I'm back from the Far East, but what have I come back to? As you know, Hurricane Wilma pounded into Florida while I was away. We had toyed with the idea of coming home to prepare in advance of the storm, but Wilma kept changing speed and direction, and we weren't even sure if we were needed back home. Quite frankly, we weren't sure we'd even make it back in time: that would have left us in the USA but not home, so ultimately we decided we'd be better off finishing up the trip. After Wilma hit, we tried to come home, but there simply wasn't any way to get home. The airports were closed, and if we flew to an open airport (Atlanta, for example), there wasn't gas available to drive -- a situation that is still a problem.
My home has sustained extensive damage. The exterior has severe damage to the roof (most of it's in the backyard, instead of on top of the house where it belongs) – the roof needs to be replaced: it is not repairable. There are holes in the roof, the tiles, felt, and tar paper are stripped away and the wood underneath is damaged and broken. There is interior ceiling damage in the garage, downstairs hallway, upstairs hallway, closet, bedroom, and bathroom. Lots of drywall will need replacing, plus the related mold and mildew problems that will come along with it.
I have a broken window pane – one of the big ones in my kitchen (4' x 2' panes). Although I have covered this, the repair of this window – which is comprised of six of these panes will be difficult. As a result of the broken pane, there is water damage.
My lush landscaping is gone. In fact, our entire neighbourhood has been entirely denuded. Whatever trees Katrina missed, Wilma got.
My exterior paint has lots of embedded grass and crap in it. If you've been through a hurricane before, you know how it literally gets blasted into and becomes part of the paint.
Today I took a few dozen pictures for the insurance adjuster and after I talk to him/her next week I can begin the slow clean up and repair process. Today, I piled up the broken tiles on the ground, but the ones on the roof I can't get to. I am unhappy.
11-6-05 update: The insurance adjuster called and we have an appointment for 11-29. Yay. I've been cleaning for days and the yard and everything looks presentable (except for no landscaping) but the roof is still missing large chunks. My roofer and I signed a contract but they don't expect to be able to start until after the first of the year.
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
More Bad Customer Service (Today: Walgreens)
So, last weekend I use the Internet to renew two Walgreens prescriptions. This should be easy. Normally I use the phone auto-dial system out of privacy concerns, but I decided to be daring. I really don't care if you all know I take AcipHex. Yes, good ole' acid-reflux. So much for privacy, eh? :)
Anyway, so I show up to pick it up last Tuesday. The second prescription was ready, but the AcipHex wasn't despite the fact they had three days to prepare it. I ask why it wasn't ready and they said the insurance company wouldn't release it early. I explained that this was a 'vacation refill' (something where you get your prescription early if you will be out of town when it normally comes due). She said that their records didn't indicate that. Now, I don't have a problem with Walgreens on that aspect at all.
What pissed me off? Well they didn't call me to tell me there was a problem. They wait until I show up after 5pm to let me know there's a problem -- when the insurance company is, obviously, closed. I ask what can be done and they said "Well you can pay for it." I asked how much and I was told $196! I said "no" and let them know I'd pick up BOTH of them on the 11th (today) and asked her to note that on the already filled first prescription. I let them know how irritated I was they didn't call me. "Well we don't have your phone number" I was told. I asked for the manager of the pharmacy and pointed at the label of the first prescription, which, of course, had my phone number on it (required by law in Florida).
I show up today to pick up both prescriptions. Guess what? They had cancelled my first prescription because I didn't collect it on time. I must say the pharmacist on duty was apologetic and filled it just under 5 minutes. But can you believe the idiocy?
Then the cashier rang it up at the FULL price. She had to get the store manager to void the transaction and have the pharmacist re-issue the AcipHex at the insurance co-pay rate. Why? The first pharmacist issued the AcipHex before the 11th despite our conversation. Moron.
Anyway, so I show up to pick it up last Tuesday. The second prescription was ready, but the AcipHex wasn't despite the fact they had three days to prepare it. I ask why it wasn't ready and they said the insurance company wouldn't release it early. I explained that this was a 'vacation refill' (something where you get your prescription early if you will be out of town when it normally comes due). She said that their records didn't indicate that. Now, I don't have a problem with Walgreens on that aspect at all.
What pissed me off? Well they didn't call me to tell me there was a problem. They wait until I show up after 5pm to let me know there's a problem -- when the insurance company is, obviously, closed. I ask what can be done and they said "Well you can pay for it." I asked how much and I was told $196! I said "no" and let them know I'd pick up BOTH of them on the 11th (today) and asked her to note that on the already filled first prescription. I let them know how irritated I was they didn't call me. "Well we don't have your phone number" I was told. I asked for the manager of the pharmacy and pointed at the label of the first prescription, which, of course, had my phone number on it (required by law in Florida).
