It is basically impossible for a contractor to call and say s/he's not coming.

[snarp]

Screw you contractor, I slept three hours last night and then drank a bunch of coffee so I'd be awake when you got here, and you are not here. I cannot even concentrate well enough to play Pokemon, much less do stuff that's important.

He called just as I was finishing that last sentence! This is why it is so important that you complain on your blog about every minor inconvenience in your life.