It's The Perfect Date..

 ...April 25th.  If you don't get the joke, go look it up.  Or better yet, after you do that go watch the movie.  (The original; not the sequel.)  It's not one of my all-time favorites or even a "comfort movie" (For me they are not the same; there are movies that are not favorites, but I watch them because they are comforting and/or calming to me...they include, but are not limited to:  Indiscreet, Radio Days, Laura, Godspell, Knives Out, Postcards from the Edge...let's just leave it there for now.) However it IS a fun movie and it IS April 25th so maybe we should all watch it.

Of course this perfect date isn't so perfect today.  It's in the 40s, so I don't know if a light jacket would cut it.  Also it's raining.  Because, of course it's raining on a weekend.  You know the time when I CAN go outside (if it's warm enough) and relax.  Don't think that's happening today.  Although I am kind of happy that we're getting rain.  The pond could use some more water and this way I shouldn't have to fill it.  (I'm terrified of my next water bill...if you don't know why:  https://bfthsboringblog.blogspot.com/2026/04/water-part-2.html) I'm actually thinking that maybe I should get a rain barrel or maybe some buckets and leave them out when it rains.  When we get a good soaking, I can dump it into the pond and maybe that would save me some money?  Or maybe not.  Who know how much a rain barrel costs?  (I need to do my research.  Will it be worth it? )

Speaking of ponds (was I), the pond guy is coming out today.  Since we've had some questions/issues with the spring start up (hey, we're still trying to get used to this), he suggested that he put a maintenance contract together for us.  It would include spring open/clean, autumn close and regular check ins.  This will be good if we go away on vacation.  (What's that?  My plans for a 30th anniversary trip went down the drain with rising airline prices and the whole uncertainty of air travel due to...well you know what I am talking about.)  We generally check out the pond and clean the mesh that keeps the "gunk" from preventing the flow of water from the pond to the waterfall once or twice a day.  (If it's windy we check more often...you can't believe how many leaves and other "stuff" gets in there.)  He texted me during the week to ask our availability and will be swinging this afternoon to review.  And that's why I love about him AND the company (he owns it so pond company/pond guy are pretty much interchangeable).  He follows up and if I have a problem he responds usually within the same day.  Isn't that how it should be?

Let's take in the other direction.  As I've said, the person who owned the company that did our land care in the Poconos (who, like the "pond guy", we inherited from the former owners), is not able to do the work this year.  (He's being deployed...and I worry about him.)  He gave his business to another company.  I thought they would contact me.  When they didn't I filled out their on line form, which they didn't respond to.  (https://bfthsboringblog.blogspot.com/2026/03/tales-of-customer-service.html)  I ended up calling the owner (his number is on the website) and he did come out to look at the yard, even though there was still snow on the ground.  I was under the impression that we'd be doing a spring clean-up and regular maintenance.  However, when I hadn't heard after the official start of spring, I texted him again (twice) and he said he'd contact us when he got back from Florida.  I waited a week or so and then texted again.  He said he'd come out soon and he DID.  He came out that day with an assistant.  I wasn't there, but he and the assistant went over the property again.  Again, I thought he's seen it and he'll come back...More texts (with no response).  I called and got the owner and he said he would get together a proposal to send and they'd be out on Wednesday or Thursday of this week.  If he wasn't there on Thursday to call and he'd come on Friday.  You can guess there was a no show.  So Thursday afternoon I called and left a message.  No call back.  Friday morning I texted and I got the response that they had an equipment breakdown and they'd be here next Tuesday...  Will they?  Fingers crossed because we are at the end of April and the last time I had a clean-up was just before Thanksgiving.  (Back then, with the previous landscaper, he wasn't able to finish that day, although I'd say he got 80% of the work done, but then he never came back!)   I'm wonder if I should "cut bait," but as my husband said, he's been out here twice he wouldn't have done that if he wasn't going to do the work.  And I do feel somewhat invested, but...WHY can't I just get follow up?

Am I a B?  I just want reliable service.  I don't think I should have to be following up all the time.  Should I?  Maybe I am the B?  Which reminds me I need to call the oil/heating company in NJ and schedule a heating tune up for the fall (yes...they make you do it now...which is crazy.)  And I need to call the HVAC company in PA to schedule an A/C check. (Even while the heat keeps coming on and I keep watching the oil gauge go lower and lower and I don't want to refill yet again...I mean it IS spring!)

Has all the complaining ruined the perfect date?  Maybe I need to curl up on the couch a binge watch Hacks.  Yes, I have comfort TV shows too.  Like The Big Bang Theory, M*A*S*H, and Lost.  As Hacks comes to its final season, I think it's time to add that to the list too.  (Is there anything Jean Smart can't do?  She's so freakin' brilliant.  Love her and love the character of Deborah Vance.  With all her flaws, I really feel her.  But don't get me started on Ava...nothing against Hannah Einbinder, who is incredibly talented, but I can't STAND Ava or Kayla.  But I adore Josephina, Marty and Kiki...Am I fangirling too much?  I am; I am.)

No matter where you are on this perfect date, may it be a perfect day.  (Or at least an acceptable one.)