Long Weekends

Posted on August 6, 2012 by kdarcy21

It is the Civic Holiday long weekend this weekend, today is a day off.  Well, for some people it is a day off anyway.  Things are a bit different in Alberta then they are in Ontario.

Malls and stores are open today so, unfortunately, those people have to work.  I hope that they get some sort of “premium” for working today, not sure though.

Anyway, I haven’t done much this long weekend.  I’ve gone out a couple of times, did some shopping, walked the dogs but in general, took it easy and relaxed.

No real plans for today, it is still early though.

Hope you enjoy your day off today if you have one.  🙂

 

Posted in Personal | 1 Comment

My Jeep – the next Saga

Posted on August 5, 2012 by kdarcy21

I finally got a hold of someone at Customer Relations at Chrysler.  He was friendly enough, answered some of my questions and directed some others back to the service manager at Eastside Chrysler.  I will NOT speak with that man again, he’s arrogant and I don’t think he has any idea of what customer service is.  So, I got the name and number of the general manager and will be speaking with him.

So, not too surprised that Chrysler has said that they will not honour the warranty as it isn’t a manufacturers issue, it is my fault.

The next step I guess is going through CANVAP (http://www.canvap.ca) who is an independent organization that offers binding arbitration.  It is free which is good.  I may or may not win – guess time will tell.  I have to do some research for when I have my hearing.

In the meantime, it has been suggested that I pay for the repair myself as this process could take some time to resolve.  So, I will be in contact with the bank on Tuesday to see if I can pay out my loan on the vehicle and take out an extra ten grand or so to pay for the repair.

I do know a mechanic in Calgary and I am going to ask for some advice from him.  I am not sure if I should look for a used engine or just go with new.  I am a little apprehensive of getting a used engine.  I suppose though, it was a used vehicle to start with…  If I could find a Jeep that was totalled from the back, maybe I can save some bucks.

At any rate, I hope to have my Jeep back by the end of the month – I think that’s reasonable.  Please, wish me some luck with the arbitration process – I need some…

Posted in Vehicles | 2 Comments

End of the season

Posted on August 4, 2012 by kdarcy21

I was off yesterday at noon.  A good end to the week which went by pretty quickly.  I will be going to Grande Prairie every 3 months or so.  Zeus and Blondie apparently enjoyed themselves at the “resort” I took them to.  I am glad that they did since I will need to use it in the future. They were pretty tired on Thursday night and much of the same on Friday too.

I went to the Okotoks Dawgs game last evening with ER. It was a pretty good game, ended in extra innings. It looked  like the Dawgs were going to get blown out but they pulled even in the 7th – it ended in the 11th inning (or was it the 12th).  Both teams had bases loaded and pitched out of some good jams.  The Dawgs did not have a good last month for sure, they had a string of about 10 or 11 wins in a row and then lost that many in a row.  Oh well – it was a pretty good season and was enjoyable to watch.

No real plans this weekend.  Still no vehicle so it is tough to really go anywhere.  I finally got a hold of customer relations on Friday – no change there and I didn’t expect one.  It will be going to binding arbitration.  I am hoping that they will see my side of things but, it the worst case comes true and I don’t get any coverage, I guess I will be seeing if I can borrow the money to purchase a new engine. I should be able to get the loan since I will use my RRSP to back it.  It will suck though.

Enjoy your long weekend.

Posted in Personal, Vehicles, Work, Zeus, Blondie, Hera and Twix | Leave a comment

A good week in Grande Prairie

Posted on August 2, 2012 by kdarcy21

Well, returned home from Grande Prairie this evening.  The flight was slightly delayed, boarding was 15 minutes late or so.  The GP airport is pretty small.  In the hour that I was there waiting to board, one twin prop took off and I saw two small planes land – oh, an a helicopter as well.

So, we boarded about and took off pretty quickly.  This time, I left my laptop bag on the floor in front of me so I was able to read on my iPad on the trip.

We had a little turbulence, nothing too bad.  We landed exactly when they said we should and then 20 minutes later or so, I was in a taxi speeding home.

ER picked up Zeus and Blondie and they were sleeping in the back of her car when I arrived.  They were happy to see me, I think, but nothing like I thought – I figured they would go nuts.

Anyway, the “dog resort” said that they enjoyed themselves and Zeus even made friends with all of the other dogs which is awesome.  I will use them again when I head to Ontario in September – I am sure that will be here before I know it.

Speaking of Zeus, tomorrow is his birthday, or at least it is the anniversary of when I adopted him.  It is 6 years since I got him – it’s been a good 6 years.  Since I do consider it his birthday, I am saying that he’s 8 years old.

Happy birthday Little Buddy !!!

