home depot

Too Busy For A Real Meal

Posted on by Josef Havelka

This morning was a hustle and bustle kind of day. Kids to school, get gas, hit Costco, grocery store and Home Depot… rush home to unload and then off to a different Home Depot to buy what I wanted. Kind of frustrating trying to get a patio set these days it seems. But I was successful in acquiring it!

What was great was the sales associate at Home Depot was happy to help me load up my car- it meant they didn’t need to find a place to store the set as it was on a palette and in the shipping area. Once at my vehicle- two more employees came to help load it up. Which was awesome! I strapped everything down and drove home.

I got home and my wife came to meet me in the driveway. I was taking the straps off and we took the table off the roof rack. The remaining benches and chairs were in my vehicle and very heavy! my wife made a comment that I should wait until I could get friends over to help move the set. At this point, some random jogger stopped and offer help to move it from my vehicle to the garage. Awesome! Totally appreciated it. Then he ran off.

Because of all my running around, I didn’t have time to make a nice lunch for myself. So I went old school living on my own style. Mac n’ Cheese with a can of tuna and a cheap beer on the side. Perfect for just myself. Honestly, who am I trying to impress these days?

I’m looking forward to the spring and summer when I can really enjoy the weather. Even the small glimpse of it was a nice addition to my day. But I want to give out a big cheers to the three Home Depot employees and the random jogger who helped me today! You guys are the mvps of my day! Thank you!

2021: Day 2

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Yesterday was a washout to begin the year. So today my wife and I woke up early and began our journey into the New Year. There are plans in motion to fix all the little issues in our home. We started the day at my favorite place- The Home Depot.

Walking into the store for the stuff I need was exhilarating. Maybe it was not that enthusiastic. But we went in with a list and a plan to maximize our shopping and minimize the wandering. This trip was just for some basics to repair a few things around the house- not full renos. Since I had worked at this particular Home Depot many lifetimes ago, I knew exactly where to find everything I needed.

My wife was happy that we powered through the shopping. All that’s left now is to complete the repairs and get into the new year with fewer worries than before. I actually got everything done inside the home before dinner.

I feel more accomplished day 2 of 2021. I need more days like this. Hopefully it happens.

You Know You’re A Grown Up When…

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Holy crap. My excitement level today shouldn’t have been so high. But it was. All because of a new Washing Machine. What is wrong with me?

Yesterday morning I mentioned our experience thus far with Home Depot Service. Later, a friend of mine asked if I got a phone call regarding the delivery. I in fact did receive an automated call at 5:30pm last night. Followed by a text message 5 minutes later. This is serious business folks! As you can see, it mentioned that the delivery would be between 11am And 3pm. No big deal- I was home for the day.

This morning at 10:30 I got a call from the delivery guy saying he’d be at our home by 11. Then he called my wife’s cellphone and told her the same thing. It was followed up by an automated call at 10:50 telling me they would soon be here. Ahhhh!!!

At 10:55 the truck was unloading our new washer. I didn’t even get a chance to take a photo of the box it came in. One guy was already removing our old washer out of our house at this time. I did get out and check for any damage and cosmetics of our new washer. Pristine.

At 11:05 they were done. Old washer gone- new one installed. Like magic little elves at Christmas- these guys were gone in a flash. So quickly in fact that I couldn’t even pick them out in a police lineup. Outstanding.

At 11:25 I received another automated call asking how my delivery and installation went. I gave all of the questions a “5 out of 5” rating.

In the end, Home Depot Services called me 7 times and texted me twice about our washing machine. All of the phone calls built up my excitement. About a washing machine! Not an upcoming birthday, or a new movie or even an exotic vacation. But a laundry device.

If a new washer can spark this kind of joy, I couldn’t imagine getting all new appliances for my kitchen at the same time. I’d probably die of a heart attack.

Home Depot Service

Posted on by Josef Havelka

On Saturday, my wife and I reluctantly went out and bought a new washing machine after my attempt to Repair our old one. We hit the Home Depot that I used to work at and checked out the appliances. My wife wasn’t overly thrilled with the sales associate because he did most of the talking to me. Part of it was because he remembered me from years ago. Part of it was a little bit that he seemed kind of… sexist. He only spoke to my wife about how to do laundry not the purchase itself.

Anyhow, we bought the machine and arranged delivery and installation. As well as removal of the old machine. The sales associate told me I’d get a call Wednesday evening to confirm the delivery on Thursday. I’m waiting for that call. But in the meantime…

On Monday I received a call going over the contract and the delivery guidelines. It was a reiteration of what the sales associate said as well as the contract I was given to read.

Cool. Thanks. I guess. She seemed friendly.

