How an errand turns into a long day (and post)

We went over to the other building Saturday to check the bathroom work we had done. The renter's brother in law did it and we wanted to make sure it was well done before paying. All we really had done was redo the shower enclosure, put in a new toilet and faucets and then repaint. It still cost $1200. Ugh. The guy in that apartment only pays a third of that since he's been there forever and the law permits us to raise the rent exactly 4 dollars for this upgrade. We recoup the $ in 25 years with no interest. Yay Quebec. We keep hoping he wins big at the casino (he's a gambler) so he'll move.

Anyway, there were some materials left over so we decided to take them back to Home Depot. Since we were going to Home Depot, Serge wanted to show me the lamp shop he had discovered while I was in California. It's in an industrial park East of here. There were a couple of lamps (we've been shopping for a lamp for a whole year now to put above the dining table we bought last year. Until now, there have just been wires dangling out of the ceiling) that we liked but of course they were out of our price range.

We left the store and headed up to Home Depot but since it was nearing lunch time, I suggested stopping at the nearby Costco for a poutine. Now who could resist such a fine idea? Not us. So then we were scarfing down our hotdogs and poutine and Serge says that since we're here we have to walk through the store. I said okay but no cart. That way we'll have to really want to buy it to carry it around the store. Serge insists on walking every aisle and I don't mind, it's fun hanging out with the spouse sometimes. We had a lively debate over the words need and want and I guess I held forth since we actually left the store without spending anything, er, except for lunch. Please admire, won't you, our restraint and skillful delayed gratification technique.

So we finally made it into Home Depot and returned the things and of course Serge said we had to walk the store. I protested reminding him that just last week we did the Home Depot walkthrough when we bought the stuff for the bathroom remodel. He held forth this time and we spent a long time in the lighting aisle and I found a stained glass lamp that I liked because the colors matched our living room. Surprisingly Serge said okay. After a whole year of checking lighting it was a very pleasant reply. Serge then said we had to buy a dimmer, but instead he grabbed a package of two dimmers. "In case I scrap the first one," he tells me and I remember that it's true, he tends to explode dimmers and thermostats trying to get the wiring right. (When we got home, he discovered that he already had a brand new double package of dimmers unopened. It was impossible for me not to berate him, but he told me to shut up since it was on his credit card. I couldn't argue with that.)

Then there was terrible traffic, it seemed like everyone in the city was out and about. I suggested checking out the pound and surprisingly Serge said okay and we headed across town. It was really sad in there but there was one dog that I liked and when I knelt down, she stuck out her paw and touched my arm. Here she is. Serge was very stern though and said we still had to wait. If I find out she's going to be euthanized, I'm getting her though. She's been there for two months already (it's the spca) so I can't imagine they'll wait much longer.

Finally, we got home from our ten minute errand, five hours later. Then the lighting installation took forever and was a pain in the butt. And for once, he didn't scrap a dimmer. He did nearly kill himself, but he would solidly deny that. (I heard a terrible cry from the other room that made me jump up, my heart in my throat, and run in to see what happened. I'm pretty sure he got a terrible shock but he acted (nervously, evasively) like nothing happened.) He futzed with the mounting and the electricity for five hours before he gave up on getting the wiring right. Then on Sunday morning his dad called and gave him the answer to the electrical mystery. Even he had to sleep on it before it came to him. Behold the new dining room light.