When Things Go Nuts!

This was a day about 3 weeks ago when one crisis after another just happened at once and drove us nuts!

(To be honest I'm writing this on April 8th and scheduling it for April 22nd because I've got too many posts already scheduled.)

The personal effects of Art's old friend, Jeff who he hadn't seen in a decade or more was given to him by the hospital. Because Art was listed as the emergency contact and the hospital couldn't locate anyone else who knew him they called us 5 different times hoping for more information. Jeff had alienated his family and we knew nothing of his life since then. Jeff's brother did not want to be contacted about him. Sigh...

Then our tax accountant said there was a problem with information that needed to be turned into her which we hadn't received in the mail. Art hunted everywhere not knowing what to look for exactly. Luckily, our daughter is better at financial matters and was trying to help us.

And then suddenly our Prius alarm started honking. LOUD! REALLY LOUD! 😨 So Art with his sore knee goes running down to try to turn it off, but it won't turn off.

This kept happening over and over. He'd come up and continue trying to work on the computer with my daughter long distance and then the car alarm would go off again and he'd have to run down and try to stop it somehow. A neighbor who is good with car problems came over and they thought they stopped it. But nope, it started up again.

Our nerves were really getting rattled. So Art called the Servco Toyota dealership. The person answering the phone asked what the problem was. I heard everything because Art put it on the speaker. She sympathized with the problem and said she understood the frustration and need for immediate help. 

Then she excused herself to find the time to bring the car in. She came back and said Art could bring the car in the following Tuesday a week away. "WHAT?!?" we said. "We can't get the car to stop honking. We need to bring the car in NOW." 

She repeated that it was the only time available. So Art asked to speak to her supervisor.

That's when the car alarm went off AGAIN! He went running down to try to turn it off.

The supervisor came on and I'm sorry. I'm usually quite patient. And I'm usually kind... usually. BUT good grief! My nerves were really rattled by then. I let the supervisor have it! I told her about the terrible person she had answering the phone, etc. etc. And you know what she said? Are you ready? 😦

She said we were talking to an AI generated person. Arrrghhh.... I could NOT believe it! I told her this was definitely ridiculous and bloggable.

Anyway, Art came back and told them he was bringing the car in now so it could go off at the dealership, and not at our house which must be driving the neighbors crazy.

And would you believe the car stopped honking on the way to the dealership?

Everyone at the dealership were very nice and understanding.

The following day, they called us saying they installed a new battery and tried to do a diagnostic on the car, but couldn't get any results since it wasn't honking now.

But yes, we had to pay $535.42 for both battery and the diagnostic that couldn't show what the problem was. Sigh...

As for Jeff's personal effects. It's awesome that I have an amazing cousin who just happens to be a lawyer. She said Art has no responsibility and that it should go to the brother even thought he's said he wants nothing to do with it. Art mailed the items to Jeff's brother saying that's what his lawyer advised him to do.

OK... the tax stuff: 

Our daughter helped us find what we needed and we sent the information to the accountant. 

After all that Art was outside trying to patch up window leaks before the expected rainfall. And nope, we don't have any roofers in the family.

I'd like to say this was it for things to deal with but no... there was more to do in the days ahead.

Sometimes, when life rains, it pours.