I have known that I would be needing tires for some time. I started investigating the situation when my Camry hit 40K. When I first started looking at tires I discovered that Toyota put tires on the 2007 model Camry's that are sprinkled with "magical gold dust." This HAS to be reason that they cost $153-$158 A TIRE!
Knowing that I obviously would not be replacing the tires with what was on the car and I still had time on my side mileage wise I started shopping around. You name the tire store I checked it out. Well at least all of the major ones. I thought about stopping by Jose's Tire and Rims (actual name not making it up) but I wanted to go to a store that I KNEW would be there next week.
I found that National Tire and Battery had the best deal for me. I ended up getting a 60K tire for $93 a tire with free rotation and balance for the life of the tires. This should get me to the 100K mark.
While I was there I asked the service guy why the tires that were on the car were over $150 a tire.
He said that they were a 50K tire but most people get 35K-40K on them before they need to be replaced. The big reason for the price hike was that they were a 140 rate tire. That means that you can travel 140 miles per hour on the tire before you risk the tire blowing up on you.
I just looked at him with a WTH look. He commented that I probably don't travel
140mph so I was going to be very pleased with the tire I got. I asked him if he ever thought about going 140mph in a 4 cylinder Camry? No, probably not.
So I was very pleased with the service I got. THEN IT HAPPENED...THE UPCHARGE!!
I am sitting in the waiting room and he comes in and says Mr. JDHTEACH did you know you had a BUSTED STRUTT on one of your back wheels? WTF??? NO!
I go out there and he shows me where the strutt has some oil on it. I get the price of $180 for the strutt and $88 for service. Total- $268.
HHHHHUUUUMMMMMMMM!!!!
I told him to hold off and I was going to take it to my mechanic. For those of you that don't know what a strutt does.... when your car goes over a bump...if your car continues to bounce long after that bump..your shocks and or strutts need to be replaced. That is why I was confused....I have none of that!!
I took the car to my mechanic and said that yeah the strutt is starting to show signs of wear but that I could drive the car for at least another year before anything needed to be considered. If I had the money to do it fine go ahead but if it was his car he would hold off.
His price to replace... $172 for the strutt but $159 labor.
So who do you chose....the store that had me thinking my car was falling apart at a cheaper price or the honest guy who you have used in the past but is more expensive?
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Bill Cosby Parenting
So I had one of those Bill Cosby raising a child moments a few days ago with Jack. Tracey came into the house and approached me with a look. My first thought was, man I hope that look is not for something I did. As she got toward me she said, “You need to go outside and get your son. If I have to do it he may get hurt.” Relieved she was not after me my response was “I am on it.”
Tracey tells me that Jack was supposed to come inside and go to his room but instead jumped on his bike and took off down the alley.
So I go outside the front and there he is riding down the sidewalk. I call his name and he looks at me with a very upset look on his face and he begins to whine as he walks up the front side walk.
This is where I inform him that AT THIS TIME I don’t know all of the details as to WHY he is in trouble and that I am here to collect him and bring him into the house. I also inform the boy that at this time I am the only friend he has who can HELP him. So he needs to knock off any attitude before he proceeds any further. My advice to him is to go around the back of the house and put his bike up and to quietly enter the house without drawing any attention to himself from his mother and to meet me in my bedroom in three minutes.
He understands the situation evidently because his only response at this time is “Okay Daddy” and off he goes to the back.
This is where the fun part begins.
He enters my bed room and hops up on the bed with me. I ask him why he is in trouble and he begins with the following:
Jack: WELL CAROLINE
Me: STOP- I don’t want to hear about Caroline. If I determine I need to speak with her I will but right now I just want to know what JACK did to make MOM upset.
Jack- Big EXHALE followed by 5 second pause. Well I was getting on to Caroline in the store because she was irritating me and MOM got mad at me.
ME- Okay, mom is mad at you for getting onto Caroline in the store. Anything else Jack?
Jack- Mom getting on to ME made me mad so I started acting like a brat in the store to get back at her for getting on to me.
Me- OKAY JACK- I think I found your problem. Let’s look at this line of thinking. You got mad at mom for getting on to you in the store.
Jack- Yes
Me- So you decided to act up in the store to make mom MORE upset with you.
Jack- Yes
Me- Jack, does that line of thinking make sense to you? Mom is mad at you for acting up so you act up MORE in the store.
Jack- 3 second pause. Throws arms up in air.
WELL NO NOT NOW DAD!
