It doesn’t take much to amuse old people, for the most part old folks don’t get out much and don’t mingle a lot. Yesterday was a good example.
The Fourscores’ driver’s licenses were about to expire and we decided to go to the government office and pay our respects. Ordinarily visiting the government is rather traumatic and nerve wracking. The day started out really well, Mrs F was ready to leave at the appointed hour, the weather was a great spring day and the 45-minute drive was interesting. We saw vultures that had just returned from the south, eating on leftover venison, seagulls back from their Texas vacation were begging in the fast food parking lots and a couple of bald eagles circling, as we drove the 30 miles.
The plan was to take care of the license business first, shop Fleet-Farm which was nearby, then Walmart. Since today is Mrs F’s birthday we’d hit a sit down restaurant and then head for home.
We arrived at the License Bureau at the right time, and the parking lot was almost empty. As we pulled in there was some strange noise and a clunk from the right front wheel area. We went in, there was no one waiting, 5 clerks busy but no one in the ondeck circle except us. Wowee! We passed the required eye test that had had us concerned, got the mug shots of two classy seniors done and out of here, total 15 minutes and 2 × $41 later we headed out the door, ready to terrorize the other drivers for four more years.
Headed to Fleet-Farm and the strange noise re-appeared as we parked, it did not sound good. A few minutes shopping and Walmart here we come. Going into the parking lot at Walmart we paid attention to the noise and steering wheel clunk and decided to park away from the other cars. We sat for a few minutes, discussing what our options were and decided that we needed the help of Henry Ford’s folks. I was reluctant to drive over there, not knowing what the problem with the front wheel was. We decided that since we had Road Service Insurance from USAA now was the time to use it.
We dug around through the glove box, pocket book and billfold and finally found the card with the phone number. Hoo boy, now it has begun to get exciting. I’m a geezer with a telephone way smarter than I needed. After much time and vocabulary enhancement I was able to get the number dialed and got a new friend in India. India? India? What’s up with that?
We discussed things and he said my policy didn’t include Roadside Assistance. I’m trying to explain to a guy in India that I’m in a Walmart parking lot and need a tow truck. I insisted that my insurance did indeed cover this and after a couple minutes and some elevator music was transferred to his Gal Friday. Her accent was very heavy, though I’m assuming she was speaking English, but since I couldn’t understand her at all I can’t be sure. I asked for another person, she said she was unable to do that but then transferred my call. More elevator music, then:
“Due to the heavy traffic our representatives are all busy. Estimated wait time is 9 hours (yes, 9 hours). Please stay on the line and your call will be taken as soon as possible”. More elevator music:
By the time my expanded vocabulary had started through the second time (just a few seconds) ring, ring and another woman but with less of an accent was available. I repeated my account number, name, etc several times. Finally she said, “This is the Allstate Help Desk.” I was not pleased, I had spent 20 minutes on the phone.
Now we’re back to square one. We discussed things, Mrs F and I, and decided we would go into Walmart Service Desk, call a local wrecker service and get towed to the Ford place. Walmart Service Desk said the parking lot was not their problem. I asked for a phone book, they didn’t have one.
Finally a Good Samaritan Walmart employee (on company time) got her own phone out and pulled two wrecker service numbers up and gave them to me. We bought two hoagies and went back to the truck to call a wrecker. First guy up,
“Yep, we can do that, we’re a couple minutes away, I’ll go get a driver, what kind of vehicle you drivin’?”
Towed us into Ford, 2 miles away, the Ford greeter was someone I knew from previous visits. He said they’d quickly take a look at it, make a diagnosis and if they had time they would start to work. In the meantime he showed me where the employee break room was so I could microwave the hoagies. We had Mrs F’s birthday lunch in the waiting room at the Ford place.
Two hours later the greeter brought my bill, and $1000 lighter we were back on the road with a brand new right front wheel hub. We didn’t go back to Walmart, we headed back home, worn out.
The only good news was this morning I was able to email USAA and they picked up the tow tab of $117 with no questions asked. It took about 3 minutes.
My smarty pants phone is not too valuable a tool, I rarely use it (who am I going to call?), I’ll be trading it in for something easier and cheaper to use. I’ve had enough amusement to last for a while.
