Week 41: Something unexpected, something nice...

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

Unexpected is one thing.
Unexpected nice is another.
Most of the time we get slapped silly by the unexpected.
A water pipe bursting.
An entire roof collapsing because some numb nuts put pallets of shingles on the roof.
Opening a wall to asbestos or knob and tube.
A sudden illness or injury.
Having your car drop into a sink hole on the way to work. (That'll put a crimp in your day!)
Coming home to a flood or fire.

"Nice" is sometimes overwhelming. "Nice" comes when you least expect it, or sometimes when you need it the most but didn't even know it. "Nice" can slip by because it doesn't cause disruption in our lives or routine. I need to notice "nice" to keep myself sane.

This week, I have an unexpected "nice" to share. (Remind me to tell you about the lady who gave us $11K out of the blue. But that's another post.) I've had some crazy Nices I'll tell you about, but this one almost made me cry.

It might come as a surprise to you, but I'm not shy about raving about something I love. Be it a product, a vendor, a person, but usually something that makes life easier, or something that goes above and beyond what I'd anticipated. I've been known to rave about a few vendors here.

Well...... [are you dying to know?]
One of these vendors has joined Houzz. He's evidently spent a while just reading here and getting to know the board.
I received an email I initially thought was another Gift Card Scan and almost deleted it. Then I noted the sender. Of course, I had to look, still figuring it was a scam. But... [get to the point, right?!?}

This vendor has sent me a $100 gift card not only for being such a great customer, but for all the good things I've had to say about them. Their product, their service, their quality, and for how willing I am to share my (easy) experience.

OUT of the BLUE!!!
And... to top it off, a discount on my next order.

Believe me, I had to stop and think what I'd ever said about them. Yup. After careful inventory, I realized I'd never had an unhappy word to say. Not that I'm vocal or anything, right?

So here is one of my many stories of "nice" and kindness I've received.

What's happened that has made you smile? maybe tear up a little? caught you so off guard you hardly believed it? so much so you had no idea what to say? where Thank You seemed so inadequate?

Featured Answer

mudhouse

9 years ago

So, DH and I went to a community garage sale today. It was a
crazy mob scene; the sale only lasts four hours, and it's frantic, in one big room. About halfway through the sale, I looked up, and saw something
I really, really wanted. You know, a holy grail? The Thing You Hope For. But it was set up high on a
shelf. I thought I could see a masking tape name on it. Oh no, it has sold. I couldn't tell. My heart sank. Oh please, I
thought. Please. Maybe, maybe... I fought my way through the crowd, to ask a cashier, but
he was too busy. I fought my way back across the room, to another cashier.

“Excuse me," I said. "That thing up there on the shelf? Do you know if
it’s sold?”

“Oh yes,” she said, “I saw them setting it up there. It’s
sold.”

So I finished the sale, found a few little goodies, and DH
made a trip to the car. He came back, we looked more at the used book section, and got ready
to go. I pointed to the thing up on the shelf, and said, “That is the thing that we
missed getting at this sale. We got here too late.”

“Oh,” he said. “I bought that when we first came in.” And
got it down. And gave it to me.

I’m still trying to get it through my head that we have it, because I was so sure it was Gone. It doesn’t matter what it is; the fact that he saw it, and knew it was My
Good Thing, and saved it for me…that’s what matters. That's my something unexpected and nice, that caught me totally off guard!

(I don't know how you keep thinking up these good topics, Christine.)

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Comments (24)

schicksal
9 years ago
Doug sending the oven door handles out of the blue is the first thing that comes to mind, especially since I'm not much more than pixels making the shape of words on a screen. Unfortunately it makes for a very short story but at least it will give the thread a bump back to the top.
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mgmum
9 years ago
Awesome, Mudhouse!!

Schicksal, it's those things that make GW a community. He just knew they would fit you and your house. What other option is there really, than to send them to you?