He left the bedroom to go find MOM and apologize. As he was hugging on his mom I was doing everything I could to keep from busting out laughing .
Tracey tells me that Jack was supposed to come inside and go to his room but instead jumped on his bike and took off down the alley.
So I go outside the front and there he is riding down the sidewalk. I call his name and he looks at me with a very upset look on his face and he begins to whine as he walks up the front side walk.
This is where I inform him that AT THIS TIME I don’t know all of the details as to WHY he is in trouble and that I am here to collect him and bring him into the house. I also inform the boy that at this time I am the only friend he has who can HELP him. So he needs to knock off any attitude before he proceeds any further. My advice to him is to go around the back of the house and put his bike up and to quietly enter the house without drawing any attention to himself from his mother and to meet me in my bedroom in three minutes.
He understands the situation evidently because his only response at this time is “Okay Daddy” and off he goes to the back.
This is where the fun part begins.
He enters my bed room and hops up on the bed with me. I ask him why he is in trouble and he begins with the following:
Jack: WELL CAROLINE
Me: STOP- I don’t want to hear about Caroline. If I determine I need to speak with her I will but right now I just want to know what JACK did to make MOM upset.
Jack- Big EXHALE followed by 5 second pause. Well I was getting on to Caroline in the store because she was irritating me and MOM got mad at me.
ME- Okay, mom is mad at you for getting onto Caroline in the store. Anything else Jack?
Jack- Mom getting on to ME made me mad so I started acting like a brat in the store to get back at her for getting on to me.
Me- OKAY JACK- I think I found your problem. Let’s look at this line of thinking. You got mad at mom for getting on to you in the store.
Jack- Yes
Me- So you decided to act up in the store to make mom MORE upset with you.
Jack- Yes
Me- Jack, does that line of thinking make sense to you? Mom is mad at you for acting up so you act up MORE in the store.
Jack- 3 second pause. Throws arms up in air.
WELL NO NOT NOW DAD!
He left the bedroom to go find MOM and apologize. As he was hugging on his mom I was doing everything I could to keep from busting out laughing .
Custumer Service? S-T-R-U-G-G-L-I-N-G
Tracey and I have our services in our house bundled with AT&T. About 2 months ago they came through our neighborhood and began updating their internet service with AT&T U-verse. Supposed to be an upgradeable program they offer that will speed up your internet. That is if you want to pay the additional $12.99 a month. I was perfectly happy with what we had at the time so we decided to stick with what we had.
While they were putting the necessary cable into the ground we lost internet service because they disconnected everything while they put in the new material. Since this time we have had nothing but trouble with our internet service and phone service.
Internet service has not been that bad actually. We have stuck with the original package and for the most part we are good. We have noticed however on some evenings that our internet service is
S-L-O-W. Don’t know why really but it is only occasionally.
The phone however has been a completely different story. First of all AT&T is telling us that U-Verse has nothing to do with our phone. Yeah I understand that but what they do not understand is all we saying is when they started digging in our alley we lose our phone service from time to time for no reason. They have tried to fix the problem but we have now NOT had a phone in our house more days than we have.
When it comes to their service department the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing. Here are some of our experiences.
1. They want to schedule a service time in a 3 hour window in the middle of the day. We work for a living so it is going to have to be a Saturday. We are told this is not a problem and we are set for a Saturday appointment.
2. 3 hour window on Saturday goes by with no one showing up at the house to work on our phone. We call AT&T and we are told that we did not have an appointment set for Saturday and that we set the appointment for Monday in a different 3 hour window. WHAT THE HELL???
3. I talk to Tracey who verifies that I have not lost my marbles and I call AT&T back. I am told at this time that the previous attendant must be lost because they show that I DO have an appointment and that the tech must be running late. They apologize and do the leg work to find out where the tech is at that time. They call back 2 minutes later to let us know he is on his way and 20 minute later the tech is at our house. Phone working but internet is out and he can’t figure out why. He is the phone guy and not the internet guy.
4. 8:00 Sunday morning a female tech shows up and 10 minutes later internet is up and running.
5. We lose phone service 2 more times and a tech shows up and fixes the problem. You know a tech has come to your house too often when he offers his business card and gives you his direct phone number. By this time he also knows the names of all three of your dogs.
