Electricity Blues

UPDATED: Photo at end.

For about 9 months, I've had to lighting fixtures laying around, waiting to be installed. In the past month, I've called two local electricians, both coming with personal recommendations. The first guy said he'd come on a Tuesday and would call the night before to confirm. He didn't call, didn't show up, and didn't return my phone call. Ever.

The second guy was going to come last week but had to cancel due to a family emergency. He said he'd be able to come early this week (he left a message) and when I called back to discuss I got his voicemail. I left a message saying that Mon-Wed work for me. He didn't call back. Ever. It's Wednesday.

Yesterday, I got fed up and called a big electrician company that's (to quote the electrician who's here now) "Not the cheapest in the state". I called yesterday at around 4. They said they'd be here this morning. See? It pays to call the big guys. Of course, the consumer pays too. There's a $59 travel fee. Ok, they aren't located in my hometown, and I could probably have called a pricey electrician from my own city and maybe saved myself the travel fee. But these guys were recommended as well.

I live in a house built in 1915. It's really cool. Lots of woodwork, 2 built-in china cabinets, and hardwood floors. All stained, not painted. And... lots of outdated electrical stuff. Like, rooms with just 2 sockets, the old-school 2 prong kinds, and only one real telephone socket. I have wires going all over the place. Really ghetto.

The point is, whenever I need to have a simple house project done, it turns out to be way more than I expected. I should know by now. But now, I'm always ignorantly optimistic. So here's the deal with today.

One ceiling fan installed: needs new box, total cost is $375. (I'm probably getting ripped off)
One bathroom light installed: about $425 (all wires are old, probably need to run wires through attic and walls)
Travel fee: $57

Grand total - WAY TOO MUCH

I opted to just have the ceiling fan done. I can live with the old crappy lights in the bathroom for now. But I can't get through the summer without a ceiling fan in the living room. And I guess that I'm paying now for all the money I saved by having my family do my electrical work. Karma?

I'm so overpaying. It's killing me. But, they're HERE!! They didn't blow me off! And it's going to be done today! So, I don't care. Really.

(And I'm returning a pair of shoes that cost $70, so really, I'm being frugal.)

It's in.