Copper, more precious than ... alulminum, and harder to find

The last time we met here, in thunder and in rain, we were arguing over who misplaced the damn eye of newt and -- oops, wrong group.

Last time we met here to discuss the progress of the house, I was explaining that the wiring was in progress. That was in early June, the Year of Our Lord two thousand and 19.

To be fair, it is still 2019.

'Though I have been assured weekly that just another few days would see the wiring done, the wiring is not done. But on the bright side, new complications have cropped up to slow matters down.

There is, it seems, a particularly large electrical wire that enters the house, for some purpose I failed to pay attention to when DH was explaining it. I think it's the one that connects the wire from the transformer to the wires inside the house. The material used for this wire is usually aluminum, but aluminum is not actually great for the purpose; it can corrode, it can work its way loose, there are various other issues, which is why its use is gradually being phased out.

It also is very large and therefore very hard to bend, and it needs to make a 90 degree bend.

What you should use, the books -- books, plural -- assured DH, is copper. Which is smaller than aluminum and hence more bendable, and also does not have aluminum's other attendant problems, and therefore seems like a most sensible option. So off he went to the electrical store, to pick up some copper electrical wire, after checking online to be sure they had it.

"We don't carry that," they said.

"But it's on your website."

"Huh. Dunno. We don't carry that. Nobody uses copper. It's crazy expensive."

"But I only need 12 feet."

"Oh. Well, I guess that wouldn't be expensive. But we don't carry it."

So he went home and checked the website, which said they carry it, and called headquarters.

"We don't carry that," they said.

"But it's on your website."

"Huh. Dunno. We don't carry it. Nobody uses copper."

And so it went. I don't know if he's located a source for it yet.

There still remains no progress on the fire sprinklers either; we begin to think they may have to be a retro fit. Maybe we'll just hang a few garden hoses from the ceiling.

Meanwhile, the stove and refrigerator have arrived, which is exciting, and because there is no mouse-proof place to put them, are sitting around in a cargo unit exposed to mice, who can apparently get through anything, which is exciting in an entirely different way. My brand new appliances! I visit them sometimes, and pet them and dream wistfully of being able to use them. DH sets live traps to remove the mice, which he relocates to the woods, away from the cargo unit. Near the house. He only caught two, and then no more. Maybe there were only two ???