What's under your lip/in your nose right now? - Part 2

[rothenbj]

Dealing with Federal agencies is a pain. I got word that there was an offer which is acceptable to me on my uncle's house so I kicked in gear on getting mailing addresses changed on the important stuff,

Being retired military, he has Tricare in addition to Medicare. I had to fax a copy of my PoA to them and request the change. I also had to do the same for his military retirement. A PIA since I don't have a separate fax line, but doable. Then the problems began. SS was a 45 minute wait on the phone but they gave you the option for a call back, not too bad. I figured I might be able to get through to the Post Office retirement people. That was a 40 minute wait with no call back. I hung up because I didn't want a conflict with SS.

SS calls back and there's no way to do the change over the phone so I have to go to their office with PoA and evidence he's in assisted living. That's at least an hour travel time to get to and from the closest office plus who knows how much time to get it done.

The Post Office was the real problem. They don't want to talk to you unless you have a CSA OR CSF number, they don't use SS#s anymore. I had no idea what either was but I googled it and it's something he would have gotten when he retired (probably not since he retired before computers were ingrained into the fabric of society). The lady really didn't want to talk to me without the number but I said, "Look, I just sat on this phone for nearly an hour waiting to talk to you, my uncle's 93 and has no clue what those other abbreviations mean." I asked her if I could fax the PoA, they don't accept them either. However, she gave me a form number and said she could email it to me. Great! I got out the username and @gmail and the phone went to dial tone.

I waited for half an hour to see if an email would come, nothing. I had an email address for the PO benefits office so I sent one to them explaining what happened and asking them to email me whatever form I needed to get the address change made. I got an immediate response which I thought was great, until I read it. It said not to respond and to change the address, I should go to their web site where it could be changed. The only problem with that was I needed a CSA or CSF number and password. UGH!

I'm hoping over the next day or so, somebody sends me what I need. If not it will be another hour or so waiting to talk to a human.

 

[hittman]

Good luck Roth. That does sound like a PIA.

 

[rothenbj]

Glad this place exists as a place to vent. lol

 

[hittman]

I've done it many times. Since you brought it up I've got a small one to vent on. The newest guy that we hired is around 60 and is in charge of inventory control. However, we are a small company and everyone that works out front in the office has to help customers. Monday the new guy had to unload three small machines that came in for repair and I think it made him mad that he had to do it instead of me. So instead of bringing the machines into the shop where they go, he put them on the floor in the warehouse. I've told him before that the boss has said that he doesn't want any small machines that could be easily carried away left out in the warehouse. I think he did it to piss me off. Anyway, when I left that afternoon I told my boss that I just realized that I didn't get the machines in the warehouse picked up that the new guy put out there and mentioned that I had told him about it before. My boss said to just remind him again and we could get them picked up in the morning. I came in the next morning and the new guy brought them into the shop without saying anything and seemed to have a bit of an attitude the rest of the day. I'm guessing that my boss told him to do it and he must think or know that I said something. I don't really care. If he'd do the work the right way the first time then there wouldn't be any drama. I already have more work every day than I can do and my boss knows that. I don't have time to run around picking up after people because they want to show their .... about something. Ok, rant over.

 

[rothenbj]

Don't you love people that just refuse to buy into the program. He'll get over it. Inventory control guy huh? Did you have one of them before or is this a new position?

My day went pretty much like yesterday but got a little closer on dealing with my uncle's address changes. It had the added adventure in the fact that when I went to use my phone, I found that it wasn't reading my sim card thus no OTA usage.

When I took my uncle to his doc appointment, I left the paperwork I thought I needed for Soc. Security so I had to stop home. I did a quick check to see if there was a Verizon store close to SS and was happy there was one just a few hundred yards away from SS. Unfortunately SS was a bust. I took the PoA, a copy of his bill where he's living and evidence that his mail is being forwarded to my address. Unfortunately, they accept none of that which is not what I was told less than 24 hours earlier.