6. THE KICKER!- We lose our phone service for GOD KNOWS how many times and Tracey and I have H-A-D IT with At&T. We call them to notify them of the problem and they tell us they will send out a tech. They show up when we are not home AGAIN. What part of WE WORK FOR A FREAKING LIVING DO THEY NOT UNDERSTAND? GET THIS- AT&T CALLS US ON OUR HOME PHONE TO LET US KNOW THAT THE TECH WAS AT OUT HOUSE AND WE NEED TO BE HOME FOR THEM TO COMPLETE THEIR WORK!
NOW FOLLOW THIS LOGIC- WE CALLED TO INFORM THEM THAT OUR HOME PHONE IS NOT WORKING!!!
SO THEY CALL US ON OUR HOME PHONE TO LET US KNOW THEY CAN’T FINISH THE WORK ORDER.
ANYONE SEE THE PROBLEM HERE?
So we called them last night to cancel our account. When the poor lady asked why Tracey very politely told her the problems we have had with them over the past two months. And the lady on the phone very graciously apologized and understood why we were doing what we were doing.
I know the company will not fold because of my account and I want to praise all of the people who have tirelessly worked at my home to help us out. My problem is with their scheduling department. Clearly they don’t communicate very well. Who the heck calls someone on their land line when the reason you calling in the first place is your land line is OUT?
While they were putting the necessary cable into the ground we lost internet service because they disconnected everything while they put in the new material. Since this time we have had nothing but trouble with our internet service and phone service.
Internet service has not been that bad actually. We have stuck with the original package and for the most part we are good. We have noticed however on some evenings that our internet service is
S-L-O-W. Don’t know why really but it is only occasionally.
The phone however has been a completely different story. First of all AT&T is telling us that U-Verse has nothing to do with our phone. Yeah I understand that but what they do not understand is all we saying is when they started digging in our alley we lose our phone service from time to time for no reason. They have tried to fix the problem but we have now NOT had a phone in our house more days than we have.
When it comes to their service department the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing. Here are some of our experiences.
1. They want to schedule a service time in a 3 hour window in the middle of the day. We work for a living so it is going to have to be a Saturday. We are told this is not a problem and we are set for a Saturday appointment.
2. 3 hour window on Saturday goes by with no one showing up at the house to work on our phone. We call AT&T and we are told that we did not have an appointment set for Saturday and that we set the appointment for Monday in a different 3 hour window. WHAT THE HELL???
3. I talk to Tracey who verifies that I have not lost my marbles and I call AT&T back. I am told at this time that the previous attendant must be lost because they show that I DO have an appointment and that the tech must be running late. They apologize and do the leg work to find out where the tech is at that time. They call back 2 minutes later to let us know he is on his way and 20 minute later the tech is at our house. Phone working but internet is out and he can’t figure out why. He is the phone guy and not the internet guy.
4. 8:00 Sunday morning a female tech shows up and 10 minutes later internet is up and running.
5. We lose phone service 2 more times and a tech shows up and fixes the problem. You know a tech has come to your house too often when he offers his business card and gives you his direct phone number. By this time he also knows the names of all three of your dogs.
6. THE KICKER!- We lose our phone service for GOD KNOWS how many times and Tracey and I have H-A-D IT with At&T. We call them to notify them of the problem and they tell us they will send out a tech. They show up when we are not home AGAIN. What part of WE WORK FOR A FREAKING LIVING DO THEY NOT UNDERSTAND? GET THIS- AT&T CALLS US ON OUR HOME PHONE TO LET US KNOW THAT THE TECH WAS AT OUT HOUSE AND WE NEED TO BE HOME FOR THEM TO COMPLETE THEIR WORK!
NOW FOLLOW THIS LOGIC- WE CALLED TO INFORM THEM THAT OUR HOME PHONE IS NOT WORKING!!!
SO THEY CALL US ON OUR HOME PHONE TO LET US KNOW THEY CAN’T FINISH THE WORK ORDER.
ANYONE SEE THE PROBLEM HERE?
So we called them last night to cancel our account. When the poor lady asked why Tracey very politely told her the problems we have had with them over the past two months. And the lady on the phone very graciously apologized and understood why we were doing what we were doing.
I know the company will not fold because of my account and I want to praise all of the people who have tirelessly worked at my home to help us out. My problem is with their scheduling department. Clearly they don’t communicate very well. Who the heck calls someone on their land line when the reason you calling in the first place is your land line is OUT?
Does This Bug You or Is It Just Me?
Not too long ago I was given a responsibility to inform a certain group of people of the requirements that needed to be met to accomplish a goal. Some of you may laugh but when it comes to my work I am very detail oriented.
