The HDA Trophy Resurrected!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I should know better. I taught my kids never to volunteer me for anything and then I went and did it myself. Even in grade school, when they had to sign up to bring something in, I made sure to teach them to only sign me up for stuff like cups or plates or else. Nothing that I had to bake or cook ever. When they would come home from school and tell me they signed me up for plastic utensils, I would high five them and happily go out and get the crap items.

Well, in a weak moment I was drunk I volunteered my husband to fix the damaged HDA trophy. I know better, but when Sandy (Hattie and Theo) announced it had arrived broken from Nicky (Riley and Boris) all the way from Ireland, something came over me and I offered my husband's help. He was livid thrilled when I told him the news, and said he could probably fix it.

Today, the glued together trophy left our house and is on its way to the next HDA. I hate to toot my own horn, but I did have to remind John to fix the trophy a bunch couple of times and go with him to Home Depot to buy the supplies. Can I just say I hate going to Home Depot and I especially hate the time I will never get back as we wander from aisle to aisle.  Of course, I left all the complaining at the store and this is just restating the facts. I can't prove it, but I think Home Depot changes up their aisles from week to week so each time you go in there you have to try and locate what you are looking for and end up buying more stuff you see as you wander around. John will not ask where anything is and instead I follow him around begging him to get help before the store closes or I am forced to end his life with a Phillips Screwdriver, if only I knew where to find one. Thankfully, we got the right stuff the first time, because often times we don't and then we end up repeating the above steps or John goes back alone and I am usually on the verge of filing a missing person's report by the time he returns. 

The trophy is very fragile, so he encased it in a homemade carved out piece of styrofoam for travel.  It will not win any awards for presentation, but hopefully it will keep the trophy safe from place to place. If not, don't call us again. I was lucky enough to find a box for it at TJ Maxx which fit around it perfectly and will help even more to keep it safe. I hope

I have added up all the costs in time, labor, and parts, and DoodleKisses owes us about $173.00. Here is the breakdown.

Styrofoam - free

Box - I lost the receipt, but I think it was around $5.99. However, because I was forced to go into that store and I ended up buying more stuff, I feel DK is responsible for all my purchases. Also, I tried AC Moore first and bought some stuff in there, so all totaled, I am rounding this up to $48.00 and I think you got off cheap.

Super Glue - Again, no receipt, but let's just say $14.00.

Postage - $15.25, plus I hate to do it, but I am going to add on $20.00 because I was forced to listen to the lady at the Post Office talk about the weather for quite some time and my time is valuable.

Labor -  Counting the nagging and threats, time involved was around 5 hours and the breakdown is this: 4 hours, 30 minutes for my part and 30 minutes for actual work done by John. $15.00/hour seems cheap to me, so all totaled that is $75.00.

This brings the grand total to $172.25, if I did the math correctly. I only accept cash or checks.

As always, I was more than happy NOT to help. Next HDA'er, If the trophy arrives in a million pieces, please keep it to yourself until AFTER we have been paid.

P.S. Who has the Intercourse Shirt? If that is lost, DK will need to add $10 to my invoice!

P.S.S. It may seem like a lot, but that trophy and Intercourse shirt are priceless!

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

OMD! Murder?  Extortion?? Oh dear!  And here I thought DK was all about fetching balls and sex :)) 

[Bonnie and Kona]

You forgot poop, Cheryl!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Every now and then we throw some other stuff in there to mix it all up :)

[Nina, Phil, Harlow & Lacey]

Laurie, I worked for 6 years at THD's corporate office.  I can confirm that they do from time to time (maybe not quite weekly) rearrange the layout of the stores.  It is so people like John (and myself) can happily burn several hours reacquainting themselves with all the wonder that are The Hope Depot.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Nina, I just saw your response....I knew it.....LOL! Next time, I will have John call you and the two of you can wander that store together :)

[Jay, Lola and Colonel Esau]

In Atlanta, right?  I was there once.  All I have to show for it is a big orange pencil.