Look...it's a bird, it's a plane, it's Express Jet

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

GUESS WHAT - today is early day (well the next two weeks are) for conferences (we all like to hear how great our kids are)...Well DS18 doesn't have classes on mondays so he walked over to the school to pick up DD for me (while I patiently wait for chapter 3) really while I am doing ebay photos and checking for Chapter 3...While HER thought I would be gone HER actually left a money order for $350 - so now I have gotten $650 out of the $1111.40 due to me - AND SIL sent a check last night through BIL (in the band with hubby - his brother) for half the hotel and this time it's really for the whole half including taxes!!! Woo Hoo...

 

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

GUESS WHAT - today is early day (well the next two weeks are) for conferences (we all like to hear how great our kids are)...Well DS18 doesn't have classes on mondays so he walked over to the school to pick up DD for me (while I patiently wait for chapter 3) really while I am doing ebay photos and checking for Chapter 3...While HER thought I would be gone HER actually left a money order for $350 - so now I have gotten $650 out of the $1111.40 due to me - AND SIL sent a check last night through BIL (in the band with hubby - his brother) for half the hotel and this time it's really for the whole half including taxes!!! Woo Hoo...

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

Cool...my boss just messed up a report that I was supposed to do some stuff on, so now he has to re-run the whole thing. That gives me time for chapter 3.

Chapter 3

DH gets a call on a tuesday from Mark, and he says that the job they were supposed to do got cancelled, so he can go out to the house and pull the pipe. DH says that Mark shouldn't have to to it himself, and we can go ahead and do it that saturday as planned. Mark says that he can handle it, but he will need to come by w**k and get the money for the pipe and to rent the pipe puller. DH says that he has $400 in his wallet that he can give him, but that if he needs more, he will have to wait until 9:00 when the bank opens. Mark says that he will pick up the $400, and will come back later for the rest of the money.

Mark finishes up pulling the pipe, and heads back to w**k. I didn't know it at the time, but he asked DH for an additional $525.

Mark then also says that when he was pulling the pipe, he broke through part of our septic system. He tells DH that he filled it with gravel and we're "fine."

We get home, and DH goes out to the yard to see about the septic. Where Mark broke the system is at the junction box that directs the septic flow throughout the drainfield. Filling it with gravel was NOT the way to fix it, and my system needed major work to repair it. DH spent 2 days and about $300 fixing the problem.

I wasn't upset that something got broken...Mark didn't know how my septic system laid out in the yard. What I WAS a bit miffed about, was that he thought filling it with gravel would work. The concrete casing, and the junction of sewer piping was exploded into several pieces. Any moron could see that filling the space with gravel was not going to be enough.

Later that night, DH mentioned that he had given Mark an additional $525. I said to DH that we were already into the system $925, and we hadn't bought ONE sprinkler head. I told him that something wasn't right...Mark quoted the job at $1200. DH said that we would just wait and see what more Mark says. I again told DH that something wasn't right, and that I wanted the receipts for the pipe and the puller rental. DH DID ask Mark for the receipts. Mark said, "I'll write you out a receipt." DH told him that he did not want a hand-written receipt, but that he needed an actual receipt for our house records. To this day, we have never seen a receipt for those things. I again told DH that something wasn't right. DH said that Mark would never do anything shady to us, and that I needed to wait and see what happened.

Well...we had planned on heading to Home Depot a day or two after this, and so I took a piece of leftover pipe with me. I knew they sold sprinkler fixins', and I wanted to see for myself what was up. I knew how many rolls of pipe Mark bought, and I knew that DH had given him $925 for that and the rental.

While DH was looking at something, I went to the sprinkler department, found the pipe that matched, and added up what it would have cost for the number of rolls Mark had gotten. Mark had said that he would give us HIS cost on the parts...MY price (retail) at Home Depot was $250. DH gave Mark $400. I took DH over and showed him what I had found. He just shook his head. I said that I was going to call and find out what the machine rental was. The machine rental was $125. I asked DH if he could explain to me why we gave Mark $925 for what actually cost $375. Where did the other $500+ go? DH said that he was sure that the leftover amount was going to go towards the other parts we needed to finish up the system. He again asked me to hang on.

 

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

GUESS WHAT - today is early day (well the next two weeks are) for conferences (we all like to hear how great our kids are)...Well DS18 doesn't have classes on mondays so he walked over to the school to pick up DD for me (while I patiently wait for chapter 3) really while I am doing ebay photos and checking for Chapter 3...While HER thought I would be gone HER actually left a money order for $350 - so now I have gotten $650 out of the $1111.40 due to me - AND SIL sent a check last night through BIL (in the band with hubby - his brother) for half the hotel and this time it's really for the whole half including taxes!!! Woo Hoo...

 

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

GUESS WHAT - today is early day (well the next two weeks are) for conferences (we all like to hear how great our kids are)...Well DS18 doesn't have classes on mondays so he walked over to the school to pick up DD for me (while I patiently wait for chapter 3) really while I am doing ebay photos and checking for Chapter 3...While HER thought I would be gone HER actually left a money order for $350 - so now I have gotten $650 out of the $1111.40 due to me - AND SIL sent a check last night through BIL (in the band with hubby - his brother) for half the hotel and this time it's really for the whole half including taxes!!! Woo Hoo...

