I was up much of last night. Around 3:30 AM, just before I thought I was going to bed, I went out to reset my trash cans. My gardener had placed them curbside for this morn's pickup but some scavenger person had gone through them and moved them out of position. While out there, I noticed several gushers of water shooting out from a neighbor's house, mostly through the garage, like a big water pipe had burst somewhere on the property. I knocked on the neighbor's door but got no answer so I ran back into my home and phoned the Department of Water and Power.
I defy you to get someone at the D.W.P. on the phone at 3:30 in the morning. I did, however, hear a lot of recorded announcements about how I could pay my bill over the phone or online.
Giving up on that, I phoned the non-emergency line of the police department, explained the situation to them and they connected me to the fire department. I explained what was going on to a nice man there and he said, "We'll send someone out." About eight minutes later, a full-scale hook 'n' ladder rolled up with lights flashing but no siren. I showed them what was going on and they were able to roust the neighbor.
It turned out that it was just a garden hose in the back yard that had been left running but it had apparently been left running for a long time. The back yard and garage were flooded and there was much damage.
With all the running around, I didn't get to bed until after 5. Then at 8 AM, the phone rang and I wasn't in sufficiently-deep sleep to not be awakened…
ME: Hello?
MAN: Mr. Evanier [he said, trying to put the dreaded French inflection on it], this is Bob at Annoying Construction. We're out on your street today doing some construction for one of your neighbors and he said you had some work you needed done on your property.
ME: Really? Which house are you working on?
MAN: Uh, I don't have that information here.
ME: Which neighbor of mine told you that?
MAN: I don't have that information, either.
ME: Well then, how can I call them and see how satisfied they are with your work? Wouldn't you do that if you were me before you hired you?
MAN: Yes, I just don't have that information right here.
ME: Is it possible you don't have that information because there is no neighbor and you're not working on my street?
MAN: Uh, something like that. Sorry to have bothered you.
It was a shame he went all dishonest on me. I don't need any work done on my house but I could have sent him to a neighbor who suddenly needs a lot of it.