Happy five

Well Saturday was Gracie's fifth birthday and we had a party at a place called "Pump it Up".

They had huge inflatable toys for the kids (and the adults) to play on. Huge slides, bouncy things, a rock wall to climb, the whole deal. The kids got to play in two different warehouse size rooms for a while and then we went into a party room where Gracie got to sit on a huge inflatable throne. She had a ball, as did everyone. One of Angie's cousins even asked if she could have her thirty first birthday party there. I suppose so. The pictures are not that great because my camera doesnt do too well with moving targets but I got what I could.

Ed.

Sent:
Mon 9/29/08 6:28 AM


To whom it may concern, You have a person in your employ by the name of Edworth ******. I requested your email addresses so that I might drop you a line concerning this gentleman. I have a short story to tell you concerning a claim that was filed as a result of the strong winds that came through southern Ohio on the heals of hurricane Ike. A storm came through southern Ohio and put 680 thousand people out of power and removed the better part of the shingles on my roof. The damage was done on a Sunday afternoon. Early monday morning I called the toll free claim line for my Nationwide insurance and filed a claim. I was told that an adjuster would call me and come out to take a look in the next five days. I waited until Friday late afternoon before being concerned since I was told five days. On day five and I had not heard from anyone, I decided I needed to be a little more pro-active and make some phone calls to see if Nationwide was just running a little behind or if maybe my phone number was recorded in err, as this sort of thing does happen. The first problem I encounter is that none of the toll free lines I had the numbers for were being manned by humans, only computers, unless I had an extension number. I was not given an extension number, but I found a way around this and left messages for Amanda, Angie, and Bob at one of the numbers. None of them returned my call. As I remember, they work in an office in Centerville Ohio. I got a little more creative and found my way to an office in Canton Ohio and spoke with a man named Joe. Joe was less than helpful. He informed me that I didnt have a claim, or an adjuster, but I should just wait and both would appear sometime in the future. We discussed this in some detail, but his answer was always the same, "I am told to just tell you we are busy and doing the best we can, we will help you as soon as possible" He repeated this line so frequently that it was obvious he wasnt going to be of any help. Though the help of my local agent I also was put in contact with a live person in Des Moine Iowa. This person was a little more helpful, but not a great deal. By now this is becoming very frustrating as I am not even sure if my claim has really been filed, and if it has, when I might be hearing something. The difficulty is that in my area almost all the homes suffered roof damage and all the reputable roofers were taking names for a waiting list that was growing everyday, so I needed to know if I could at least get on a list. Finally I come in contact with your office, and a gentleman named Edworth. Edworth was the most professional person I had come into contact with so far. He was the 9th person I had spoken to and the 4th office (I think) that I had made contact with. Ed called me back after my local agent left him a message on his phone with literally minutes. He gave me a number and extension to reach him directly, I also was given his email and cell phone numbers. Ed provided me with information that I deemed more trustworthy and explanations of the situation that were honest and believable. Ed also provided me with options. He told me that I could wait for an adjuster and he would do what was possible to get one to me quickly but could make no promises, but if I wanted to send him the pictures of the damage and maybe get an estimate on my own, that he 'might' be able to take care of things without an adjuster coming out. I had the pictures to him that night and he called me the next day to confirm receipt of them. (also a more professional behavior than what I had seen so far) I let Ed know that I had a guy doing an estimate that day and would have it to him the next day. From all of this he was able to process my claim and get a check out to me in a matter of days. I received my check, less the deductable, on Saturday and am now on a waiting list to get the repairs done. Ed is my hero. I say Ed is my hero, a little bit jokingly, but Ed is really your hero (you being Nationwide). I was already having some problems with the car insurance before this happened and the overall poor performance of Nationwide in this case had me feeling the need to look for a new company. Ed's consistent professionalism and honestly concerned effort to take care of one individual customer has convinced me to stay on with Nationwide. I am still not happy with the cost of my car insurance but I will give it a year and then start pushing for cost reductions. By the way, I have been with Nationwide for 25 years for all my insurance needs. Please do what you can to recognize Ed and his superior performance. He is truly well ahead of his peers.


