Thursday, October 30
Grabbing my ankles...
Hurricane Ike continues to have it's way with me....
We got a call Saturday night from the insurance adjuster. They have to e-mail us some paperwork to fill out, ok we tell them, we'll be watching for the paperwork.
So, here we are 5 days later, no paperwork. So I call the adjuster firm, Quality Assurance Adjusting, LLC. They can't help me, I have to call the adjuster directly. So, I call the adjuster directly, she hangs up on me the first time the phone rings, then lets it go to voice mail the second time I call. Great, left a message.
In the meantime, I take a closer look at my papwerwork from the Texas Wind Storm Insurance Association, and I realize that even though my e-mail address is supposed to match my name, the genius that took my information managed to misspell my name. So I call them. They can't help me, they don't keep records of the claims after they are filed. WTF? How the hell do you not keep records of insurance claims at a state agency when you are paying out hundreds of millions of dollars?
So, back to calling Quality Assurance Adjusting, LLC. The woman on the phone said she wouldn't change it on her "Screen" as it is a PDF, and my adjuster Jenny Finch wouldn't see it on her "Screen". No shit.
I've given up on contacting Nationwide Insurance on this issue, they've been less than worthless throughout the entire process of making a claim.
We got a call Saturday night from the insurance adjuster. They have to e-mail us some paperwork to fill out, ok we tell them, we'll be watching for the paperwork.
So, here we are 5 days later, no paperwork. So I call the adjuster firm, Quality Assurance Adjusting, LLC. They can't help me, I have to call the adjuster directly. So, I call the adjuster directly, she hangs up on me the first time the phone rings, then lets it go to voice mail the second time I call. Great, left a message.
In the meantime, I take a closer look at my papwerwork from the Texas Wind Storm Insurance Association, and I realize that even though my e-mail address is supposed to match my name, the genius that took my information managed to misspell my name. So I call them. They can't help me, they don't keep records of the claims after they are filed. WTF? How the hell do you not keep records of insurance claims at a state agency when you are paying out hundreds of millions of dollars?
So, back to calling Quality Assurance Adjusting, LLC. The woman on the phone said she wouldn't change it on her "Screen" as it is a PDF, and my adjuster Jenny Finch wouldn't see it on her "Screen". No shit.
I've given up on contacting Nationwide Insurance on this issue, they've been less than worthless throughout the entire process of making a claim.
Labels: bad support, hurricane, ike, nationwode, Quality Assurance LLC, TWIA
Saturday, October 4
3 Weeks & Counting
Three weeks now since Hurricane Ike. Two weeks since power was restored to my house.
In insurance news, I have a meeting Wednesday afternoon with my adjuster from the Texas Wind Insurance Association. This week I got a letter from Nationwide Insurance, declining my claim, stating all damage to my house was due to Windstorm. Well duh, but what about the things you dummies were supposed to cover, like the food in my refrigerator. Worthless. I've paid over $20K in premiums over the years to Nationwide and I can't get $250 for something simple? Thanks, "Nationwide is on my side", my ass they are.
Back in August I wrote about my issues with Direct TV and the problems with my new DVR. Well, made another call last Sunday when the stupid thing recorded nothing but a black screen for the season premier of The Simpsons. Got a different tech on the line. The missing part that they had insisted I didn't need for the previous three calls turned out to be the culprit in my problems. They sent me a new one for free and things started working right. It is amzaing, two Direct TV installers couldn't install my DVR properly. It took six calls to their support before someone would send me a missing part. Worst, stupidest service department ever.
On Monday at lunch, I ran a stupid, media induced errand for a family friend. He grew up with us, but has since moved away to the Atlanta, Georgia area. He saw news reports that there was massive devistation of cemetaries throughout the region. His sister is burried here, and he was extrememly upset, thought that something might have happened to her grave. So I went out at lunch and checked things out. There was nothing wrong there, not even a sign that the hurricane had passed. Took some phone pictures and sent them to him to alieveate his feelings. Quite annoying that the media can make things look so much worse than they are here. They are bad enough, but like I've said before, the devistation is spotty, here and there, not everything everywhere is destroyed, or even damaged. The closer you get to the Gulf Of Mexico, the worse things get overall, but even there, most of the extreme devistation you see is concentrated to within a few miles of the coast.
