Avoid using USPS

I've had afew bad experiences with USPS in the last couple months, and I thought I'd share...

First, Ed's Mom sent me an Xmas present in December. I was at home the first day delivery was supposedly attempted. No one came to the door. Believe me, I would have known because the dog goes crazy when someone sets foot on our property. But, when Ed came home and got the mail there was a "delivery attempted" note in our mailbox. The second delivery attempt was made the next day, but (like most people) Ed and I were at work when the mailman came. So, our only option was to pick it up at the post office. Well, the post office closes at 5pm on weekdays, you know, when most people are just getting off of work... Yeah, we don't get home until 5:15pm so there was nothing we could do there. Option C is to pick it up on Saturday before 1pm, but it was the last remaining week before Xmas and we had shopping, wrapping, doctors appointments, dental appointments... Our weekends are always busy. So, I called them and asked if it could be delivered to my work. Nope. No can do, for security reasons it must be delievered to the address it was sent to. To top it off, it'd be returned to sender if I didn't pick it up within 10 days. So, in a mad rush before my doctor's appointment and Ed's dental appointment we ran over to pick up the gift. They didn't even ask for ID when we picked it up. All you need is the little slip they leave in your mailbox. Right... Real security there...

Second story is pretty general. Ed and I have both recently had online purchases delivered via USPS. The stores we bought from sent us a USPS tracking number, but all it said was "billing information received" until we actually took delivery of the item -then it finally updated as "delivered". Useless. You can almost tell what intersection your package is at with UPS, FedEX, or DHL. I'd pick them over USPS any day.

Last, is a story about my engagement ring and I could kill the USPS over this one. It wasn't lost or anything, but their lack of tracking information available to the receiver OR to their own customer service people... Grr.... I was hoping to get the ring on Friday so I could show it to my parents and my Grandma when I went over there on Sunday. It didn't arrive at work on Friday, so I kept watch on the tracking info to see if it'd be delivered on Saturday. If it looked like it might be delivered, I figured I'd go into work so I could receive it (there's usually no one in the office over the weekends). On Saturday morning the tracking information finally showed that the ring left Georgia on Thursday (so the tracking info is about 2 days behind!). I had no idea where the ring was currently, so I called their customer service number at 9:30am. I told the man on the phone about the situation, he pulled up the tracking info and confirmed that the package left Georgia on Thursday. He had no more information than I did about where the package was currently. So, I asked him, in his opinion, if the package left Georgia on Thursday via Express mail, could it be delivered today? He said "it looks like it's scheduled to be delivered on Monday or Tuesday". I hung up a bit disappointed, but figured that there wasn't much anyone could do. The rest of Saturday we spent out shopping for my brother's present (a little last minute, but I pretty much knew what I was going to get him), then we took the Laser for a run to Schaumburg to put some miles on the tranny to be sure it was working okay. Saturday night we got home at about 11pm and I pulled up the tracking info for my ring one more time. When the screen came up I almost had a fit! "Delivery attempted 11:35am". IT was delivered 2 freaking hours after their customer service told me it'd be delivered Monday or Tuesday. -That means that while I was talking to the USPS guy on the phone, the ring was on the truck for delivery. Proving that the USPS has NO CLUE where your item is at any given time. Nope. I'm doing my best to avoid EVER doing business with the USPS again.

Did I mention GRR?
Grr....

EDIT: As an update I thought I'd share the fact that I complained to USPS through their online questions form about the engagement ring thing. I got a response saying that they'd refund the shipping costs if I bring in the label. I thought that was nice of them...

I got my ring, and Gram's coming on the cruise!

Well, for all the worrying about Gram's reaction to the whole cruise thing, it ended up being no big deal. I told her we were getting married and the 80+ year old lady JUMPED UP AND DOWN WITH JOY! It was so cool. I told her about the cruise, and asked her if she'd come with and she just said "yes". I couldn't believe it! She said she'd go anywhere, she just wants to be there. After Aunt Dolores got over a bit of shock over the fact that we were going to pay their way, they got all giggly and looked over all the information we had. They're both really excited. It turned out better than I could have ever expected.

The other good news is that I got my ring today. I overnighted the diamond to Boone of www.boonerings.com last Tuesday, and it got here (to Hinsdale, IL) on Saturday via Express Mail (USPS, not the fastest option). It looks great, some quick shots of it can be found here for now. Better pics will be posted when I have time. I gotta get the invitations sent out tonight! The only problem with the ring is that it's about a half size too big I think. I'll wear it for 24 hours or so to be sure, but I think I might have to get it remade in a smaller size.

False Security

About 6 months ago the people who manage the office building where I work decided to put locks on the bathroom doors. It's a common practice, I know, but there are many things wrong with this idea and it's implementation in this particular case.

See, a female employee of ours (about 2 years ago) was in the middle of... doing her business... when she looked up and discovered a man watching her. Gross, I know. The situation was taken care of, the cops called, the guy taken into custody, etc, but the woman was pretty shook up about it. I don't know if the locks were a (very late) response to that incident or what, but let's imagine if the man wanted to hurt her instead of just watch her? Once that door closed behind her she'd be locked in the bathroom and help would be, at a minimum, delayed. (What if someone heard her scream, but didn't have a key!) I think we're all much safer WITHOUT the locks.!

That leads me to the implementation stuff:

• The bathrooms on the other side of the hall do not require a key.
• The locks on the doors to the Men's room and the Woman's room are the same.
• The keys for the bathrooms are the same as the key to get in the front door of the building.

So, I'm really confused about what they think they're accomplishing here. Anyone who can persuede the receptionist at the doctor's office down the hall for a key can use it to get into either bathroom or can pocket it and enter the building whenever they want (there's no alarm). Basically the building is less secure because of this locked bathroom idea. More proof that people in general are stupid. QED.

US using banned weapons in Iraq

Why is it that the reputation of the United States is rapidly deteriorating? How about the fact that we invaded a country to rid them of "Weapons of Mass Destruction" that they didn't have and during the course of the war WE OURSELVES used illegal weapons (Napalm):

Hello!?! How do people not know about this? How do people still stand in support of Mr. Bush? We should all be outraged, but instead we're all singing "America... F#ck yeah..." It sickens me.

Another reason I don't trust our current government

Apparently in 2002 Rumsfeld was frustrated with the legal constraints of the CIA, so the Pentagon re-interpreted the law and bypassed the CIA to create a secret unit called the SSB (Strategic Support Branch). The stuff of movies? I wish:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4202837.stm

Prescription Coverage

More problems with medical stuff. ..
I got an email Wednesday from our HR guy/Accounting Manager saying that :

In late December or early January you should have received notification from Great West that they were changing prescription plan carriers – from Advance PCS to Express Scripts. Following the notification you should have received a new prescription card – you will be required to present this each time to have a prescription filled. If you have NOT received a new prescription card, please call 800-663-8081, follow the prompts for prescription information and request a new card(s). Please know that your old card will no longer be accepted by your pharmacy.

Well, I was pretty sure I hadn't received this card, but I went home and looked for it on Friday. Nope, no card. So I called the number today and literally here's the phone tree I had to go through:

• Press 1 for English
• Press 1 if you are a Member
• Press 2 for Pharmacy questions
• Press 2 for Pharmacy benefits questions
• Wait while your call is being transfered
• Press 1 for English
• Press 3 for Benefits information
• Enter your Member ID followed by the # sign:
• Repeats Member ID
• Press 1 if this is correct
• Enter your birth date followed by the # sign:
• Press 1 if this is correct
• Wait while we process your request
• The last name associated with this Member ID is Steeve
• Press 1 if this is correct
• Press 1 for pharmacy benefits
• Press 2 for a different benefit type
• Press 0 to speak with patient care advocate

She tells me that I need to request a new pharmacy card through my insurance company. It's okay, though, she'll transfer me. To the phone tree at Great West!

• Press 1 for English
• Press 1 if you are a Member
• Press 2 for Pharmacy questions
• Press 2 for Pharmacy benefit questions

Then I finally get someone on the phone who can help me. She says she'll get the card out to me ASAP. How long is that? 7 to 10 business days. I'm out of my prescription as of this Wednesday! She says the pharmacy can call my insurance and verify my coverage. I'm sure that'll be fun.

Getting Married

I've never been one to dream of the flowing white dress, the church full of people... I don't like being the center of attention. The fact that there's books and magazines dedicated to the "art" of planning a wedding intimidates me. And I've seen how stressful the planning can be. Nope. I didn't want any of it. Luckily I found a guy who's not into all that either.

Plans are being made, however...
We decided to get married on a cruise. It'll eliminate the problem of where to hold it since my family's in the Chicago area, and his is in Canada. Also, they have these packages -you just pick one and they do everything else. No decisions on flowers, food, seating -none of that. All we have to come up with is what to wear. I'm thinking Ed will wear a plain suit, and I'll find a simple white dress at Marshall Field's or something.