The check arrived on Saturday. Above is the letter I sent to the bosses of Ed. Good luck Ed, and may the force be with you.

the saga continues

My biggest problem so far is that every person I speak with from Nationwide tells me a different tale. Today I spoke with a nice lady in Des Moine Iowa. This is the sixth city, the forth state, and I believe the eight phone number. Today I RECEIVED a call from Edworth from Westerville who is still not my adjuster but works in the office that assigns adjusters so I am one step closer. I like Edworth so far, he is honest and unapologetic for his companies failures, he simply said we goofed and are understaffed for what hit us. Okay, lame but logical. I will keep you updated on Edworth who has told me that nobody might ever need to come to my house if I do the leg work for them and use email and fax. Yeah, I have new numbers to play with, emails, faxes, the cell phone number for Edworth etc. Below are the pictures I just sent him.

So I didnt really send him the Princess picture, thats just for you, but if it will help move things along I can send it in his next email.

Nationwide par Deux

What we've got here is a failure to communicate.

I received my call back from Sue. She informed me that she finally got through to a human being who assured her that I would be getting a call from a 'contractor' later tonight or at the latest tomorrow afternoon. Now, I don't wish to become a smurf by holding my breath until then (although I would make a good grumpy smurf about now) but I did notice something. The other myriad of good diligent hard working folk I spoke with all said an 'adjuster' would be contacting me and coming to the house. Now I have a contractor? Yes, I had to ask, and supposedly this mystery person who may call (at this point it would be Saturday as it is already 9 PM Friday night) is the person who will actually perform the work. They cannot yet tell me what company they have chosen because they are using so many different ones, buy yeah "help is on the way" as John Kerry said a few years ago. Yeah, it fills me to the gills now just as well as it did when John spewed it forth.

I think we have had, and still have a communication breakdown.

Nationwide Cont............

Help is on the way, no worries, help is on the way. Yawn, man, help is slower than molasses running up hill in a Vermont winter. That break neck glacial speed is just breath taking. I have dead relatives with more speed and better organized lives than these people. I could expect this response if I bought insurance from Alli Baba's Pakistani Discount Boutique and Insurance Emporium, but Nationwide is on my side! I am just grateful this isn't a true crisis, just a large annoyance. By the way, its 9AM on Saturday morning, guess I am not the first call of the day, or somebody burned the midnight oil last night and is late to rise.

I have been thinking more about the possibility of a 'contractor' showing up as apposed to an adjuster. The more I think about this idea, the less I am liking it. At first I though, cool, that way I don't have to get into the fray of trying to find somebody to do the work, or wait forever (again) for a big company to have time for me. But the more I reflect on what this might mean, the more I am concerned by it. First off, if a contractor just shows up, who do they work for, me or Nationwide. I know this may come as a shock, but I bet I am a little more picky about my house than Nationwide would be, I want the job done right, not just finished. If Nationwide cant or wont tell me (they wont) who the contractor is because they are using so many of them, what are the odds that Chico and the Man show up with a bucket full of duct tape and a cooler full of Pabst Blue Ribbon. With the exemplary service perfomance of Nationwide thus far, I am not inclined to trust them to check quality referances, I envision more a scenario where Wile E. starts looking in the yellow pages for ACME roofing and calling all the listings and searching for anybodies free time.

More to follow I am certain.........................................................


(somehow this post got out of sequence, the date of this post is Sept 20)

Nationwide

"Nationwide is on your side, Nationwide"

NOT

Nationwide, for those who may not know, is an all purpose insurance company, and above is their key line from their commercials. As you might guess, I am having some difficulty with them at the moment. Here is the story:

On Sunday, September 14th, two notable things occurred. First, I officially turned forty, yippee. My present, in case you missed it, was 76 mph winds riping the shingles off my roof, and pretty much every roof in the neighborhood. Yes, hurricane force winds, brought all the way up the Ohio river valley by what was Hurricane Ike. First thing Monday morning I called my insurance claim center and filed my wind damage claim. I was told that my claim would be filed and someone from the claim center would be calling shortly to confirm receipt of claim and let me know when the adjuster would be coming out. A few hours later (not too bad service so far) someone called me and informed me that:

:: Your claim has been received and filed and an adjuster will be calling you in the next 5 days to let you know when they will be arriving::

I asked them, specifically, if the adjuster would just be calling or would be arriving in 5 days.