 

Originally Posted By TXDISNEYNERD

Villians - Your right. HIM sure is being demanding for supposedly doing something nice to thank MM for all of their hospitality.

 

Originally Posted By TXDISNEYNERD

Villians - I guess you were so excited and in shock at your inflow that you had to post more than once to believe it yourself. <g>

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

villains...yes, the idiot still works here, but he isn't slowing things up for me...my boss is by messing up my reports.

Whoo Hoo...you got more money!!!!!!! That is so great. Now, if the rest comes through. Put it away for your trip later this month.

tink...if you're gonna use mickey's credit card, at least buy something better than a credit card machine deal. I could use a new winter jacket.

 

Originally Posted By TXDISNEYNERD

MM - Thanks to your boss for messing up as we were all waiting for Chapter 3. Now I am in shock. You ask for a recipt and HIM thinks he can just write you out one???? I can't believe what he did to your septic system, let alone what he is charging you for. I can't wait to hear what HIM comes up with on why he needed more money than it costs when he was supposed to be doing y'all a favor.

 

Originally Posted By rtjl72

this is getting exciting! mark is a dirty dog- a dirty dog -a dirty dog...
hey villians- what ya going to do with all that money? well, it's not like it wasn't already spent, but i bet you though that you would never see a dime of it. installments, interesting.
i love cheerleading competitions! i love dance competitions more, but i miss both of them. ugh, getting old and kids get older ,too. but my daughter us an assistant dance coach at a high school in des moines. she is doing their choregraphy and they go to state at the end of the month. i want to try to go. nobody o really know will be competing, but it might be fun to see how ds team does. it's only their 2nd year, so they have room to improve. the girls( and 2 guys) are always trying to through in some raunchy moves, but she is too clever for them and she makes them keep it rated pg and age appropriate.
when does chapter 4 come out? this could make the best sellers list!
i was going to get that disney visa card tomorro on my day off. will i have to sign something that says i have never been to turkey and will never go to turky ie instanbul? starnge! i'm glad the desperados were caught!
"watching" the dallas cowboy cheerleaders means watching it on tv. it"s a reality show of the try outs. it wa pretty emotional in the last episode! lots of tears for the girls. now what am i going to watch? well survivor for sure, maybe the girls next door-but i can't figure out when it's on. and, maybe "house"-have the new episodes of that started yet?

 

Originally Posted By TXDISNEYNERD

I have seen the reality show for the cheerleaders, just not this season's. I find it really interesting what all they go through to make the squad.

The new episodes of house started a while ago.

Did anyone watch the new Amazing Race? I wanted to, but due to the Dallas Cowboys playing, I missed it. I need to get caught up.

 

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

OOOPPPPSSSS I guess my computer was hiccuping...Maybe I spilled my mudslide on it (I wish is was 5:00 and there were mudslides...)

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

rt...I wasn't gonna admit this to you guys, but I was a cheerleader for 3 years in high school. We went to competitions and all that stuff.

Ok...my boss is too busy to re-run my report, so I think I can get in another chapter or 2.

Chapter 4

A week or so later, Mark calls and says that he needs $1400 to buy the rest of the materials to finish up the sprinkler system. So...I've already given him $925 and now he wants another $1400. If I did the math right, that comes to over $2300 for what he said was a $1200 job.

I understand that an estimate is just that...an estimate...but to be TWICE what you thought????? Nobody estimates that bad, and I say as much to DH. He is still trying to believe that we're not getting "hosed", but I'm WAY past trying to justify anything about this deal.

So, the weekend comes, and we're sitting on the deck with our friend Kenny, drinking beer and looking at my lawn with sprinkler pipe sticking out all over.

Kenny happened to be present the night that Mark offered to put in a system for us, and he also knows that I'm not real happy at the moment...

Reason 1...I think Mark is ripping us off.

Reason 2...We asked that when the system went in that the sprinkler boxes (there were going to be 3) be placed as close to the house as possible. We didn't want them sticking up in the middle of the yard for anyone to trip over. I am looking out and I see that all the pipe is pulled to a spot about 15 feet from my house...right in the middle of the yard for anyone to trip over.

I'm not happy with that situation but DH says that there is pipe left over, and he will extend the pipe over to the house like we wanted.

I say to DH, "I don't mean to be a rag or anything...BUT...even though Mark is doing us a favor, I don't get why he didn't put this mess close to the house like we had asked for from day 1. Now, YOU have to fix it and that's not right."

The longer we sit there, the more upset I get, and I finally say to DH..."where is the list of parts that we need for the sprinkler system?" He tells me where, and asks why I need it. I tell him that I am going to call Cory and ask for a price on the remaining parts...which is EVERYTHING but the pipe.

Cory is DH's best friend's son...he also works for a landscaping company.

DH said that he would go call Cory, which he does.