By Tuesday, January 18th we had it narrowed down to Royal Caribbean's Eastern Caribbean cruise aboard the Navigator of the Seas, so I emailed the travel agent that we used for our last cruise (Fran of Beemster Travel). She's a little pushy, but she got us a free upgrade to a room with a window last time, and I really want to offload some of the organization for this cruise. I'm hoping to get a block of rooms so everyone's close by, and we have some coordinating to do with my Grandma and Ed's Mom as they have special needs.

Fran called me back shortly after I had sent the email. She confirmed the info I gave her and told me she'd call Royal Caribbean and get back to me with the info I requested. She called me back on Wednesday and gave me a price of $819 per person with taxes and port charges, and told me that for every 8 cabins booked we'd get one free. She said she'd send me information on the wedding packages and pricing, and that she was still looking into the medical equipment we'd need to rent in Miami, etc.

On Thursday Fran sent me a proof of a "flyer" that she'd be mailing me (on wedding paper) to give to anyone we were going to invite on the cruise with us. It was just a regular signup sheet with "Steeve/Marshall Wedding Cruise" written on it, but hey -it'd work. When she called about the flyer I told her that we were a little unhappy with the price. $819 sounded really high, and I was afraid that some people may not be able to go at that price. She called back later that day and said she could knock $50 off per person bringing the price down to about $770 which is more in line I think.

Saturday Ed called his Mom to tell her about the cruise. We had told her before that this is what we were going to do, but he wanted to tell her we had it all picked out and we gave her pricing to pass onto the rest of the family. We also needed addresses for the family so we can send out the invites when we get them from Fran. Ed's Mom said she'd mail us the addresses. :-P It's going to take awhile for them to get here...

Sunday, January 23rd my brother called and asked for links about the cruise, the ship, the ports, etc. I figured other people would want to know too, and it'd be nice to email Ed's family with the details about the cruise (including pricing) so they could start figuring out if they'd be able to make it or not (without relying on Ed's Mom to pass the information along). So, I sat down and composed a generic email for everyone and sent it to anyone who's email address Ed or I had. It turns out we don't have email addresses for hardly any of my family...

Now it's all a waiting game. February 18th is the deadline to get people's first $75 deposit for the cruise in, so that's when I'll know how many people will be coming. After that's figured out I gotta try to forget about it until next January. That'll be tough. I wanna go RIGHT NOW! It's 30 degrees here, 80 in San Juan and St Thomas, 66 in Nassau, and 84 in St Maarten.

Oh and the ring... I'm waiting for that too. I have the diamond. We should be getting Ed's cheap ring today so we can verify his ring size, then we'll send the diamond out for setting and get our bands. I can't wait to get the ring. The diamond is beautiful!

President George W. Bush's inaugural address:

Vice President Cheney, Mr. Chief Justice, President Carter, President Bush, President Clinton, reverend clergy, distinguished guests, fellow citizens:

On this day, prescribed by law and marked by ceremony, we celebrate the durable wisdom of our Constitution, and recall the deep commitments that unite our country. I am grateful for the honor of this hour, mindful of the consequential times in which we live, and determined to fulfill the oath that I have sworn and you have witnessed.

At this second gathering, our duties are defined not by the words I use, but by the history we have seen together. For a half century, America defended our own freedom by standing watch on distant borders. After the shipwreck of communism came years of relative quiet, years of repose, years of sabbatical - and then there came a day of fire.

Are we sure this man isn't a preacher? "Sabbatical"? "Day of fire"? What's with all the drama?

We have seen our vulnerability - and we have seen its deepest source. For as long as whole regions of the world simmer in resentment and tyranny - prone to ideologies that feed hatred and excuse murder - violence will gather, and multiply in destructive power, and cross the most defended borders, and raise a mortal threat. There is only one force of history that can break the reign of hatred and resentment, and expose the pretensions of tyrants, and reward the hopes of the decent and tolerant, and that is the force of human freedom.

Let's see... " Ideologies that feed hatred and excuse murder". I personally believe that most ideologies feed hatred and excuse murder, but that's my personal opinion. I assume you meant Muslims, but I'll remind you that your statement could also apply to Christianity with this quote from Adolf Hitler: "The work that Christ started but could not finish, I -- Adolf Hitler -- will conclude." (Hitler regarded himself as a Catholic until he died.)

We are led, by events and common sense, to one conclusion: The survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands. The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world.

Did Bush just outright say that we should conquer the world with our freedom? OMG!

America's vital interests and our deepest beliefs are now one. From the day of our Founding, we have proclaimed that every man and woman on this earth has rights, and dignity, and matchless value, because they bear the image of the Maker of Heaven and earth. Across the generations we have proclaimed the imperative of self-government, because no one is fit to be a master, and no one deserves to be a slave. Advancing these ideals is the mission that created our Nation. It is the honorable achievement of our fathers. Now it is the urgent requirement of our nation's security, and the calling of our time.

From the day of our founding in July of 1776 until 1920 women were not allowed to vote. From our founding in 1976 until the 1960's there was legal racial segregation in our great land! We are not the moral leaders of this world. There is, right now, a push to ban gay marriages. How can we ask other countries to see us as an example?

So it is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world.

Restating his desire to take over the world. It's almost ironic that Bush wants to force freedom on people...

This is not primarily the task of arms, though we will defend ourselves and our friends by force of arms when necessary. Freedom, by its nature, must be chosen, and defended by citizens, and sustained by the rule of law and the protection of minorities. And when the soul of a nation finally speaks, the institutions that arise may reflect customs and traditions very different from our own. America will not impose our own style of government on the unwilling. Our goal instead is to help others find their own voice, attain their own freedom, and make their own way.

This paragraph starts out well. Hooray! He's not talking about taking over the world. He's advocating that oppressed people rise up and fight for freedom themselves! Now this is a message I can support! But, if we look back on Iraq I have my doubts that he's not, in fact, talking about conquering non-democratic governments, choosing his supporters for an interim government, and then having them "make their own way". Hopefully we're not too naive to believe that Iraqi's are choosing their new form of government when the people making those decisions, running the elections, etc are all people hand-selected by our government!

The great objective of ending tyranny is the concentrated work of generations. The difficulty of the task is no excuse for avoiding it. America's influence is not unlimited, but fortunately for the oppressed, America's influence is considerable, and we will use it confidently in freedom's cause.

Back to conquering, I mean "persueding", other countries to conform to "freedom". Why do I hear Bush in a back room saying "We'll give 'em an offer they can't refuse"?

My most solemn duty is to protect this nation and its people against further attacks and emerging threats. Some have unwisely chosen to test America's resolve, and have found it firm.

I have no doubts that we are well protected, but are we not also inviting more trouble by marching into countries -first to seek out weapons of mass destruction, but when they weren't found to "free the Iraqi people". Look what we've done to their land. Sure, Hussein is in jail -no one will say that's a bad thing, but at what cost? Could it have been less destruction and fewer casulties if we hadn't rushed in under false pretenses? We've fueled their hatred towards us instead of "winning their hearts and minds". How can they be thankful to the US for "freeing" them, when they've lost the little that they had in the process?

We will persistently clarify the choice before every ruler and every nation: The moral choice between oppression, which is always wrong, and freedom, which is eternally right. America will not pretend that jailed dissidents prefer their chains, or that women welcome humiliation and servitude, or that any human being aspires to live at the mercy of bullies.

Interesting words coming from the man who bypassed the protections of our constitutions and decided to hold people (without charges) in Cuba for an indeterminate amount of time (so far, 3 years).

We will encourage reform in other governments by making clear that success in our relations will require the decent treatment of their own people. America's belief in human dignity will guide our policies, yet rights must be more than the grudging concessions of dictators; they are secured by free dissent and the participation of the governed. In the long run, there is no justice without freedom, and there can be no human rights without human liberty.

Let's solve our problems at home before we start "fixing" the rest of the world, shall we?

Some, I know, have questioned the global appeal of liberty - though this time in history, four decades defined by the swiftest advance of freedom ever seen, is an odd time for doubt. Americans, of all people, should never be surprised by the power of our ideals. Eventually, the call of freedom comes to every mind and every soul. We do not accept the existence of permanent tyranny because we do not accept the possibility of permanent slavery. Liberty will come to those who love it.

When Bush steps down from the Presidency in four years, I predict he'll start a cult. The "Freedom Cult".

Today, America speaks anew to the peoples of the world:

All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: the United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you.

* Offer does not apply to those in Guantanamo Bay or Abu Ghraib.

Democratic reformers facing repression, prison, or exile can know: America sees you for who you are: the future leaders of your free country.

The rulers of outlaw regimes can know that we still believe as Abraham Lincoln did: "Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves; and, under the rule of a just God, cannot long retain it."

The leaders of governments with long habits of control need to know: To serve your people you must learn to trust them. Start on this journey of progress and justice, and America will walk at your side.