:: They will call in 5 days, and they usually call the same day they come out, sometimes they call and let you know they will be out the next morning, but it should only be 5 days::

Now, its Friday and I haven't heard a peep from them, so, being diligent but not nagging it is time to call and make certain they will be calling, and arriving, sometime today.

Call number one is to the Nationwide claims office in Centerville Ohio, the folks who called me. I get the obligatory answering machine, but this one requires I type in the 4 digit extension number of the party I need to speak too. Naturally, the lovely human who called me did not give me such a number, (accidentally no doubt) and they didn't even give me a name, just my claim number. I figure, okay, just hit zero for the operator, nope, that sends you to the general voice mail box which no doubt is a dust covered rotary phone on a closet floor someplace. So, being the stubborn sort I push number 3 which gives me an alphabetical listing of the people there. I write down the name and extension number of 3 people who have friendly sounding names, Amanda, Angie, and Bob. I type in there extension numbers one at a time. Amanda is busy or away from her phone and I could leave a message, but, if she is busy right now, who am I to bother her. Angie cant come to the phone right now, and I could leave her a message and she will get right back with me, but again, if she cant come to the phone she must be occupied with more important things that little ol' me, so I try Bob. Bob apparently has no arms and no legs and is in the pool cooling off so I give up this line of attack for now.

Call number two is to the Nationwide call center, the place I called to file the claim initially. A nice 'English as a second language' person is who I am directed to after 'saying' things to a computer for a while first. This lovely lady who I can hardly understand offers to transfer me to the claims office, but this phone number is different than the one I called. I told her the story from above and she said she would obtain a person in that office and connect me directly. Wonderful, now, enter Joe.(oh marvelous Joe)

I am transferred to Joe, who asks for my claim number. I supply it and then Joe informs me that an adjuster has not yet been assigned to my case, and in fact he doesn't even see a claim as being filed.

:: Give it a few more days and I am sure an adjuster will be assigned and then call you, we are doing the best we can and someone will get with you soon:: (just a few more days fo to tote the weary load)

Joe, now I am worried that you don't even see my claim, if I give them a few more days to call, when do you figure they will arrive.

::I have no idea, usually sometime after that, could be some time after that, we are very busy right now::

(okay, now I have a genius, of course it will be after, couldn't be before now could it, no, I don't expect a call saying I was coming to your house yesterday see you then)

Joe, I realize your busy, but all insurance companies are, but somehow all my neighbors have people on their roofs fixing the damage or adjusters writing things up and taking pictures, but I have only you on the phone. (and your giving me the impression you cant pour piss out of a boot with the directions on the heel)

::All I can tell you is we are doing our best and we will get to you as quickly as possible. We have a lot of claims right now::

Well, that's not news, all the people have lots of claims right now but your best doesn't seem to be holding up to the average, could you pass me up to a supervisor who might be able to put me in contact with someone who has more answers? ( I don't think he even listened to this question)

::I cant do that, we are told to just let you know we are doing what we can and we will be with you as soon as possible::

Joe, where are you? (and do you need both hands to find your behind?)

::Canton Ohio, up near Akron::

Joe, that's not near Centerville is it? The call I got came from Centerville, not Canton.

:: I don't know where Centerville is, or if we even have a Centerville office, I know there have been people calling our customers saying they are from Nationwide and they are not, and they have been telling people that we will be there in a few days and we wont, but we are doing the best that we can.::

(conspiracy theorist professional at work, kids don't try this at home. I wonder if he has Roswell posters in his room, and if he says 'best we can' one more time I am going to pluck out his adams apple through his nose holes and perform and alien autopsy on it.)

Joe, are you sure you don't have a supervisor? Never mind, Joe, thanks for your help.

