Quick Math

10 birthday cupcakes divided by 5 co-workers =

The answer is 2. Where and why did you think it would be ok to eat 4? Sure its my birthday and thus the reason there are cupcakes in the kitchen, go ahead and eat both yours 1 of mine and 1 of someone elses.

:( Jeesh

Thanks Ashley for making me cupcakes like a little kid for my birthday!

God sure has a sense of humor

If you notice the date on my Enterprise Rent a Car post you will see that it was Monday 2.18.08. Yesterday (Tuesday 2.19.08) I had to travel to Loveland Colorado for work, which is about an hour north of Denver. I knew that I had to take the Trailblazer

which was not a problem. I slept in to avoid rush hour traffic and took off the ski rack to save gas mileage. It was a nice drive with scenic mountain views and a beautiful 60 degree day. I got to Walgreens with no problem and got in and did the work I needed to do for the upcoming renovation work that I would be providing Construction Documents for. I got back into my car and was debating where to stop for lunch before heading back to Denver. God had other plans for my day. I started the car and the check engine light comes on, which I have grown ignorant of because everytime I drive to the mountains the light comes on as the car doesnt seem like the steep inclines biggest fan! Well normally the light stays on til I am back in Denver but this time... a second light came on and the car completely died. The runtime was about 1-2 minutes. I didnt expect this to happen so I was that idiot that is usally driving a manual for the first time stalling at every stop sign. I looked under the hood and tried to tighten all the connections thinking maybe its just a computer glitch. Then I unhooked the battery for a while and then started the car. Bingo I fixed it! Wrong, what I did was turn off the light for a millisecond. When I didnt see the light I figured I was good and got on a main road to head back home. I called Ashley told her it was fixed and then BAM car died. Not good. Finally I figured there was no way I was getting home in this car and I caved and called GM Roadside Assistance. A tow truck picked me up and took me to the closest Chevrolet dealership. Meanwhile I am sitting next to the driver panically praying that everything be covered by GM as money is tight and there is surely nothing to pay for a huge car bill. Ben my discipler mentioned prayer needs to be specific so God can know your heart and exactly what you wanted. I was making sure he knew I couldnt pay for this! I sat in the waiting room praying constantly that GM would pick up the tab. At that point I didnt care I was an hour away from home or how I was getting home. I was thinking there is no way I can pay for this and still be able to pay our bills. About an hour after sitting in the waiting room the service advisor came over to tell me the computer malfunctioned and everything would be picked up by GM as there is an 8 year warranty on the part. Phew, Thank God!

Phase II. See How God Laughs.

The next thing the service advisor said was your car obviously can not be driven home, so I have set you up with a rent-a-car company that GM will also provide for you. A day after stating I would never use Enterprise again who do you think I was set up with? Enterprise.... Well not to say I wouldnt have rather taken the car from them but I effectively did not give them my service. You see, I was stuck in Loveland and needed to get home, so I was like well its not my money I guess I have no other choice. Well, Enterprise requires a valid drivers liscense.... which I lost mine in September. So Enterprise could not rent to me. Kind of made me happy but an inconvenience none the less. Ashley came up to Loveland to pick me up and we'll have to make the journey with both cars when its finally fixed. But Enterprise wont get paid!

Loveland is about an hour south of Wyoming so Saturday when we are going to get the car we are going to check off another state we've been to. We havent decided what we are going to do but its going to be fun, our ideas include parking 10 feet from Wyoming and having a race to Wyoming, Ice Cream in Cheyenne or we are still looking for a real reason to go.

It was a long day and Im glad it is over, and Im glad it isn't going to cost us!

Update: 2/20/08 Car is complete. Power Terrain Computer Module went bad and I dont owe 1 nickel!

Enterprise NEVER Again!

This is a rant and you dont have to read, I just need to blow off steam.