And all the allies of the United States can know: we honor your friendship, we rely on your counsel, and we depend on your help. Division among free nations is a primary goal of freedom's enemies. The concerted effort of free nations to promote democracy is a prelude to our enemies' defeat.

They'd be inspiring words if they came from someone else's mouth. And as for the rally cry for our allies -who pushed them away in the first place? "You're either with us or against us"?

Today, I also speak anew to my fellow citizens:

From all of you, I have asked patience in the hard task of securing America, which you have granted in good measure. Our country has accepted obligations that are difficult to fulfill, and would be dishonorable to abandon. Yet because we have acted in the great liberating tradition of this nation, tens of millions have achieved their freedom. And as hope kindles hope, millions more will find it. By our efforts, we have lit a fire as well - a fire in the minds of men. It warms those who feel its power, it burns those who fight its progress, and one day this untamed fire of freedom will reach the darkest corners of our world.

"The great liberating tradition of this nation". The nation may have a tradition of liberation, but we've lost freedom during Bush's term in office. I don't know how we're supposed to rally behind him in his crusade to "free" the peoples of other nations while our rights are being taken one-by-one.

A few Americans have accepted the hardest duties in this cause - in the quiet work of intelligence and diplomacy … the idealistic work of helping raise up free governments … the dangerous and necessary work of fighting our enemies. Some have shown their devotion to our country in deaths that honored their whole lives - and we will always honor their names and their sacrifice.

Those people all put their lives on the line for whatever duty you deem fit to have them serve. I hope you really do understand the sacrifices they make, and never lead them into harms without weighing that first.

All Americans have witnessed this idealism, and some for the first time. I ask our youngest citizens to believe the evidence of your eyes. You have seen duty and allegiance in the determined faces of our soldiers. You have seen that life is fragile, and evil is real, and courage triumphs. Make the choice to serve in a cause larger than your wants, larger than yourself - and in your days you will add not just to the wealth of our country, but to its character.

This sounds like something Bin Laden would say to recruit new martyrs! Bush must be noting the lack of new recruits for the armed services. Actually, the lack of new recruits is kind of suprising given the huge rise in patriotism following 9/11. The effects are still seen today with "Support our troops" bumper stickers on every other car. My own interpretation is that generally people support the troops, but not the war. No one wants to hand their kid over to Bush. I don't blame them.

America has need of idealism and courage, because we have essential work at home - the unfinished work of American freedom. In a world moving toward liberty, we are determined to show the meaning and promise of liberty.

At least he admits that we ourselves need work. Too bad his definition of freedom is the Patriot Act and Constitutional Amendments banning gay marriage...

In America's ideal of freedom, citizens find the dignity and security of economic independence, instead of laboring on the edge of subsistence. This is the broader definition of liberty that motivated the Homestead Act, the Social Security Act, and the G.I. Bill of Rights. And now we will extend this vision by reforming great institutions to serve the needs of our time. To give every American a stake in the promise and future of our country, we will bring the highest standards to our schools, and build an ownership society. We will widen the ownership of homes and businesses, retirement savings and health insurance - preparing our people for the challenges of life in a free society. By making every citizen an agent of his or her own destiny, we will give our fellow Americans greater freedom from want and fear, and make our society more prosperous and just and equal.

The above is a grand way of saying that he wants to offload Social Security and health care (Medicare, etc) back onto the people of the United States. It's well documented by independant watch dogs like FactCheck.org that the Bush administration is using scare tactics ( article1, article2 ) to push his privatization of Social Security on the American people. I'll admit, I'm interested in the idea of being in control of my own money for retirement, but I don't like the President's tactics. It makes me think twice about supporting the issue...

In America's ideal of freedom, the public interest depends on private character - on integrity, and tolerance toward others, and the rule of conscience in our own lives. Self-government relies, in the end, on the governing of the self. That edifice of character is built in families, supported by communities with standards, and sustained in our national life by the truths of Sinai, the Sermon on the Mount, the words of the Koran, and the varied faiths of our people. Americans move forward in every generation by reaffirming all that is good and true that came before - ideals of justice and conduct that are the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Tolerance toward others, huh? But not giving gays the right to visit each other in the hospital, share insurance, have the same inheritance rights as committed heterosexual couples. Empty words. Doesn't he know actions speak louder than words?

And the required mentioning of the Koran so no one can claim he's anti-Muslim...

In America's ideal of freedom, the exercise of rights is ennobled by service, and mercy, and a heart for the weak. Liberty for all does not mean independence from one another. Our nation relies on men and women who look after a neighbor and surround the lost with love. Americans, at our best, value the life we see in one another, and must always remember that even the unwanted have worth. And our country must abandon all the habits of racism, because we cannot carry the message of freedom and the baggage of bigotry at the same time.

Who would have ever thought that a Republican President would utter the words "surround the lost with love"? Republicans can rest easy though, what he really meant was "bomb those Middle-Eastern f#ckers right outta the dessert!".

From the perspective of a single day, including this day of dedication, the issues and questions before our country are many. From the viewpoint of centuries, the questions that come to us are narrowed and few. Did our generation advance the cause of freedom? And did our character bring credit to that cause?

My question is: Is it our countries duty to "advance the cause of freedom"? I say no.

These questions that judge us also unite us, because Americans of every party and background, Americans by choice and by birth, are bound to one another in the cause of freedom. We have known divisions, which must be healed to move forward in great purposes - and I will strive in good faith to heal them. Yet those divisions do not define America. We felt the unity and fellowship of our nation when freedom came under attack, and our response came like a single hand over a single heart. And we can feel that same unity and pride whenever America acts for good, and the victims of disaster are given hope, and the unjust encounter justice, and the captives are set free.

There's no doubt that the American people feel united in the face of attack, and will act together to lend a hand to victims of disaster here or abroad. And, luckily, we are judged as a whole at such times. Perhaps this will help heal the animosity that's directed at us because of Bush's rush to war with Iraq. The people on AppologiesAccepted seem to understand that at least half of this country's citizenship don't agree with our President's actions. I thank them heartily as I'm not quite as forgiving. -I just don't see how half of the country could cast their vote for another 4 years of this man's crusade....

We go forward with complete confidence in the eventual triumph of freedom. Not because history runs on the wheels of inevitability; it is human choices that move events. Not because we consider ourselves a chosen nation; God moves and chooses as He wills. We have confidence because freedom is the permanent hope of mankind, the hunger in dark places, the longing of the soul. When our Founders declared a new order of the ages; when soldiers died in wave upon wave for a union based on liberty; when citizens marched in peaceful outrage under the banner "Freedom Now" - they were acting on an ancient hope that is meant to be fulfilled. History has an ebb and flow of justice, but history also has a visible direction, set by liberty and the Author of Liberty.

Allow me to paraphrase this one for you: Freedom will eventually triumph, but it's not inevitable. Freedom requires wars, messy ones. Liberty is inevitable. (?)

When the Declaration of Independence was first read in public and the Liberty Bell was sounded in celebration, a witness said, "It rang as if it meant something." In our time it means something still. America, in this young century, proclaims liberty throughout all the world, and to all the inhabitants thereof. Renewed in our strength - tested, but not weary - we are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom.

Um. The Declaration of Indepenence seperated us from England's power. It did NOT promise liberty for "the world", it declared freedom for The United States. - Sometimes I wonder if Bush knows the difference between "the world" (which he does NOT control), "America" (which is our CONTINENT, not our country -remember Mexico and Canada Mr Bush?), and "The United States" (this is the one Buch controls, unfortunately.) Can someone go over this with him again, please?

May God bless you, and may He watch over the United States of America.

This article sums my feelings on the above quite nicely: "Where in GOD’S name is the separation of church and state?"

Customer Service in the Medical Profession?

Saturday I went to the doctor (Dr. Fred Lim in Naperville, IL) for a follow-up appointment about a problem I've been having with my hands. He did some blood tests, and one came back slightly elevated and indicated that I may have rheumatoid arthritis, but another test that should have also been elevated was not. In the end he said he was uncomfortable making a diagnosis since the tests were so borderline (understandable). Instead, he wrote down the name and phone number of a specialist on his prescription pad and handed it to me. Since my last visit I had done some research and had some questions about the disease and the medication he had prescribed for me (Celebrex). The answers were prefaced with "because I'm not prepared to make a diagnosis", or were otherwise elementary and unhelpful and I left with no more information than I came in with -just a slip of paper with a name on it. It was clear he wanted to get on to the next patient, so my last question was: Where is this rheumatologist you are referring me to? His answer: "His last known address was somewhere in Naperville I think". Lovely.

So, today I lookup the phone number and it's still registered to the name Dr. Lim had given me -a good sign. It looks like this doctor works out of Edward Hospital in Naperville. Bonus. I try to make an appointment and the lady asks what insurance I have. "Great West" I say. Turns out they only take Blue Cross/Blue Shield or Medicare. Great.