I've gotten a bunch of little chores done here around the house today. Going to wrap them up before my wife gets home with the kids. She took them to her mom's overnight, it was a good little break for everyone.
In insurance news, I have a meeting Wednesday afternoon with my adjuster from the Texas Wind Insurance Association. This week I got a letter from Nationwide Insurance, declining my claim, stating all damage to my house was due to Windstorm. Well duh, but what about the things you dummies were supposed to cover, like the food in my refrigerator. Worthless. I've paid over $20K in premiums over the years to Nationwide and I can't get $250 for something simple? Thanks, "Nationwide is on my side", my ass they are.
Back in August I wrote about my issues with Direct TV and the problems with my new DVR. Well, made another call last Sunday when the stupid thing recorded nothing but a black screen for the season premier of The Simpsons. Got a different tech on the line. The missing part that they had insisted I didn't need for the previous three calls turned out to be the culprit in my problems. They sent me a new one for free and things started working right. It is amzaing, two Direct TV installers couldn't install my DVR properly. It took six calls to their support before someone would send me a missing part. Worst, stupidest service department ever.
On Monday at lunch, I ran a stupid, media induced errand for a family friend. He grew up with us, but has since moved away to the Atlanta, Georgia area. He saw news reports that there was massive devistation of cemetaries throughout the region. His sister is burried here, and he was extrememly upset, thought that something might have happened to her grave. So I went out at lunch and checked things out. There was nothing wrong there, not even a sign that the hurricane had passed. Took some phone pictures and sent them to him to alieveate his feelings. Quite annoying that the media can make things look so much worse than they are here. They are bad enough, but like I've said before, the devistation is spotty, here and there, not everything everywhere is destroyed, or even damaged. The closer you get to the Gulf Of Mexico, the worse things get overall, but even there, most of the extreme devistation you see is concentrated to within a few miles of the coast.
I've gotten a bunch of little chores done here around the house today. Going to wrap them up before my wife gets home with the kids. She took them to her mom's overnight, it was a good little break for everyone.
Labels: cemetary, hurricane, ike
Friday, September 26
The more things strange, the more the stay lame...
It has been a very odd week around here. Some things and places are very normal, some places look like the hurricane hit yesterday. And there is no rhyme or reason to the patterns. The Wal-Mart on my end of town is business as usual. The Wal-Mart at the other end of town still does not have full power or perishable groceries.
After a week like last week, you begin to notice the odd things you missed. Speed Racer The Movie came out on DVD last Tuesday. I didn't get to take advantage of the release week Sale Price becuase no stores were open to sell it to me, and none of them would have had stock anyway I think. Wonder why they didn't extend sale prices on things like this for their customers. Oh well, I'll have to wait till it goes on sale to see Christina Ricci as Trixie again I guess.
Meanwhile, I've had my first visit from a Nationwide Insurance adjuster. Spent less than five minutes at my house, taking pictures and then just left, didn't say bye, didn't leave a business card. Nice. Called Nationwide just to be sure he was really one of their employees. Nationwide has been nearly worthless in this experience. I've been passed around by adjusters, then told I had to file my own claim with the Texas Wind Insurance Agency. Contacted them, they said my agent had to file. My agent doesn't answer his phone, and his voice mail box is full. The 800 claims number from Nationwide couldn't help me, the adjustor couldn't help me, I finally had to push and file with TWIA on my own. I'm thinking I should find a Homeowners/Windstorm/Flood insurance agent far from here, say San Antonio or Dallas. Somewhere that if I have a problem, they aren't likely to have the same problem or worse. Next time you hear that commercial that says "Nationwide is on your side", be glad. I can't imagine what they would be doing to me if they were not on my side.
Things at work are sort of back to normal. Last week while we were on generator power, we had to rig up some workstations with Extension cords and power strips. One of our genius users unplugged a working system, re-wired it, then called us when it was not working. The picture is below. Yep, they plugged one power strip into another, then a thrid daisy chained off the loop. Wondered why they had no power to the devices on these strips. No kidding, true story.
