seriously?

Thought I should put an additional closing onto this moose-tracked-dog-damaged yard. After threats from the landscaper to Mark over the phone (saying he'd punch Mark in the mouth), we still forked over $350 to have the yard fixed, even though they are over there right now fixing only what the warranty covers.  Seriously?

The story, if you dare:

Since the moose walked in through the yard, essentially covering the dog prints, we have been at ease, and the landscaper never contacted, or showed up on the day she could fix it (Tuesday, she was a no show). Yesterday we got a call asking us to pay for it. 

Seriously?

We go over to talk to the only nice neighbor, and we started talking situations. Mark said, "If this were our yard and moose tracks walked through it, I don't think I'd ask anyone but the landscapers to fix it." She replied with a "yeah, me neither." 

Seriously? 

This morning we went to the temple to do baptisms with the youth, got home at 9:30, and got ready to paint the front room. Yes! We decided on some colors! hurray! We were very tired, so we took a nap on the couch and was awaken by the phone call from the "nasty landscaper-lady's" husband. It started somewhat civil. If anyone has met Mark, they know he doesn't raise his voice, and he certainly never swears. This man started accusing Mark of swearing at his wife, Inga... yea, she's white, when it all first happened. Then he said to Mark, "You know what happens when someone yells at a man's wife? He gets punched in the mouth!" 

Seriously? Maybe in a bar.

Mark then said we can pay 1/2 of the total cost today(because there's another party at fault here who shares the responsibility - oh wait, besides the moose who obviously don't know where the property lines are). They said they'd come out next week, but then said, "We are coming in one hour. Have the money." We were courteous (at least, I thought), and said we'd have our half ready and the other guy's phone number when they got here. 

The man showed up, pony tail (with blonde highlights in his dark brown hair), smoking a cigarette and all, on our driveway with the nice neighbor's husband (who really is a nice guy). When he kept telling Mark off, not letting my polite, gentleman of a husband get a word in, I start piping up. Uh-oh. A lot of people outside my family rarely see the fire spark in me. Then when Mark gets the chance to speak he brings up the threat, telling him that's not the best way to do business. The guy says, "Leave that outta this conversation." I pipe in, "Hey, you brought it into this whole ordeal when you threatened him on the phone!" So anyway, me and Mr. Ponytail have a little one on one stare-down. He throws in the towel and says, "I'm done!" I totally won. Not that this is a contest or anything. Just a thing of honor and defending the spouse without threats. Hm. I just realized maybe he doesn't know how that's done. Then while he's storming off, waving his cigarette around, he said the nice neighbor should sue us for not paying twice our contracted amount (meaning the other guy's share). 

Seriously?

So after we discuss it with the nice neighbor, Mark and I decide that the best solution is for us to play "Banker," write the check for $350 dollars and be done with it. Mr. Nice Neighbor takes it over while Mr. Ponytail is fixing the warranty-spots, and brings it back (while we're prepping for more painting) saying his business only takes cash... shady. 

Seriously? 

I just heard the garage door go up. Mark is back from the ATM with the cash in hand. I don't think this Mr. Ponytail is going to treat this as honest money. But that's just between myself, Mark, and all you internet surfing bloggers. 

Seriously, I don't like to use this word, but it kept being repeated in my head over and over and over and over again. So "all together now";SERIOUSLY!? We just paid $350 just to be Christlike, and fix a little neighborhood brawl. Wow. I really am glad I went to the temple this morning, otherwise I think I would be 50 times angrier. 

Seriously.