So I call my insurance company and get the name of a specialist I can go to. There's 2 in the area, I call the one in Edwards Hospital. The first available appointment is February 11th. I'll run out of medication by then, but I schedule it -Dr. Lim said to call if I need a refill. The woman who scheduled the appointment asks me to bring in copies of any tests that my doctor performed and that reminds me -I need to call St. James Hospital, Dr. Lim hadn't received my records from my old doctor yet (it's been over a month since I faxed them the request for records transfer).

So I call St. James, press 1 for English, press 4 for records and get... Voicemail. I left a message. They'll get back to me within 24 hours. Bleh.

Next I call Dr. Lim's office to see what kind of hoops I'll have to jump through to get a copy of my tests for the specialist. I go through 5 minutes of "if this is an emergency hang up and dial 9-1-1", then press 1 for making an appointment, yada, yada. In the end none of the extensions fit, so I dial "0". She says I need to talk to a nurse, she'll put me back into the system where I should press "4". Okay, fine. I press "4", and what do I get? Voicemail. I left a message. They'll get back to me within 24 hours. I can't believe this.

I remember hearing an option on the phone for "refilling a prescription", which I need to do, but it says to call the pharmacy and have them request a refill. What if I want to go to a different pharmacy? (See last post about Osco.) I guess I'll ask the nurse when she calls me back.

UPDATE: St. James says that they were having problems finding my records, but they've been located and will be sent to my current doctor within the week.

Also, Dr. Lim's office called and said they could mail me my records, but that they only have the x-rays for my right hand. She called and asked Edward's hospital for the pictures of the left hand, but Edward's claimed they only had the right. If I have to go get nuked again so they have pics of the left hand I'll scream!

Apparently Osco hasn't quite caught up to the computer age yet.

I got a prescription filled a month ago at the Osco near my work. It was the most convenient place to go at the time because I was in a lot of pain and needed to start the medication ASAP. It never occurred to me that this would be a problem, but today I went to the Osco near my house to get a refill and they were unable to do it. To be fair, they could have filled the prescription if I remembered the city that the Osco I originally went to was, and the woman at the counter was nice enough to call a few to see if she could find the one, but in the end she was unable to find it and I had to drive almost an hour away to pick it up. What a pain. I think I'll go to Walgreens next time.

Bush Plans Fair Elections For Iraq

Bush insists that the Iraqi vote stay on schedule for Jan 30th, even if every citizen who wants to cast a ballot can't be guaranteed the ability to.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/focusoniraq/2005/January/focusoniraq_January48.xml&section=focusoniraq

If he's patterning Iraq's election after ours, perhaps he's on the right track *cough* Ohio *cough*.

It was just a little torture!

The position of the highest law enforcement office in our (formally) great country is up for grabs, and the nominee (Alberto Gonzales) is a known loyalist of a largely untrusted President (49% approval rating, 56% disapproving of the war in Iraq), and he's documented to be at least permissive of torture if not a promoter of it (we'll never know because the White House isn't releasing the requested documents).

So, where are the Democrats at? I would expect them to be outraged and to lobby against Mr. Gonzales' approval. Instead, it seems, they asked their questions and Mr. Gonzales skillfully dodged them: From the Washington Post:

Hours go by and little gets clarified. Gonzales did not author or even conceive of the infamous Aug. 1, 2002, "torture memo." It was drafted by Department of Justice lawyer John Yoo and signed by then-Assistant Attorney General Jay Bybee, and neither of them are in the room. When seeking their advice, did Gonzales press them to be "forward-leaning," as some news reports have suggested?

"I don't recall ever using the term 'lean forward,' " he tells Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), the first of a string of deflections.

Kennedy loses his focus and moves on to ask about civil rights.

So much for our politicians. Our forefathers would say that this is a time when the people must take matters into their own hands. We must demonstrate our disapproval of Alberto Gonzales' nomination for Attorney General. But alas! We are a lazy bunch. Or perhaps we've just surrendered to the corruption we see in Washington. Maybe we're too busy with our (average) 46 hour work week, and we want to spend the rest of our time with our families and friends -there's simply no time to follow politics? Whatever the reason, only 20 people showed up to protest the inevitable approval of Mr. Gonzales.

From Alberto's testmony we did, however get some insight into this current administrations views about the Geneva Conventions. Here is an exerpt from an article in the Houston Chronicle:

Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass says: "The legal positions that you have supported have been used by the administration, the military and the CIA to justify torture and Geneva Convention violations by military and civilian personnel."

Gonzales replies: "The president has made clear that he condemns this conduct and that these activities are inconsistent with his policies," (referring to mistreatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo). "He has also made clear that America stands against and will not tolerate torture under any circumstances. I share his resolve that torture and abuse will not be tolerated by this administration."

Then, the Houstan Chronicle says, he revealed that the Bush administration was considering proposing some changes to the Geneva Conventions, rules covering detainees dating to 1949.

When the administration came up with the Patriot Act wants to now change the Geneva Conventions I quiver...

Also in the Houstan Chronicle, more dodging

At issue were two memos: One written by Gonzales found that Taliban and al-Qaida fighters captured in Afghanistan did not have legal protections under the Geneva Conventions. Another written by Justice Department lawyers at Gonzales' request said the president could legally order some forms of harsh treatment of prisoners.

He dodged efforts to make him repudiate findings that a president could ignore some anti-torture statutes if that president found them unconstitutional, saying such questions were hypothetical.

....

Gonzales also failed to directly answer when asked if he agreed with military lawyers who have held that a U.S. policy that refuses to grant all detainees Geneva Conventions rights puts American troops who might be captured at risk.

Gonzales stuck to his position that while torture could not be used, terrorists captured in battle did not deserve all the Geneva Conventions rights given to traditional prisoners.

Okay. Eveyone in Washington has learned to dodge questions. Why doesn't someone hold these clowns accountable for an answer? I mean, I'd expect the person asking the question to insist on an answer. Unless, of course, they really don't care. Grrr... There's really not even much recourse for the voters, I mean we so often make a choice between the lesser of two evils. This is the result. We need REAL people to run for office. People who care about how our country is perceived by the world. People who can step back and say "What are the consequences of applying the Geneva Conventions selectively?" and "What are the consequences of allowing our government to bypass the justice system and hold hundreds of people (without any charges brought against them) indefinitely without regard to the law or the Constitution?

And what was Alberto Gonzales doing before Bush brought him to Washington? Again, from the Houstan Chronicle:

Senators also delved into Gonzales' duties as then-Gov. Bush's chief lawyer in Texas. He faced questions about the Texas death penalty policies of Bush, including his habit of receiving a summary of clemency issues on the day of executions. In one such memo, noted Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., Gonzales had not mentioned that the lawyer of a condemned man had fallen asleep during the trial.

Gonzales said his friendship with Bush would not affect his ability to be an independent attorney general.

Arg! I feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone here. Is this really my country? In the United States a person can be put to death when his lawyer FELL ASLEEP AT HIS TRIAL!?! Why didn't the judge stop the trail and issue a new lawyer? How could Gonzales know about this and allow the man to be put to death? Wow. Just... wow.

The thing that really made my jaw drop, however was this from the Washington Post:

"Occasionally his Democratic questioners engage in long, indignant tirades, even though Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.) announces early on that -- despite any appearance of hostility -- none of them actually plans to vote against Gonzales and they all know he will be confirmed."

It confirms what those of us who pay attention already know. It's all a big show. He's a shoe-in anyway. Torture or no torture, memo or no memo. If Canada wasn't so cold I'd have moved already.

Bush's Bulge

I recently ran into this webpage:
http://pittsburgh.indymedia.org/news/2004/12/16890.php
discussing a box-shaped bulge seen on various occasions on Bush's back.

It's an interesting read, and although it's all speculation the arguments that it may be a wearable heart montior/defibulator seem credible.

The debate seems to be raging on all over the internet. Some say it's a back brace:
http://ungodlypolitics.blogspot.com/2004/10/its-back-brace-folks.html
Others think it's a wire:
http://isbushwired.com/ or http://bushwired.blogspot.com/
The secret service say it's a bulletproof vest:
http://politicalwire.com/archives/2004/11/05/last_word_on_bushs_bulge.html
Bush's tailor said it was just a wrinkle:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002058469_bushbulge09.html

The amusing part is #1 that this is a big internet conspiracy, but hasn't shown up on mainstream news at all (a conspiracy in itself?) and #2 that the White House hasn't laid these rumors to rest. We get one reason from the Secret Service, and another from his tailor, and... (?).

Whichever theory is correct, and I don't think we'll ever know, I think this indicates rather strongly that people generally don't trust the President (and our government?) and that mainstream media is either filtering their stories to the benefit of our President, or they just aren't in line with the interests of the American people. I mean come on, it's at least an amusing story...