That’s a nice license picture. I always thought you’d have dark hair.
Isn’t Fourscore a MN native? I figured he looked like that but taller and holding lutefisk in one hand.
Mmmm… Lutefisk. You think he has a special room to go eat the lutefisk? My dad had to go eat it outside. That and sardines on peanut butter.
Nah, my hair is very light color, even lighter than the picture.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RquXLETaciM
This was well known to those in industry, but you as a non-com can get in on that class action gravy!
https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/usaa-members-sue-insurer-alleging-deceived-19441343.php
Yeah, not sure why that’s a surprise or an issue at all. It’s not even exclusive to USAA, lots of insurance companies have multiple companies set up that they put you in, based on various risk criteria.
What? No birthday sex?
What do you think was happening in that two hours? He probably should have added “yadda yadda yadda”.
You’re a funny guy, Sean.
Love your writing Mr. Score! Reminds me of Mike Rowe, or Peggy Rowe even moreso.
Will read and comment when the weather here stops being… interesting. (Not immediate vicinity yet – to the north and west.) Cheers!
I know someone near you who can keep you warm and safe.
Well, TT and/or the two cats, I suppose
Hey Mr Score – $1000 eesh… I remember spending a third of that on whole car when I was a yute. sorry you missed your sit-down birthday meal.
How’s your hip doing from this morning/overnight?
I was within minutes of calling 911. I called a friend who volunteered to take the Missus to airport tomorrow so that was a relief. I pondered my choices. If I go to the hospital I’ll get X-rays. Since I don’t think anything is broken they’d send me to the attached nursing home probably. Since I didn’t have the airport trip I could wait awhile. After a few hours of sitting/sleeping in the recliner next to a warm stove it seemed like there was less pain. I used a walker all day , seemed like the pain was going away.
Anyway tonight the pain is almost all gone. I had worked over the week end, putting out bees on Saturday, then tilling Sunday and doing a lot of walking yesterday shopping. My guess it was a pulled muscle between the hip and lower back and just needed some rest. Anyway, thanks for all those that were concerned, I think that helped too. I’m taking tomorrow off and rest.
Oh yeah, my first car was a ’39 Ford, 85 bucks, I worked all summer at .50 an hour.
I just figured this was how you threw your hip out.
Are you saying he’s a real hipster?
With those long flowing golden locks, I figured he was a hippy.
AAA isn’t any better Fourscore. I had a front tire blowout on a major highway about 30 miles from home. Had daughter 2 with me. Called AAA about 11:30 pm. I waited nearly an hour and a half before they told me the tow truck they dispatched wasn’t coming for reasons. They were looking for another one and would get back to me. I called a private company. Paid $300+ to get home. AAA called me about 6:30 am asking if I still needed a tow.
USAA emailed the next day, asked if I still needed a wrecker. I have the wrecker # in my phone now.
AAA has been nothing but good to me. Out in the middle of nowhere South Dakota on Sunday July 3, to tow us 65 miles back to Sioux Falls, no charge.
That premium pays for itself every year, even if we didn’t use it that year.
I felt exactly the same way until my bad experience last year. Now, I’m not so sure.
When I was young I wanted a life of adventure.
Fuck that. It didn’t take long for me to get my fill of tears and empty wallets. Sorry about your day being ruined….well Mrs. F’s day really.
It’s bad karma going on lately Fourscore. Today I learned that my 8yo grand daughter was at a play gym on a rock wall and her harness broke. She free fell 20 feet and landed flat on her back. She is sore as hell but no injuries.
Yesterday we learned that a young man that spent half of his childhood at our house, now a grown man of 40, married with two children shot himself. He found out his wife had been stepping out on him for some time. He was fragile and just didn’t know how to handle it. Depression is a serious illness.
My neighbor told me an hour ago that his daughter in law’s 4 yo son…not his grandson…a child of the daughter in law before she married into the family, was in a car in Dallas that ventured into some flood waters was swept away and drown. His son is in jail and begging for money get out and to pay property taxes.
Shall I go on? I wish the mean-ass bitch Mother Nature would give some indication that a spell like this is on the way so I could just stay in bed.