Call number three. Now I call my local agent and tell Sue the short version of what I have shared with you. I express my concerns about not having a claim, and she puts me at ease on that one because she says it shows on her file as active claim with the Ohio Storm Center. (oh goodie) Sue gives me another phone number to call, but alas, its the number I have for the claims office operated by ghosts and of course Bob who is still in the pool. She tells me that there are real people working there and she will call the direct line and find a person for us to talk to and call me right back. I have met Sue in person so I know she isn't jerking me around like Joe the wonder dork was. Sue calls me back about 10 minutes later and tells me she only gets a busy signal on the direct line and had the same result as me going through the public number. (wonder if Bob is getting pruny yet, maybe I should have looked for his friend Matt)

Sue says she will keep calling until she reaches a person. Maybe Debbie, the operator at this center, will finish her make up and answer the phone at some point. Good luck Sue. If this progresses into tomorrow I may spend the weekend looking into Progressive, Geico, and All State. I will keep you updated and post pictures of the roof shortly.

Nationwide says they are on my side, but I feel like they are standing behind me, waiting for me to bend over.

Mustard.

This is actually yet another post about the mind of Gracie. Let me lay out a few quick things you need to know.

1. Gracie learned a new phase the other day from a cartoon, "put some mustard on it" was used in reference to throwing a ball faster.


2. Gracie likes A1 steak sauce on her beef, and her pork. She likes it because daddy uses it and she calls A1 daddy's sauce.


3. Gracie also likes Barbecue sauce on some things. She likes it because mommy uses it and she calls Barbecue mommy's sauce.


4. Gracie loves to have fun while shopping at Kroger's.

Gracie and I went to Kroger's after supper on Wednesday. We needed to get a few quick things and then pick up Wendy's to take home to momma who avoids kids night at skyline as much as she can. That's cool with me and Gracie because we get to have fun on our own. While I am pushing the cart through Kroger's and Gracie is riding on the front, she starts telling me all about Franklin (the cartoon) and the new phrase she learned today, "put some mustard on it" Well this starts off innocent enough, she keeps saying the phrase (over and over again) trying to get me to move the cart faster, particularly around the corners. After a while of this, and people giggling at her (or us) the whole time, she changes the game a little. Now the game is about food, and mustard is something that goes on or in food. So, "put some mustard on it" gets added to "put some onions on it" and "put some berries on it" and "put some olives (pronounced ol - libs) on it" and then she says, "stir it all up and taste it." I of course don't want to taste it so she goes first.

"yummie yummie there is a party in my tummy" (also from a cartoon) is what Gracie says next, but daddy needs to take a bite.

So I try the make believe casserole, "eeeuuuu, yuuckkie, uuhgh, nasty stuff, olives dont go with berries, I dont like it"

Well we have found a new game, she concocts 2 or 3 more nasty messes of stuff for us to try. She of course loves each one and I of course make loud icky noises because its imaginarily awful. The problem, or the humor depending on your viewpoint comes with the last casserole. Read the next dialog carefully, remember she is almost 5 and loud besides, and try to allow a little of that middle school humor that lives deep inside of you to surface for just a second, (not to long, but just for a minute)

Gracie: "Put some mustard on it"

Daddy:" Okay, mustard's on it"

Gracie:" Put some cabbage on it, I love cabbage"

Daddy:" In with the cabbage"

Gracie:" Put some beans on it, I love beans, more beans more beans"

Daddy: "more beans? is this enough beans yet"

Gracie:"Put some daddy sauce on it, lots of daddy sauce"

(daddy to a second to process this, oh no,)

Daddy: "no, lets just stick with mustard" (start walking faster)

Gracie:" no, lets use mommy sauce instead"

Daddy:"no, lets stick with mustard"

Gracie:" whats wrong dont you like mommy sauce?"

Daddy:"uh, I like mustard with my cabbage, would you like some skittles or maybe some ice cream, how bout some chocolate cake?"

Gracie:" can I have mustard on my cake?"

Daddy:" Yes, of course you can, lots of mustard is good on chocolate"

(whew, moving on)

More Gracie

Here is a video clip as well, notice the co-ordination.

First game

Words cannot describe, click on the picture to make it full screen.

Concentration........
Some use their right hand, others their left, is this on purpose, uh, no.
Something just went terribly wrong...........
Go Panthers..............

What did she say???
Just one step behind, she has a different drummer.
"My name is Gracie and I say HELLO"
Just in case grown ups cant spell, this is the "N" in Panthers.
Yeah...........................

