Didn't see this one coming.

Been trying to get my leaky fridge fixed for about 3 weeks now.

Finally, I get a guy from a major manufacturer, to come out this morning and fix the fridge. 

Clogged defrost valve and labor - $225 and change, to fix annoying leak which resulted in all my perishables  swimming in pools of water that were then freezing to the shelves.

Political rant from my "All American" repair man (tech) - $$Priceless!  Out of the blue he looks out from behind the fridge door and proclaims that the error in sending someone out to the wrong address was due to 'out sourcing.'  "Really?"   I queried.  I had called a local Tahoe number for a known appliance store, who then transferred me to what I thought was a local repair service for popular brands of appliances. 

The service asked me a bunch of questions, clicking away, asked what brands I owned, etc...The questions continued and they "found me" in their data base and scheduled my repair appointment.  A tech was mistakenly sent to the address in the computer where we have bought appliances in the past.  I explained this to the repair man working inside my refrigerator.  He said that it was not the computer but the person who did the scheduling in India that had made the error.  The look on his face told me that this was a subject that would torque him further into his discontent with his employer's 'out sourcing 'of scheduling and other jobs, leading him to "the fact of what is ruining this country."

In no way am I stating that the beliefs or proclamations of my said repair man reflect my own and merely seek to share the conversation highlights that ensued during the draining of my defroster valve!

"There WILL be a revolution!"  (he exclaimed) As my eyes widened like a deer in the head lights, he continued to say that there will be a revolution in America between the big cities and the rest of us who are not being subsidized by big government.  It will be cities vs. all others?  I didn't dare ask for clarification and simply nodded, averting my eyes back to the open refrigerator in hopes of a quick repair.

"And ya know... the Federal government will now seek to impose gun registration for all unregistered guns...except it is in our Bill of Rights not to do so...Constitutional rights...and it will likely never happen." 

Note to self:  He owns guns, lots of them and he is an Elk hunter.  Quickly change conversation to seasonal hunting and mention my son-in-law also hunts.  He doesn't blink at this conversation segue and continues on about his certainty that our country is going to hell in a hand basket for every imaginable reason.  I believe he just may have covered every current issue in the news without breathing.  I noticed a deep redness emerging in his face.

"You can't believe anything you hear in the news because the liberals dominate the media and anyone who believes it is ignorant."  Thank God I had "Regis and Kelly" on in the background and not CNN in that moment!  I saw his eyes move in the direction of the TV in the middle of the living room.  Hoping he has no idea what the politics of Regis and Kelly are...and luckily there was some young female singer on at the time.  Dodged a bullet there!  Wondering what else might be in his tool box.

Repair guy now gets a call from scheduling, tagging on two more service calls to his already long day and, "over 110 miles from home...!"  The damn care giver in me suggests he call to say he cannot take on those extra jobs...And he makes a call to his boss, leaving a voice mail and under his breath says, "Like he's going to listen to that!"

So, there I am, sitting in my cozy cabin and second home, still in my jammies and slippers (it's an early am appointment)...and the mostly one way conversation went from bad to scary when he started ranting about the Health Care Bill and how we who pay for insurance are going to be penalized heavily and will be paying considerably more to cover those who do not pay into the system at all.  (oh boy, here it comes!) And his current insurance "ain't that good anyway" and he has to pay a $30 co-pay for Lipitor!  Oh no, he has high cholesterol and to top that off he has high blood pressure!  He goes on to say, "I work 6 days a week with only one day to try to keep my stress level down so no way to manage stress..."  To which I say, mustering up some empathy, "You really need to find ways to reduce your stress and *maybe* talking about politics stresses you out?"  ("I'm an idiot," says inner voice)

"Oh no, believe it or not, politics doesn't stress me out!"  (errright)  "And I'm single and don't have kids so I don't have that stress..."  (toddler toys strewn around the room where my grand kids play, in plain sight) as I regret saying, "I take care of my grand children for my daughter who works 2 jobs..." To which he interrupts, "Ya see? They shouldn't have kids if they can't take care of them!"  (Woa!)  "Well, they're lucky to have me then, right?"  (expecting another tirade over people who shouldn't have kids and how dare they?)  And then I blather on about how lucky I am to be able to help take care of my grand babies...and how much I love it...while he packs up his gear and hands me the bill...still ranting on about how none of us really knows anything about our president...and here's a good one, "Anyone who didn't get out and vote is a stoner!" (love that one!)

"Well, it does seem pretty intense for you, perhaps..."  (inner voice tells me to just shut up) and I notice he is done cleaning up and leaning on the kitchen counter.  Cue me to go get my credit card and let this hard working American get on to his next appointment.  (inner voice wondering if he notices my pj's.....more inner admonitions!)

So, what did I learn from my refrigerator repair man?

   1.  Prepare for the revolution.  Clearly! (Googling now)

   2.  Buy guns before new legislation imposes unwanted restrictions.

   3.  Get dressed next time in-home repair needs to be done.

   4. Do not engage repair man in conversation about hunting Elk in Colorado, only to find out about some new state restrictions that prevent hunters from taking certain off roads to get closer to their prey without hiking in 30 miles!  God forbid!

   5.  Kick the leaky, aging fridge to the curb and buy new one on sale!