So I create an email and include a check list of what is needed from to complete our goal. In addition to that I create a list of possible questions they may have along with the answers to this question.
Well it is not to long before I start getting hit with questions of what they need to do to accomplish their goal. I refer them back to my email with the QUOTED portion of the email that answers their question.
Which leads me to this question- Do they even READ the email before they ask a question?
So I create an email and include a check list of what is needed from to complete our goal. In addition to that I create a list of possible questions they may have along with the answers to this question.
Well it is not to long before I start getting hit with questions of what they need to do to accomplish their goal. I refer them back to my email with the QUOTED portion of the email that answers their question.
Which leads me to this question- Do they even READ the email before they ask a question?
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Frankie Goes To Hollywood in the 80's- Who Knew?
This is a song that I LOVED in the mid 80's. It was played on the top 40 radio stations in 85 or 86. I can't remember exactly. I was in junior high I know that. This video was played on MTV for quite a while on the daily top 10 requested video's of the day. This was back when they actually had VJ' and played videos. This first video I would say has a theme. The theme here is WHERE THE HELL IS THE SECURITY STAFF? Look I don't mind the ladies throwing their underwear up here or even the ocassional boob flash or to actually get on stage and give me a peck on the cheek before you carry her off but when the chick is able to get up here and jump on my back while I am singing...COME ON!!!
This is a more updated version of the song.... The lead singer is there but he is not singing lead vocal on the song. It seems they have a new lead singer... interesting outfit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SouGhbXz6_s
This is a more updated version of the song.... The lead singer is there but he is not singing lead vocal on the song. It seems they have a new lead singer... interesting outfit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SouGhbXz6_s
Saturday, April 18, 2009
WHERE...IS...MY.....SUPERSUIT?!?!?!
I hate it when I misplace or lose something. I have a rush of emotions when this happens to me. They usually hit me in stages.
1. Phase One- (The Huh Phase) During this phase you go to where you thought the item was and it is not there. Thus, you think to yourself Huh, I thought I put it right here. No panic or worry has set in just yet.
2. Phase Two- ( Where is it?) During this phase you are starting to look in multiple places in the off chance you set the item down somewhere and forgot about it. At this time worry is starting to creep into your thoughts.
3. Phase Three (Adamant Phase) During this phase you are confident beyond belief that you know where you put it and that SOMEONE clearly came and borrowed it or took it without talking to you first. At this point you are just mad and worry has graduated to full blown panic. In addition you start to determine in your mind who TOOK your item from you as clearly this is their fault.
4. Phase 4 (Clueless Phase) You have now calmed down a bit and you have mentally retraced your steps. You have gone to every place you went with said object and it is still not there. At this time you run up the red flag and pronounce yourself defeated as you have NO CLUE where said object might be.
This morning I misplaced something and I am somewhere in between phase 3 and 4. I am still adamant about what I did with the object because there was no down time for me to misplace it somewhere else and I am mad and somewhat in a panic mode that I cannot find it. You see this object was not mine in the first place and it is somewhat expensive to replace. At the same time I have back tracked my steps in the off chance they appear somewhere and I have had no luck. Thus I am mad and clueless. (Yeah I know I am clueless..ha!)
1. Phase One- (The Huh Phase) During this phase you go to where you thought the item was and it is not there. Thus, you think to yourself Huh, I thought I put it right here. No panic or worry has set in just yet.
2. Phase Two- ( Where is it?) During this phase you are starting to look in multiple places in the off chance you set the item down somewhere and forgot about it. At this time worry is starting to creep into your thoughts.
3. Phase Three (Adamant Phase) During this phase you are confident beyond belief that you know where you put it and that SOMEONE clearly came and borrowed it or took it without talking to you first. At this point you are just mad and worry has graduated to full blown panic. In addition you start to determine in your mind who TOOK your item from you as clearly this is their fault.
4. Phase 4 (Clueless Phase) You have now calmed down a bit and you have mentally retraced your steps. You have gone to every place you went with said object and it is still not there. At this time you run up the red flag and pronounce yourself defeated as you have NO CLUE where said object might be.
This morning I misplaced something and I am somewhere in between phase 3 and 4. I am still adamant about what I did with the object because there was no down time for me to misplace it somewhere else and I am mad and somewhat in a panic mode that I cannot find it. You see this object was not mine in the first place and it is somewhat expensive to replace. At the same time I have back tracked my steps in the off chance they appear somewhere and I have had no luck. Thus I am mad and clueless. (Yeah I know I am clueless..ha!)
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