My guess would be that there was some enclosed space where the cold got so intense? (Like a refrigerator with an icemaker that has plumbing) I bet there was a plumber who took a short cut that he shouldn't or the AC guy did. So I wouldn't blame the kids for causing the leak, just not immediately reporting it/doing something about it, which is a much higher order of what-the-fuckery.

My advice for mac's car is that you just buy a disposable beater (with no working AC). Or a moto scooter. Once he's paid back the costs of those, you can proceed to helping with a better vehicle.

Sorry about the guest room drama, meara, but yay wedding!

The desks are immobile within the cubes, Bev. Alas. I did have one coworker who managed to arrange her monitor so she was sitting sideways to the walkway, but I don’t even know if that would be better. However, if the whole department is WFH 3-4 days a week it won’t matter so much. I haven’t heard any updates on that plan.

and then the friends who were supposed to stay with me bailed.

That's annoyingly flakey.

Buffistae, I need a little help. Our SA lives in an apartment without A/C with their dog. So I booked a motel for them in Portland for the next three days during the heatwave.

However, I checked in with them this morning to make sure everything was okay, they said that their ID has to match the name on the credit card (which is mine).

My card is through my Credit Union, so I'm going to try to have the motel call my CU to verify that I've authorized the charge.

Has anybody had this issue before where you try to set somebody else up in a hotel/motel? What can I do to convince the motel this isn't a credit card fraud situation?

A couple of years ago mom booked me a hotel during the snow where I couldn't get back home. I didn't have any issues checking in.

A couple of years ago mom booked me a hotel during the snow where I couldn't get back home. I didn't have any issues checking in.

I tried setting up an authorization with my Credit Union. The CU was game but the motel won't accept any authorization over the phone.

However, they will accept cash. Problematically, the limit on what SA can withdraw is less than what the motel needs.

So now I need to do some combo of sending them money and having them get the rest from a friend that I can repay. Bah!

Ugh, motel! Would Western Union be able to get her cash? I have no idea what that costs, but I had to have money wired to me ages ago for a similar situation, I think, so it’s an option.

That's ridiculous, but I have had the same experience traveling for work in the past -- the room had been booked with someone else's corporate card, but I ended up having to put it on my personal card that day. Thank goodness I could!

It's so fucking frustrating! They already accepted my online booking. They have my card info. I have set up a way for them to verify that the cardholder has authorized the charge. Pfah.

Also, it would help immensely if some of their local friends could step up just a little bit to assist.

Local friend did step up but it's all still under the gun. The reservation will only be held until 3pm. I Venmo'd a chunk to SA. Then we PayPal'd the friend who will pull the difference in cash.

They need to get that money in hand and drive a half hour to the motel (with their dog) before 3.

Not the kind of Great Race challenge I wanted this morning.

So frustrating. I’m glad you were able to help them out, Hec!