Bad News in the Bathroom

     You know how dogs can detect cancer with their superior sense of smell?  Well, apparently, dogs are also able to detect an oncoming crisis in home renovation.  
      But, more on that later.
      Edward, having been incredibly good about staying home yesterday so that I could work and exercise, announced this morning that he needed to leave at 8 and come home about 6, because he had a lunch meeting.
      Where is that lunch meeting, Edward, Costa Rica?
      So that left me to deal with myself, the dogs and Debit, who is working on our bathroom renovation.
      Debit is a man of few words.  I'm coming to believe that he says yes to just about every statement and question.  In order to test this theory, I said to him today, "Debit, what is your opinion on global warming and its effect on weather conditions?"
      He looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Yes."  I knew it!
      With all the banging in the bathroom, I have experienced some lapses in concentration as well as memory loss.  For some reason, this means that I cannot take a coherent phone message.  Edward has been remarkably understanding, given that he is the one affected by this affliction.
      But more on that later.
      The dogs tipped me off to impending doom when I left for one measly hour to attend my pilates class.  When I put my coat on, they behaved like terrified, rabid, beasts (not that I actually know what that looks like) and made it quite clear that they did not want me to leave them in this dangerous home.  It was so compelling that I almost turned back.
      But, I'm not really that compassionate.
      When I returned, however, everything seemed normal and calm, if you consider calm a constant banging that can be heard outside of the house down the street.  I decided to do some paperwork in a room close to the bathroom in question when the banging stopped, and I heard Debit talking on his cellphone on what I assumed was a personal call.  Although I don't speak Polish, he seemed upset, talking loudly with excitement in his voice.  I wonder if he has marital problems, I thought.  Poor Debit.
       Then he came in and handed me the phone, and then Cash, my contractor, handed me the bad news.  It turns out my old plumbing was leaky and caused rot in what holds up the damned bathroom floor.  This, of course, has to be fixed before the marble is laid and since there was no way Cash could have known this when giving me the estimate, the cost of this work will be added on to what I owe. 
      Poor Barnie.  Literally.
      Edward has come home from Mongolia or wherever he fled to, and I have told him of this development, which he handled well.  His good nature was strained, however, when I again forgot to give him his phone messages.  Well, it's not as if there was something really important like his boss called about an urgent, time sensitive matter or anyth..ah, er,  gotta run now.