Different times call for different men

There was another note about the truck. 2 Days ago, I was checking my Amex balance online and noticed that Penske had tacked another $100.10 onto my bill. I called (this time, calm) and they said they would take care of it. Sure enough, I see a credit on my balance today for the amount.

All do say, different situations have called for different attitudes. Some of you may have read my bit (or, maybe even talked to me) and thought, "Geez, you really shouldn't have lost it like that." The truth of the matter is that if I had not, I wouldn't have been in Philly the next day to buy our house - which is strange. It was not, in fact, until I exploded at the front desk that they even afforded me the option to talk to someone who could actually and honestly do anything about me getting switched.

Of course, this same method wouldn't work in an issue regarding weather (Jason may attest to this?) as the weather is out of the airlines' controls.

Crew issues are not.

Regarding Penske, the process was pretty smooth overall (shouldn't it, I probably spent a total of 5-6 hours waiting for 3 separate tow trucks). But what would have happened if I wouldn't have called?

The question too, is whether or not the gospel affords me the freedom to become angry as I did at the airport. I've even had others tell me that I should write NWA to get further compensated (maybe the same with Penske?) - does the gospel of Christ allow me to do that when I've been compensated for what I purchased (in the one case - airfare; in the other case - transportation of my home to Philadelphia).

In those cases, how am I to view the sovereignty of God? In a practical sense, the sovereignty of my God is something that I don't know if I've really believed as evidenced by practice.

The ethics and cognizance of it all is something entirely different than anything else...what do you think?

I have been chosen to suffer for your sake...

For anyone who’s wondering – the move was successful (not so successful that the name of this Blog will be renamed "Twilleydelphia" or "Twilley in Philly," much to the chagrin of some).

For anyone who placed wagers on whether or not the move had any snags, it is time to cash in.

How to: Moving the Twilley’s to Philly

1. Rent a 22’ diesel driven Penske truck online 4 weeks in advance (you save 10% booking online).
2. If you don’t have a AAA card, purchase one; you save an additional 12% or something with AAA.
3. Include a dolly in your rental (+$17.60).
4. Include 2 dozen furniture pads in your rental (+$26.40).
5. Make sure that you don’t take of any days before you move – i.e. move on the day exactly after the last day at your current workplace.
6. Pick up your rental on the day before your actual move.
7. Drop the rental off at your house and kiss your wife goodbye for the day.
8. Go to work.
9. Begin feeling a funny feeling in your stomach and take hold of one of the worst headaches you’ve ever had.
10. Leave work to purchase a Gatorade (because you think that you may be dehydrated – which might be why you’re sick) and a car wash (because you like to move in style). Drive back to work.

11. As soon as you park your car, open the door quickly and throw up.
12. Go back into the office, finish something you think is important, and tell your manager that you think it’s time for you to leave.
13. Dole out well wishes to many in your office.
14. Go home.
15. Assume the fetal position on your bed because your stomach still hurts and take a nap.
16. Wake up 2 hours later.
17. Purchase Little Caesar’s Pizza for the friends who agreed to help you move (you promised pizza and drinks, remember?).
18. Pack your truck in about 2 hours.
19. Thank everyone for coming and then sleep on an air mattress (which was quite comfy).
20. Take more time than you expected to in preparing to leave. Realize that you are hitting the road 1.5 hours later than desired.

21. While on the road, receive a phone call from your wife telling you that she is tired and is going to pull off at the next exit to take a nap. Offer to pull of with her and listen to her threaten you that if you do, she will just keep driving (because Penske trucks have governors and are necessarily built for speed). Agree that you will keep driving.
22. Pull off when you finally need fuel and realize that ¼ of a tank of diesel in a 22’ Penske truck = $45.00
23. Have Jason Harmon (the super friend [not that other friends aren’t super] who is driving your personal truck to Philly) tell you that your left turn signal is not working – this is after 200 miles of driving on the open highway.
24. Receive a phone call from your wife – she has taken a nap, gotten back on the interstate, and has already passed you.
25. Drive to your midway point: Bristol, VA, and enjoy family time that evening and the entire next day.
26. Day three of the actual move, leave Bristol to drive to Philadelphia – over 900 miles away. Your wife will drive ahead of you with your Mother in law – they’ll clean your new home before you get there.
27. About 1/3 of the way there, pull off the road due to the fact that your truck is telling you that you need oil.
28. Check your oil.
29. Realize that you actually don’t need oil.
30. Take relief and continue on.

