Accidental Troll

Whigning here to hide it but pretend I'm talking:

Been sickish for about a week but can't telework so I keep going to the office (and staying sick). Hitting the gym still, though had an awful workout yesterday where I failed, twice, to squat 365. I was hoping for a double while sick - but instead was dizzy.

Then when we got home we found the a/c condensation pump had stopped working. Got a reference to an hvac company - which did come out pretty fast for a Sat night, and not only found hte problem quickly - but rewired the problem my idiot contractor couldn't figure out in like 20 minutes (hint, if the condensation pump stops working or the reservoir fills, each event should trigger a safety to shut the system down so you don't come home to an attic flood). It sucked, $400 more dollars gone, but the wiring did need fixing someday anyway and it didn't really eat up that much time.

For a short time I was seeing the distinct possibility of having to move back into the girl's place and terrify the cat for the trip back (he loathes/fears the carrier and car). This was the night before she leaves to go back home for family horrors. Instead we got to walk to a fun local liquor store (accidntal discovery), restaurant, and then pokemon walk and fail at getting drinks on 14th St.

I forget that my construction job could theoretically be approved by DCRA and be done in weeks. I forget that in theory a reasonable offer could cross the table and my prior construction contractor litigation could end. I forget my job might be eliminated by OGC any day. I haven't read the new executive order which might eliminate half my job.

A lot of shit is hanging in the balance, but this is normal.

It's also not all that bad. I'm still paid and less than a decade from possible retirement with penalties. I have been saving for retirement since 1995. I still have most of my general health plus the luxury of time to speed keeping it up.

I'm not really posting!

As I play too much pokemon, drink too often (but less!?), and enjoy my home time alone or with her more and more, I contemplate what matters. Am I brainwashed by fb? I know I hate not being able to watch my friends' posts in chronological order and the popularity contest is annoying.

But it's also easy and cheap. Go ahead, say it...

I hear it's an annoying thing that so many people refuse to end sentences (or speak in them at all) choosing instead to trail off.

Hallow dreamwidth.

I felt curious again as I was "alone" (around work and paid people only) for a couple weeks, and am mostly living at my fiance's place due to her travel and our cat reasons. I want to steal kitty away to my place but it's a tough issue - Thursday is SLEAZE at wunderland, but Sun is gay/freak day at the zoo. I hear sleaze has gay freaks.

I'm 100% hitting sleaze.

I've told more than one former crush that they were a former crush - not in so many words. So far each time it seems to have gone over well. We're talking about telling married people with kids here! I'm also tied down, so it's not on the skeevy level (though in my crowds those are often options). It's just fun, especially as I find that they were just as awkward and insecure as I was.

I feel like I"m comfortable in my own skin, but some of that is the realization that I live in a different world. I am either muscular enough or look confident enough without reason that people leave me alone. Or I'm just too old to fuck with for manpoints. Whatever it is, I compare it to life when my friend when from flubby to thin - you go to the same places and see the same people but are treated completely differently. You don't forget, but over time your expectations do change.

I guess I should share this here, but I don't feel like writing about it except in blurbs.

April 21 my contractor texted me and asked me to renew the building permit. I did.
May 12 or so was the last time Jordan texted me.

Friday evening I decided to call to nag over the holiday weekend, as he was allegedly just getting inspections performed. His number was disconnected. I emailed. Then in a coincidence, I was cleaning up my email when I ran into the daily popville where I saw an article, the type you see all the time "LeDroit Park Red Hot Real Estate – Sold in 2 days. No parking. For more than 10% above the list price"
It was Jordan's home.
I rechecked on redfin,
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/400-U-St-NW-20001/home/10045967
Bought in 2009 for 440k, sold 1.425 mil on May 23.
That home is also his business address. He hasn't responded to email.

I looked downstairs, and he removed his welder - the last tool he had here. He split town entirely - took the money and ran.
I have a friend who paid him a deposit, big one, and he hasn't been paid back either.

I called the lawyer previously consulted with as this is a change. Possibly this is a good change, as we already checked the property for liens and he had none current but the mortgage (he had previous liens from the water company, since paid). It was after 5 on a holiday weekend, so I left an embarrassingly too long voice mail and noted I would not be expecting a holiday weekend email (though on 2nd thought, lawyers probably work Memorial day). So the guy has demonstrably abandoned the job, and LLC company, so it might be easier to pursue him legally and he's got money to pursue. I might be able to get a freeze put on his accounts. This might make settlement easy, particularly if he has money and wants to avoid legal battles - if not, I face a mountain of legal bills if I pursue the issue with no guarantee of prevailing.

I anticipate talking to the lawyer Mon or Tues.

But I wrote about some of those details in fb. I got my hugs - and frankly advice from friends including possible contractor leads.

I have a mountain of work to do - my not-stress life, where I was just annoyed at waiting for the contractor to do his thing and how much clean-up there would be, whether I'd have to pay him more...now I have to choose what I can do, what i pay for, bid contractors, research them, and learn what a construction contract should be.
(unless I use the less professional guy who my direct neighbor swears by, a valid option but I won't be paying up front you see)

Now I'm left with feelings. How many times did I cook my own beans and rice to save money? He drove a new mini-4-door. His house was gorgeous, though he renovated it himself. I went to college, I worked the same job, I sunk money away and didn't eat out, I drive my old car - the one with the damage on the side that was salvage-valued on the title...all just to lose tens of thousands of dollars.

