I miss Home Depot

Living abroad, I often say, “This is so much easier in Brazil than in the U.S.” and I often say, “This is so much easier in the U.S. than in Brazil.”

Lately, it’s been the second of those two perspectives that I seem to be voicing more often. It may come from the fact that we are trying to contract a builder to construct the wall/pool/barbeque area, etc. on the lot next to the house.

First estimate: R$15,000 NOT including material.  Just the wall.

Wow! So, I would pay someone else to do it for basically 3 reasons:

1.    It’s hard work and it’s getting hot (well not this week but soon it’ll be summer in this tropical country)

2.    I work a full part-time job and don’t really want to also build something in my off time

3.    I don’t have the faintest idea what to buy or WHERE to buy it (materials) that’s why I need a professional.

Then, the other night my friend Diane says, “Sara, why don’t you fly someone down to do it?”

I was like: HUH?

She continues: “You HAVE to know people in the states, builders, construction people. Those people would not mind a holiday in Rio de Janeiro basically free of charge. It would most likely be done faster and better than with anyone you hire here.”

And I thought: HMMMM, interesting idea.

Then this morning, the second team showed up to give us an estimate. This new father son team will do the wall AND the pool together—and perhaps prepare the barbeque area. They’ll bring the estimate next Tuesday. We made sure to ask them for an estimate with material and an estimate without cost of material. After all, it’s the bottom line that we really need to know. And of course the workmanship, so they told us we can visit some existing sites these two are responsible for to see their end product(s).

Then, this afternoon, after wandering one of the biggest malls in the city (EW!) for 3 hours—I really need the sun to come out. I’m bored with the rain.) Sierra and I went to Etna looking for blinds for her bedroom window.

Her window is 120 cm X 120 cm

In stock: 70 X 140, 170 X 120, and just about everything else in between.

So, I found the nearest store employee to ask, “Do you all have any more blinds in stock?”

Store employee: “No, what we have is out.”

Me: “Do you cut the blinds that are here to fit the customer’s need?”

Store employee: “No.”

Me to self: Man I miss Home Depot. If we were in the states…we would be at the register, paying for our faux wood blinds, and heading home to hang them.

In the end, Joaocemar (the name of the store employee who helped us) asked me for my phone number in order to call me the first part of next week when the next shipment arrives. When he entered my number into his cell phone, I thought, “Hmm, is that your work phone?” He said the blinds arrive and leave the store pretty fast. I said then call me right away. I live here, close, and I’ll come as soon as you call. And again, thought to myself man, I miss Home Depot.

Final thought? If you are a builder or know a builder who would like an all-expense paid vacation to Rio de Janeiro, includes room and board during the project, send me contact information. One criterion: he/she must stop by Home Depot on his/her way to the airport to pick up white, 2 inch faux wood blinds for my daughter’s bedroom.