31. Drive around Washington D.C. on the I-495 bypass.
32. Commence Penske Truck Break Down Sequence…While driving in the middle lane of traffic…On a 4 lane interstate…packed with cars.
33. Turn on your right turn signal (remember, that’s the one that works).
34. Wonder if your turn signal works, as no one will let you over.
35. Have Jason pull into the right lane to stop traffic so you can pull over to the median.
36. Call Penske’s 24 Emergency Roadside assist and trust them when they tell you that someone will be out to tow you in an hour. They will ask if there is water and oil in the truck. Say yes.
37. An hour and 15 minutes later, call back and ask why no one is there. Have the Penske person tell you (rather rudely) that the tow truck is tied up and will be there in 45 minutes. They will ask if there is water and oil in the truck. Say yes.
38. Mention that this is, in fact, 2 hours and not one. Hang up.
39. 50 minutes late, call back and ask why no one is there. Have the Penske person tell you that this doesn’t usually happen. They will ask if there is water and oil in the truck. Say yes. Have them tell you that a truck will be there in 30 minutes.
40. Wait 30 minutes.

41. Begin praying with Jason that a truck will arrive soon.
42. Open your eyes to see that the truck is arriving even as the words are leaving your mouth.
43. Listen to the tow truck driver tell you that he can’t fix the truck.
44. Listen to the tow truck driver call Penske. He will tell them “Yes, there is water and oil in the truck. No, I don’t have time to take them to Philly, but I‘ll call someone else to do it.”
45. Watch him strap a 22’ Penske truck to a large diesel tow truck.
46. Get left behind as he speeds off.
47. Drive erratically through DC/Baltimore traffic trying to catch up.
48. Watch as he drops off your truck on the side of the road and leave much more quickly than he came.
49. 30 minutes later, meet your new truck driver – he is much cooler than the last.
50. Arrive in Philly in less than 2 hours because the tow driver is hauling boo-tay.

Now, here’s the deal. I had the driver drop the truck off about 2 miles away from my new home – the truck would drive, but only short distances. The apparent problem was that the computer on the truck was malfunctioning. I found out later that this happens “often” with Penske trucks (this from an actual Penske worker). I intend on writing a letter to the company. The trucks computer actually stalled the truck no less than 10 times over the course of those 2 miles.

After unloading the truck, I tried driving it back to where I was picked up. I finally got so sick of it that I pulled off to the side of the road. They told me, “Yeah, can you wait with the truck for an hour? We’ll have a truck out by then.” I told them, “Sure.” I then left the truck to drive Jason around the city knowing that there was no way they’d be there in an hour.

When all was said and done, we were in bed by about 1:30 am or so…after waking up at 6:30 am the previous morning and driving 900 miles.

The Lord, apparently, has chosen me to suffer these things to make you laugh (and I’m sure, for some deeper spiritual reason).

I'll add pictures when I'm not being blocked by a public library firewall...

Number 50...

Yes, this is my 50th post.

Part of the joy in moving (even beyond the joy of flying to move) is hooking up utilities. It's funny to think than a "utility" in our day and age may find itself in the form of high speed Internet - especially so when your wife needs it to make her wages. All to say, I was using a third part vendor to purchase Comcast High Speed Internet today and decided to utilize the "live chat," which would more properly be entitled "live shat," as you well see.

Also, as your reading, know that there was a lot of laughter on my end while writing with "Carolina," - i.e., if I sound frustrated, for once I'm actually not.

I am, however, frustrated at the fact that when I checked the third party website and Comcast's website, I was assured that Comcast serviced my area. When I called Comcast, they told me that they don't.

My response "That's strange, because your website says that you do."
"I'm sorry sir, you purchased this through a third party's website and we can't guarantee the information they provide."
"I understand that, but I'm talking about your website - I looked it up at comcast.com."
"Oh, well...we don't have service for that area, I'm sorry."