I bought my one and only acoustic guitar at a pawn shop in Brainerd (assuming [pretty sure] that’s where your expedition was) at age 18. Thirty-five years later, I have only learned to play the intro to “More Than Words”.
Extreme – More Than Words
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrIiLvg58SY&ab_channel=ExtremeVEVO
::melts::
Ugh, that song is basically the equivalent of the “If you really loved me we’d bang” tactic nearly every guy used in high school.
Celtics 120, Cavs 95. Three more games just like that will make me happy.
I’ve coordinated to rent a cow-orker’s 10k lb. trailer. Satdee, I’m going to pick up a John Deere 2010 gas engine tractor near the Twin Cities. It comes with a loader, a bucket, forklift tines, a back blade, and tire chains.
I’m stoked.
/what’s happening down on pistoffnick’s farm
Wow! You’re really into the farming/rural life style.
/Throws a blue tarp over the Farmall Cub
It’s funny. I couldn’t wait to get off the farm. I basically ran away at 18. “Why am I working this hard for only room and board?”
Now that it is my own – I’m more into it.
This tractor has enough power to pull stumps to make pasture. With the right auger, it will allow me to fence that pasture. The loader will help when I butcher the pasture fed pigs.
It’s more fun when you don’t have to depend on it to make a living
^^ this.
It’s all fun and games when i have a walmart a short drive away and enough cash in the bank to shop there. I’d be an anxiety ridden wreck if I had to support my family using my farming skills.
Frogs croaking and a distant light show with muted rolls of thunder? Why I moved here
Hello neighbor
One dog plays the brave protector, the other the cowardly lion. We sat for a good spell on the deck just watching the sky. Hard raindrops just started
Thank you for this! I’m sorry about the downfall of a lovely meal for Mrs. F’s birthday. Compounded with the rest, I’m glad y’all soldiered through despite the parking lot delay and On Hold Hell. (I hate the fuckers asking me the same damn question. Over. And. Over…) Smart Phones are ever-so-ever-so useful. They *are* so damn handy. (That’s how they getcha.) I fear humans are biologically not hardwired to deal with the constant input they provide. It’s all magical…until it isn’t.
At least I can change a tire! (I’m fairly useless when fixin’ stuff.)
I heard about your hip. Thank goodness nothing’s broken and glad it’s feeling better. Leg injuries suck. *fist-bump from afar in age and distance* Proper.
I was betting on a caliper bracket bolt backing out. I wish I had been right, that’s cheaper than a new hub.
He actually looks like that drivers license.
Replacing bearings/hubs in the land of road salt is not for the faint of heart.
Hold the phone…its Tundra! Hope all is well.
Yeah, ditto.
I aspire to be as intrepid a geezer as 4X one day.
You know why we can do a few things around the house and get along with our fellow man without running to Mommy or HR? (Clears throat, adjust onion on belt) Because we played with lawn darts, dammit!
Mahalo for the article! I have taxed it and already shared it several people.
By 8 if you weren’t riding your bike to school you were a pussy. As a result there were hundreds of bikes in the school’s bike racks. At 10 I was doing 50-mile solo bicycle rides. By 12 I was hunting and by 13 hunting big game with my dad or the fathers of friends. At 16 I learned to rock climb and there wasn’t a parent anywhere near. At 17 a buddy and I took the Greyhound from Tucson to Yosemite to climb for a month. Except for the rock climbing bit I was just an average AZ teen. My peers had their own risky things to do like motorcycling or horse backing in the desert. Teen only trips in Sabino/Bear Canyons, Mt Lemmon, or the Rincons. “Boondocker” parties in the desert with bonfires and kegs of cheap beer were common and accepted with different HS’s having their own destinations.
Today my kids are raising my grandkids in Euroland where freedom for the youth is more accepted than here. (Is there a more depressing sentence on the state of America?) But even there it is more confined than the US in the 1970s. The author is correct. Kids need freedom to learn how to be independent and part of society and we have let the hyper scared mommies (primarily if not exclusively) define child rearing for society. That is fucked up man.
You also didn’t have video games and social media. No effort, just dopamine…
But how often did you elect to receive?
Ni hao!