Tuesday I got a text telling me about the call I’ll be getting later today. A bit of overkill really. I will say Home Depot is definitely all about the customer service. So that makes me happy.

I can’t wait to get my call tonight to confirm my delivery tomorrow. As well as a call tomorrow to confirm my delivery.

And most likely a Follow Up call to see how my service and delivery was.

Crazy. But it will likely make me return to them if they put in that much effort.

Home Depot

Posted on by Josef Havelka


As I’ve grown older I’ve come to realize that I love doing home renos.  Over the years I have become a jack of all trades.  When I get inspired to remodel, I do as much research as possible to do it right.  One of the best places to learn is my local Home Depot.

  
I love/hate this store.  I worked there for a couple of years part time and learned a ton of valuable information.  Like most men, I know the store inside and out. (Not trying to be sexist, but usually I see more guys in the store buying stuff.)  I have spent hours wandering my local Home Depot.  I’ve made numerous trips back and forth buying 2×4’s, drywall, paints, etc…  I learned the most valuable lesson- always use the right tool for the job.  Cheap doesn’t cut it.  Quality tools make all the difference in whether a person would want to tackle a project again in the future.

The tools I have been buying are now being used for more than just home improvements.  Over the past few years, as I have mentioned before, we attend numerous Comic Cons.  Recently, I’ve been working on more Cosplay for my children and have had to buy foam, Dremel bits, glues, a heat gun, and other various supplies.  My arts and crafts are becoming more expensive, but I’m enjoying the hobby.  Steampunk is also one of my favorite genres and what better place to go but Home Depot to buy pipe and wood. The sales associates have looked at me strange as I walked the aisles connecting electrical conduits to plumbing pieces.  Now, the lighting department has special fixtures and bulbs that fit the Steampunk lifestyle.

My wife doesn’t like me going to the Home Depot for “just one item”.  I will return home with a car full of stuff and a credit card bill deferred for six months.  Maybe there’s something in the air at the store, like Disneyland pumping vanilla scents down Mainstreet, that causes me to spend money.  Or maybe it’s the big signs and the friendly staff.  Personally, I think it’s because it’s essentially a grown up toy store and I’m just a big kid with a credit card looking to play.

Making a home.

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Just a short drive from our home is a new housing development.  Recently I wandered through five of these new million & a half dollar houses.  They had all the modern features you’d expect: stainless steel everything, outdoor kitchens, huge media rooms, a bar, heated garages, vaulted ceilings, open floor plan… & no yard.

 

A million here, a million there, pretty soon it’ll add up to real money.

 

These new houses were filled with high end furniture and staged to give an illusion of being lived in.  After wandering these houses, it occurred to me that it isn’t what I wanted in life.  New may seem nice.  It’s fun to show off and pretend like you have your shit together, but who are you trying to impress?

Is this still the dream?

 

Needless to say, I came home to my place and felt partly defeated.  My home is from the 70’s.  We bought the house in 2007 and have done many changes to it.  It has gone through many upgrades and renovations over the years.  It has character.  It’s not a cookie cutter design, it was custom made by a bricklayer- and it shows.  Because it was custom made in the 70’s , I’ve run into many problems.  Electrical and plumbing are high on that list.

I love doing home renovations.  Walking through the new housing development, I got some ideas to update my home.  Most of my knowledge comes from personal research (mostly on Pinterest) and my time spent working as a sales associate at Home Depot.  During the slow times there, I’d wander to the different departments and ask questions. I learned that the staff at my local Home Depot are extremely knowledgeable in their given departments.  I also learned, don’t ask for help on a weekend, it’s always busy.  Go in mid-week during the day and you will be able to truly learn something of value.  There are also plenty of great how-to books and seminars available.

 

Screw it.

 

Over the years, I learned the hard way that you need the right tools for the job.  Never cut corners.  I take pride in the work I have done around my home.  The hardest part I have found is finishing my projects.  I’ll get about 90% done, and stop.  It’s the little finishes that I need to do: baseboards, or hiding wires, or adding that little bit of caulking.

Here’s the thing: I’m not building my home to impress anyone.  I’m building it because I enjoy what I do.  My home has a yard.  A yard that my kids and dogs have made good use of.  A yard that I enjoy looking at and hanging out in.

 

Our door is always open, unless it’s closed.

 

As much as a new house would be nice to own, I’d lose my little bit of tranquility.  I’d be bored not having a project to work on.  I’m not ready to do that.  My home is a place that we welcome friends and future friends to visit.  You’ll find unfinished walls, dog hair on the furniture, and smiles on our faces.

Just remember to bring the white wine and beer as we fire up the grill this summer and create memories that will last a lifetime.  That makes my home worth more to me than a million bucks and I’m not ready to sell.