Folks with cars might want to bookmark this: [link]
A blog I frequent has this to say:
Web site RepairPal provides independent repair estimates to help you decide if your mechanic is ripping you off. Just take your mechanic's quote and compare it to RepairPal's encyclopedia of repair estimates by specific make and model—RepairPal will even factor in your location and provide you with a breakdown of parts and labor estimates. The site also offers a review tool for finding trusted mechanics in your area, offers advice for common problems with your make and model, and can track all of your car's service and repair information.
Also good if you're considering buying a used car that has stuff needing to be fixed....
Work triumph!
Spent much of yesterday afternoon (in between wrestling with 11 months' worth of budget reconciliations -- thanks again, inept predecessors!) dealing with a Difficult Patient. DP has many, many issues, is convinced that everyone at the hospital is either indifferent or hostile to DP, and lives close enough that DP frequently stops by to personally pester us about pointless things.
Yesterday DP stopped by to pick up a prescription to send in to a mail-in pharmacy, which sucked up a good hour of everyone's time. This morning I came in to a voicemail from DP, saying in hushed tones that there were "problems" with the written prescription but that "I can't leave you a message because it will get too complicated, just please call me before nine."
I called; DP wanted some inconsequential change to how something was phrased; I said fine, come by and pick it up. The NP in charge of writing them up heard about it, @@ed fiercely, and said, "Not an issue, DP is worrying about nothing, the pharmacy won't care, tell DP just to send it in as is and if there's a problem I'll call the pharmacy and yell at them about it myself."
I called, and spent 15 minutes with DP trying to make me agree with DP that the NP was a horrible villain. "So, what you're saying is that I should send it in as is because she refuses?" "No, you can send it in as is because it's not a problem. They'll be perfectly happy with it. She'll handle it personally if there is a problem, but there won't be." "So you're saying she refuses?" Repeat x eleventy billion.
Dude. I have a toddler and I'm step-parenting a pre-adolescent. I am used to not only saying the same thing in cheerful robotic tones for hours on end, I'm used to doing so while being wept and snotted on, audibly sneered at, and having tiny heels drummed into my kidneys. You're no toddler and definitely no preadolescent boy. Believe me, you will get tired of hearing the same thing over and over LONG before I get tired of saying it. Don't even try to outlast me.
DP finally gave in and meekly promised to send it in as is, and thanked me for all my help. NP is in awe of me.
Triumph!
I'm now in awe of JZ as well.
What are you doing this weekend, SUCKERS?!@?!
Farmer's Market, Yard Sales, and George's Island.
[link]
Okay, out of the dozen people who work on my floor, I am the only one here! Supposedly two others are at meetings, but I am suspicious of one of those. (she often books meetings and goes out for long lunches.) This is not inspiring me to get work done, but I have to revise some guidelines by the end of the day, because I am off on Monday.
JZ for the win.
I have a long ongoing work saga that seems to be ending in a fail.
there is a copier/printer that is supposed to double side print. The ONLY printer than can do so for us. Using the setting for double side printing on the computer, however, does not get you double sided copies.
I have reported it. Been told it is fixed. Tried again to no success. Reported it again. Been ignored. Asked on status. Was just told that the help line was going to be provided to ME since apparently the person whose job it is CAN'T MANAGE IT!!!
Go JZ! Also, your reasoning about your staying power cracks me up.
sigh ... there was a major power failure this morning and, while my office building's generator had one elevator running and we had the "emergency" lights, we had no phone or computer service. So - bad worker bee that I am - I was hoping that the power would stay off so I could get an early start on my weekend. No, the lights came on and everything's working ... except the people who gave up on trying to get in. BUT! we do have a/c, so I can survive!
What are you doing this weekend, SUCKERS?!@?!
Pretty much nothing, and I like it. Hopefully seeing a few movies I haven't been able to get to (Iron Man, The Fall, maybe Indy 4) and house cleaning.
I should have added "FUCKOS!" in honor of Rio (who I also miss).