And it makes no sense. Weeks ago he was working. The top is nearly done, with 800 minor things that need doing and only "major" issues like final inspection, drywalling closets, a laundry closet door...
the wrecked fence and backyard that is a debris-strewn mess of clay and rocks and weeds
MOST of the work was done. The demolition was done, the digout done, plumbing inspected (when it was the whole house), most inspections and work done on the basement...just ...

I got an estimate from a reputable contractor, ROUGH and noncommittal, 50k to finish the basement.
Another 50k to finish the top.
This does not include the fact asshat left railings missing from the top and bottom porch.

I paid for so many materials, never mind work. The basement kitchen cabinets are paid for. But he did tile the floor and bathroom (if the framing will pass inspection - could it all be wasted?)

I have the money...if I pull it from my retirement.

I have to re-bid the work. The permits are in his name and the name of strangers, electricians and plumbers who lend their name out to have others do the work.

This person cleared a fucking million dollars and left me with this. I did nothing wrong. I have been robbed - if he had held a gun in an alley he could go to jail, but like American Greed porn he can likely just walk.

I don't feel like playing my rabidly addicted video games. I can't sleep, but I'm too tired to do anything. I rest and my mind returns to all the things that were supposed to happen, how much I've lost, all I have left to do, the godonlyknows mysteries that inspections will bring, questions like will I need a sprinkler system if they restart code etc.

and that's why I'm writing. I can say it over and over, I could organize it into something coherent but instead it's just spaghetti of nonproductive thoughts keeping me up. My gf wants to do something fun today, I want to stare at the dirt yard. Now my head is full of all the things I paid for, MATERIALS that aren't here, and this guy running around being irresponsible with my money - skipping town.

There are a ton of things he ruined and left half-broken or done that I'm stuck with. He was going to build a deck, so he removed the metal railing from the existing one - and the stairs from the top, so I have unsafe decks. He dug and placed wood posts for the fence he broke but didn't rebuild, and the deck that isn't there - that I paid him a grand for fake-wood upgrades on materials. The front door is hanging there as he removed all the trim to measure for a replacement. I tucked insulation around it as you could see and feel the air where the trim was pulled. I walk on boards to cross the yard of dirt that used to be a lawn and plants but he buried in dirt he never removed.

Then snippets of what a fool I am. I got my law-thing, but didn't have a good contract. I paid too much so he had no incentive and I lost more than the pending work. I could have paid for the lottery or IRS scam for this kind of idiocy. I paid someone else to help me bid the work, and as a control for quality, and here I am anyway. This was all avoidable. I did try to get an architect to bid on the work but the one recommended firm declined to bid on my work, and I thought i could just to go the contractor thinking I knew what i wanted. All the mistakes I made in an area I had no expertise.

I can't stop thinking about it. I could shove it aside and just deal on Monday or Tuesday when I hear from the lawyer. I did sell stocks and have a bunch of cash ready to go on this reboot, and who knows I may be able to have him criminally prosecuted, settle the civil suit...and I can't doa fucking thing now. I have to wait for the lawyer.
(well I did file a complaint, online, at DCRA)
but I can't stop thinking. I feel sick, spinning in circles of thought, unable to sleep.

I don't think writing this out helped.

So eljay informed me some time ago my account was extended to Nov. However, they just tried to process a payment today (which was the original autopay day). I thought the notice of extension meant no payment...luckily the payment bounced (probably due to an un-updated expiration date).

I tried to find my cc information on the website but could not. I'd like that shit gone although I'm sure the russian gov/hackers/mafia already sell it on the darkweb or whatever it's called.

I'm happily at home with the cat. He's happily ignoring me.

Video of the basement Sun
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=gg3VGDY-yGM
About 5 mins. Not particularly exciting.

Reading names on bridges or in a graveyard makes me ponder mortality. The people and things I care about will vanish - many before I do, most soon after. The best possible success is getting your name on a rock...but the name says nothing about me as I think of myself. It sounds sad, but it's also kind of a relief. If nothing I do matters, then I may as well drink and play games.
Afterthought: writing can impact for generations.

Reality? I was in the graveyard to catch pokemon. I mean V wanted to go and I went, but I was totally hoping for more magickarp.

This line of thought bothers me. I see multi-generational family success as next to impossible but a laudable goal. Who doesn't want their blend of human soup to keep going? How many times can you achieve things, enjoy things, before it doesn't matter? How many hours of television do you watch after you find out you have 6 months to live? How many before that? Why do you feel socially connected when you experience a recorded story? How disconnected am I when I watch and know so many mainstream cultural guideposts?

Don't mistake this post for angst. I really like the nothing matters idea. Things may be going to hell, or getting better slowly with nasty pendulating rhythm, but I feel obligated to do good things. If nothing matters, I can watch tv from my couch or write this post.