I can't think of terribly a lot off hand but around Valentine's Day at work I found a dark chocolate bar in my mailbox. That was pretty nice and unexpected. I don't know who put it there. I try to do little things for others, particularly at work where it does get stupid and crazy. Often just buying someone's coffee lifts them up like crazy. And sometimes on a weekend when the boys and I are returning from sports in the USA, we'll stop at Mexicantown and buy some chips and salsa for the staff. Nothing makes crazy busy, tired people more happy than chips and salsa! :)

Oh! and my mailman, who is a bit nutty and very chatty put my mailbox up for me on a railing. It had fallen off of the side of my house and I hadn't gotten around to putting it back up because I don't have a hammer drill and he rigged it up and put it on my porch railing. As much for him as me, as it made his life easier, and my front porch look nicer.
oldbat2be
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Christine, are you talking about our mutual friend? That's very nice.

In the, what makes your home, home vein, DH just put up a temporary birdfeeder outside the kitchen window. When our kitchen was at the back of the house, we had a line with maybe 8? different birdfeeders on it, and would sit and watch from the kitchen table (birds were 3 - 8 feet away). We've really missed that, so this 'nice' addition just makes it feel like life is back to normal:)

I think we'll be adding another permanent post here in the spring, and running power to it as well (no lights, those of you who have birdfeeders and battle unwanted guests will understand!).

edited to say - kudos to your DH, mudhouse!
zwizzle1
9 years ago
Unexpected and appreciated. I awakened on Thursday am with the unhappy thought that I had a big job ahead to shovel out after 5+ inches of snow. I looked out the upstairs window and discovered that some good neighborhood Samaritan had already shoveled our two walkways and driveway!
CEFreeman_GW DC/MD Burbs 7b/8a
Original Author
9 years ago
zwizzle1, I had the same experience! My drive is about 50' long and I didn't think to park down by the road this time. Fortuitous (which is not defined as 'fortunate' contrary to popular belief) as it was, some kind soul was able to actually plow my drive, which only left me about 15' of 6" snow to plod through. I didn't even hear them and I was HOME!

Nice things do happen.
mudhouse
9 years ago
Nice things do happen, and it's nice to be reminded to think about them, too.

I really admire you folks dealing with snow. We're so spoiled down here, in that regard.

We have a very cool mailman, too. He has actually foiled home burglaries in our neighborhood, by spotting odd activity and calling the police. We love him to pieces.

Oldbat2be, we also spend a small fortune on birdseed. But seeing those little goldfinches is such a cheerful thing! We have feeders just outside our office window; glad you have some to watch again.
christina222_gw
9 years ago
I missed the new thread and started another one, oops! Ignore that one. I have a very little one but it meant a lot to me at the time. I was getting rid of one of those giant TV armoires and struggling to get it to the end of my driveway when one of my neighbors that I'd never even met came running over to help me. Another time someone had knocked over my mailbox and I was digging a hole to fix it when a man driving by stopped and helped me. They're little things but when you're a not terribly strong woman with no one to help with things like that it's very nice to get unexpected help occasionally.
christina222_gw
9 years ago
I'm finally making actual progress on my bathroom remodel. I got most of the tile off today.
a2gemini
9 years ago
i was cross country skiing this weekend and at the end of the trail, there was a group of Boy Scouts wanting to be Boy Scouts

They were cooking lunch and invited me to join them

They treated me to a beef stroganoff taco, GORP and water

I am not at home and the skiing was a whim and I didn't take any trail food or water with me, so it was a nice treat (even if I never had a beef stroganoff taco before)
christina222_gw
9 years ago
I posted about this in my bathroom thread but figured I'd post it here too in case some of you have advice to offer. It turns out my bathroom walls are not drywall. They're blueboard with what looks like hand applied plaster. I suppose it should have occurred to me that they might be given that I have hand applied plaster ceilings (which I learned here.)

