Arrrrrgh!

While driving home through Mad City [Madison], we went through construction sites at rush hour. 

I was in the left lane and the car in the right lane splashed us with what I thought was mud. The wipers barely got the mud off with repeated spraying. I just figured I'd run it through the car wash the next day.

Nope. This was liquid concrete and guess what? It doesn't come off! I read up on the different ways to try and get it off. Nothing works and it scratches the finish of the vehicle. 
Nasty Stuff!

So yesterday I stopped at the local body shop and talked to the husband/wife team that ran the place. He said I could scrap it off but ruin the finish on the hood, the door, the front, and the roof of our car. The front bumper and head light would be terribly damaged and messed up. 

His suggestion was to report it to my car insurance.

Now. The car is 5 years old. I love this car. I could take the money and run, have it scraped and deal with the rust and scratches. However.
For now? I will see what the insurance has to say.

Two years ago, I had a groundhog eat my transmission line and my insurance covered that.

At least I can say that I have some really odd claims?

Groundhogs and splashing concrete!

The bent plastic by the fog light was from a parking lot incident. I have no idea how that occurred when I was at the clinic last year... but if that part needs to be replaced, I'll have a two - fer.

Frank, the gent I hired for plowing last winter also farms and has a gravel pit as well as a business that does driveways and whatnot.

He and his worker arrived yesterday morning to see what we wanted done. This shot is of his bulldozer parked in the lower driveway. This section of driveway has no base left and becomes a mud sucking pit each spring. 

I have to park on the ridge or park on the hill and walk with groceries to the house. It would be nice not to have to deal with that next spring. He will dig out the culverts on the hill driveway and level out a place next to the back door for me to park and for vehicles to turn around.

What the driveway looks like during the thaw. View from the house:

These improvements have been needed for a long time. Hubby kept putting it off thinking he'd do it himself. The last time we had any real work done, it was in 2007 and that was on the hill. Nothing has been done to the lower drive since we bought the place.

2007 work:

This is sort of exciting. 

It pays to stay local and seek out someone who you know to do the work. Frank lives close enough to be called a neighbor. We've been neighbors since he was a young man. 

The work that was done in 2007 was from another local friend that has since retired from his work for the county. That was a huge undertaking and has really kept the hill driveway from washing out over the years.

As a bonus, Frank noted that two pines near the house were dying. He commented that he'd just push them down with the bulldozer. I said that was fine too. However I couldn't cut it up. I'd hack off my legs with a chainsaw.

He looked at his co-worker and said that they'd do that and haul it away. They could use the wood for the outdoor wood heater he'd purchased for his shop.

Well now. That seems like a good deal to me!

Oh happy Day!

Yesterday while heading to CrossFit, I saw the Truck sitting outside the DeLap shop full of snow.
At least THAT headache was at the shop and not sitting in my driveway.

I think I am a worry wort...wart? I obsess when things are not going right. I like to have things tidy and in order. The truck upset that apple cart. As did the skid steer when it didn't start.

See? Machines and I don't like each other. But I am learning important things like how to maintain batteries over winter. How to keep the skid steer happy and working. How to keep the 4 wheeler properly running.
With the snowfall and sudden deep freeze, I worried about everything I cannot control.

I tried to get Rich to give me an answer as to whether or not he'd go back to Pulmonary Therapy. He keeps hmmming and hawing and issuing complaints that feel awful similar to a child not wanting to go to school. Meanwhile I have to monitor the new meds that were changed.
And I wonder if his reluctance to go is apathy or is he really having something else going on?


I decided missing CrossFit was not doing me any good so I went. I needed that. I needed to work out. I'd missed it for days while arranging for the truck to be towed and finding a shop I felt I could trust to do the work without ripping me off.

I set a trail cam up on our corner. I've done this before to monitor the traffic and watch animals that like to play on the road in front of our mailboxes. I set it up too for another reason. I'll get into that at another time.
I like trail cams and ordered a new one. My old one is over 5 yrs old and only takes black and white shots now. But still works well.

I like to 'see' what goes on around the farm when I am not looking!

So as the sun went down last night, I did chores. My stomach had given me a large revolt during the afternoon and I was sick as a 'dog'. I think it was my body's way of reacting to being a worry wort and then finally getting a release of that emotion by working out.
I'd slept most of the afternoon.