Those of us that worked the hurricane got a $1000 bonus today. About $800 after taxes. I took $100 of it to the Spec's Liquor Warehouse and got a 750ml bottle of Don Juilo Tequila for shooting. A 1.75L bottle of Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville Tequila for making drinks. And a 24 pack of Red Stripe for my wife, who sent me text saying, "Don't come home without Red Stripe beer or I will kill you." At least she knows how to negoiate. Also saw the funniest brand of Tequila ever, "Don Nacho". Would someone actually buy this, thinking Nacho is good? Sure, Nacho makes a great Cheese, but Tequila?
After a week like last week, you begin to notice the odd things you missed. Speed Racer The Movie came out on DVD last Tuesday. I didn't get to take advantage of the release week Sale Price becuase no stores were open to sell it to me, and none of them would have had stock anyway I think. Wonder why they didn't extend sale prices on things like this for their customers. Oh well, I'll have to wait till it goes on sale to see Christina Ricci as Trixie again I guess.
Meanwhile, I've had my first visit from a Nationwide Insurance adjuster. Spent less than five minutes at my house, taking pictures and then just left, didn't say bye, didn't leave a business card. Nice. Called Nationwide just to be sure he was really one of their employees. Nationwide has been nearly worthless in this experience. I've been passed around by adjusters, then told I had to file my own claim with the Texas Wind Insurance Agency. Contacted them, they said my agent had to file. My agent doesn't answer his phone, and his voice mail box is full. The 800 claims number from Nationwide couldn't help me, the adjustor couldn't help me, I finally had to push and file with TWIA on my own. I'm thinking I should find a Homeowners/Windstorm/Flood insurance agent far from here, say San Antonio or Dallas. Somewhere that if I have a problem, they aren't likely to have the same problem or worse. Next time you hear that commercial that says "Nationwide is on your side", be glad. I can't imagine what they would be doing to me if they were not on my side.
Things at work are sort of back to normal. Last week while we were on generator power, we had to rig up some workstations with Extension cords and power strips. One of our genius users unplugged a working system, re-wired it, then called us when it was not working. The picture is below. Yep, they plugged one power strip into another, then a thrid daisy chained off the loop. Wondered why they had no power to the devices on these strips. No kidding, true story.
Those of us that worked the hurricane got a $1000 bonus today. About $800 after taxes. I took $100 of it to the Spec's Liquor Warehouse and got a 750ml bottle of Don Juilo Tequila for shooting. A 1.75L bottle of Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville Tequila for making drinks. And a 24 pack of Red Stripe for my wife, who sent me text saying, "Don't come home without Red Stripe beer or I will kill you." At least she knows how to negoiate. Also saw the funniest brand of Tequila ever, "Don Nacho". Would someone actually buy this, thinking Nacho is good? Sure, Nacho makes a great Cheese, but Tequila?
One of Jamica's finest exports. And a good way to keep the wife from killing me...
Labels: beer, dvd, hurricane, speed racer, stupid users, tequila
Saturday, September 20
I have the power!
The power came back on at my house after we had all the kids down for bed last night. We drove over, there is no cable modem yet, but we turned the AC down low to help dry things out, closed up the fridge, tested all the lights.
Now we're packing up stuff at my folk's house. Taking a while, stuff has sort of trickled over here all week. Our house was without power for almost exactally 7 days.
Thinkpad USB Modem or Cable Modem I will be online at home tonight, on MY TV, on MY Surround Sound, on MY Couch. Woot!
I'm so jazzed!Still have a long road ahead, but sleeping in MY bed at MY house tonight will really be nice.
Now we're packing up stuff at my folk's house. Taking a while, stuff has sort of trickled over here all week. Our house was without power for almost exactally 7 days.
Thinkpad USB Modem or Cable Modem I will be online at home tonight, on MY TV, on MY Surround Sound, on MY Couch. Woot!
I'm so jazzed!Still have a long road ahead, but sleeping in MY bed at MY house tonight will really be nice.
Friday, September 19
Normal?
Things are starting to get back to different degrees of normal around here. My parent's hosue now has electricity and the cable modem is back and working. My house has neither of these, and currently Centerpoint Energy is saying next week sometime, maybe later. Of course they said the same thing about my dad's house.
