Poking the bear

 I had texted Bob and told him that we could only communicate in writing from that point on. I just didn't trust talking to him on the phone because then I had no proof of what he was telling me. 

Bob responded to my text by first claiming that he never told Vega's that we were unreasonable clients. He admitted to not liking my dad, but he said I was the "sweetest person ever." Obvi. Then he started to get defensive once again about the global supply chain issue and the rain. I don't doubt that those things posed some problems, and I told him that; however, there was still work that could have been done during that time that wasn't. I was so tired of being run around and told that I was lucky to have had a pool built in three weeks with five weeks of rain impeding the process. The pool was essentially unusable. No one had taught me how to do anything with the chemicals or how to keep it clean. Leaves upon leaves were choking the water every day and there were more dead animals because the cover wasn't installed, not to mention that the complete automation of the pool we were promised had just evaporated. The work wasn't complete, and that's all there was to it. 

On Monday, September 27, the pool cover was finally installed. The pool cover guys couldn't believe that the controls were placed so far away from the pool. The switch to open and close the cover is at such a distance from the pool that I can't even see the cover as it closes. Oh, and it's also facing the wrong way. They also said the electrical hadn't been done very well. The guys were the most unhappy that Bob had done the measuring for the pool cover himself because part of their service is to come out to measure themselves. RED FLAG #13: due to some sloppy measuring, the cover didn't even fully cover the whole pool. There are a couple of inches at the end that aren't covered which means dirt, leaves, and critters can still get it. The guys told me that it should have been a full 18 inches longer. I mean. 

The morning before the cover was installed, Bob texted asking when he could get his check. It was a Sunday morning at 8:20, and I hadn't even had my coffee yet. First of all, even though the cover installation was scheduled for the next day, there was no guarantee it would actually happen. Secondly, the interesting thing about Bob's contract is that the last payment was due upon completion of the project and the client's sign off of satisfaction. Now, I'm no attorney, but I feel like that's asking for trouble. We certainly weren't happy or satisfied. Luckily, I know a damn good attorney who is rather fetching, and he asked me to get him a copy of the invoice before anything else was paid. Instead of just sending me what I asked for, I got a text back from Bob admonishing me and asking if he should expect any problems. He reminded me once again that nothing was his fault and that my dad had been rude to him. Same old denial of responsibility. 

My sign off of satisfaction!  

I don't know if I was particularly tired that day or just tired of all of it, and I was done. Through tears, I told Trevor that I was sick of being in the middle of everything and I just wanted to get the Wells Pool Project finished. I said that I couldn't stand the idea of Bob blowing up my phone to get his money, and I hated working with a narcissist who lied as often as he breathed. Trevor hates when I'm unhappy, especially when someone else has caused my pain. It takes a lot to aggravate my husband, but Bob had ruffled his feathers big time. Despite my promises that I would handle everything pool-related by myself, he could tell that I was at the very end of my rope, and like the kittens in the poster, I was barely holding on. 

And Trevor got involved.