(Here's a nice summary article: http://slate.msn.com/id/2108354/ )

Stop Complaining About Dell's Tech Support!

I got through Christmas, but here's a taste of what I have to put up with.

Cousin Jan: "Erica, you know computers. What kind should I get?"
Me: "Uh, don't know. What will you be doing with it?"
Cousin Jan: "Just writing resume's, going on the internet."
Me: "Okay. No high-end games or anything like that?"
Cousin Jan: "No. No, I just need something simple. Cheap."
Me: "Okay, well you can get just about anything then. Check out Dell, they're good. As long as you've heard of the brand you're usually okay."

Then everyone jumps in and starts talking about the bad experiences that they, their co-worker, or their dog had with Dell tech support.

Cousin Frank: "Yeah, every time I call them up I get some dot-head on the phone. I ask over and over for someone who speaks english, but I guess they can't understand me so I just hang up."

Cousin Debbie: "I've called them several times and when I hear that accent I ask for someone who speaks english. They're usually very suprised, but I don't give up until someone who speaks english comes to talk to me."

I agree, it can be frustrating, but I call Dell tech support all the time as part of my job, and although I have to ask them to repeat themselves once in awhile, I've gotten my issue resolved 95% of the time. There have been times, yes, when the issue wasn't resolved or took much more effort on my part than it should have. For instance, once, I called about a bad power supply, and the tech told me to "open it up and see if there are any loose wires". I about hit the floor. I assume he thought I was calling the computer itself a "power supply", but if I had "opened up" the REAL power supply I could have easily electrocuted myself! But, this is one problem in several hundred phone calls in my carreer.

See, the real problem (if there is one) lies with you -the consumer. Everyone wants as good a computer as they can get for as cheap as they can get it. No matter who you pick these days, you're tech support will be outsourced overseas because any computer company that doesn't do that can't compete anymore. So shut up! You've got that extra $100 in your pocket -here's where you pay for it (with time). If you want better support, but still want a cheap computer check your local (or smaller chain) computer stores. There's a chain by us (Microcenter) who had a computer, monitor, and printer combo on sale for $350 right before Christmas. Even Dell can't beat that! The only downside might be that you'll have to bring the computer in for repair, you may not get phone support (or it might not be 24 hour), and if they go out of business before your warranty is up you're out of luck.

Remember: Treat people the way you'd like to be treated. Why resort to hate? (Do you know a second language well enough to work tech support for another country?)

X-Mas

It's almost over. 8 days left. What's that -Lords-A-Leapin'? Blah...

December. A month of frantic shopping. Middle-aged woman elbowing eachother to get first grabs at the "Tickle-Me-Elmo" gift of the year while "Silent Night" plays softly in the background. What a shitty holiday. Everything about it pisses me off...

"CRIST-mas": It's supposed to be a Christian holiday, and the religious get all upset when someone calls it "X-Mas". "Don't take the CHRIST out of Christmas" they say. Well, what about Christmas is Christian? Okay, I'll give you the plastic manger scenes, but what else? Santa? Christmas trees? Animated reindeer displays in people's front yards? I think not.

But that's not my biggest complaint. In fact, if it went back to being a religious holiday I'd be happy to be off the hook. No, my biggest issue about X-Mas -it's all about greed.

Growing up my brother and I were always asked to make lists of what we wanted for X-Mas. I'm sure others did that as well (ala Santa asking you what you want for X-Mas). But it never stopped. Every year my parents, brother, and Grandma ask me what I want for X-Mas. I oblige and make a list -usually on Amazon these days. My boyfriend thinks this is really weird. He says that a list shouldn't be needed. You buy gifts for those close to you, and you should therefore know what they want. But, I see the list thing a little differently. ..

See, I don't get lists from my Parents, my Grandma, or my boyfriend (usually). -I'm left to figure it out for myself. That means countless hours thinking about what to get them, browsing stores online, or as a last act of despiration -walking the malls. All the while I feel stressed. Will they like this? What if they want to return it? The end result is a month's worth of frantic shopping and me totally hating "Christmas".

So, I make my loved ones a list. I consider it one of the bests gifts I can give them. The ability to quickly cross me off of their lists. Ed doesn't seem to understand that.

But, Ed has 2 people to shop for. His Mom, and me. I don't know what he got me, but I drove him to the mall, picked out his Mom's gift, AND PAID FOR IT. -He loves Christmas and can't see why I hate it so much...

Of course, every year I try to convince my Mom to try to celebrate X-Mas without gifts. It never works. "Grandma gets such joy out of seeing you open your presents." She says. Funny. For the last (what?) 10 years or so my Mom's been doing all of my Grandma's shopping as well as her own. So, my Grandma does nothing but actually pay for the gifts.

And that's another thing. I have enough money to buy whatever I want. My Grandma doesn't have enough money to cover the prescription medications that she needs each month. Why is she spending $200 or more on my brother and I at Christmast time? I'd rather she spent the money on her meds so she'd feel better and continue to be as active as possible for as long as possible, etc.

It's all just so stupid. I can see presents for kids, but we really need to cut out the presents for adults. Or maybe turn gift-giving into an annonomous thing -send gifts to whoever you want to without need for recognition -and no one would feel obligated to give a gift. It'd be more "Christian"! -I know, it'll never work. It all just sickens me.

About Religion...

I got a nicer response to my "Combat Boots" post than I may have expected: http://fromthemorning.blogspot.com/2004/11/its-not-like-that.html

That post (Your Mama Wears Combat Boots) was really more of a rant, so I figured I'd take time to explain my feelings toward religion...

First of all, I like what this person had to say. They have demonstrated that not all Christians are closed-minded and preachy. I also thank this person for pointing out that if my parents talk to me about church, they're doing so with good intentions. Keeping that in mind will no doubt temper my reaction if they do decide to talk to me.

But, (there had to be a "but") I clicked on the link "From The Morning"'s page that said we need a little more "Billy Graham", and on that page I found this: http://www.billygraham.org/DMag_article.asp?ArticleID=445

Here's an excerpt:

During a conversation, you can simply ask someone, "Would you consider yourself to be a good person?" Then follow with, "Do you think you've kept the Ten Commandments?" Then go through each one:

"Have you ever lied? Stolen anything? Taken God's name in vain? Looked with lust? If so, then by your own admission, you are a lying thief and a blasphemous adulterer at heart. So on the Day of Judgment, if God gives you justice, you won't go to heaven but to hell."

Now, here's one of my most major problems with organized religion. Why isn't it good enough to have faith yourself? Why the need to convert others? A friend of mine in High School was Baptist and kinda tricked me into going to a "church function" that ended up being a "Soul Saving Event" that had us in small groups discussing religion, then with the congregation being pressured to be baptized there on the spot, and finally -those who weren't baptized were pressured (one on one) into taking an oath swearing we believed in Jesus, etc. I don't remember the specifics of the oath, but I do remember that as I repeated it I knew I didn't believe what I was saying and that it was likely I'd break the promise to God. I still regret giving in to them -swearing to God (any God) is not something I take lightly...

I know that the reason so many try to convert others is to "save" them. -The idea being that those who don't follow the "right" religion will be punished after death (or at least won't reep the rewards of Heaven). But many different religions say the same thing, and all religions think that theirs is the "right one". The fact is that what religion a person is depends greatly on what their parents believed. And, like I said in the "Combat Boots" post, what about those who've never even heard of Jesus? I don't understand how a "just God" would punish (or not reward) someone because of something that the person could not control. -I mean, why is it not enough for people to obey the morality laws of Christianity without praying to Jesus or going to church? Why is it not enough to respect your fellow humans, regret the (minor) bad things you've done, and do good deeds whenever you can? Why must God hear us speak His name? Why is it so imparitive that we all go to church to praise Him every Sunday? Is it an ego thing or what?

Okay, I've "gone off" again. From The Morning is right -I am bitter about religion, and I'm sure it has a lot to do with my exposure to it. I try to take a lesson from Buddism and let others believe what works for them -in the end, most religions share the same morality and ideals anyway, so it doesn't really matter who you pray to. But, if you tell me that I'll be punished because I call God by the wrong name when I pray -prepare for me to go off!

Back to my parents... This change for them seems to be a positive one, so I'm trying to go along with it. I wish nothing but the best for them, and will do my best to support their religious decisions as long as they respect mine. Also, the more I've thought about this, the more I realized that this change shouldn't suprise me so much -they've always had faith, just not the "going-to-church" kind...

Firt of all, I was baptized when I was an infant. At that time my parents were going to church regularly. They stopped shortly after my baptisim, and I recall them citing the church's hunger for more and more money as the reason they stopped going. Nevertheless, when I was little my Mom taught me that there is a God up there and that he cares about the choices I make. Good choices, like helping those in need, are rewarded and bad choices, like stealing or lying, are punished. Before kindergarden my Mom would kneel at my bedside with me each night and lead me in prayer before I went to sleep. As I got older we didn't do that anymore, and I was left to figure out "the God thing" by myself. There were occasional refrences to God, and I remember a prayer my Dad wrote one time, but talking about "God" was rare in our house after I started school.