I was supposed to meet with a roofer yesterday, but he never showed up, I have an appointment with him at 10:30 AM today. We do have tarps (or 30 mil plastic) covering the dmage now. But the house looked terrible after the storm.
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And while there are folks out there a lot worse off than my family, this is still very trying. I can't get into my routine. And it is the intangibles I miss. Yesterday I found an open Taco Cabana near my house and had some really good Beef Enchiladas, rice & beans. Felt really good to do something familiar like dine at a counter service resturant.
I've priced out a replacment trampoline, it is $139, the safety net is $89, and a set of spikes to hold it in place are $20. Didn't know they made spikes for these things. My son was, and still is very upset about the hurricane demolishing his trampoline. "Daddy, why did the hurricane break my trampoline?"
I started back to work on Monday, we didn't get power at the building till Tuesday. It has already failed once since then, and we didn't get AC back till late Wednesday. I took this really pretty sunrise photo from my parent's back yard on Tuesday morning.
The rest of these photos are kind of random, just various destruction and damage I saw. Some of it is my house, some other folks houses.
I was supposed to meet with a roofer yesterday, but he never showed up, I have an appointment with him at 10:30 AM today. We do have tarps (or 30 mil plastic) covering the dmage now. But the house looked terrible after the storm.
.jpg)
And while there are folks out there a lot worse off than my family, this is still very trying. I can't get into my routine. And it is the intangibles I miss. Yesterday I found an open Taco Cabana near my house and had some really good Beef Enchiladas, rice & beans. Felt really good to do something familiar like dine at a counter service resturant.
I've priced out a replacment trampoline, it is $139, the safety net is $89, and a set of spikes to hold it in place are $20. Didn't know they made spikes for these things. My son was, and still is very upset about the hurricane demolishing his trampoline. "Daddy, why did the hurricane break my trampoline?"
I started back to work on Monday, we didn't get power at the building till Tuesday. It has already failed once since then, and we didn't get AC back till late Wednesday. I took this really pretty sunrise photo from my parent's back yard on Tuesday morning.
The rest of these photos are kind of random, just various destruction and damage I saw. Some of it is my house, some other folks houses.
Labels: damage, dining, hurricane, sunrise
Wednesday, September 17
No rest for the weary...
I spent most of Sunday at the house, waiting for the roofing company to arrive and put up tarps on our roof. They didn't get there till very late in the day, and it rained most of the morning, so I mostly tried to take care of the house.
Our front door no longer opens, there is water damage in every room of the front of the house, upstairs and down. We lost one tree, and have another that might not survive.
Monday I went to the office for about half a day, the realized I left my laptop and aircard there. So I grabbed up the wife and kids and we went on an expedition. Back to the office, got the stuff, and found a Target that was open. Not much food, all the perishables were thrown out. But we did get some snacks and new toys for all the kids.
Tuesday I worked at the house all day, but did some remote work for the company. I trimmed th tree that was damaged, then topped the second tree that is not going to make it from the damage. Inspected the roof, hauled off a ton of trash. I now have a pile of tree limbs, trampoline and shingles the size of a car in front of my house. About noon my oldest came home, he is very upset that Ike destroyed his trampoline. And it was tough to explain why this happened.
Today I'm back at the office, we have power, but the AC didn't come on till about 11 AM. Someone took lunch orders, but never came to my cube. Thanks, I didn't want lunch. My wife called to say that she opened a closet upstairs that she hadn't checked yet, and everything inside is soaked. Evidently the light fixture for that closet was the drain for the attic. Great, now I get to go remove wet carpet after work. I need a vacation.
At least we have a warm bed to sleep in, and air conditioning. My parent's Natural Gas generator kicks ass. And we are a lot better off than a lot of folks from this disaster. At least I'm not waiting in line for MREs, water and ice.
Think I'm going to crawl under my desk and take a nap now...
Our front door no longer opens, there is water damage in every room of the front of the house, upstairs and down. We lost one tree, and have another that might not survive.
Monday I went to the office for about half a day, the realized I left my laptop and aircard there. So I grabbed up the wife and kids and we went on an expedition. Back to the office, got the stuff, and found a Target that was open. Not much food, all the perishables were thrown out. But we did get some snacks and new toys for all the kids.
