RECORD STORE TALES #1201: Reno Schmeno! (What A Song Should Do)

The things we find and re-discover during renovations are exciting!

I was extremely anxious in the months leading up to replacing our windows.  As classic collectors of merch (aka “hoarders”), we had to move a bunch of stuff and make a lot of space.  We donated a lot of clothes, and we dug up a ton of cool stuff that we forgot we had.

In a box hidden away, I found five sealed Transformers toys (including four 3rd party toys) that were San Diego Comicon exclusives.  I bought them years ago, cheap.  I just sold the first one for $250.  I also dug up some musical treats and memories that are only the tip of the iceberg.

More discoveries included binders full of collector’s cards, and a box full of Jen’s teenage and mid-20s CD collection.  Some surefire embarrassments in there that will make for a great video post someday soon.  I also found a box full of memorabilia, which I have purposefully not dug into yet, because I want to surprise myself on camera when I open it up.

As the kids say, if you don’t do it on camera, what’s the point of doing it?

Finally after several weekends of work, we were ready.  New windows going in July 28.  I tore down my PC and relocated it to a safe room.  I covered everything in sheets.  We over-prepared.  This caused all my anxiety to melt away and transform into excitement.  Our old windows were 34 years old.  Last winter, you could feel the draft, and this summer they started to leak.

The window renovations were scheduled for 8:00 AM.  I woke Jen up at 7:00 to do the final prep.  We set up a nice area in the kitchen to sit and stay out of their way.  They would need access to all the other rooms.  Four windows in total, including bedroom and en-suite bathroom…and of course Grab A Stack HQ’s window.

8:00 ticked by.  No trucks outside.

“Maybe they’re eating breakfast,” said Jen.

8:30.  9:00.  No sign of the workers.  I was impatient, but knew they would get there eventually.

Finally at 9:30 a truck rolled in.  As the workers poured out, a second truck (a foreman) also pulled in.

“You guys have to get here at 8:00 AM!” he yelled.

“We’re trying,” replied one of the workers.

“It’s 9:30!” yelled the foreman.  “You’re at the shop at 7:30; it doesn’t take two hours to get here!”

Fortunately, the workers were efficient, considerate and friendly once the work started.  I didn’t want to have to move my actual desk at Grab A Stack HQ.  It would be easier for me to move the the PC and peripherals while leaving the desk intact.  The main worker said “no problem”.  They did a great job working around my small desk.

The windows were all ripped out by 11:00 AM.  The guys took a lunch break.  Gleefully, I stuck my head out the gaping holes, seeing my home from an angle I’ve never had before.  I have to admit, I had fun.

The workers were based out of St. Thomas, where I assume country music is the norm.  Their truck was backed in close to my open window holes.  I got to hear every song.

Every. Damn. Country song.

The one that sticks out the most reminded me of Bon Jovi, but not in a good way.  It went like this:

Hell yeah,
Me too,
Yeah, that’s what a song should do.

I laughed to myself.  What shit!  I wonder if Iron Maiden would agree that a song should make you go “Hell yeah, me too”?

I asked my buddy Tim Durling, who works in radio and was familiar with the song, who sang this atrocity?

“That guy,” he responded.  I laughed.  Turns out it is a Canadian country singer named Tim Hicks.  Of course he would be named Hicks.

I didn’t hear one single country song that I recognized the whole day.  They all sounded like stuff that could have been on Lost Highway by Bon Jovi.  Awful, but I looked at it as a learning experience, as I did the whole day.

The guys were done by about 3:00 PM.  I set up my computer and started to refresh Grab A Stack HQ around my new window.   It went so smooth.  We only had two issues.  My security camera won’t power up.  I guess I must have dropped it.  We also needed to get creative when hanging the blinds back up, but they are only temporary.  We will be getting new ones to go with the new windows.

Jen and I are thrilled with our new windows and brighter spaces.  We can’t wait to continue this project into 2026.

Playing music in my new brighter HQ makes me happy.  Isn’t that what a song should do?