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AllCatMan
USA
39 Posts |
 Posted - 02/14/2004 : 09:54:16
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It isn't a good idea to sit a Carmex jar on your lap top....especially if you are getting close to a toll booth and are scrambling around for 80 cents....I did. I lowered the lid...reached across the lap top for a change jar in the glove box...CRACK....there went the screen on my Compaq. You know, you need to be able to see the screen to export claims from one computer to another..luckily my computer has a hot key to switch from screen to external monitor. So $425 later... but toting the new flat screen down to the pick up every morning to use the Delorme mapping program is gonna get old, at least untill I am through with this storm and can send my computer in for repairs, they will not guarantee it to be back any sooner than a 2 week turn around, possibly 4. But the only other option that I had was to try to find a computer the same model as mine, switch hard drives and get the information off my computer ( half worked claims, downloaded photos on claims I am working on, etc...) and not to mention that if I did this I would void the warranty on my computer..the "new" one would be a used one(new one unavailable) so I would have one broke computer, one used computer and a warranty on neither. Not the position I wanted to be in.
Have you ever been on a storm when things just didn't go right? This so far has been one of my most trying. Share some of your tough ones, and the solution , good and bad, so we all might learn from them. Maybe we can help others avoid the same pitfalls. |
Edited by - AllCatMan on 02/14/2004 09:55:52 |
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sbeau4014
USA
53 Posts |
Posted - 02/14/2004 : 10:55:06
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| I'm on one of those storms right now (Calif Fires). Started with transmission trouble on my Ford 450, which my new transmission (7000 miles on it) needs replacement and Ford is not honoring the warranty. Then my computer crashes and my work hadn't been backed up for about 3 weeks, and there was a lot of stuff lost there (not counting all the personal stuff). Then I've had plenty of health problems, with the flu being the least of those problems. And to cap it off, one of my dogs ate both of my hearing aids, less batteries and a couple of the chips, on Christmas Eve. For those of you that wear them, you know they aren't cheap, and insurance doesn't cover them. All this happened the first 2.5 months here. Just another day in southern Calif here. At least the weather is ok. |
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katadj
USA
315 Posts |
Posted - 02/14/2004 : 11:16:40
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Allcat,
Have you considered just buying the screen? For about 100.00.
I had a similar problem a few years back. Bought a screen from a supplier , installed it myself in 20 mins and voila', the old one is still running, (backup).
If you need some help, send a PM and i'll find you one.
Sbeau, Did you check the "lemon laws" in the state where you purchased the truck?
Sometimes you need to holler a mite louder, like paste big lemon stickers all over the truck and drive it past every Ford dealer you can find. Something will happen.
(Been there, did that, got buy back)
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rorunner_77
USA
20 Posts |
Posted - 02/14/2004 : 17:37:02
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| I have heard of several friends having hell with fords. They finally raised enough hell with the customer service rep that it was taken care of, the friend got rid of it as soon as it got out of the shop |
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RLott
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - 02/15/2004 : 14:10:46
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| You are three stories up, pulled your Stapleton twice and the end of your tape breaks. I hate it when that happens. |
Russ |
Edited by - RLott on 02/15/2004 14:11:59 |
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JimF
USA
1014 Posts |
Posted - 02/22/2004 : 09:07:21
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Sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction.
Take just this past week for example.
(I realized that if I didn't tell the whole story here, that my gregariously talkative adjusting compatriot on this storm, Steve Ebner, would continue to tell others and not without embellishing it, by phone or email or post, while ROFLHAO)
As some of you know, when I hit the road for an assignment, my two well loved and largely spoiled Golden Retrievers, 'Sprout' and 'Chaser' travel with me. Sprout at 3 years of age is a free spirit and knows no boundaries. Chaser at 8 is the epitome of the wise and obedient canine.
As I am on assignment currently up in Milford, Connecticut, I had found this lovely state park of about 200 acres on the beach 4 blocks from the hotel. Just the perfect place for these two dogs to take me on morning/evening walks. And unleashed on top of that.
Largely a marine environmental preserve, there is more than a beach; large areas of estuary, swamp and marshland, and some large areas of smaller trees and stands. I had been taking the two goldens down to this park around 5 AM every morning and again, later in the evening when my inspections were over.
Thursday was one of those nightmare from hell inspection days planned, with hardly a moment's spacing between claims all over Southern Connecticut and Westchester County, NY. Knowing I had a full schedule, I packed my Blazer with dogs and files, and headed to the beach for a short visit with the plan to leave directly from there for the first claim.
