this just in: people not doing what they claim to do

a new fence? sure!

nice low quote from a "guy my neighbor knows" and vouches for. around $2000 lower than the next lowest number, to be exact. Why not?

Downpayment for materials? sure! here you go! what's that? you didn't add in something for something that you can't quite explain to me? another $500? sure!

meanwhile

hey, Mike, thanks for giving us the time of day. you do great work. just to show you that we appreciate it, we'll pay you twice as much up front as we agreed to pay. schedule? well, we'll probably be done in a few months, right? it's january, we'll have everything done by the summer and things will be right as rain, right?

Mike.

Mike?

Mike!

you haven't been to the house in three months. are you there? do you want to finish the job? do you want the rest of your money? things must be swimming in your household. what's that? you decided to do 3 other jobs before you finish ours? why? oh, I see: no good reason, we're just not that important. I see. well, at least that explains that.

I apparently have a target on my back, along with a sign that reads, "Please take advantage of this congenial loser."