And a good time was had by all.................

A short video is available on Angie's blog as well.

Barracuda

Once upon a time, in a land far far away, a Nation elected a women leader, a strong willed, smart and powerful women. She earned the nick name, the Dragon Lady.

The Republican party fronted by John McCain, has nominated another strong willed women to be the Vice Presidential candidate for their party. John McCain went to the frontier of Alaska and found this remarkable women and brought her to forefront of American politics. The media had a melt down, the Democratic party leadership scrambled madly to learn who she is, the feminists found themselves in an ideological pickle of whether to support the obviously successful women or attempt to destroy her for her conservative record and opinions. She is a self proclaimed, "hockey mom", a term not to often used here in the midwest, but to explain to us what that means she said the following, "do you know the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? (pause, and points to her mouth)............... Lipstick" She has been given the nickname, long ago, of Barracuda.

The barracuda's reputation for being a voracious and fierce hunter is well founded. Plankton-feeding fish, such as groupers, grunts snapper, bream and even young barracudas arc among its victims. The barracuda generally attacks swiftly, charging at its prey at great speed and taking a large snapping bite with its powerful jaws.



Evidence shows that the Barracuda, can be dangerous to humans when provoked.




Barracudas have sharp, canine-like teeth that can slice its victims to pieces.


I hope Ann Quinn and company are paying attention, particularly to the dangerous when provoked part. I hope the other media types don't get too carried away with their lust to coronate Obama and think they can just brush Sarah Palin aside. Many of the smarter Democratic media folks already realize that they might get away with beating a McCain/Palin ticket this time, but this rising star will be a long time burning before she goes dark. I honestly believe that America was just introduced to its first female president. It might be a while, maybe even as long as 8 or 12 years, but it could be in as little as 2 or 4 years depending on how the dice roll. One of my favorite quotes, an official in Alaska was asked if Mrs. Palin was strong enough to survive an ethics inquiry, a campaign, and the media attacking her and her family, his answer, " the landscape around here is littered with the bodies of those who have crossed Sarah" That should be enough to give the opposition pause. I have no love for Obama, but I do respect him for several things, the most notable at this moment is that he has made every effort to distance himself from the rancor and even defend Mrs. Palin in her right to be in this campaign and expect her family to be left alone. For this I applaud him. I even applaud his ability to recognize the problems in this country that need fixed, I just have great issue with the method he chooses to fix them. I don't believe in his plan for change and I have no hope that his changes will have a positive result. I digress, back to Mrs. Palin. I love the fact that she took on and defeated members of her own party, I love the fact that she cut the budget in Alaska by cutting her own spending first, no driver, no chef, no limo, no private jet. She sold the Governors jet on EBay in case you missed that. She doesn't just love cutting spending, she believes in leading by example, that is a rare find in high profile politics. I love the fact that she is a strong, healthy, smart, and opinionated young women. I love the fact that she has announced that she intends to be an advocate in Washington for parents who have special needs children, and with Mrs. McCain in service as the First Lady adoptive parents can have an advocate in Washington as well. I love the fact that she is from a small town and has governed in a small town. I view this as a plus not the negative that the media and her opposition seem to think it is. How much more difficult is it to make tough decisions when you know the people by name and face who will be effected by your choices? There is little or no anonymity in small towns such as these. For those who doubt her ability to deal with foreign leaders or the pressure of a job as enormous as this one, I remind you that she is a Governor, and a mother of 5. Those five children range from a little special needs baby up to a 19 year old enlisted serviceman. She is a mom, she can deal with Putin, Castro Jr. and Akmad Wishihadajob without even breaking a sweat. She has developed all of the things that come with motherhood, the ability to multitask while listening to whining voices, the ability to be in three places at once, and lets not forget that all seeing third eye in the back of her head. All of these skills will enhance her ability to be a good leader. To Mrs. Palin I say this, Rock on sister, Rock on. History will record your efforts to share with every generation of little girls and boys for that matter. Your story has just begun and it will be printed in every History text book of future generations.

Weekend Weather Warnings.