Whoops, just found the messages/ads from friends - sorry!

I also found my messages from DW staff, noting russian lgbt groups, issues (literally death), and ways to support & help. While doing all that, they focused on the positive and were not trashing the eljay. Impressed I am.

Writing - later! In theory.

Did I mention the russian mafia gave me another 6 months free?

Major house dev'ts:
Contractor showed up unannounced as if nothing had happened. He said an inspection was scheduled for 11-1. I bitched him out for not responding, how it was impacting me / life, etc. He explained the guy who showed up "is an asshole," and explained of course he had a groundwork inspection! The guy wouldn't sign off on the other one / rough-in if he didn't. In fact even if he hadn't, the 2 (mini-manholes) give access for inspection, scopes, snaking, and even turn so you can block the system and do pressure tests.

He also explained the previous inspections were for the whole house, but then at the electrical stage they made him split them. So as of now there are 2 inspection cards - 1 for the house, the other just for the basement. The DC inspector showed up, and I listened in - the story panned out, and the DC inspector said he would elevate the matter to someone who coordinates all inspection so they can address the multiple inspection statuses and cards etc.

Today he called and texted me at work - electrical inspection passed! However they said he needs permits for the hvac. He asked if I could pay the hvac guy directly (something I had offered previously) and said yes - but didn't I already pay for this? He said yes but he didn't have the money (hey, he said it) but he'd take it off the final bill. I'm not sure there is a final bill, but things are moving.

HVAC is scheduled for 4/21, and inspections again 4/24 (hvac?) and 4/25 (framing?).

This is inches away from the finish line, he said famouslastwords.

I've mostly avoided talking legal real stuff here (anywhere).

I was working from home Friday when an inspector showed up, again, with no warning from the contractor. I had just emailed him that due to his lack of communication and the fact this new finish date of Nov 2016 wasn't met here in Apr 2017 I wanted my other guy at every inspection. I texted him and he first said to turn him away, then claimed he was stuck in traffic.

I let the inspector in and he was shaking his head about this guy, openly wondering why he would schedule inspections and waste everyone's time. But my time wasn't wasted - he gave me info.

First, I should mention I talked to a lawyer, and based on that conversation I went downtown and pulled all the permits and inspection-info of record. Sadly the helpful DC employee giving me the inspection info, rather than printing reports, took my permits and hand wrote the info on each. Still, at least I have it.

I also have a pending bid on the work by another contractor, who rather than just glancing it over and giving me a ballpark pre-formal bid figure, came over after doing a permit/drawing check with 3 tradesmen.

Between the tradesmen comments, my guy listening, and the dc inspector, the following are potential issues right now, not-exhaustive nor in a particular order:
1. No proof of inspection of "groundwork" before putting in slab. The slab was approved, but they might have put it in without inspecting the (sewage pipes out of the house and related vents). The inspector said he'd call me back on that, didn't.
2. No fire studs every 10' (something about reaching to wall, makes no sense to me)
3. Can't inspect with can lights and insulation in.
4. Plumbing rough in not even done. In fact, the fact he's scheduling inspections is insane - to do plumbing inspections, they first cap the ends and turn the water on, duh, as a pressure test. NONE of the pipes are capped.
5. The plumbing isn't remotely done. We have a sink drain - but where the hell are the hot and cold feeds? Where does the hot water go?
6. The hot water in my house may be mixed with radiator water. I was told this specfiically was not the case, that my "combo unit" kept everything separate AND covered 2 heating zones (for radiators and radiant heat). The plumber thought it looked like it was a 1-use-only unit, and we sent him the spec sheet I was provided - he reconfirmed. This would match the fact my hot water tastes AWFUL after 6 mos.
Said another way, my water is mixed potable and nonpotable water (cough, maybe).
7. No final inspection was done on the top floor. Granted there are known items pending (no railing, wires hanging from the master bath as no vanity light is installed) but...why didn't he do that first before I moved in?
In short, there are substantial documented indications of serious not-to-code stuffs.

Keep in mind I moved in. What if they won't do a final inspection with my stuff "in the way?" What if they condemn the place - say because they can't verify sewage isn't going into the yard to their satisfaction - and condemn my place as inhabitable?

His contractor license - expires the end of this month. I'm considering lodging a formal complaint before that happens (not expecting miracles).
Placeholder - other info about his business, rumor.

I plan to talk to the lawyer again soon (missed her Friday, calling after the failed "inspection" visit). I texted and emailed contractor guy to yet another no response. The real question for legal, now, is "Can I potentially/likely recover from a DC LLC, when a) the llc likely has no assets, b) the insurance in place in 2014 may have lapsed but a breach might be from 2014 when 120 days was not met, c) he likely mixed funds (i.e. materials I paid for were not purchased the money likely spent personally and/or on other jobs), d) his only likely personal asset - if the veil were pierced - can it be recovery for me, or can he just fold his company and/or declare bankruptcy and I just pay for a lawyer to win an empty declaration that I won with more financial loss?

Still pending is how much it will cost to have someone else finish this job.

How am I a lawyer and ignorant enough to have fuddled up my life savings?