When The Mood Hits Me

You know most of the time when it comes to helping people that come into shop I am always very nice and try to go out of my way to help. However there are times when the mood hits me that I don't feel like putting up with peoples crazy requests. And today is one of the days I feel like that.

The story:

A woman walks into the shop you see she has broken down at the gas station that is right next door. She said her car won't start could someone please come take a look. I said as soon as I get off the phone I will be right over. So I get off the phone and take the "jump pack" over (she had told me it won't turn over) So I thought maybe dead battery. After checking a few things (for free mind you) I came to the conclusion that the starter was "locked up" ie would not turn the motor over. I told her that and told her if she wanted to she could leave it here we would get it moved and look at it later today. In the meantime she is on the phone with the boy friend or husband. And she says to me "He wants you to beat on it with a hammer" Now yes it is true if you have a starter that is going bad and you can get to it to hit it with a hammer while another person cranks the motor it may break loose and start the car. However this is NOT a repair to the issue she is having and also they both were assuming that I would be more then happy to get on my back and get under the car and try to bang in the starter....... AND DO ALL THAT FOR FREE!.

So to her request I replied "No I won't do that you need to get it fixed the right way." I turned and walked away.

My point to all this is a few things damn it! You don't go into a Doctors office and say "just get me going again for now" Also try to get a sit down office visit with your doctor for even 5 min. for FREE! it won't happen! I pay $80 just to go in and have my bp taken every 3 months and to have the doctor come in the room for 30 seconds and say "your ok"

I am sick and tired of people thinking our time in the auto repair industry is free! Its not it cost allot of money and training to even be able to open the doors every day!

In closing I'd like to say spend the money to fix your car right or stop driving! And also its not ok when that check engine light comes on...... Its not just a reminder anymore! You need to get it fixed!

ok I am off my soap box now

Dan

Have a Happy Memorial Day Weekend

I just wanted to take some time to tell everyone reading to have a good Memorial Day Weekend. I have not written much of late we haven't really been that busy at work but it would seem that I have had some busy mornings and there for I don't get time to write much. If i write most of mine takes place in the mornings.

Anyway everyone enjoy your long weekend I know I will

~Dan

A dog's purpose

I got this in an email I thought it was worth posting something to think about don't you think :)

Have a great day
~Dan

A Dog's Purpose (from a 6-year-old)

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old

Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife

Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to

Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the

family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform

the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it

would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure.

They felt as though Shane might learn something from the

experience.

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's

family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog

for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going

on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any

difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after

Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal

lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening

quietly, piped up, "I know why."

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next

stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a

good life - - like loving everybody all the time and being nice,

right?" The Six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how

to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be

pure ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily. (I especially like this one!)

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and

nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

Ubuntu part 2 not easy to set up but worth it

Well as I said in a prior post here I have switched operating systems on my computer from Windows to Ubuntu . I wish I could say things have worked right out of the box with Ubuntu but thats not the case. However after much reading in some Ubuntu forums things are moving right along I am very pleased with how things are working . Of course being the guy I am :) I love toys and gadgets. One thing that I really like about the Ubuntu desktop (picture above) is that cube LOL each side of the cube is another desktop. When you flip or change to another desktop you get the cube as it flips to the other desk top. How cool is that! LOL

Just the little things that make me happy

Where has the respect gone?

In light of my friends blog post here about her son taking off his hat out of respect for the flag. I have to ask this question. Where has the respect for our flag gone. Why would parents NOT instill in their kids the need to respect the flag of this STILL great nation? It sickens me to the point of wanting to hit someone when I see them not taking off their hat at events when the National Anthem is played sang what have you. It is that flag that stands for the freedom we have do these people not respect that?

Of course I also get a bit ticked when I'm eating out some place and I see a guy sit down at the table and eat and not take his hat off. But ah thats another blog and another can of worms.

Everyone have a great day.

~Dan

What is up with the security letters

You know I'm all for the blogger people trying to cut down on spam posts and stuff like that. But please tell me I'm not the only one that has issues with this. If I am I'm going to feel really bad :(

When I post comments on some friends pages..... Sometimes not ALL the time. You know those security letters you have to type in that are all curvy & survey. Well I just tried to post a comment on someones pages and had to retry it like 6 times?????????????????????? I guess I could not read the letters correctly Whats up with that. This is not the first time or the first site this has happened to me on . I always seem to have issues with making out those security letters when posting. Am I just out of it or what?

What was I thinking

So every once in awhile I do something stupid (hush Amy) & (Mom) I made up my mind about two weeks ago to switch to a new computer Operating System called Ubuntu. Ubuntu is a free Open Source Operating System based on the Unix Platform. This software platform has come a long way from its early days. And has become more like Microsoft Windows in the way it looks and feels. And the big selling point is it's FREE to download and install.

However with all that being said I have found the change to be a very daunting task I would not recommend this kind of change for the novice computer user who knows very little about how things work. I am not a computer programmer or an IT person but I have done a good bit of work with network systems and Windows Operating Systems over the years. It is the initial setup that will get you. Ubuntu more then likely will not install and run on your computer right out of the box as they say. And downloading and installing drivers or even finding drivers is not easy as well.

I think though if I can get passed the setup part of it that I will enjoy using an operating system that so far seems to be much more stable then windows and I know that Microsoft's pockets are not getting deeper by buying more of their software.


Hope everyone is having a good day
~dan