The gal was helpful and hopefully got me what I need- a phone number of another SS office that she said they actually answer the phone right away 90% of the time (let's hope" and she gave me a guide on becoming a "Representative Payee". I read through the manual and had to laugh. I have to report how his benefits are used by month. I think he gets $800 a month, maybe a bit more, from SS. His room costs a bit over $6,000. The stinking government funds are a drop in the bucket of his monthly costs. In fact, all three of his pensions are only around 50% of his monthly keep.

Then I got lucky at Verizon. The gal gave me a new sim and it didn't work at first. She fiddled around with something and turned it off and on. It came on and again said the sim card wasn't found. She checked a few more things and it worked. She didn't seem to know why but it worked. Hopefully it will continue.

Then when I got home I called the PO people again and sat waiting for a rep for 50 minutes. I explained what happened the day before and stated that she was going to send me something via email and he told me I was given the wrong information. Go figure. He said the easiest way to get the address changed was to send them a letter. It would take three months but it would get changed.

However, he is sending me info on how to get named responsible party. I need to get the doctor to send a letter stating his physical condition doesn't allow him to manage his finances, which will be easy. What else? Who knows, but the guy was real helpful.

 

[hittman]

The inventory position is kind of new. One guy that left used to do it along with a bunch of other stuff and they hired the new guy when he left. His responsibilities were split between the new guy and two other people. None of the three are half the worker that guy was.

 

[rothenbj]

Sounds to me like it would have been more cost effective to pay the guy that left better.

 

[hittman]

That guy left to do something else and actually took a pay cut to leave.

 

[rothenbj]

Sounds like he found a job that he likes. It's always good to do something you really enjoy. That's how I felt when I decided to go into programming. I took one college course after a friend told me I'd be good at it (don't know how he knew). After that one course, I was hooked and it worked out pretty good.

I've become an addict over the last few months. I don't even know how I got started, but I have to admit I have a problem. I started getting emails from woot, groupon and 1sale, to name a few (not to mention the really bad one- Amazon) and I have packages arriving all the time. I know it's bad, I just can't stop it.

I just got the neatest thing, a tens unit kit. With taxes and shipping it cost a little under $60. It's a IQ technologies Pro IV unit that they sell for nearly $400 on their web site. I think it's an older version because they now have the Pro V but it works really well. I had one years ago that is buried somewhere in this house but who know where and whether it even works. I threw it on my left shoulder that has never gotten better since I took a fall a couple years ago. I'm hoping the electrical stimulation will help to improve it.

Beside the unit itself, it has sandals that and sends pulses up you legs. I just finished using it and it felt great. The unit has a 5 year warranty so I figured I couldn't miss.

I also got delivery of an electric chain saw with a 9 foot reach. I've got some limbs that have been bothering me the last few years that I'm hoping I can get cut off from the ground.

 

[hittman]

I'm still undecided whether I really like my job or not. I've been here almost 19 years and maybe I'll decide by the time I retire. I do like the troubleshooting part but get tired of the retail end of the business. I had the best time when I worked for a guy that just ran a repair shop. The money wasn't very much but I liked it and gained some really good experience.

Roth, I get the shopping bug too. I've been buying vaping stuff like crazy since the FDA announcement. I finally had to put a stop to it and make myself a budget for vaping stuff. The only thing I've ordered this month was some 10ml bottles that I actually needed instead of wanted. I have been looking at a couple of new mods and may splurge after the beginning of the month.

I've really been liking the thunder melon I got on the order with Rebel. I am also liking the Hostnsus that he sent me that he didn't like. It must be a seasonal snus. It has a nice fruit flavor to it.

 

[The Rebel]

Now you're making me want to crack open a can of the melon to try Hitt. Glad you like the one I sent. It just didn't agree with me so I'm happy it found a home.