When I came in from chores, Rich announced that DeLap's had called and the truck was ready.
The little coiled line that went to the rear left brake had split, so it was replaced as well as the one on the right side. They'd checked out the brakes and they were all fine. Everything was good, and I should notice a huge difference now that it had brakes.
Hmmm.
The cost? $187

I'd gone to the one little shop in town where I could speak face to face with the owner. In the past I'd dealt with his father who I didn't care for, but this guy was kind and respectful and told me that no questions regarding a vehicle were stupid and not to feel bad if I didn't understand the workings of a vehicle.

The Truck Saga is over for now and it looks like I'm back in the business of being able to haul feed and...take stuff to the dump or scrap yard!
Doing the happy dance all the way to town this morning.

I am not a mechanic

So with the stall safely done and the mule gals figured out, I moved on to the next project.
Well, actually, today I am not doing much in that department.

I learned how to hook up the 'Trickle Charger' to the skid steer and the 4 wheeler to keep their batteries alive all winter.
My neighbor came down to borrow the fence pounder and he gave me a quick lesson.

He also looked under the Truck. He pointed out to me that the horrors of rust and degradation I was so worried over...were just the dust shields.
WHAT?
I had no idea what that thingy was that I was looking at that looked busted up.
[not my photo...that is a dust shield and it looks funky to me even when it is in good shape. I thought it should have been whole. The ones under our trucks are rusted of course and nasty looking. But pretty much in the shape that this one sort of looks like. But hey, I am NO mechanic.]

I told my neighbor I thought those things would fly off the truck while I was driving it and the whole wheel would fall off. He smiled and said ..."No it won't. They just function to be there and ward off dust...as if that can be done on a gravel road."

He also said that vintage trucks [tongue in cheek with the word vintage] will indeed be rusty underneath. The truck is a 2002. He felt it was worth having it repaired by some experts and perhaps it wasn't as bad as the rust looked. He then showed me some brake things that he had that were nasty rusty looking.

So I'll be talking to a couple of owners of local repair shops hopefully today. I want to do it face to face. And perhaps we can get it arranged to have the truck towed in to their shop.

I've had one person tell me to just put in brake fluid and drive it in. Um. Not an option. I mean what do I do on the highway if the brakes are gone?

I am slowly learning the 'jobs' I always deferred to the husband.

Sigh.
If I can get it fixed, then good. I have a truck to haul feed and bedding for the indoor stall. Also a truck to haul 'stuff' to the dump or to the scrapping place.

Little Happy Dances

Above is a snap of me sitting with Charlie on the porch. There is the little weed whacker that my hubby bought me for my birthday a few years ago.

At that time I wasn't as strong as I am now in my shoulders and arms so it was a chore to use it for any length of time and I was always sore afterwards.

[Yep, I'm giving CrossFit a bit of a nod here. Not only has it helped but my first happy dance of the day was in CrossFit class. I had a PR of 82 lbs in the Back Squat. I know that may mean nothing to most folks but to me it was huge! My first back squats were with a pvc pipe and I actually graduated to a weighted bar. It wasn't until this past few months that I actually added real weights. 
Anyway when I finished my little PR, I did a joyful happy dance and rang the bell.]

Well, I decided it was time to get after those pesky straggles of long grass that Sven couldn't keep under control. So I fired up the Weed Eater and went after the grasses.
Whoops! The little trimmer string wouldn't advance.

Uh oh. I know last year I just asked the boss to help me. So I poked my head in the house and asked Rich, "Do you recall how to do the string 'thingy' on the weed whacker?"
He looked at me and shrugged, "Nope. Sorry."
There was a time that he'd take charge and I'd be the go-fer. I'd get the tools and he'd take care of what needed being done.

Hmm.
I recalled seeing the manual to this Toro Trimmer in the *Manual Drawer*. It is a dresser drawer in the basement that has every manual that ever passed through this property. I rummaged through until I found the Toro Trimmer Manual. I made about 10 trips to the spot where Rich keeps tools [this area will get organized eventually!] and came back with two wrench things that I could work with. The instructions were nearly as clear as mud.
So I looked at the pictures and followed them, but was stumped when I couldn't get the bump nob off.

So I used my Smarty Phone to look up similar issues. How odd. A Yahoo Question and Answer discussion came up with the solution. The manual said to turn the bump knob counter clockwise [Lefty Loosey], the discussion said that was wrong. Clockwise.

And they were right!

I followed the suggestions to clean the spring the knobby thing, and all the other parts. While I was at it I cleaned up the shield and dabbed a bit of oil on the other suggested parts.
Then I proceeded to follow the written instructions on how to re-string the trimmer and put it back together.
I started it and went at the weeds. Imagine a sort little happy dance while whacking down long grass, thistles, and burdock. Giddy again.

Success! I set it down after I was finished and went to put the manual away. On the very next page it had some instructions on how to clean an air filter. Oh, I don't ever recall having that cleaned.