It looks like the old tile was applied directly onto the plaster. Now I am not sure what to do as all the instructions I found for this talked about drywall and cement board. There isn't a seam between the painted wall and the tiled one. I think there's a horizontal seam about halfway up the wall. I need to look closer.

I'll include a couple of pictures. Maybe I'm wrong? I have no idea about this stuff. Here is where I knocked the towel bar off the wall:
amykath
9 years ago
We are laying our wood floors ourselves in our new build. A dear friend took both Saturday and Sunday (all day on both days) to help. The entire living, dining, kitchen. Butlers pantry, entry and small hallway are completed. He's a perfectionist and worked so hard. They look great. To have such a friend as this is the best thing anyone could hope for. Did I mention, he's going to help with both our bathrooms as well? Lending us his labor and wonderful tools.

Needless to say we are buying him a gift we know he wants but hasn't bought for himself. Did I mention we love him? :)
zwizzle1
9 years ago
aktillery9 - True friends are like the family you get to pick. Golden.
christina222_gw
9 years ago
So true about good friends. When I got to work this morning one of my co-workers told me he'd stop by and help me with the tiles I hadn't been able to reach.
mama goose_gw zn6OH
9 years ago
We had 14" of snow last week. One of my neighbors scraped my driveway with the blade on his tractor--the same tractor that he uses to plow all the neighbors' gardens in the spring. I usually repay him and his wife with some home baked goodies and a small gift card to the local gas station, but they always protest that it's not necessary.
CEFreeman_GW DC/MD Burbs 7b/8a
Original Author
9 years ago
I had a meeting with a lawyer yesterday. Referred to her by the woman who modified my mortgage (and saved my life/house). I'm going to have to declare the "B" word after 9 years of struggling, working until I want to die, and barely keeping my noggin above water.

This lawyer I like very much. Practical and has a dry sense of humor. Is going to try to save my condominium, which is the one and only thing I'll have for retirement income -- if I ever get to stop working. (Yeah right.)

Anyway. Something nice: You know how expensive even the ability to declare yourself insolvent is? When I asked about fees, she said, "Whatever you can pay me."

I got in the car and cried.
christina222_gw
9 years ago
You have to do what you have to do. This is one of those things that I'm sure seems beyond awful to you now but when it's done will be a huge relief to you. Good for you taking the necessary steps.
AnnKH
9 years ago
Christine, I'm sorry. It sure sounds like your lawyer is going to take good care of you. Big hugs!
Texas_Gem
9 years ago
Oh Christine, I'm so sorry! If I had your address I would send you a case of Reese's, cookie dough and wine to help ease the blow.
mudhouse
9 years ago
It's great you have a good lawyer. I can only imagine what your remarkable self will be able to accomplish, once you're out from under some of the burdens you've had to shoulder (many unfairly, as I recall.) Hang in there.
desertsteph
9 years ago
awesome stories (except part of yours CEF) - makes the heart smile!
mgmum
9 years ago
Oh Christine. :( I'm sorry. I'm with Texas on the the Reeses, cookie dough and wine. Many hugs.

When I had to change lawyers for my divorce (which STILL has not happened almost 4 years later!) I told the new lawyer I had X dollars and was unable to borrow more and I was very concerned about the bill. She lowered her rate to what I was paying my other lawyer (likely a significant reduction) and allowed me to make monthly payments.
mgmum
9 years ago
OMG!! Now they are asking if we want to share our posts on facebook?!?!
CEFreeman_GW DC/MD Burbs 7b/8a
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks, guys. I'm logical, and logically I should have done this a long time ago. mgmum, my divorce lawyer is still letting me pay hiim on time. It'll be [italicized] SOME [/end] time before that debt is gone. But mine was very very quick, thank goodness.

I appreciate all the excellent treats you're wishing me, guys. Cheers my fat little soul.

Week 41: Something unexpected, something nice...

mudhouse

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Week 41: Something unexpected, something nice...

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