Please gather and listen closely, beep beep beep, NOAA weather radar has been tracking not one, not two, but three sever weather threats,beep beep beep. If any of these three weather threats approaches your area take shelter immediately, beep beep, beep. Evacuation is recommended, but if you cannot flee the area find a secure structure, keep your head down and hang on tight.

I am NOT referring to Gustav, Hannah, or Ike. We had our own weather emergencies this weekend. Hurricane Gracie made landfall in Deer Park Ohio at a friends house on Sunday late afternoon. Tropical storms were also weathered in our home in Maineville, and while shopping in Jeffersonville. If NOAA weather radar reported any disturbances in the atmosphere above southwestern Ohio or recommended evacuation of the area between Columbus and Frankfort, no worries, it was just Gracie having a truly large Hunan meltdown.

Now for the report:

After leaving church on Sunday we drove back to the old neighborhood to have a cook out type gathering with friends. It has been some time, years perhaps, since this particular group, (dubbed the cult following at one point, but that's a different story) all gathered to spend the day together. The group consists of 4 couples and too many kids to count for sure, but I think it was 9 kids, plus boyfriends and passersthru. Gracie was 'building strength' all day long as she played at 100MPH getting hotter and more tired with each passing minute. As her temperature rose and her winds picked up, she finally hit a critical mass and achieved CAT1 status when she slipped and jammed a finger. She came to momma to be comforted. Momma noticed just how hot she was so she rolled her hair up in a bun to keep it off the back of her neck. This was a mistake. Gracie hates a bun, says it looks 'weird' so the fight ensues. Once Gracie starts screaming momma cant back down, but the more they butt heads the more the winds pick up. When this storm first hit the coast there were four guys, four ladies and 3 kids in the room. Once land fall was achieved there was me and 4 ladies and Gracie in the room. Just goes to prove men and kids are like animals, we sense danger and flee. I was the stubborn one who wouldn't leave town and tried to weather the storm in my mobile home. Didn't go so well. Mom took Gracie into the other room to uh, chat, about things, this produced even louder, if that were possible, screams. Momma comes back in and sits down, Gracie floods back in, but now she's mad. She is screaming that she wants to move out and doesn't like anybody any more because we are all mean and don't listen to her. One of the other mothers is now teasing her which just causes more wind speed and know we are at a CAT2. Somebody comments that their ears are now bleeding and I notice that some of the men and kids have now not just left the room, but left the zip code, the evacuation is on. Momma looks at me and says ,"do something" so I 'tell' her to come with me outside, bad move on my part, should have asked. Momma, bobbing her head, joins me outside. I felt like we needed to 'discuss' a plan on how to handle this without Gracie hearing it so once we came to some agreement we could present an united front, I also dont believe in 'discussing' things in front of others (read that 'argue') Well, the problem is that Gracie wanted to follow us outside and tell us off some more, but one of the mothers knew what we were doing so she decided to help by snagging Gracie right in front of the door and carrying her back into the living room. For us at the time this was appreciated and very helpful, to Gracie, this jumped her from CAT2 all the way to CAT4. She was brought before the other moms and they fixed her hair back the way she wanted it and sent/allowed her to go upstairs with her mentor, her favorite teen. This teen provided comfort until we came back inside and then Gracie came back downstairs being carried and cuddled by the teen. She then, politely, asked the teen to set her down, second landfall ensued at CAT4 levels. I snatched her up and outside we went to try and minimize anymore storm damage. We were outside for about 30 minutes with her screaming at me, telling me what a 'not very nice', 'rude', 'stupid' person I was. She told me she was going to put all of us under the car and 'die' us. She was going to through me down the stairs, (and proceeded to push me as we were sitting on the top step) and 'die' me. She wanted us to move out and go away because we were mean and didn't listen even when she said please cause we made her look 'weird' and let other people grab her. Like all storms, once she got far enough inland the fuel began to burn out. She left a large wake of destruction from the storm surge, but eventually the winds died down and we were left with just some rain, and of course a horse voice. Two less impressive CAT1 storms followed the next day, mostly left overs from the big storm. We weathered and we have rebuilt, without the help of FEMA. I look forward to the day that hurricane seasons become shorter and shorter, this has been an unusually busy season as of late. Usually we have a storm every 4 or 5 weeks, not 3 in 24 hours.