Posted in Personal, Work, Zeus, Blondie, Hera and Twix | Leave a comment

41, here I come…

Posted on August 1, 2012 by kdarcy21

I will be 41 one week from today.  Let’s look back at 40.

Well, I left my job of 10.5 years just before I turned 40, what, 2 weeks before I guess.  So, all in all, that didn’t start well.  I didn’t find another job for 9 months.  Wow.

In looking back, leaving was the best decision that I ever made.  It is nice working somewhere where you are actually appreciated.

I moved from my home town while I was 40.  Forty years in pretty much the same place, seems like a long time.  Nothing against St. Catharines, it is and always will be my home town, but I don’t really miss you all that much.  Awful summer humidity is the main reason – I really hate the hot and humid weather.  Of course, as I have mentioned, we don’t get much humidity in Calgary and when we do, it isn’t the intense crap that they suffer through in Southern Ontario.  I am loving Calgary and hope to be here for years to come.  I guess I will see what the winter will bring, it’s only a few months off now.  Well, I can always throw on more clothing, but, for some reason, when I walk around naked, people complain.  Actually, I can’t say that I blame them.

My Jeep also died while I was 40 – still dead actually.  I am hoping to get it fixed soon.  I am still fighting with Chrysler on it, hope to win that battle.

That brings me pretty well up to date.  So, looking back, 40 had its highs and lows.  I am sure that 41 will be a much better year.  Here’s to another 40 !!!  🙂

 

Posted in Personal, Vehicles, Work | Leave a comment

Grande Prairie

Posted on July 31, 2012 by kdarcy21

I woke up this morning at 03:30.  Fairly early, yes.  I had my alarm set for 04:00, but, I guess I was sort of excited.  I had not been on a plane since about 1992 when I flew to California.

So, up I was and had the house to myself.  This is the first time that I haven’t had to tend to my dogs in, well, a while.  I mean it was only last July that I was away at a baseball tournament and my brother in law looked after them, but once you are used to doing something on a daily basis, it becomes routine and I missed it.  I do miss both dogs, even though they sometimes drive me nuts, I guess I like being driven nuts – we all know, I drive my friends nuts (on occasion)…

Anyway, I had arranged for a cab to pick me up @ 05:00.  Now, the last time I did that, it was for BP when he was heading home and the taxi was 25 minutes late.  Needless to say, I did not use the same company this time around.  At 04:55, I decided to go outside and wait and low and behold, the taxi was there waiting for me – nice.

Off to the airport, tried to do the electronic boarding pass and for some reason, it would not open on my phone.  The message that kept coming up said something along the lines of “Please open this message from a mobile device”.  OK, I do have a mobile device – it’s a big phone, but it’s still a phone.

So, I went back and printed a boarding pass – great, now I can proceed past security.  Went through the “scan” area, no issues.  Had to wait to board and then boarding was delayed, who knows why.  The walk to the plane was rather long – it was a dual prop plane, sort of cool, never flown on one of those before.  Anyway, we boarded and left on time.  The noise was incredible, eventually I got used to it – I was sitting in the 2nd row though and the prop was right outside my window.

We landed at 08:35, right on time and off to the office I went.

All in all, not a bad day of travel.  I guess I will be doing this every 2-3 months so this will sort of be my second home.

I am looking forward to getting back to Calgary on Thursday.  ER is going to pick up Zeus and Blondie for me as I doubt that I will make it from the airport to where they are staying before 18:30.

Have a good week.  🙂

 

Posted in Personal, Work, Zeus, Blondie, Hera and Twix | Leave a comment

Pet Resort Time

Posted on July 30, 2012 by kdarcy21

Sometime this afternoon, I will be dropping Zeus and Blondie off at a “Pet Resort”.  I am not sure how they will take that, neither have been left with “strangers” before.

I have had Zeus since August of 2006.  Since then, I have left him with T for a weekend, right after I got him, the next summer with two friends at my trailer while I was in PA for a week and then both of them with DB last summer when I went to a ball tournament for a weekend.  Other than that, I bring them with me.

Well, this week, I don’t think that would work all that well.  I have no interest in packing them in crates and flying them anywhere.  An arrangement that I had to have someone look after them at home fell through, so, destination Pet Resort.

I am sure Blondie will be fine.  She loves everyone, even if they don’t necessarily love them back.  Zeus is a little more temperamental I guess I’d say.  He likes people, well, maybe not likes, but he tolerates them at least.  Dogs, on the other hand, he really doesn’t care for a whole lot.  Dogs his size and down he’s ok with and blonde dogs he’s ok with.  Others, well, typically he doesn’t care for them.  There have been exceptions – sometimes he doesn’t like little dogs and he’s gotten along fine with some bigger dogs.  Who knows what goes through that skull of his.