Looks like I have some more work to do.

I never imagined I'd be happy over being able to just string a little trimmer.

Customer Service where has it gone?

Since Rich has had his stroke, I've had to take his 2003 Diesel Pickup in twice for work.
Last year it was new brakes which were badly needed along with fixing a radiator hose.
The cost was pretty steep and the dealer that did the work delayed and delayed and gave excuses for nearly 12 days.
Begrudgingly I called the same place back to have Rich's truck get an inspection and they said it ran fine [good!] however the ABS sensors were not working.

Um. Okay. Quoted price for replacement. $350. Okay get 'er done!
My appointment was on the 21st. They said they'd have the parts on the 22nd.
They did.

On the 30th I stopped in to ask the status of the vehicle. The helpful/not helpful customer service guy sort of tried to avoid my question by saying that he had multiple tasks to do before he could check on my truck.

I leaned against his desk and said. "Fine. I will wait."

"He will get working on it today..." Customer Service Guy said finally.
I blinked.

On the 4th of September I walked in again. Customer Service Guy tried to avoid my eye. I crossed my arms and didn't say a word.
"He'll look at it today and ..."

I interrupted. "I need the truck you've had it since August 21st. I need to go get hay with it."

"Um. Um. Let me go check." He checks. He comes back and promises it will be done Thursday afternoon.
I don't hold my breath, but Thursday afternoon, the phone rings.

Customer Service Dude. "Um, we went to remove the ABS sensors and they are frozen to the hubs and so the hubs have to be replaced and they are ... $938."
So now the truck is finally getting worked on and they are finally finding another problem...

He continues to go on, "...and this sort of thing happens to older vehicles...."
I squint and start adding the figures in my head. And of course I am caught. The truck is now in pieces and they can put it back to gether for a mere...what???
$1,500?

He goes on again.."I promise it will be done by 10 am on Friday."

10 am Friday morning I am dropped off and walk into the service area.
Customer Service Dude looks harried and worried. I stand and stare at him. I am no longer the patient lady. I can see that my truck keys are not on the board.

"It isn't done," he says.
"We can deliver it to you." He offers.

I stare at him and reply, "Nice but the truck is my ride home. I got a ride here to pick up the truck." I must be a sight. An older lady with purple and teal streaks in her hair wearing a bright orange sweatshirt and jeans with work boots. Arms crossed.

Customer Service Dude seems to get a bit flustered.

"You know Chad..." that is the guy's name..."this is the second time in two years that your service people have made up excuses not to work on my truck. From now on I'll take it somewhere where they would like my business.

I could call my friend that dropped me off but I won't. Dude hands me the keys to a loaner which I know they don't like to do. It is a Cruze and not a truck.
I walk away stiff legged and furious.

When I get home I tell Rich we are going to the Carriage Show in Prairie du Chein for the day.
As we leave my cell phone rings.

"Your truck is ready."
I reply that I'll be there this evening or in the morning.
At least this morning I can drive the loaner in and not have to bother someone for a ride.

But this will be the last time these folks work on my truck.

I walked in this morning and looked at Customer Service Dude. He smiles broadly and tells me the paperwork and keys are 'up front'.
I can see him sigh deeply as I walk away to the service payment desk.

I ask the lady behind the counter to explain to me what the 'inspection' is I paid for. I'd asked for it and that is how they discovered the ABS sensors were not working properly. However they had missed many notable things.
Obvious things that I'd wanted taken care of. Back up light, tail light...wipers, I smiled and said these things I would have gladly paid for because my husband was in the hospital.
But now I will find a friend to help me take care of it.

She blinked.
"We are a bit short staffed," she offered.

"I won't come back here. I became spoiled by my Subaru dealer who makes an unpleasant job of getting your vehicle fixed rather pleasant by taking care of it and letting you know what is going on, how long it will take. When you write out the check for new tires you feel good about it." I smile at her. "And then they call you the next day to see how everything is going."

I begin to write out the check...and say...
"Here I feel like my truck was not worth anyone's time and no one really cared. Customer Service is going to make or break this place. And as far as I am concerned, it is not someplace I will return to. I'll drive 45 miles one way next time to take it to a place that may cost me more, but the service will be much better."

She took my name and phone number and said she'd have someone call me. I smiled.
No, no one would call.

The truck isn't noticeably any better, the brakes don't really feel different.
I'm pretty sure I got 'taken'.

However I won't be back, I will keep my promise on that.

Where has customer service gone to?

If Subaru made heavy duty trucks......
well...
sigh.