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Thursday, March 18, 2010

Gulls Whitecaps no Dolphins Tuff Decision

Gulls Whitecaps no Dolphins

A couple days ago we went for a boat cruise out of Panama City Beach’s Boat Yard. Our group had hopes of seeing some playful Dolphins.

That didn’t work out. I saw some seagulls flying playing tag.

It was cold, and windy, and I think the Dolphins thought us humans were pretty stupid to expect them to surface in that. I guess one person did see a Dolphin, although when I looked I saw white caps.

In fact I am sure I saw snow on the shore, although they tried to convince me it was white sand. If you really want to know, I was beginning to think of the Titanic and icebergs.

Seriously, despite the cooler than comfortable weather, Captain Anderson’s cruise was a nice long adventure, priced right, and it gave a nice lengthy view of the harbour and surrounding areas from a different perspective.

Some of the pictures will appear later in our YouTube series from Florida.

Tough Decision

If you cover a lot of miles like I did this year, you may find your vehicle needs an oil change. Mine has this magical light that comes on telling you for 30 sec. after start up, you need to change your oil. Well actually it is telling you to change the oil in your vehicles engine.

The first instinct would be to go to the dealer of your particular manufacturer. I had second thoughts about that since I was aware of a person that did that, and ran out of oil a short time later because of an un-tightened filter. Rattling noises from an engine are not good anytime, but when it is from lack of oil, then that’s more than not good …

So being an internet guy, I began my search for other lube places that would be within reasonable range. That was a tuff decision.

The first place I called, the conversation went something like this:

“Hello, XYZ!” the call was answered. (Names are always changed to protect the guilty.)

“Do you have any openings tomorrow (Thursday) that you can do an oil change?” I ask.

“Nope, we are really busy.” he says.

“How about Friday?” I inquire.

“Just a minute,” was the reply, and after a 10 second pause, “what was that again?”

“Can you do an oil change on Friday,” I ask again.

“Yeh,” I am told.

“Does that mean you can do it on Friday?” I ask, to be sure.

“Yes I can do it Friday,” was the reply.

“Do you take appointments?” I ask, thinking this conversation is going on far too long.

“Nope,” he says, “just walk in.”

“See ya bye!” I respond. Which signalled the end of the conversation.

There are two things about this conversation that supports constructive criticism. First the establishment is busy on Thursday and can’t do an oil change. But how did he know – because he said he doesn’t take appointments. Yet he could do it on Friday – but with no appointments.

Then he told me ‘just walk in’ – help me out here, should I take the truck?

I got the oil changed today, but not at the place above. Thanks Walmart for making it simple. Your Express lane was great.

”Things are different in Florida.” Hmmm, might be a title there for another series.

-=One Day At A Time=-