I show up today to pick up both prescriptions. Guess what? They had cancelled my first prescription because I didn't collect it on time. I must say the pharmacist on duty was apologetic and filled it just under 5 minutes. But can you believe the idiocy?
Then the cashier rang it up at the FULL price. She had to get the store manager to void the transaction and have the pharmacist re-issue the AcipHex at the insurance co-pay rate. Why? The first pharmacist issued the AcipHex before the 11th despite our conversation. Moron.
Sunday, October 9, 2005
Emoticon Idiots
I have a small peeve. It's the rampant misuse of the emoticon :P
Many users use :P as an indication of "funny" or perhaps "happy" or to otherwise indicate mirth.
The :P emoticon signifies a raspberry, which specifically, is what you do when you stick out your tongue and blow air and spittle forward (see: Archie Bunker). Sadly, many of my friends suffer from Emoticon Idiocy.
(I am also peeved by people who insert the "-" between the colon and the letter, but that's just a stylistic preference and separates us old-folks from the I've-just-found-the-Internet folks).
I have spoken.
Many users use :P as an indication of "funny" or perhaps "happy" or to otherwise indicate mirth.
The :P emoticon signifies a raspberry, which specifically, is what you do when you stick out your tongue and blow air and spittle forward (see: Archie Bunker). Sadly, many of my friends suffer from Emoticon Idiocy.
(I am also peeved by people who insert the "-" between the colon and the letter, but that's just a stylistic preference and separates us old-folks from the I've-just-found-the-Internet folks).
I have spoken.
Sunday, October 2, 2005
Family Guy
Okay, I've stalled long enough. It's time for a new post, and here it is. Today's subject ::drum roll:: is the TV show Family Guy. I'm new to the show, actually. I just started watching it this season, by accident. I am loathe to admit I like it, because it's very lowbrow, but, I like it. A lot.
In fact, I like Family Guy so much I went and bought both DVD sets of the first three seasons. I'm almost done the first four DVDs and can't wait to go into the next set.
It's the kind of show that should piss me off. It uses lots of pop culture references which are supposed to be funny even though they're just thrown in. It's the reason that, although I liked Shrek, it never quite rang true for me. I hate throw-away stuff like that. The Simpsons uses the same types of references and weaves them cleverly into the plot.
Yet, I have to say Family Guy makes me laugh, so I'm watching it. Even without the pop culture throw-away stuff, it's still got a lot going on. It's well written (mostly), well voiced, and pretty damned entertaining.
I like Brian the dog the best, but we'll get to that in a moment. I like Stewie as well. Chris is interestingly done. I find Peter to be the least interesting of the lot: he's like Homer Simpson but a lot more stoopid (sic).
Ah, Brian the dog. He reminds me of an ex-friend. He's got the same voice, the same mannerisms, and I didn't even notice until today. I was on I-75 going about 80mph towards Sunrise to meet some friend for lunch and a hockey game when I had an Epiphany. Yes, it was Eric J. Hedlund, also known as Ptomaine*, disguised as a dog. Scary but true. So now, I think I like the show even more.
* Ptomaine is pronounced "Toe-Main" and if in the very rare chance any of his current friends read this post, be sure and call him Ptomaine :) If you want to know what it means look in a dictionary. I'm not telling.
In fact, I like Family Guy so much I went and bought both DVD sets of the first three seasons. I'm almost done the first four DVDs and can't wait to go into the next set.
It's the kind of show that should piss me off. It uses lots of pop culture references which are supposed to be funny even though they're just thrown in. It's the reason that, although I liked Shrek, it never quite rang true for me. I hate throw-away stuff like that. The Simpsons uses the same types of references and weaves them cleverly into the plot.
Yet, I have to say Family Guy makes me laugh, so I'm watching it. Even without the pop culture throw-away stuff, it's still got a lot going on. It's well written (mostly), well voiced, and pretty damned entertaining.
I like Brian the dog the best, but we'll get to that in a moment. I like Stewie as well. Chris is interestingly done. I find Peter to be the least interesting of the lot: he's like Homer Simpson but a lot more stoopid (sic).
Ah, Brian the dog. He reminds me of an ex-friend. He's got the same voice, the same mannerisms, and I didn't even notice until today. I was on I-75 going about 80mph towards Sunrise to meet some friend for lunch and a hockey game when I had an Epiphany. Yes, it was Eric J. Hedlund, also known as Ptomaine*, disguised as a dog. Scary but true. So now, I think I like the show even more.
* Ptomaine is pronounced "Toe-Main" and if in the very rare chance any of his current friends read this post, be sure and call him Ptomaine :) If you want to know what it means look in a dictionary. I'm not telling.
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