Cory calls us back within 15 minutes and tells us that it will cost $800 for the sprinkler parts. When DH tells me this I am livid, and I cannot contain my anger. So, Mark already ripped me off by $550, and now he intended to rip me off another $600. I wonder where that $1150 was headed.

DH tells Cory to order the parts, and Cory says that he'll come out the following weekend to help DH put everything in. Cory says that he and DH can get it done in a day....hmmm...Mark said 6 guys and 2 days.

I can tell my the look on DH's face that he is beside himself. I give him a hug and tell him that I love him. DH looks at me and tells me how sorry he is. I ask him what the heck HE'S sorry for. He says that he's sorry for trusting Mark, and that he shouldn't have been such an idiot and let it go this far. I tell DH that when I am through, Mark will be the one that is sorry, and that HE did nothing wrong by trusting a "friend."

Kenny has had enough beer that he wants to drive to town and beat Mark up. I tell Kenny that Mark will be handled, but he will be handled by ME, when I say. NO ONE does something like this to DH...NO ONE. I can put up with whatever someone does to me, but you mess with DH or DD and you will rue that day for the rest of your life.

I tell Kenny and DH that I am going to call Mark...which I do.

 

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

Okay - I think the computer has had enough rest and is now just a little hungover...

Man MM - why is it when you really think you can trust a friend the really have to just screw with you... You've already given him enough for a DL trip at the Grand and he wants more!!
Is Mark a single guy? I gotta girl down here for hime to meet - I think HIM and HER would be perfect together and HER x whatever would probably love us for getting this pain in the behind out of his house....

 

Originally Posted By mickeynewe

Okay, MM-- we need ANOTHER chapter! Get those little fingers typing....

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

villains...HIM and HER would be a perfect match. He has a girlfriend...unfortunately for her, I suppose.

I have about 30 minutes of w**k I have to do, and then I will be back with chapter 5.

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

Got done quicker than I thought.

Chapter 5

I go in the house and I call Mark. I tell him that he should stop whatever plans he has for the sprinkler system because Cory will be buying our parts and putting them in. He asks what I mean, and says that he has the crew lined up to come out the next weekend. I tell him that I am able to get the same parts that he wants $1400 for for $800, and that we'll handle the sprinkler system from here on out.

He asks to talk to DH.

DH gets on the phone and tells Mark the same as I did. DH then asks Mark why he wants $1400 for what we can get for $800. Get this answer.....Mark tells DH...

wait for it...


wait for it...


wait for it...


Mark says...


"Well, you've got the money."

Swear to God, that's what he says.

We go back out to the deck, and eventually Kenny says to me, "You were pretty calm on the phone with Mark, what's up?"

I tell Kenny that I will now basically "lie in wait" for Mark. It is FAR from over, and I will bide my time because my time will come.

I remind Kenny that hunting season will start in October, and I bet Kenny $1,000,000 that the closer to hunting season it gets, the more Mark will sweat it, and THEN we'll hear from him.

The following saturday, Cory gets to the house at 1:00...by 8:00 that night, I have sprinklers going off and getting fine tuned. It took two guys 7 hours to put in a system that Mark said would take 6 guys 2 days to do.

 

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

Okay so time line please - When did the sprinkler scam start and finish compared to last weekend - in other words - how much time did you have to plan your "day of Mark"

I can't believe someone would say because you have it...Are you sure he's not still buddying up with your x?

 

Originally Posted By MOLLYSMOM

Bonus chapter...

Chapter 6

September rolls around, and we start getting repeated calls from Mark. Of course, we have caller ID, and I tell DH NOT to answer the phone. DH asks why, and I tell him that Mark will deal with me face to face, not over the phone.

DH says, "That poor schmuck." Schmuck is not the term DH used, but I think you know that we can't use that particular language here.

Before long, I am getting calls from Kenny, and two other guys, Danny and Jimmy. Kenny, Danny and Jimmy say that Mark has been calling them night and day wanting to know why we won't return his calls, and wanting for them to find out why we're mad at him, and wanting to know about hunting at our place.

These guys know what went on, and they are having a good time watching Mark squirm. They tell Mark they have no idea why we might be upset with him.

Two weeks ago, I get a card from Mark sent here to w**k saying he hopes that our friendship isn't damaged by the past and that he hopes to see me during hunting season. He obviously has realized that DH is not the one he needs to worry about.

Kenny asks if I am going to get in touch with Mark. I tell Kenny that if Mark has big enough "walnuts" to screw DH over, he should have big enough "walnuts" to look me in the eye and not send me cards or call me on the phone.

DH finally answered the phone when Mark called last week. Mark asked if he could come up this past weekend to go hunting. DH told him he could. Mark asked if I was still mad at him. DH told Mark that it was something he should ask me, and not him.

So, Mark came up yesterday, and Kenny came up with his lawn chair and beer for kicks.

 

Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains

Okay Kenny came out for entertainment and even brought beer... Now please tell us Kenny shared his beer with you...
Is Mark still alive or was there some questionable hunting accident over the weekend...I am thinking of the movie "the game"