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Amidst all the problems in life, there always seems to be someone you can do business with that will make you feel good when you walk in the door because you will get an honest deal and will be taken care of if you have any problems.

Appomattox River Company is that kind of place, and the manager Vic is that kind of person.

The folks at Appomattox River Company are always pleasant and helpful. The manager Vic has patiently answered the piles of questions that a person like me always asks. The last boat I bought from Vic had a leak. Not to fear though. Vic found the hole, contacted Hobie, and they quickly sent out a replacement boat. Kudos to Hobie as well for making an outstanding product and standing behind it.

Thanks again for the great service!

Oh, and if you are looking for a great kayak and great people, stop by Appomattox River Company. They have locations in Yorktown, Richmond, and Farmville Virginia.

After a long and frustrating journey, my truck finally runs right. The work I had done was on, or around April 12 2010.

First a little background. My truck is a Dodge Ram 1500 4×4 quad cab with a 5.7L HEMI motor that I bought new in 2004 from Quinn Motors in West Point Virginia. I’ve had a number of issues with this dealership, but that is for another day. Do business with these people at your own peril. BEWARE!

It was determined that I had a leaky steering rack at my last inspection, so I told them to order the item and I would bring the truck back to complete the repair. During That time, I got an engine light that indicated a bad O2 sensor. I told them to go ahead and replace the O2 sensor when the did the other repair. At this point, my truck is running just fine.

I dropped off my truck the night before and put the keys in the drop box with instructions. I called later in the day and was informed that my truck would be ready that day, so I made arrangements to come to the dealer, pay, and have them leave my truck out so I could pick up my truck after my wife got off work.

Quinn Motors was closed when I got there, but my truck was parked out back with the keys locked inside as promised. I got in, turned the key, and began to back out. At that point, my truck began to shudder, sputter, and just run like crap. In denial, I let the truck sit for a couple of days, thinking that it was just a fluke and my truck would run fine the next time I started it. I was delusional, of course. My truck still ran like crap.

I called Vick at Quinn Motors, who told me to bring it by and they would check it out. I did, and he called me later to tell me that the problem was that I needed spark plugs. What???? Let’s back track. You put in a O2 sensor and then my truck runs like crap. Now you want to charge me $250.00 to put spark plugs in my truck that you just screwed up? Vick talked down to me and acted like a total ass h*** to me when I tried to explain the correlation between them working on my truck and my truck running like crap.

I did end up having MY mechanic put in spark plugs, boots, and wires. As I already knew, that wasn’t the problem. I knew they screwed something up, but the only thing that made sense, was that they may have put in a faulty O2 sensor that managed to operate without triggering a fault in the computer. I was on the verge of buying a new O2 sensor on my own and installing it, when I had a thought..

From the day I got my truck back, something hung in the back of my mind and wouldn’t go away. As I wrote earlier, I let my truck sit a couple of days after it was screwed up by Quinn Motors. What I didn’t tell you, is that when it sat for two days, the battery ran down. Not totally dead, but dead to the point that the starter wouldn’t turn the motor over. Well, with all of this churning in my brain, along with the fact that the mechanics of Quinn Motors apparently can’t find their asses with both hands and a flashlight; I thought, what if while plugging, and unplugging things like O2 sensors, they may have sent a spark, or surge to the computer that may have made it operate erratically.

To make a long story…. long, I headed straight for my truck when I got home from work last night and pulled the positive battery terminal. I let the truck sit all night to make sure all electronics would be completely void of any current, and the computer would re-boot when I restored power this morning. I hooked up the battery this morning and so far, it is running wonderfully.

Thanks Quinn Motors for the ineptness, the smart ass service manager, the frustration, and the pile of money I had to spend for nothing to track down the problem you caused. Please send your mechanics back to Chrysler service tech training, and your service manager to charm school. Vick could probably use a little mechanical training himself. While he was talking down to me, trying to make me feel like I was a mechanical idiot, he revealed that he had no idea that the second spark plug on each cylinder on the HEMI motor fired on the exhaust stroke. The layman doesn’t need to know this, but a Chrysler service manager probably should.

WOW! I have an aluminum trailex trailer for my kayaks which I like okay. I decided to order four threaded U-bolts, which they call web strap clips. Okay, $18.00 is pricey, but I thought “what the heck” They will make my tie downs easier. I ordered them online and the Shipping cost ha TBD listed on it. I thought I’ll just pay whatever the shipping costs. I got a UPS ship notice this morning, so I decided to log in to my bank account to see what I was charged. My $18 order is costing $39.69. To be fair, UPS shares the shock for this, as they charge $13.42 for a 2 pound package. However, these things could have been sent priority mail in a padded envelope for much less. When I called trailex, the lady was short, and rude from the beginning of the call. I’m sorry lady, but it’s not my fault if Aunt Flow is visiting this week. She told me, that I was charged $8, to put four U-bolts in a box. If I would have been a little quicker on my feet, I would have asked, if they had any job openings.

Not that big of a deal, but I’m cranky today.

Yesterday, as I was on my Gold Wing enjoying the sunshine and fresh air, something interesting happened. I’m riding route 17 toward Yorktown Virginia when I see a couple on another Gold Wing ahead of me with Pennsylvania plates. I pulled up beside them at a stop light and asked them what part of Pennsylvania they hailed from. In the fifteen seconds we had to speak, I learned they were from Linesville, and they knew who my family was. I think their last name was Rosewood. Pretty cool!

Click on this image to see it full size.

I just found out that my Oncologist, Dr. Mark Ellis passed away yesterday (Saturday) morning. Dr. Ellis was one of the first people Debbie and I met in March of 2006, when I was first diagnosed with Myeloma. Dr. Ellis and his entire office, went to work immediately to prepare me for the fight and give Debbie and I the love and support we would so desperately need in the following months and years.

I didn’t know at first that Dr. Ellis had his own battles with Cancer, yet he always seemed to give you 100% of his attention and energy when you had an appointment with him. There are so many who loved Dr. Ellis; not only for the help and support he gave them, but for the genuine and compassionate person he always was.

So my friend, I send you my blessings as you travel to your new home. You worked so hard, and helped so many. You may take your rest sir. You have earned it like few others have.

Godspeed

In the midst of sunshine and warming weather, I am faced with a bitter sweet heart. A beloved pet and old friend went home this morning. Sumi was the last of my Pit Bull Terriers, and an end to an era in my world.

Sumi had a joyful spirit and entertained herself with her tennis balls for hours on end. This wonderful old gal kept going and going through the difficulties of old age and the pain of severe arthritis. She never winced or whined. Sumi spent so many days walking the fence line instead of waiting at the back door like the rest of my dogs.

I miss you already old girl.

Wildside’s Tsunami (Sumi) 7/3/1993 – 3/4/2010

I went to see this movie yesterday, 1.15.2010. I can tell you that I liked this movie, but not much more without giving away some of the cooler parts. There was plenty of action and the story was pretty good. There were a few interesting surprises in the movie, but I would have liked a slightly better ending. Good overall, and I will probably get it on DVD when it comes out.

I got a Moto Droid phone Christmas eve. I needed a couple of weeks to learn the phone and see how it compares to my old Blackberry Storm.

Droid vs Storm… No contest.

The Storm was clunky, buggy, and impossible to type with any proficiency. The web browser on the Storm was incredibly lame as well.

The Droid feels well built.. not cheap. The interface is smooth, clean, and is wonderfully fast. The web browser is actually useful and the app store has tons of applications. The 5mp camera takes pretty good pictures too. The full featured turn by turn GPS is a wonderful feature as well..

It is rare that a new product actually exceeds my expectations.. this one did.