Sunday, May 20, 2007

How Dare They

The natural gas company stopped by Friday morning, and without notice, or the politeness of knocking on our door, turned off our gas. I had no idea it was off until I went to turn on the stove and there was no flame. So I called Den, who said that it was odd and called the company. They let us know that since no one had came to their office, in person, to sign papers putting the account in our name that they turned us off. We didn't know that this was a requirement. We thought phoning it in, like all the other utilities, was ample enough. So Den filled out the paperwork, downtown, and then they said that they weren't going to turn it back on 'til Monday. Are you kidding me? So this meant no hot water, no heat, and no cooking for the entire weekend. Ridiculous...absolutely ridiculous!! Don't they know that we have a baby, children to feed, that we may die in the frigid cold, or worse yet in our filth with no shower. (Okay this may be a bit extreme, but you have to use every angle you can in situations like these, and oh yeah...it didn't work.)


So I had to call our visiting company that had intended to come up for the weekend, and let them know that it wasn't a great weekend after all. Not embarrassing in the least....hehehe But oh well, what do you do?


Now, this left us in quite the position, showers for one. We had thought about staying in a hotel for the weekend, but with seven people that would require two rooms, and it just seemed over the top. So we brainstormed, and decided on this plan. We would all shower at the Athletic club down the street, barbecue or eat out, and the temperature was mild enough around here that we haven't missed the heat at all.


Saturday morning we all got up. My hair was stuck to my head like somebody had just greased it up to fry an egg. I knew that I couldn't get out in the real world and function, after all wasn't it just Friday that I posted that my child looked like an orphan. Now the whole family was going to wonder around looking like the dirty, smelly, greasy partridge family. I don't think sooooooo.


That morning we decided that everyone would head to the gym, maybe we would all take a nice little family swim in the pool, then use the facilities that were at our disposal. Keep in mind that this gym is very nice. It has shampoo, conditioner, shaving gel, combs, mouthwash, deodorant, you name it they've got at your fingertips. This way we didn't have to bring any toiletries to the club.


When we all walked in, I in my faithful baseball cap (remember greasy hair), the guy behind the counter was a little surprised to see us all there bright and early. I have to admit some eyes were a little puffy, but we just looked like we were avid health fanatics...or so I hoped. As we left the front registry area we all disbanded to suit up. Once we all jumped in to the water I thought that maybe I should head out a little earlier than everyone so I could have time to shower and primp properly.


To make a long, washing fest, story short that is how we handled part of the problem. So keep this heatless, cookless, showerless, family story under your hat. Another thing to keep hidden from our nice, normal, natural-gas enjoying neighbors.....rofl
Update: Okay, so as soon as I posted, in my comments, that they hadn't turned us back on by 10:30am, and I had just dialed the number to call and complain, the natural gas man rang the doorbell. When we answered it he seemed just as puzzled as to why it had been turned off as we did. He said he hadn't heard of such thing, and he apologized profusely. I thanked him for his politeness and understanding. So he turned everything back on. He said that I should call in and file a complaint, however. So there you go, problem solved. Now one hour to wait and I am going to take a nice hot shower.....woohoo!

13 comments:

la bellina mammina said...

That was a great story! And great idea to wash up at the gym! Sorry to hear about the gas though - and hope it'll be back on when you wake up on Monday!

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness, Trina! How cruel of them to do that to you. I'm so sorry! You did a great job of overcoming it all and making the best of it. I'm very thankful for my hot shower tonight!!!

Lori said...

It sounds like you handled it like the adventure it was! :-)

It sure would've been nicer if they would have just TOLD you to come into the office! Jeez! But then you wouldn't have this great story to tell! LOL!

Mrs.Martin said...

My heart went out to you over this situation. I would have been very mad. However, this is the funniest story Trina. Shhh.. Just don't let the neighbors know you HAD to shower at your posh gym.

Jack-on-the-Lake said...

Way to be creative under pressure! I wouldn't have thought of the gym - will keep that in mind if it happens to us.

Anonymous said...

Love this story and Love reading your blog!

marykathryn said...

To funny...However that is very resourceful of you!! The puffy eyed kiddos at the gym crack me up..the man is either extrememly impressed by your work ethic or concerned about the pressure you are putting on your 6 yr old to become a body builder..LOL

meNmykids said...

You know that you needed a little push to really put your heart into the excercise anyway right? No? Well, if that had failed you could have always found a lake close and borrowed their facilities. Have a great, heat filled day in every sense!

Angel said...

Oh no! I hope your gas was turned back on today.

Trina said...

As of Monday, 10:30am, still no natural gas...feeling quite irked that they are in an all fire hurry to shut it off but don't seem to care about when they turn it back on! *grumble grumble*

Mrs.Martin said...

Keep us updated as to when they turn it back on. I'm grumbling with you.

Cherrie said...

You poor thing, the gas company can be so cruel at times. But I must say this was a fun post to read. Your life keeps so many of us entertained. So thanks for being our daily entertainment. lol

Michelle said...

Oh, Trina I am so sorry that happened to ya'll. How awful! I'm glad that they finally cut it back on.
~Hugs Michelle~