My first weekend in a while where I have nothing to do. Time to get some stuff done around the house for a change. I need to pull the deck off the lawn tractor and do some overdo maintenance. Some of the pulleys are rattling like crazy when I mow so I'm going to change the bearings and add some new hardware to keep them from loosing up. Also have to pull the blades and either get new ones or get these sharpened. My center blade basically just knocks the grass down instead of cutting it. Makes for a funny looking lawn. Going to change the oil and filter while I'm at it. I'm looking forward to staying home on a weekend for a change.

 

[hittman]

I sharpen my own blades. You can do it with a bench grinder or if they aren't too bad then I bought this attachment for my dremel tool that holds a wheel at the right angle to sharpen the blade. I think it was under $20 but you can go through the tiny wheels after just a few sharpenings.

I do like the hostsnus and if it comes out again I'd like to get some more. You reminded me that I never drained the gas out of my snowthrower. I better get that done before I have to end up replacing the carburetor again.

 

[Guttermouth]

I've thought the same thing about work. It'd be nice to work shorter days. I think I could get the same amount done with less hours actually at work but I doubt my boss would agree. I know there are times during the day when I'm not productive. I was running 1-2 weeks behind even looking at new repairs coming in for several months and had finally gotten it down to a 3-4 day lead time then it hit again about a week ago and I'm back to over a week lead time. I don't mind the work but it's a constant battle dealing with complaining customers that are impatient. I have been getting several people stopping in and asking if I can stop what I'm working on and " take a quick look" at their machines. I've gotten to the point where I have to tell them no and that they have to leave it if they want it looked at.

i can't remember where i saw that study but the figure they came up with for diminishing returns on productivity struck me as really low ( anything greater than 28 hours or so?). i'll see if i can dig it up.

those customers are the worst.the guys that think your repair queue doesn't apply to them are invariably the ones that want to gripe about your rates. being a musician, i know probably 70% of my clientele socially and they all think i should just "run through and get this buzz out real quick" for them without paying for it when i've got guys that have been waiting for weeks to get their stuff done right.
in my grouchy old age,i've taken to pointing at the "in" pile and saying "stick it over there and i'll get to it when i get to it". if they don't like it, they can drive for 2 hours and drop it off with some dude that may get to it in 3 months and charge them 90 bucks/hr for the privelege.

 

[hittman]

That's about the same attitude that I have gutter. If they don't like the wait then they can go somewhere else and find that the wait is even longer.

 

[rothenbj]

You tell them Gutter, you too Hitt.

I had the best day with my uncle since he went to the hospital three months ago. I took him to the American Legion after two false starts last week. He wasn't feeling well and declined to go both Monday and Friday, but he was ready to go today and feeling good. He had his first beer (alcoholic) in that time and he finished his second pint faster than I did and really wanted to stay for a third (not).

It took him a bit to remember the Legion. We past right past his house without noticing, but after two beers he remembered and wondered why I hadn't turned in. I had to remind him he no longer lived there. It was good to see him talkative and telling the bartender about his nice living quarters.

 

[hittman]

I'm glad you had a good time Roth. Sometimes I think it'd be better if I did forget stuff when I'm older.

 

[Guttermouth]

mmmm.... selective old age memory loss would be a great thing. that coupled with the unbridled smoking and drinking?

good times.... good times.

 

[rothenbj]

I suppose it's perhaps age and number of years of smoking, but I have absolutely no desire to take one more drag. However, uncontrolled drinking might be desirable.

 

[hittman]

I don't miss the heaviness in my chest and constantly clearing my throat. I don't know that I'll ever go back to drinking with any regularity.

 

[The Rebel]

The ill effects of smoking I don't miss at all. But I was a happy smoker and I do miss the habit from time to time. Probably residual withdrawal but I really enjoyed smoking until it got to be a filthy disgusting habit that shunned me from public places and made me an outcast. Oh well, at least I don't get the death stare from all the soccer moms anymore. Always a silver lining...