Outside of home I did have a few brushes with organized religion...

Sometimes I'd go to church with my Grandma on Christmas. It was an akward and complicated proceedure and I felt very much out of place. It was a Catholic church -a lot of standing up, sitting down, kneeling... And then there was communion. -I was told that I had to sit in the pew while everyone else went to the front of the church. Why? Because it was a right that I had not earned.

In high school I started trying to figure out what I believed in. People would ask me what religion I was, and I had a feeling of spirituality, but no label to go with it. I sought out many religions to try to find one that "fit". I went to Bible camp with a friend and found that some of the lessons didn't sit right with me. I went to a Methodist church with another friend a few times, and they were very nice -they didn't make me feel like I was wrong or an outcast, but ultimitly it was still Bible-based and I had found that "The Book" just didn't fit with who/what I believed God was. I tried New Age religions, but ultimately found that Native American spirituality was the one thing that came the closest. My Dad always taught me to respect the land and all the creatures of the earth. I have always felt a great connection with nature, and like the fact that they refer to God (the Lakota anyway) as "Mitakuye Oyasin" or "The Great Mystery". He/it has no name. We don't know who he is -we just feel his presence. I know that the basis for this feeling "right" is my Dad's teaching as I grew up, and I think my Dad got this same "respect for the land" from his father -a man I love and miss dearly. Eventually I decided that my religion is my own, and I don't need a name for it.

I guess my conclusion is this -do whatever feels right for you, and respect the fact that other people may believe differently then you. I think that it should be obvious whether you are living "right" or not, and it has nothing to do whatsoever with the name you've given "God" or what you do on Sunday. Religion, I think, should be a personal thing.

Customer Service: Dodge VS Mitsubishi

Part One: Dodge
On Sunday, October 31, 2004 Ed and I were driving my 1992 Plymouth Laser (known as a "DSM", the same thing as a Mitsubishi Eclipse or an Eagle Talon) on I-88 and we heard some grinding noises coming from the car. The noise came and went, but when we'd hear it the car would decelerate some. The second time we heard the noise we decided to get off at the next exit. Halfway up that exit ramp, the car came to a VIOLENT stop (luckily we were only going about 20mph, if it would have happened 5 minutes earlier when we were doing 80mph who knows what would have happened!) We thought the driveshaft had broken or the brakes had locked up. We got out of the car and took a look, but nothing looked broken or out of place. There were no fluids leaking, and the car was able to turn over and idle just fine. We tried driving forward, the car would rock about an inch or two, then it was like it was up against a wall. Reverse was the same. We turned the car off and tried to push it off the ramp. We could only push it an inch or two, then we'd hit that point where the car wouldn't go any further. Ed started thinking it might be the transfer case. As we pondered what broke we got in the car and dialed AAA for a tow.

Watching the drivers around us it was apparent that despite our 4-ways being on, and it being a white car under a street light, most people didn't see us or notice that the vehicle was disabled until they were about ready to hit it. We got out of the car, and waited in the cold where we'd be safer -watching and hoping that the car wouldn't be hit.

When the tow truck arrived, he used the winch to drag the car up onto the flatbed. There was no other way -the rear wheels were locked up solid. I cried. We just got new tires (and what else were we breaking?)... As we made our way home at $3.50 a mile, I wondered how we were going to get the car off the flatbed. Can't push with a winch...

At home, the driver backed into our driveway and tilted the bed as far back as he could. He started feeding cable from the winch, but the car wasnt moving. He hopped into the car, played with the gear shifter (didn't help), then went back to the hydralic controls for the flatbed. He kinda shook the bed with the hydralics -there was an audible "click" (not really a bad sound), and then the car began to roll back. We rolled the car off the flatbed and onto the driveway, and sent the man on his way with a pile of cash for the tow ($65). Ed started the car, and was able to drive it up and down the driveway just fine. No weird noises, no lockups, no fluid, etc... We went inside the house to search the internet for information on what the problem might be. As we searched we found a recall on the transfer case here: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/ and more information here: http://www.dsm.org/menu.epl?item=339 including a story of a guy who's transfer case locked up while he was on the expressway -he lost control of the vehicle and his girlfriend was killed!

After work on Monday it was too dark and too cold to look at the car, and Tuesday was the same. By Wednesday we couldn't wait any longer -we wanted to know if the problem was the transfer case, so we both took the day off of work to take a look at it. We took the drain plug out of the transfer case and it was dry. This was, in fact, the problem descibed in the recall. Satisfied, we put the drain plug back in, and I called the nearest Dodge dealership to ask how to go about getting it fixed. The person on the phone told me I could bring it by anytime. "Uh... It's not driveable, can you guys send out a tow truck?" Nope, they don't tow vehicles for recall work. I briefly argued with them, stating that I can't believe that their part broke and I have to pay for the tow, but I hung up and decided to call AAA again to tow it to the dealership over the weekend.

Saturday we had the car towed to Dodge of Naperville (AKA Koeller Dodge of Naperville, Illinois). The service department was closed at the time, so we filled out their form and dropped off the key with the cashier.

Monday I got a call from the dealership notifying me that they were unable to look at my car because there was a fuel leak that made the car hazardous to drive. I asked if they actually needed to drive the car to determine that there's no oil in the transfer case. There was a pause, and then I was told that when the work was complete they'd need to be able to test drive the car -therefore, the fuel leak must be looked at. This time there was a pause on my end... The car was fine the last time I drove it. How could there be a fuel leak now? Surely the transfer case didn't cause it. We looked repeatedly for leaks, and were working on the car on Wednesday -how had we not noticed a "dangerous fuel leak"? So, I asked how they determined that there was a fuel leak. I was put on hold, then told that the tech smelled gas. "That's it?" I asked. "They smelled gas? It's an old car! And the charcoal canister has been removed. Maybe that's it?" The guy on the phone then told me that the tech said there was some "moisture" as well. Okay, well, at this point my back's against a wall here, so I ask what they'd charge to take a look at the fuel leak, $60 or so? "Our minimum charge for diagnostic is $180." I choke. "Fuck that" I say (whoops!). "I'll come by tonight and take a look at it." -Can't work on the car in their lot I'm informed. "So, I have to get it towed next door, fix the fuel leak, then have it towed back for you to do the recall work -or pay you $180 to diagnose the fuel leak and then maybe fix it (or charge me another $180 to fix it)? I don't think so -roll it out to the parking lot. I'll give you a call back in a minute.

I get off the phone, and tell Ed what just happened. He can't believe it either. We both figure they're jerking us around. I call back, ask for the service manager, and tell him that I can't believe that they want $180 to diagnose a fuel leak that they discovered by "smell" and some "moisture". I repeat again that the charcoal canister has been removed, and that might be the only problem. He says he thinks it might be a fuel injector leak. I say "That's possible, we just replaced the fuel injectors." I ask why they can't just diagnose and fix the transfercase without driving it -"I'll sign off on it saying that I wouldn't allow you to do a test drive". Again he refuses, citing "corporate policy". "...And I can't work on it myself in your lot?". A pause, "You can work on it here if you want, you just can't use our bays or our tools." "No problem" I say, just push it out to a publicly accessable location and I'll be out tonight to take a look. You know, your tech told me I'd have to tow the vehicle off of your lot to work on it." What he came back with next didn't hit me until later... "We don't have to push it, it drove just fine into the from the parking lot into the bay. It's driveable." What!?! First, they're driving my car around with NO FLUID IN THE TRANSFER CASE!?! ...and second they're advocating that my car is drivable with a fuel leak and a dry (previously locked-up) transfer case? (But not drivable enough for a test drive... ) Whatever.

So, after work, we stop by Napa to get new O-Rings for the fuel injectors figuring that they are to blame for the fuel leak (if it exists), then load the Jeep with tools and drive by the dealership to work on the car in the dark and in the cold. We pop the hood. We look around. Everything looks okay, so we fire it up. Fuel starts squirting out of the fuel rail inlet. They couldn't "diagnose" this on sight? (Guess they wanted their $180.) We remove the inlet, and it's obvious that the O-ring needs replacement. We head to Napa one more time, but they can't find the part in their computer or in their book. So, we head home and take the O-Ring off of Ed's car (which is down due to crank walk). His looks brand new, so back to Dodge we go. We replaced the O-Ring in minutes, then fired up the car once more. No more fuel leak. We leave. We eat. We shower. We sleep.

I call the dealership back at 8:10am the next day to let them know that I fixed the fuel leak, so they can now safely proceed with their work. At 3:45pm I've gotten no call back. According to the sales manager yesterday, the new transfer case was due to arrive today, so I call and ask where they're at with it before leaving work. "All done" they say (thanks for the call guys!). I tell them "Great! I'll pick it up tonight!".

