If It Wasn't For Bad Luck . . . .

SHIP'S LOG:

     Did you ever have one of those days? Actually, I had a couple of "those days,"  as I mentioned before, I went to the Defender Industries March Madness Sale on Thursday last to pick up stuff I needed and then found out that they had charged me twice for the same total amount. Since the sale is now over and the store is returning to "normal," and since they are just down the road, I drove over there this morning and tried to get things straightened out. It took awhile as they are, well at least their accounting department is, still a bit chaotic dealing with all the sales over the last four days. They wanted to wait until the bank statement arrived so they could check it out. The only problem with that is that I no longer get a paper statement from my bank. I found on "The Trip" that bank on line was rather easy and now I do it all electronically. As a result, no paper statements. After a bit of talking, the graciously refunded the extra charge and simply asked that I make a copy of the electronic statement when it comes and forward it to them so that they can assure themselves that they did indeed charge me twice.

   The there are "the meds." As old age increasingly batters me, I find that I have to take more medication to keep up and running.  I get them online through a special program which sends me a three month supply at a whack. Every now and then they screw up. This time, despite all of the identification procedures, they sent me only a partial refill of my prescriptions. So I called them and found out the problem was that they got the OK from the wrong doctor, who willingly fill some but not all of the prescriptions . . . even though I WASN'T HER PATIENT!!!!!! The order-taker-pharmacist finally contacted my doctor and got things squared away.  I am quite please with that though I do wonder what the first doctor was thinking when she OK-ed the meds! Kinda makes you a little bit more worried about our medical system, doesn't it?

     Then there is my auto insurance! ALLSTATE and I have a troublesome relationship. after I pay the condo mortgage, common fees and, until July, a special assessment, I have to pay the condo insurance and the utilities first before any other bills so that the condo will be able to stay in the rental program and I stay out of foreclosure. This means that, after the salary check comes in (and goes right out), and after making another payment to wipe out my credit card debt ( it will all be gone  on March 6, 2014)  there is some serious financial juggling that goes on each month  until the SS check arrives. And even after that arrives, there is still more juggling as I pay off what I can and delay what I can't. A gift here and there from family and friends usually covers the nut, but sometimes not and then it comes down to who gets stiffed!   this makes a mistake such as has taken place more than a little troublesome. It doesn't help that I didn't win the $338 million Powerball Prize, but then I didn't have the $2 for a ticket. In addition, Publishers' Clearing-House can't seem to find me. But if ABISHAG sells and the condo as well, I will be in a nice financial spot.

     We will be getting snow later today which may put the kibosh on doing anything on the boat tomorrow. ( I have to wait until tomorrow for the double-charge reimbursement to get back into my account so I can buy gas). I have a couple of minor things I can work on that do not require warmth and I'll take a shot if the weather allows.

     Oh, one last "one of those days things" . . . .  I had to add some oil to my P.O.S. ride on Saturday. I unscrewed the oil filler cap, added the oil, went and tossed the container in the trash and shut the hood . . . . . neglecting to screw the oil filer cap back in place. I was driving later and there was this funny smell. I stopped and opened the hood and found that the oil filler cap had mysteriously disappeared. $5.98 + tax at NAPA.