Almost ready to panic, as Chaser and Sprout were not as cognizant of time as I, I finally see the two of them emerging from the marsh grass and headed toward me and the Blazer. First Chaser, followed by Sprout. Chaser obediently jumped into the vehicle, and even from 50 feet away, I could smell "it."
"It" of course being the unmistakable smell of one of nature's most odorous creatures: the SKUNK.
Poor Sprouty looked like hell and smelled even worse. Sprouty had met the enemy and lost. Sprayed is an understatement.
And looking at my watch, I saw that there was not time to return to the motel to wash and wax a dog.
So, rolling down all the windows in my Blazer in 30 something degree temperatures, off we go. An hour and a half drive over to our first insured, a doctor. I was no further than inside his door, when he pondered as to whether I had been "skunked" and then admitted as a hunter, he actually liked the smell. Yeah right.
The second insured, Mrs. Fiddlesticks, immediately turned up her nose at this adjuster, and offered as how she simply must open her doors and perhaps some windows in order for me to scope her home.
It was like this all day long.
Not one single insured allowed the inspection to pass without comment.
But to their credit, each and every insured was able to find humor in my misfortune, even if I couldn't.
Finally the day comes to an end, but many miles back to the motel, I am now starving. I finally spot a restaurant, and decide to enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner all in one meal.
Asking the hostess to seat my in the bar away from everyone, I explain my situation (and smell) to the nice but nosy waiter, and then order dinner. I am seated at least 30 feet from anyone.
As fate would have it, a few minutes later, three attractive ladies my age are seated at the table next to mine. When the waiter returns with their drink order, I overhear their conversation with the waiter, asking what it is that smells like a skunk in this restaurant.
"Oh, it is that gentlemen over there..." he said as he pointed me out.
I have been called a stinker before, but ever since Thursday morning, I have been a "real stinker." Ok, go ahead, call me a skunk even. Here's your chance.
The good news is that tomato juice baths do indeed help to "reduce" (though not to "remove") the noxious odor from both man and dog.
Why in another week, you might not even be able to smell that this ever happened.
Anyone looking for a good deal on a slightly used Golden Retriever? Well then, how about a slightly used Chevrolet Blazer? And I have a couple of nice and almost new winter coats available too. Cheap.
Now where is that man who said a dog is always a man's best friend? |
Edited by - JimF on 02/22/2004 09:26:04 |
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sbeau4014
USA
53 Posts |
Posted - 02/22/2004 : 11:20:50
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Jim,
Great story. I hate to be the bearer of bad news though. Try to keep your dogs out of the rain for a period of time, because alas tomato juice goes a long way, but wet fur brings the smell back a little bit (not near as bad as it was). I know this from personal experience from one of my Lab dogs being hit 5 different times in the back yard of my house. One good note is the smell will go completely away, just have a lot of patience. |
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Cecelia
USA
25 Posts |
Posted - 02/22/2004 : 11:31:13
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When my father was a boy (during the Depression) he trapped animals and sold their coats for a few pennies here and there. One day he and his dog, Puppy, were on the way to school. Daddy spies a skunk in one of his traps. Daddy is very excited because skunk pelts bring many more pennies than any other (this is Oklahoma in the 30's, YOU figure it out).
One problem. The skunk is not happy. The skunk is REALLY not happy. My father is trying to get to the skunk in a way that the skunk can't turn around and spray. However, Puppy is not so smart or doesn't care (or has never encountered a skunk before and has no idea the hell that will await him).
The skunk defends himself. Both Daddy and Puppy are sprayed. But they get that darned pelt! Off to school they go (what were they thinking?). Right back home they were sent. My grandmother buried my father's clothes and banished the dog from the house. Neither, of course, solved the problem. It just took awhile for the skunk to wear off.
Shave the dog Jim? Although it is a bit chilly up there for that. I was shrieking with laughter envisioning you and the dogs and the Blazer driving down the cold road with all the windows open.
Maybe a drive-thru would've been a better choice. |
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Medulus
USA
6 Posts |
Posted - 02/22/2004 : 15:51:56
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| Just glad we had dinner together the day before the skunk incident and not the day after, Jim. Think I may wait a few days before eat together again. Wouldn't want people to think it was me that smelled. |
Steve Ebner |
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