After work, I pick up Ed and we head straight to the dealership. I sign the form that says they replaced the transfer case under recall, and wait as the porter brings the car around. I can't wait to drive it, but I let Ed drive it home as long as he lets me drive to dinner. I follow him out, and he says he'll be stopping for gas on the way. 1 or 2 miles down the road Ed pulls off in a strip mall parking lot. I pass him because I had intended to go straight home and let the dog out while he got gas, but there's no gas station where he pulled off... I turn at the next enterance to the mall to go see why he pulled off there. -I meet him in the parking lot of Century Tile and he tells me that the car started to lock up again. What!?! We both wonder out loud if they forgot to fill the transfer case with oil when they replaced it. We call the dealership and tell them what has just happened. They give a monotone "we're sorry to hear that", but refuse to tow the car back to take a look at it. This is a "Five Star" dealer? I give up and call AAA for a tow back Koeller Dodge of Naperville (our 3rd tow in less than 2 weeks -AAA rocks!). While Ed waited, I ran home to let the dog out and to pick up some tools. I made it back before the tow truck and Ed crawled under the car to see if there was fluid in the transfer case. There was, which disappointed me greatly -that would have been easy. What's the problem now? As I ran through the parts that would take abuse when the transfer case comes to a sudden stop, Ed told me to get in the car -he had something to show me. I did, and he let it roll back (in neutral) -the car made a crunchy sound as it rolled back. The same thing happened when he drove it forward, back into the parking spot. Not good. We discussed what may have broke as a result of the transfer case locking up as we waited for the tow truck. The same guy who towed us to the dealership before picked us up again. We dropped the car off at Naperville Dodge again, and then went and got some food.

The next day, Wednesday, I wait nervously for a phone call from the dealership. At about 11:30am I get the news. The transfer case is fine, he says -they think the problem might be the transmission. "The transmission!" I say. "It was just rebuilt 6,000 miles ago!" He explains that their transmission guy took a look at it, and he says that the noise is coming from the tranny. I'm about to cry at this point. I just put over $2000 worth of work into the transmission, and it looks like the transfer case lockup may have destroyed the tranny? Probably the center diff. I try to be logical "Okay, this was obviously caused by the transfer case lockup, so you'll take care of it, right?" Nope. They verified that the problem was NOT the transfer case, and additional work would be my responsibility. "Fine, I'll be by later to pick it up".

I tell Ed the bad news, and begin freaking out about my transmission. I call AAMCO and ask how much it would cost for a diagnosis, I'm told $560 or so. Then Ed floods me with Do It Yourself tranny rebuild FAQ's (which I've listed here for future reference: http://ericasworld.logic.net/index.php/Transmission%20Rebuild ). Ed's convinced that it's not the tranny, but the rear differential. I have to admit that when he rolled the car back and forth and we heard the crunching sounds, it did sound like it was coming from the rear rather then from the front... So, we decide not to fight with Dodge anymore, we'll pick up the car, get it home, and this weekend we'll start by removing the rear diff cover and taking a look. Then we'll move onto the transmission if we have to.

So, after work we go home, grab a quick bite to eat, and head to the dealership. We pick up the key, and sign their paper, and walk to the back of the building to where the car is. Ed gets in, drives it around the lot, and talks me into letting him try to drive it home. I'm worried that we'll do more damage, but it's not making the crunching sounds anymore. If it's the center diff, Ed reminds me, it'll only have problems around corners -he'll take it out of gear around corners. I finally agree, and I follow him home.

Yep, we made it, and I was happy to have my car back in my hands. I really hate letting other people work on my car, and the frustrations in dealing with these clowns at the dealership just re-inforced that. Once the car was parked and turned off, Ed and I both took a look underneath. In the rear, the drive-shaft and diff cover looked good, no leaks or anything obvious. Ed went into the garage for a minute as I crawled under the front to take a look at the transfer case, transmission, drive shaft, etc. I noticed that there was a lot of fluid on the transfer case -in fact, the whole thing was wet, and it was dripping on the driveway! I called Ed over, and he stuck a finger in the liquid and then smelled it. Of course, he couldn't just say what it was -I had to smell it too. My least favorite smell -diff fluid. Yuck! Ed reached up and turned the fill plug with his fingers. The dealership hadn't tightened it...

We left it at that, and that's where it is right now. We need to finish putting up the drywall in the garage this weekend, then we can put the car in there to work on it where it's warm.

Part Two: Mitsubishi
A friend of ours, Kris, just got his car back from Max Madsen Mistubishi in Aurora, Illinois. His 1996 Mistubishi Eclipse was in for recall work as well, and I find the differences in our experiences very interesting given the fact that most people would assume you'd get better service from a "5-Star Dodge Dealership" than from a Mitsu dealer.

Kris was turning into the parking lot at work when his front passenger tire nudged the curb and the wheel fell off. Okay, the wheel didn't really fall off, but the ball joint seperated and the body was left lying on an akwardly angled wheel. There was body damage as a result, and Kris was an unhappy guy. He had the car towed to our driveway, and described what happened to Ed who mentioned that he thought there was a recall on the ball joint of some 2nd gen DSM's. Kris checked it out, and it was true! It looked like this might be covered under recall. Kris called Max Madsen, crossed his fingers, and told them what had happened. Max Madsen had his car towed from our driveway to their dealership at no cost to Kris. They looked at it, and determined that this was due to the ball joint and that it would be covered under the recall. They fixed the ball joint, then sent Kris's car to a body shop to repair the body damage! The repairs took awhile, but I was there when he picked up the car. It was spotless! You couldn't tell that there was ever damage. Some of the plastic parts had to have been replaced because the last I saw them they were shoved up into the wheel-well behind the tire accordian-style... This was no cheap fix.

Summary:
So, Koeller's Naperville Dodge and the transfer case recall = big freaking hassle. Chrysler gives them 5 stars, I give them none. Max Madsen Mitsubishi = a real 5-star experience, at least for our friend Kris.

Your mama wears combat boots.

I bought some. Combat boots, I mean. I feel like a soldier, or more like the world's falling down and I need to be prepared. Not to fight it, it's really not in my nature to be militant. No, just to survive I guess...

My parents have found religion. What? No commentary on the outcome of the election? No, I'm getting there... let me finish. They're going to a Baptist church. It bothers me. Alot. So, I've been thinking about it. Alot. I'm worried about confrontational conversations. I've always had a negative view of organized (mostly Christian) religion. I think the followers are often close-minded. They all congregate in the same place for their weekly brain-washing, and "spread the good word" the other 6 days. Well, I'm not buying it.

Okay, maybe I'm not being fair. I know. Under a microscope it's fine, or can be. Religion helps a lot of people through rough times. And with the right preacher it can be a good thing too. I've met a few who are really open to questions, debate, etc. They weren't ready to feed me their sale's pitch, and were open to letting me hold my own opinion -even if it was different from their own. But, in my experience, these people are the minority. Generally the Christian religion is nothing more than a mind-control machine that not only keeps people "good" and "honest" but also uses them to push for political and social ajendas.

See, I have these unresolved problems. Mind you, I know very little about Christianity, but living in a Christian-dominated country, I think I've picked up a few things...

Homosexuals are bad says the pope. They shouldn't get married or have relationships. Certainly not sex. Well, I'm sorry you feel that way, but science has pretty much proven that it's biological. So, "God made them that way. " What now? They're still bad? Apparently. You're view hasn't changed.

People who don't believe go to Hell. Or that place in-between. But certainly not Heaven. What about the people God put in the middle of the jungles of Africa with no contact with "civilization", and therefore no means of ever even hearing about "God", "Jesus", whoever? They go to Hell as well? Hardly the "fair" and "just" rules of a "loving God".

So, what would Jesus do? According to many passages in the Bible "smoting" was a favorite passtime. Yep, wiping out villages, cursing a man's children and grandchildren for his mistakes, etc. I don't know, dude. I don't think I can buy in...

That being said, there are some who take the Bible as fable, and disregard parts that don't make sense to them. They listen to the preacher, and interpret the sermon as they see fit. They use Christianity as a framework and bend it to their own reality. These are "thinking Christians" and I respect them.

No, the people I have a problem with are the ones who read everything as reality and never put any thought into what they're told by the guy in the robe. The nod with a far-off stare and go out in droves to "save souls".

My views are just background here, though. One point I guess is that I'm afraid of my parents trying to "convert me". The other, bigger concern is this: In a conversation at work a few weeks ago we were talking politics and someone said that he was watching the Presidential debate when his son came in and said "Dad, my Sunday school teacher said that Kerry's bad because he wants to let people kill babies." The world stopped. Blood rushed to my head, and anger threatened to pour out of my eyes as tears. It's fine for an individual to hold an opinion about abortion. I admit that my mind isn't completely made up one way or the other about it. I also know that it's the church's view that abortion means the killing of a human soul, and therefore they are against it. But bringing politics into a class of children who are there to learn about religion is wrong. I see it as evidence of brain-washing, and I was encouraged to look into this further.