😁☕
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=an0VNmQrO0k
Such a good song, though I hate videos with long intros.
🎶🎶
🚁
.
.
🤸♂️
Morning.
*waves*
Good morning, Sean and U!
Morning.
How are you so far today?
I woke up 11 minutes past the time of my second alarm realizing I either never set them or turned them off in a groggy state and it never registered. Still, that was plenty of time for a leasurly morning routine that got me to the store just as they were unlocking their doors, and to the office in minimal traffic. The rain didn’t start in earnest until I was on the highway, and work has a covered garage, so I didn’t need my umbrella – which I had with me just in case anyway. I am now at my desk, wating my breakfast salad, trying to ignore work for another nine minutes.
That’s an encouraging start! I hope the rest of the day proceeds as smoothly! 🙂👍
🤞
How’s your morning going?
Well, thanks! My boss will be working from home today (he prefers in office, but does the WFH once a week, to make sure he can.) I have less than five minutes left of last month’s Board meeting to listen to and turn into minutes, then wrap up the last few month-end reports. Weather permitting, I’ll go shopping to restock the break room with snacks. Should be fairly low stress! ::knocks wood carefully:: 🤞
😀👍
So sorry about your pricey repair bill, 4(20), but that’s the sort of day I make a point of characterizing as an “adventure.” Hope your next one is more fun! (And belated Happy Birthday to Mrs. F!)
You should’ve picked up one of those new $80,000 F-150s while you were there. It’s only money after all and you get heated leather seats AND a subwoofer.
Subwoofer – a dog which didn’t measure up to par.
And don’t worry about the payments! They’ll let you finance it for…what? Ten years now?
::imagines 4(20) cruising in to town with the bass thumping, setting nearby vehicles to vibrating::
Truck buyers really have lost their minds. I assume they’re business owners who buy those things and get to write off the depreciation?
I don’t know that that’s necessarily the case. Not quite ten years ago, I was processing insurance payoffs at the credit union for a while. I seem to recall one case where a young guy totaled his brand new pickup truck within a couple of days after he bought it. I believe there was some question as to whether his insurance company had started the coverage yet… 🙄
You don’t live in a rural area do you?
Mrs F took a tour of the show room while we waited, she came back breathless.
“They have an SUV over there priced at 90,000″
I said,”Yep, plus tax and transportation, total over a 100”
At least I would be able to hear the subwoofer.
ooo… 🌩🌧⛈
I probably should have closed my windows at the house…
😟
Ruh roh? Is it windy?
I have no idea.
My windows swing out – I love that feature. I never have to close them in the rain, like during the T-storm that woke me up around 4am.
I have to assume you have central air, as it sounds like those would be a nightmare to fit a window AC into.
I do! Another new feature for me.
The downside is the panes don’t open as much as I would like. I do prefer fresh air. And I don’t have the cross breeze I used to 🙁
Yeah, the upside of classic double hung windows is the amount of control over just how open it is and open means open.
suh’ fam
whats goody
Good morning, homey! I assume you’re still up in the wrong corner of the state? If so, you missed some weather excitement last night. Looks as if the Greenville area got the worst of it. (No injuries or fatalities AFAIK.) No damage I’ve heard about in our fair county.
I saw that. According to Jugsy the Palatial 2X-Wide is still standing, and none of the Bumpass hounds blew away.
I’m headed over by Youngstown for a test today.
TALL STACKS!
Good morning all!
I feel the whole truck thing. Just this past weekend the dealership got me for $1800 for a new power inverter and a taillight assembly. The money wasn’t even the rough part, it was the seven hours of waiting around the dealership for what I was told should have been a 90-minute job.
But I have onboard power and a valid inspection sticker again, so that’s cool.
What do you need the inverter for?
My suv has one and I’ve yet to plug anything into it.
I use mine to charge laptop batteries.
It’d be easier if I had an adapter I could plug into either 12v or 5v rails from the center console. (Cigarette lighter and USB port)
That was a gripping tale, Fourscore. Glad for you that the problem got fixed, unhappy for you that it cost so much.
My computer died yesterday, that was my old guy indignity with modern life. New computer now up and running, next to restore my last saved data (which wasn’t as recent as it should’ve been).