I hate Enterprise Rent-A-Car and will never again use their service. After fighting with them for 6 months over an issue I feel I did not cause I was charged for it today. I wish I would have been beating this car to death as thats what your "supposed" to do with rentals. I couldnt have been babying this stupid Jetta anymore than I was and coming home from work 1 day the tire just went down. Well apparently this piece of garbage car I had was completely out of alignment and shook all over the place. The thing rode like crap since day 1 and the car was filthy when I picked it up. Thats what happens when you get a car friday 4 minutes before they close. When they contacted me I said how can I be blamed for a car when you didnt even inspect it before you gave it to the next renter? To which the lovely, helpful, understanding lady replied "Sir I wouldnt have accepted a dirty car" Oh yes maam because at 4:56 you were so willing and helpful to give me what other car on the lot that wasnt rented out. Thats right, that sweet Jetta was my only option. And by the way you work for Enterprise genius of course you can be picky. If I wanted a car and didnt want to miss more work over this event then yes I would have stuck it out and waited for a clean car. Next time I will, I will also bring my camera and document the garbage you are giving me. By the way lets all do the math. 2 months of renting a VW JETTA.... Yeah I probably paid 8 months of a car payment if I owned the thing, so when normal maintenance comes up on the cars in your fleet, lets make renters pay for it, a great business model. And also a great way to keep customers coming back. (please add sarcasm)

Fernanda I thank you for spending countless hours and meaningless conversation with me over this issue. I enjoyed talking to you over cold dinners and you making me so angry I shook. You were so comforting by calling me a liar, a destructor and an idiot. Thank you for telling me that if you had to pay for tires for all your cars you would be out of business. Thank you also for being on your toes when the fifth time I told you the same exact story you accused me of changing the story.

Thank you Scott for calling me 5 minutes before Fernanda asking the story and saying thank you for telling us we just wanted to follow up on the car. Thank you Scott for lying to my face, next time dont waste your time being friendly, come out and say we are blaming you and you will be paying.

Thank you Enterprise for providing me a piece of trash car, raping my wallet and then making me pay for someone elses cover up or normal car maintenance, however you want to look at it. I will surely be back to your friendly counters just as soon as I can. And please, keep giving away the free smiles, your customer service is a delight!

Eye Exams and a Visitor

Steve and I went to the eye doctor this weekend, and both got glasses and contacts.  He is -7.5 in each eye, and I am -1.5.  I have been able to tell the last 2 years my eyes getting worse and worse.  Now I am like wow they were really bad!  It took me 45 minutes the first time I put in contacts, 13 minutes the second time, and only 3 minutes the third time.  Maybe by the end of the week I will be able to do it on the first try in about 10 seconds lol.

I also found out yesterday my sister Monica is going to come and visit the 25-29.  I am very very very excited.  This will be the first visit for someone in my family, and I can't wait for her to see my new home!

Ashley

Almost Feel Like A Normal Person

I just wanted to do a quick update on how my doctor's appointment went.  He took my blood pressure about 20 times in a variety of positions (sitting, laying, standing) and decided to take me off of Toprol XL which is a beta blocker.  I have been on this for 4 years, when I was originally diagnosed with POTS.  

Tuesday was my first day not taking it, and I instantly felt about 50% better.  Wednesday I was about 75% better, and today I am probably 95% better.  I almost feel like a normal person!  I have only been dizzy one time today, and that was when I first stood up out of bed.

I also have a heart monitor for a month.  Luckily this time, I don't have to wear electrodes for a month.  The monitor is about the size of a credit card, and is basically a portable Electro Cardiogram machine.  When I feel dizzy, I just press it to the middle of my chest, and it records.  It can hold 6 recordings, and when it is full, I hold it up to the telephone and send it right to the doctor's computer.  So far in 3 days, I have only recorded 4 times.  On my medicine I would have recorded 20+ times a day!

Originally they told me I would grow out of this condition.  I am hoping that my medicine doing the wrong thing means I have grown out of it.  

Thank you for all the prayers and dinners that we have been getting.  We sure do have some great friends!

Ashley

Prayer Request

Please do me a favor and keep Ashley in your prayers. As most of you know Ashley has POTS http://www.dinet.org/pots_an_overview.htm

The last month Ashley has been feeling horrible, she has made it to work about 1 to 2 days a week. The other days of the week she is really lucky to get out of bed or off of the couch. Usually having to lay down to prevent passing out. January and what has been of February has been unusually bad for her. Even when she did make it to work it was quickly followed by the feeling she was going to pass out. It is as if her medicine has had no effect on her whats so ever. She has a cardiologist appointment on the 11th where the dr will again take a guess at what will help her. Please pray for her health, it would be much nicer if this was to just work itself out of her system.

On a side note it would also help us out a lot if she could get back to full health as she is hourly.....

Please keep her in your prayers!