Before I go further a disclaimer: when I say "brain-washing' I don't mean overtly. I don't think that's the goal of local churches, or the sunday school teacher, or whoever. I think everyone has "what's best" in mind. No, but religion has a lot of power over people. And when the majority of a nation calls themselves "Christians" all of a sudden the church has a lot of power over nations as well...

Back to my investigation... I wasn't going to go to church (although the thought of showing up in my combat boots is amusing), no I watched TV. Sunday morning. The preachers were more than enthused. It was actually quite fun to watch. I saw three different preachers in the course of my two or three-week investigation. One guy I'm throwing out because he didn't actually preach. No, he "healed" people, and sold little packets of healing water from some well in Ohio. Okay, so 2 preachers, and both of them mentioned how Kerry would be bad for the nation. They actually spent time talking about the election each time I watched them, and outright said that Kerry was evil because of his "immorality"-his stance on gay marriage (more like "civil unions"), stem cells, and abortion.

As I watched, my heart sank for I knew that Bush would win re-election. Vote for Bush or go to Hell. What a campaign slogan. And people fell for it. Religion has a strong hold on our country and I don't think it's a good thing.

Is there crack in the flu shot?

I heard on the morning news that US Citizens are flocking to Canada to get flu shots. Am I missing something? I mean, I've never gotten one before. Maybe there's some high that you get off of it or something. I can't think of any other reason why you'd go so far out of your way to get a flu shot. I know they are a good precautionary measure for the young, the sick, and the elderly -but really... I've gotten the flu countless times -even when I was young!

My point -this is a big deal because A.) The flu shot has been so (over-)hyped in the past few years, and B.) Because there's an election and the candidates are using this as one more talking point in the war on error. -Who can be more wrong? Bush or Kerry? I'm getting tired of it all, and can't wait to cast my vote for the lesser of two evils. In fact, I suspect that if "The lesser of two evils" were put on a ballot rather than "Kerry" it would get at least the same number of votes (maybe more?).

Blah. Smarten up people! There's probably like 5% of the population who really should get flu shots. The rest of us just need to skip it this time around. I doubt you'll go through withdrawl. Just wash your hands more often, try not to touch your face, and stay away from sick people!

Toyota "Put It In Play" Event

Yesterday we went to Toyota's "Put It In Play" event at US Cellular field in Chicago. We arrived at noon, uh, because that's when we were registered for. Parking was free, which was nice. But there was no one there! We walked up to registration, there was no line. We entered, and there were no lines at any of the events either. We walked around and got a feel for how the events worked, and then we picked one...

"Red Light Green Light": Yep, just liked the game you used to play when you were a kid. We each got into a Toyota Matrix (automatic) and waited on the starting line for the lights down the track to turn green. When they did, we mashed the gas and kept an eye on the lights as we accellerated. The lights turned red and we all hit the brakes as hard as we could. The last one to stop had to skip a turn, so we wanted to stop ASAP! Then, the lights would turn green again, and we'd all continue down the track as fast as possible. In total, we stopped about 4 times until someone crossed the finish line. From there we were all given our ranking and we headed back to the starting line to get our cards punched (for points). On the way back there was a few turns where we got to see why they put the Matrix on a straight-lined course. It took turns rather sloppy, and the seating felt more like a minivan then a sports car. I wasn't impressed. The accelleration wasn't great either, but it stopped quickly enough. Hint: Left foot brake, and when you're at a stop rev the engine a little so you can accelerate quicker when the light turns green. I beat Ed in this competition. Twice. ;-)

"Capture The Flag": This game required a team of two plus a "Pro driver" and involved a Toyota Corolla. First you or your partner take the wheel and you line up at your home base. The team you are racing against takes their place at their "Home Base" at the other end of the oval course. On "Go" you drive around a circle track that contains a short slolum on both straight-aways. In the your opponent's "Home Base" is a post with 3 flags on it. The driver stops at the post, and whoever's in the back seat hops out and grabs a flag. When they get back in the car (and get their seat belt back on) you take off again back to your "Home Base". There, you switch places as fast as you can. When everyone's back in (and has their seat belt on) you start back around again. For the third lap, the "Pro driver" takes the wheel while you hold on tight. The last flag is picked up, and whoever makes it back to their "Home Base" first wins more points. The problems I had with this event: The Corolla doesn't handle well at all. It was really sloppy around turns -I have no idea why they used this car in this event. Other problems: Auto locking doors made the process of jumping out of the car and grabbing the flag slow and frustrating. Hint: Anything you can do to unlock the doors and put your seatbelt on faster in this game helps.

"Relay Race": You need a team of 3 for this game, which is annoying because most people came to this event with one other person. Since there was no one there, one of the course workers took the place of the 3rd person in our group. Once again you're in a Corolla, and you are paired with a "Pro driver". One of the team members starts, on "Go" they drive an oval course much like the one for "Capture The Flag", but the pro is sitting next to you as you drive. Our "Pro" kept telling Ed to slow down (?). When you get back to the start, you hop out and tag a team member. All 3 team members drive the course with the "Pro" in the passenger seat. When the third person completes the course, they tag any team member and then all three of you pile into the car with the "Pro" at the wheel for one more trip around the course "the right way". Pro driver or not, this car feels sloppy. It's not impressive at all. I'm not sure they'll be selling any Corollas at this event...

"Vehicular Dodgeball": This time you are issued a Celica, and then you line up at the start. On "Go" you drive as fast as you can through a oval course with one short slolum. The first part of the course is fast, there are three huge "Dodge Balls" (beach balls) laying (stationary) on the course. It's kinda set up like a slolum, but you don't have to turn. Not too challenging, but you can go fast, so it's cool. Then there's a U-shaped turn, a short slolum, and then two air-filled red balls that are suspended from strings. These balls are supposed to move, I guess, but they weren't moving when I drove past. The result: They just stood there in the middle of the course, no way for me to avoid them. I hit one, but they didn't count it against me -I'm not sure if that was a mistake on their part or not. The last part of the course is a tight, irregular U-shape and you have to take it slow. There is a short straight-away (about 20 feet long) where people on the side-lines can throw water-soaked, baseball-sized "dodgeballs" at you. If you get hit by any of the balls on the course, of if someone on the sideline hits the target painted on the door of the car with a "dodgeball" you lose. If you get through cleanly and don't make a complete stop on the course, you get 20 points. I did this event twice. The Celicas handle MUCH better in turns than the Corollas. Once again, these were automatics, but the second time I used the "M mode" which is to the left of the "Drive" in the gear shifter. At first I thought this would be "Manual Mode" like Mazda's cars at "Rev-It-Up", but it's not. You don't actually get to shift the car in this mode, it's just faster. Much faster. It really took off! I was impressed! It was kinda jerky though, I wish I had more time to get used to it. Before we used this mod, Ed asked the course worker how this worked, but the guy had no idea. My beefs with this event were with staff and layout, not with the car. The whole point of this event is to sell cars, so wouldn't you think the workers should have a full working knowledge of the cars they're working with? Also, the layout was cheezy. Their website touts this "Vehicular Dodgeball" as THE event -there's a commercial where a girl's driving like she's taking her driving test for her license when all of a sudden dodgeballs start pelting the car. She looks scared, and after a little while she stops. The instructor sitting next to her just shakes his head and says "I don't think you're quite ready yet. There were no dodgeballs! There were non-moving car-sized beach balls, 2 big red balloons suspended on string, and water-soaked squishy balls being thrown at you for about 1/20th of the course... I don't know, man... Not what I was expecting. :-(

Other Events: Um, kareoke... Select your (least) favorite tune from the early 80's and sing your heart out. You get points for it, but damn! There was a Toyota Quiz thing. And Musical Chairs. Yeah, real lame. There was non-points activities too. Hoola-hoops, big beach balls, teather ball, skee-ball, and food. $1 for a can of pop. We bought two. It was hot.

If you're pre-registered they told us we could jump the line once for each event. There was no need. We never saw a line. Hideous 80's music was played the whole time we were there and made the event seem that much cheezier. All-in-all I'm glad we went. We both ended up with enough points for T-shirts, and I learned that Celicas aren't bad little cars. I also learned that I should never waste my time looking at a Corolla or Matrix. Would I go again next year? Probably not. Most of it was just corny. I think Toyota should take a look at Mazda's Rev-It-Up Event and bring out their more impressive cars next time. (Leave the Corolla and Matrix on the side-lines!) Also, make the course either more fun or more challenging. Lastly, play some more modern music. I paid $40 to go to Rev-It-Up this summer, and I'll gladly pay to go again next year. This free event will be skipped, however.