his way.  (While I was on the phone with K, the customer service rep also called me.  I ignored her because I had K on the phone.  Still pretty impressive with the turnaround time.)  

K showed up around 20 or so minutes later.  It was a case of him going up on the roof and cleaning off all the snow. 

Unfortunately there was also a lot of ice which had built up.  Nutshell, he did what he could (by now the sun was almost down) and will be back to check on things when he can.  (Not surprisingly it's a busy time of year!)  In the spring, he is going to do a thorough inspection of the roof and we will definitely have to make some repairs.  (But NOT replace the whole roof...at least that's what we hope.)  

This Friday the 13th's visit was more expensive than last Saturday's, but it includes the cost of the inspection that will be done when things warm up, so...And I'm stimulating the local economy, right? Again, while I am not happy with any of this, I AM really pleased at the company's prompt response.  Customer service is not dead...at least not there.

After K left, hubby and I ran to ShopRite for a few items.  We didn't need much, but still my grocery bill was over $100 (I remember when I could get a week + of groceries for that price...and it wasn't that long ago.  Talk to me about affordability why don't you?)  We got home, unloaded our groceries and had a light dinner. It was later than we usually eat and although I wasn't that hungry, I did have a glass of wine (Only 4 more days until Lent and no wine or alcohol for me.)  I may have had more than a glass.  I may have finished the bottle that was opened...Just to give you a little background.

Hubby takes a hot shower and gets into our nice warm bed.  I'm getting ready to take a shower and he says he hears something outside.  Sure enough, a car is stopped on the road outside our driveway.  Realizing (after ignoring the sign that says dead end) 

that there is nowhere to go, the car pulls into our driveway using our driveway as a jug handle.  This pisses me off.  (Remember there had been wine.)

The driver then decides to head back down the road again.  Like the snow that is piled up is suddenly going to go away? 

I throw my pants back on and try to put on a pair of snow boots because I'm really annoyed.  The driver again decides he can't go through the snow and instead of backing up, uses our driveway AGAIN.  San coat (and boots only half on), I go out the front door and start yelling.  (Again, wine was involved.)  I'm still trying to get my boots on (and failing miserably) to go out to the end of the driveway and give this person a piece of my mind, when they finally decide to turn to the right and exit the street the way they came in.  (The ONLY way you can get out.)

I wouldn't be so annoyed IF this hadn't been happening more and more often!  Just when I thought things were getting better more numbskulls are using the private drive (which is not plowed by the township and only gets cleared by the plow service we use) are ignoring the signs.  I suppose I SHOULD be happy that the idiot didn't try to drive down the snowed in part of the path (because it really ceases to be a road past my house) and get stuck like 2 others have.  (One last year and one this year.)

Read the signs people!  Trust your eyes and when a road is snowed in, don't drive on it!  Use common sense!  (I know it doesn't exist anymore.)

Friday, February 13th wasn't a great day.  But it's over and today is Valentine's Day so...

Happy VD to all!