General update on us. part 1

Where to start - I think I'll divide this into two posts. One about the girls, one about me.

I finally convinced the girls to watch my Schoolhouse Rock videos. The girls really like them. I can't believe that when these were first released I was Sarah's age (7). I did have to explain to Sarah what a record machine was.

Soccer season has started. I requested Sarah's soccer coach for this year. The coach she had last year was very good at teaching ball handling skills. Many of the coaches are just parents who have never played (which wouldn't matter much) but the coaching clinic they do seems to be focused more on "don't forget snack" than resources for lesson plans, ways to teach how to get a more powerful kick and aiming your passes at a teammate than just kicking the ball.

During the first three weeks, they are suppose to have practice. Many of the coaches have no idea how to teach, so they just want to scrimmage. Sarah's coach has a rule that when she has practice time, she wants to work with her team they have time to play later. Her teams are always very strong.

Sydney is playing this year too. She is so excited.

Last night Sydney had a nightmare. She dreamed that she was scoring too many goals and they stopped the game and made her stop playing! She's too cute.

Sarah did two weeks of swimming lessons. She started the session floating on her back with a teacher holding her up and using a life jacket to go in the diving pool to doing the back stroke and jumping off the high platform dive (the one that is about 9 feet high). Quite impressive. It was hard for mom to watch her just walk off that board.

Update on the car rental

And the dollars keep racking up. I'm beyond frustrated.

The Avis in Green Bay finally agreed to our local Avis certify that the car was ok. I guess they are afraid that I will claim that I had an issue with the car after the fact. *shrugs*

So, I drive up to our airport to discover that the Avis closed on June 1st. So, my options now are 1) drive to the next closest Avis, 2 hours away, 2) drive to Green Bay, or 3) pay for a Avis employee to drive up from Green Bay to look at the car. These three options allow an Avis person to look at the car. Option 4 is to pay the $41 for the next few days until my car is fixed.

For some reason, there is no other human they trust to look at the car and as far up the chain in this organization I go, I'm informed the decision will stay the same. Well, it's Friday, I'll pay another $80 before Monday unless I take the 4 hour trip to have the contract revised.

I did talk to Avis Customer Service and they said that they don't need to see the car, but I need to sign the contract in person. I've not called back.

I'm beyond frustrated between the car repair place who didn't fix my car they way I told them I wanted (I wanted just the mechanics fixed and not the cosmetic work which I was going to have fixed here so I didn't have to pay the rental any longer than necessary. I told this to the guy at the collision place who told me today "well, USAA didn't say to only fix part. They didn't tell me they needed USAA to tell them this! I'm pissed at him too but I can't say anything until I pick up the car) - to Avis who can't let a non-Avis employee certify the car (I offered a notary, who can't lie) and I'm willing to offer up the Chief of Police and a friend who is a State Police Officer.

My car was suppose to be fixed today, but blah blah blah.delay, parts, etc. I may try Avis corporate again. . . . I HATE LIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF ****ING NOWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trying not to cry with frustration.

A national company, except when its not

Ten days ago, I needed to rent a car while I left mine in a city 4 hours to be repaired. We were able to rent the last vehicle in the city, but not from a rental company that did business in the city I live in.

Oh, our city does have an Avis rental car, but the Avis four hours away didn't honor contracts etc with the Avis in my town.

I've been able to learn that my insurance company does cover a rental car in the even of an accident, so I don't need the rental coverage on the car - which is more than doubling the rental price of the car.

So, how easy is it for me to have the insurance removed? I have to drive four hours away so they can see that the car is still in the condition they rented it to me before they can change the contract.

Now, there is an Avis counter a TEN MINUTE drive from me, but they can't certify that the car is in good condition because they don't do business with the Avis four hours south of me.

I'm wondering in what way this is a national company if they can't trust each others word?My car was suppose to be fixed today. They are now saying middle of next week. So, its going to cost me $45 per day for an additional 5 days because they can't get my car fixed AND I can't change my contract without driving 8 hours round trip to fix it.

I really want to understand the logic of this.