Anyway, I am sure that the staff will quickly realize that what I tell them is true and they will handle him appropriately.

To tell you the truth, I am actually looking forward to some time off from dog ownership.  I am sure that I will miss them, but it’ll be a nice few days.  That sounds mean I am sure.  But, for parents who’s kid goes to a 2 day camping trip, isn’t it sort of nice not having “junior” around?  LOL

Well, hopefully the dogs adjust ok.  At least they will have each others company and I am sure that I will have two VERY happy dogs when I go to pick them up.

Posted in Zeus, Blondie, Hera and Twix | Leave a comment

An interesting July

Posted on July 29, 2012 by kdarcy21

Well, the last two July’s have been interesting.

Last July, I left my job after 10.5 years and ended up being without a job for 9 months.  This July, I had one ex-roommate break into my place and he was arrested and the other made a choice to move out.  BP visited from Ontario and my Jeep died.

Hmmm – perhaps July isn’t my best month…  Well, August is right around the corner.

I am off tomorrow (Monday), the last day of my 3 day weekend.  I am going to check Zeus and Blondie into a Pet Resort so that I can head to Grande Prairie for a few days for work.  Should be an interesting week.

I have not flown since my trip to California which was in 1992 (I think) so that will be interesting.  I am departing Calgary at 7am on Tuesday morning so I am heading to the airport at 5am via taxi.  I get back shortly after 5pm on Thursday and will rush to pick up the dogs before they close.

Next weekend is another long weekend as Monday is the Civic Holiday.  I guess it’ll be the middle of August before I have to work a full week – not a bad deal at all.

Posted in Personal, Work, Zeus, Blondie, Hera and Twix | Leave a comment

Three day weekends

Posted on July 28, 2012 by kdarcy21

I am on a three day weekend.  Gotta love that, for sure.  I really don’t have any plans this weekend, going to take it easy I suppose.

I head to Grand Prairie on Tuesday morning, early Tuesday morning.  I will be getting a taxi at about 5AM, the flight leaves @ 7AM.  It is going to be a busy few days up there, that’s for sure.  Well, the days will zip by FAST in that case.

Watched the opening ceremonies of the Summer Games last night – was pretty good.  I am not a huge fan of Brian Williams who is one of the hosts.  I have never liked him.  The other host is Lisa LaFlamme who hosts the CTV evening news – I do like her.  Anyway, he always seems to make stupid comments, speaks very freely which is respectable.  He made some comments about it being the 40th anniversary of the killing of athletes at the Munich Games and that the Olympic Committee wouldn’t have a minute of silence – well Brian, you know what, it’s their decision so shut up.

I hope that Canada does well.  I do enjoy the summer games but no where as much as the winter games.  Hopefully we will get a good haul of medals.

 

Posted in Personal, Work | Leave a comment

Considering the options…

Posted on July 25, 2012 by kdarcy21

So, I will be waiting for a bit anyway to see if the repair for the Jeep will be on my tab or Chrysler’s tab.  I suppose it’s a situation of prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

Gotta love the reaction of some people to this entire situation.  It is almost as if they enjoy the fact that my Jeep is screwed and I may be on the hook for a rather large bill.  Oh well, if that brings them some sort of pleasure then so be it.

Anyway, I have been thinking about my options if it turns out that I lose an arbitration case and they decide that Chrysler has no part in paying for anything.

Should that occur, what do I do with my Jeep?  Do I have $9500 sitting around, burning a hole in my pocket?  No, I don’t.  Most people don’t.

So, as I see it right now, there are a few options:

1 – Borrow an additional $9500 and add it to the loan that I currently have for the Jeep.  That will likely add 2 years or so onto my payments.  Not an entirely bad option really, presuming that I can extend the financing.

2 – Default on the loan and let the bank take back the Jeep. Not a great option by any means.  It would definitely hurt my credit rating and they might try to sue me – not sure on that one but likely.

3 – Save up $9500 to pay for the repair. Bad option as well.  It might take me as long as 2 years to save that kind of coin and I cannot imagine the condition of the Jeep from sitting outside for 2 years without being driven.

So, forgetting about the options there, do I move closer to work and live downtown?  I can leave my current place and stay with the same management company and NOT pay any penalty.  Pretty good actually.  I wouldn’t mind living downtown and being able to walk to work would save me tons of money.

Lots of things to think about, in the back of my mind really.  I don’t worry about such things, no idea how long this will take to play out.

On another front, I received a call from Big Brothers this afternoon and they think they’ve matched me.  Tentatively going to a meeting on Monday night before I head off to Grand Prairie for work.

Posted in Personal, Vehicles | Leave a comment