I didn't call them Sub-Literate Simians in the letter. Be proud of me.

Here's the letter I sent to the morons who have failed to finish my fence. I don't think I am being unreasonable. I could have been a lot more rude and demanding. I don't actually expect anything to come of this other than me feeing better for having vented my spleen a bit. Well that and the fact that this blog is regularly crawled by google. I hope to generate a few hits for Minnesota Fencing and Repair since they don't have a website. Therefore anybody searching on these morons should find this letter.

Minnesota Fencing and Repair
2146 Cedar Lane
Mound, MN 55364

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am writing to express my disappointment in the service provided by Minnesota Fencing and Repair. Also, I have filed a complaint with the Minnesota Better Business Bureau.

While I understand that weather plays a part in scheduling, I am frustrated that it has been nearly two months and my fence is still not complete. I found the service received in person from Stryker was rude and abrasive, and not at all in keeping with the experiences I had on the phone your company. It was these phone conversations with Pam which caused me to choose to do business with you in the first place. I was given a good faith estimate of 200 feet of 48-inch high chain link fence with one gate for the sum of $1500, with the bill to be less if less fencing was needed. I got 140 feet of fence and two gates. I admit to having asked for an additional gate and agreeing to pay the extra charges for said gate, even though it was not placed where I had asked for it.

My roommate and I were shocked to find that only 3 sides of the yard were fenced when we returned home on August 9th. When my roommate expressed these concerns to a man named Stryker, who indicated he owned the company, she was treated very hostilely. The bill Stryker handed her looked like a highly modified version of the contract I signed. Stryker told her that since we were unhappy and he was the owner, he could give us $100 off the estimate. She wrote him a check for $1400.

On August 10th, Pam assured me that the fence would be completed for an additional $200, due to the requested second gate. I agreed. That was over six weeks ago. After being informed multiple times that you would be out “this week” without any work being performed, I assume the job will not be completed. Additionally, the west gate does not function properly. I have made arrangements with another fencing company to complete this job. I am not pleased with the service I have received, and have informed several people who asked my opinion.

I am extremely disappointed in my experience; I generally prefer to work with small locally owned businesses. Previously, I had always received helpful, courteous service. Minnesota Fencing and Repair is apparently the exception that proves the rule.

CC: Minnesota BBB and Mound Chamber of Commerce

http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/3326800.html I can't believe somebody had to do research to figure this out. DUH!

The mac Xserve running 10.2 is growing on me. I like making big installs without rebooting. I am getting used to the interface. It is stable. It's pretty, which is largely nonessential but nice. It scares me. Not to mention the mac people here at work are really nice. Hmm.. creepy.

Traffic Idiots!

I am usually a pretty calm person during my daily traffic exercises. I accept slow traffic as part of the choices I made concerning relocating to the Twin Cities, and living out in the suburbs. Therefore I cannot be angry about sitting in ordinary grades of traffic. I do my part to mitigate slowdowns by trying to head to and from work early or late, but not at the peak of the rush hour. I leave big following distances ahead of me even though it means idiots cut in front of me all the time. I don't get angry. I know if you have ever been in traffic with me you find all of this hard to believe..but really since this torture is my own choice I don't get mad. Frustrated occasionally, and today totally boggled.

Are all Minnesotans so sweet they can't get wet? Really. Your car dies on a busy street 4 car lengths past the light. You are causing huge delays and much traffic weirdness. The only people happy with you are the ones turning right and merging in front of your stationary vehicle. There are frequent periods when there is no traffic coming from behind you (because of the red light) yet despite all these advantages and the presence of 3 adult males in the car you can't be bothered to push the car 40 feet to the side of the road? Good lord I almost hit my hazards and pushed you myself (in sandals in the rain) just to save everyone behind you a whole lot of hassle. Thanks for making what should have taken 10 minutes take 40.

What the heck is up with the moron who hit the streetlights at 66th St and HWY 252 so they were on flashing red during rush hour. I hope the left turn you were attempting and failed was worth it all...because you too dinked up my morning trip in to St. Paul. Really....was busting that yellow/orange/red light so you didn't have to wait 2 minutes worth your car, and the time of hundreds of other people? It took me well over an hour to go 4 miles. I could have walked at least that fast.

On the other hand I am very grateful for the fellow standing in the rain trying to get the lights working. What a crummy way to start his day as well. I guess on the up side I will be here so late tonight I should miss all the traffic going home.

About two weeks ago I was audibly lamenting the lack of jugglable objects in my office. Then later was in a co-workers office where i noticed 3 give away tradeshow balls, two foam one of the bouncy LED type. So.. I started juggling them. The co-worker indicated he wanted to learn. I found some cheap juggling balls brought us each in a set and taught him at lunch one day. He was a quick study. When I reported this at home Toad said...so the virus continues to spread eh? See I taught most everyone who would learn at my last office. Don't get me wrong I am not a good juggler. I am adequate...competent.. but not good. It took me FOREVER to learn.. but consequently I broke down the whole process into about a million little steps so I can teach anyone. Well now at least two maybe 3 or 4 more people are learning from me. My little bit of evangelical fun continues. I think the whole world should learn to juggle. It is fun and relaxing and really not that hard. Not to mention a great 2 minute break from work. The virus spreads... who's next?

my2way

What a thrill I'm sitting in the VW dealership waiting for a shuttle. It only goes to downtown Minneapolis.

LT

House Update

well for those who haven't been keeping up.. or have but noticed I have been falling behind... big changes at the house. The front porch is gone Don and I tore it out yesterday. The trees and ugly shrubs are gone. Don and I cut them up with his chainsaw on Saturday. More stuff is unpacked. (still more to go, anybody who likes sorting and organizing books? I could use a bit of help in that arena.. I haven't unboxed hardly any books. More shelves needed in the basement to finish unpakcing. This week my parents arrive on Wednesday for a week or so of fun and games... well not really.. mom will be doing window treatments and other decorating stuff. Dad will be doing cabinet doors, and painting of the crawl space, installing shelves, building a new front porch all that fun stuff. Hopefully save the counter tops this will be the last of the major work. Well that and the driveway install, but we aren't doing that ourselves. Counter tops would be this trip too except that the laminate is backordered, so they will have to wait. *sigh* I'm exhausted and this week hasn't even started yet.

my2way

Check it out... www.surplushumvees.com Why the heck would anybody want one? The site is sponsoring th 02 Super Truck at Elko Speedway.

LT

Hmm... for those who were wondering.....about my politics, and there are always those who do....despite the fact I don't generally discuss them with anyone. I found a nifty website courtesy of a friend in Oklahoma. Political Compass/ argies that there are more directions than strictly left and strictly right. A fact I have long agreed with. Anyhow.. go take the little quiz see where you score..... Me.. I scored here:
Economic Left/Right: 3.25
Authoritarian/Libertarian: -2.10

About where we expected, economically and governmentally conservative, but more socially liberal and more inclined to let the unmotivated starve.

my2way

Why is it Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's Fishing in the Dark can always make me smile? It drags me back to college and Lisa dancing in her section lounge. We always giggled.

LT

my2way

As I type this we are waiting for our food at Quong's in Minneapolis. I ordered the S2. Toad says it's yummy. Markiee says there are cute boys here.

LT

It's a good thing when green stuff oozes out of your ingrown toenail right? Cause it means you eat enough vegetables that they are litterally coming out of you at the seams. Right?

my2way

I'ts a mystery to me why people keep talking when no one is answering. There is a girl in the restroom who has been talking to a stall door for 5minutes with out breathing and no one is talking back.

LT