Tuesday I worked at the house all day, but did some remote work for the company. I trimmed th tree that was damaged, then topped the second tree that is not going to make it from the damage. Inspected the roof, hauled off a ton of trash. I now have a pile of tree limbs, trampoline and shingles the size of a car in front of my house. About noon my oldest came home, he is very upset that Ike destroyed his trampoline. And it was tough to explain why this happened.
Today I'm back at the office, we have power, but the AC didn't come on till about 11 AM. Someone took lunch orders, but never came to my cube. Thanks, I didn't want lunch. My wife called to say that she opened a closet upstairs that she hadn't checked yet, and everything inside is soaked. Evidently the light fixture for that closet was the drain for the attic. Great, now I get to go remove wet carpet after work. I need a vacation.
At least we have a warm bed to sleep in, and air conditioning. My parent's Natural Gas generator kicks ass. And we are a lot better off than a lot of folks from this disaster. At least I'm not waiting in line for MREs, water and ice.
Think I'm going to crawl under my desk and take a nap now...
Labels: hurricane
Monday, September 15
Update - And am I tired..
I'm back at work today. Thanks to everyone who sent well wishes about our situation here with Ike.
I'm at work today, our corporate Interenet connection has gone away, along with our main phone system. I'm now connected via USB Verizion Broadband.
I've gotten all our systems up, with a lot of help from my team. Waiting on VMware to call me about an issue. Had hell with EMC this morning getting the SAN back up and running. If you understand any of that last paragraph, you're a huge geek like me!
On the home front - we have our roof protected with a cover now, so we don't have to worry about rain. We have extensive water damage, and the house got knocked crooked by the winds, the front door no longer opens and closes properly, windows are physically pushed into the house, everything is a mess. I got our fence mostly repaired yesterday and trimmed the storm damaged trees as best as I could to keep them from rotting. I have one tree that is fallin down, and I don't think I'll be able to save it from death.
Kids don't seem too affected by things, but my oldest has not come home to find out his beloved trampoline is gone either.
I managed to play some Call Of Duty online last night before bed, so things are sort of getting back towards normal. We still don't have power, and the Cable Modems are still down everywhere.
Hope everyone is having a better week than we are out here.
I'm at work today, our corporate Interenet connection has gone away, along with our main phone system. I'm now connected via USB Verizion Broadband.
I've gotten all our systems up, with a lot of help from my team. Waiting on VMware to call me about an issue. Had hell with EMC this morning getting the SAN back up and running. If you understand any of that last paragraph, you're a huge geek like me!
On the home front - we have our roof protected with a cover now, so we don't have to worry about rain. We have extensive water damage, and the house got knocked crooked by the winds, the front door no longer opens and closes properly, windows are physically pushed into the house, everything is a mess. I got our fence mostly repaired yesterday and trimmed the storm damaged trees as best as I could to keep them from rotting. I have one tree that is fallin down, and I don't think I'll be able to save it from death.
Kids don't seem too affected by things, but my oldest has not come home to find out his beloved trampoline is gone either.
I managed to play some Call Of Duty online last night before bed, so things are sort of getting back towards normal. We still don't have power, and the Cable Modems are still down everywhere.
Hope everyone is having a better week than we are out here.
Friday, September 12
Power is out!
My wife just called, power is out at the house now. Can't get her to go to my folks house. Guess she and the twins are going to be warm and hang out in the dark.
Labels: hurricane
Galveston Webcams
I found this site, I can't get much to come up, but it might be interesting for watching the storm arrive.
Galveston Web Cams
Galveston Web Cams
Duck! & Cover!
Well, the eye is now headed straight by our house, a little east of us, so it will be windy and rainy for my wife and the twins. Meanwhile I'm stuck at a bank branch, wating to see if our Data Center survives the storm. If it does, I'll be heading home late tomorrow or Sunday. If it does not, my life will become a living hell of server recovery and screaming bank presidents. Could be fun either way.
Labels: hurricane
Made it!