So, now I search for a high speed provider. Enjoy the following:

Please wait for a site operator to respond.
You are now chatting with 'Carolina'
you: Carolina, how long would it take for someone to come out and hook up our high speed Internet service?
Carolina: Hello.
Carolina: Welcome. How can I help you today?
Carolina: Let me go ahead and check the promotion that is available for you in your area. May I have the address and zip code where the installation will take place?
you: 1427 S Chadwick St, 19146
Carolina: I just need to gather some information. First, are you a current Comcast Cable TV customer?
you: No.
Carolina: I'm sorry for the delay. I'll be right with you.
you: ok.
Carolina: I will be right with you.
you: Alright...
Carolina: Comcast
Carolina: High-Speed Internet $33 per month for 6 months
Carolina: Get Comcast High-Speed Internet for $33 per month for 6 months!
Carolina:
Carolina: High-Speed Internet
Carolina: Order today and also get (after mail-in rebate):
Carolina: Get a FREE Motorola ® Cable Modem
Carolina: $100 High-Speed Internet Cash Back
Carolina:
Carolina: This is the plan that I can offer you
you: Well. That's great, but that's not what I asked Carolina.
you: Do you know what I asked?
you: Am I "chatting" with an authentically live person?
Carolina: after we are done with this order, you will need to contact customer service to schedule installation.
Carolina: Let’s go ahead and get you started so you can start enjoying the benefits of high speed internet today! Completing the order with me in this chat will ensure your order be placed accurately, and will actually allow for an easier installation process. Once I complete your order I will give you the instructions to make sure you obtain all the promotions available to you today. May I have your first and last name?
Carolina: Install Phone Number
Carolina: Daytime Contact Phone Number
Carolina: E-mail Address
you: Well, thanks. It took me as long to find it on our website as it did for you to answer my question.
you: I'm already ordering it on your website. Thanks anyways!
Carolina: I can go ahead and complete your order through this chat window. Completing the order with me in this chat will ensure that your order be placed accurately. Once we complete the order I will give you the instructions to make sure you obtain all of the promotions available to you today.
Carolina: ‘I can sign you up, so we can track rebates
you: Are you telling me that I can be sure that my order will be placed accurately on your website?
Carolina: Yes
you: Or rather...can't be sure?
Carolina: We can also track the rebates as well
Carolina: If you sign up on your own we will not have a record of your order confirmation
you: What's the difference between me ordering this from you now and ordering it over your website?
you: So you won't send me an order confirmation over your website?
you: This is bizarre...
Carolina: Yes, you will still receive one but if you ever need the rebates or any information from your order we can track it down through a history chat
you: So you're telling me that this service is unlike the modern technology used by other businesses and that the only way I will be able to ensure that my order is taken and that my rebate has been sent is by ordering through you...right now?
Carolina: NO, you will still be able to get your rebates and your order, but if you ever need to retrieve your actual order we can do it through a history chat
you: Why would I need to retrieve my actual order through history chat? Won't my receipt verify my order?
Carolina: Because most of customers always come back to retrieve dates to fill out the rebate forms and also get the rebates forms again because they lose them or misplace them
Carolina: I can place an online order for you. It's secure and very simple. That way I can make sure that all the information needed to get your order placed is correct, so there are no delays! It takes just a couple of minutes and all information is secure.
you: Wouldn't it be more secure if I didn't share my credit card information? Won't my receipts verify dates? I don't understand why this is a problem for "most of customers." Can you ensure that I am not giving you incorrect information?
Carolina: All I will need from you today to secure this online only promotion is your First and Last Name, Telephone Number and E-mail Address, no payment information is required to get started.
you: While I appreciate the offer, Carolina, I did state earlier that I've already started placing my order through your website...
Carolina: Placing your order with me will also allow for an easier installation process
you: What? That's absurd! How can you make it easier just by having me place the order through you?
Carolina: Thank you for waiting. I'll be with you in just a moment.
Carolina: Is there anything else I can help you with?
you: what about my last question?
Carolina: Because I will provide you with the steps to setup installation
you: Whoa now...you're telling me that I don't get the steps to setup installation unless I order through you???!!!
Carolina: Is there anything else I can help you with?
you: what about my last question?
Carolina: Please call 1-877-220-3549 for any further questions
Carolina: Is there anything else I can help you with?
you: Wait. Why are you asking if there is anything else you can help me with when you just gave a toll free number to call for "further questions?" Is there no sincerity in the processes for business anymore?
Carolina: I will be right with you.
Carolina: I'm sorry for the delay. I'll be right with you.
Carolina: Thank you for waiting. I'll be with you in just a moment.
Carolina: I will be right with you.
you: Tell me lies tell me sweet little lies.
Carolina: Thank you for visiting Comcastoffers.com and allowing me to assist you. Have a great day!
Chat session has been terminated by the site operator.