Ok, I'm in San Antonio, wife and twins are at home, boy is with grandfather. Went to HRC for a little dinner. The fun starts in about 5 hours when we start recovering some servers to get business back to usual. Looks like Ike is going to go right over our office and it shitty, leaky roof. So, best case the building and servers survive with minimal damage. Middle case, building is damaged, servers live and just have to be relocated. Worst case, building and servers gone. I have to recover from tape. Update resume and apply for job as greeter at Wal Mart.
You can check Ike's progress here...
Labels: hurricane
Thursday, September 11
Better & Better
Ok, they are predicting this thing will go in at Freeport, which is due south of my house. I'm still on the evac for work list, and my wife is starting to get a little freaked. We are also in the Zone C zip conde list, which means we should evac for a Category 4-5 hurricane. So far it is only predicted to be a Category 3. I needed more stress.
Labels: hurricane
Wednesday, September 10
Grrr... Ike!
So, I took the day off from work. Thought we were in the clear. That will teach me a lesson. I have a feeling that I will be headed to San Antonio sometime tomorrow morning. I'm packing up my stuff now, clothes, XBOX 360, computers, etc. About to go clear the crap out of my vehicle as I think I will have a traveling companion for the trip as well. Yay! Taking one of my other techs along for the ride. Going to have to leave the wife and kiddos here. But it's OK, my folks live nearby and have a generator. Just a pain in the ass mostly.
Labels: hurricane
Ike is gonna make me go on vacation...
I took the day off as a comp/sick day. Figured everyone would calm down about Ike now. Boy was I wrong. The White path is the only one that comes close to us now, but it does put us on the 'dirty' side of the storm. I'm remoted into our systems now, configuring and running a Disaster Recovery backup job. I might be heading to San Antonio inthe morning.
Labels: hurricane
Tuesday, September 9
Bye-bye Ike!
Well, after tracks that were heading right for us, Ike keeps heading further and further south. At it's current rate, it is really going to head for Brazil I think. The White line still goes right by my house, but I'm not as concerned today.
Labels: hurricane
Monday, September 8
We don't like Ike...
Ok, the yellow track goes South and West of me, but if the hurricane follows that track, I will end up in San Antonio as a precaution I am sure. They are saying landfall around Friday. Great, ruin my weekend, why can't a freaking bad weather system arrive on Tuesday or Wednesday?
Labels: hurricane
Sunday, September 7
Ike! Yikes!
Check out that dark blue track, it's coming right at me, again! First Gustav, now Ike. What is is with these hurricanes? There are going to be people freaking out at work when I arrive tomorrow, and this thing is till over a thousand miles away. Looks like I might be heading for San Antonio sometime soon. Got to pack up my XBOX 360 and keep my streak alive at 360 Voice if that happens. Should be an interesting week.
Labels: hurricane
Monday, September 1
No Gustav For You! Come Back One Year!
Well, looks like Gustav is going to hang out with the Coon Asses and leave us alone. Thousands from Louisiana came here, even after being cautioned to head north instead. I saw on the news that folks from New Orleans did the same thing, going to Baton Rouge. Joke is on them, it looks like Baton Rouge will be harder hit than New Orleans. People so stupid that they evacuate from one huricane prone area to another, just 100 miles away make me laugh. Maybe Natural Selection will take over and thin them out a bit.
In other news, preparations for Gustav horked my Exchange Migration, I got all but 21 of the 350 boxes moved successfully last night. I'm about to go to the office and work on recovery of the other 21 boxes. Should be a funy, entertaining day.
Sunday, August 31
Weathermen on crack?
Ok, here is this morning's projections map for Gustav. Yet on TV they are reporting that it is heading directly for New Orleans. Now, I do see where with most of these tracks how New Orleans will get the 'Dirty Side' of the storm, but it won't be a direct hit like they are syaing based on these models. And check out the Yellow track, it goes RIGHT OVER MY HOUSE AND JOB! Crap! There is a meeting at 4 PM today for all our department managers, I'll find out after that if I get to go to San Antono tonight.
Labels: hurricane
Saturday, August 30
Gustav! Run!
Ok, tracking models still show it coming this way. I've got to go in and finish our Exchange migration after lunch today. Tomorrow the big wigs are having a pow-wow and deciding if we are going to bug out, so I might be the winner of a free trip to San Antonio tomorrow afternoon. Woot!
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