Category Archives: Life

Everything that happens in my life and around me.

TruGreen and Customer Service

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I’ve had TruGreen service for two years now. When they first came out I decided to try them out but only had one condition. They had to call me before they ever came to provide a service. I wrote it on the contract. So without fail for the two years we have had them they have kept their word and called. The main reason behind this was at times money can be tight and I would tell them not this month and they were fine with it. If I hadn’t done this they would be out every three or four weeks doing a service that “I needed.” Everyone I’ve ever knew that had a lawn to take care of fertilized their lawn at the most three times a year. TruGreen can and will do you as often as they can. I wasn’t happy with their service last year. They spilled some fertilizer on a small area on the front yard by the street and killed it and it was never fixed. They came out and threw down some seed but with what they spilled, nothing will grow there for a few years I think! Their service technician promised last year that if we used him again we would see all the open areas fill in and there wouldn’t be any bare patches at all. Looking out my window right now it looks like my lawn had been mined or maybe I had a goat that just ate patches of my lawn. I had decided I wasn’t going to use them this year. I was going to do it myself and I needed the exercise anyway.

So while at work two weeks ago, Grandma calls and said the TruGreen came and did a service on the lawn. She said that she didn’t expect it as in the past they always knock on the door to announce that they are there and didn’t this time. They are supposed to warn us because of our dogs. I guess its not good for them, as they warn us to keep our pets off of the yard. I called and spoke with Sonja from True Green and informed her that I didn’t request the service. She said “didn’t you get our post card”? I said no I usually get sales flyers the day after the sales end with our great postal service. But thats ok as I don’t need a postal worker going postal on me. Haven’t heard of a TruGreen worker going “TruGreen” on anyone yet?
She apologized and said she would inform her manager that I didn’t request the service and to discontinue any additional services. But what do you think happened two weeks later? Of course, I get a bill. So I call again and this time I speak with Gloria. I’m a pretty friendly guy but I could tell she didn’t like me. She immediately offered to cut the bill in half. But I have a problem here. Why should I be forced to pay for something I didn’t want and didn’t request! She didn’t like that and basically told me that they would forward it to a collections agency to get after me. Wasn’t that nice of her. As I said I’m a pretty easy going guy and I’m sure there were other possible solutions. I would have been willing to work out with them but now I’m mad and I’m not going to take it! So begins my internet tirade against the evil empire of TruGreen! I WARN YOU HERE AND NOW DO NOT BUY THEIR SERVICES. TRUGREEN WILL TRY AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU! Thank you very much to all my readers and I look forward to your comments.

It was a good day!

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After three years I finally have my sites up! Thanks Nicky! Everyone please take a look at my sites…www.visitchicagotoday.com or www.visitacitytoday.com or pick one of about 50 other cities. Lets see if they make any money now. Ok, part two… I’ve lost a few pounds and people are beginning to notice which is a good thing. What’s really interesting is I’ve pretty much only did one thing to lose the weight. I’ve stopped drinking Coke. My “habit” had gone as far as 8-10 cokes a day at its peak. It’s been 4 weeks and I’ve definitely noticed a difference. I’ve gone down about 4 notches on my belt. I’m walking faster and generally feel better. I had about a weeks worth of headaches in the beginning. The withdrawal took a bit of effort. I still crave it but I made a commitment in the beginning of the year to make this a special year and I hope I’m on the right track. After 30 years of drinking large amounts of soda I’ve got to think it does quite a bit of damage to the body. But I’ve always known I’m a sweet guy!

A few thoughts on Killer Whale

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I don’t know are they that stupid? If its called a “Killer Whale” and you dress like a seal, why would you even get close? They are only nice to you because their held captive by you and are relying on you to feed them. At some point you have to figure the whale is thinking I need more than the fish they give me? I need some seal meat! Oh there’s one now!

I’ve always wanted to try the Luge at the olympics. But 90 miles an hour I’m pretty sure its really not a safe thing. Lets see… sharp blades, solid ice, fast speed, yep that spells danger Will Robinson!

Do you ever feel your getting to the point where its system overload! To much information. I mean literally. I’m on the web all day, I get 100 or more emails every day. I have to do research every day. The tv has an abundance of information at our finger tips by just pushing the button. I am starting to say lets disconnect but you cant! At what point will we overload? When will the smoke start coming out of my ears? I’ve got to be close. Someone tell the voices in my head to be quiet ok!

Goodbye 2009!

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I can’t say that I’ll miss 2009. It wasn’t the greates of years for me and the family. But it wasn’t the worse either. Despite the economy I still have a job which I’m quite thankful for and I am looking forward to a challenging 2010. Chicago’s convention business looks glum so were going to have to push hard to make up the difference.
I am excited about my new site at www.alltop.com/earl it will be great to be informed from all my favorite sites on a daily basis. So my New Years Resolutions 1. To get down to 220 pounds. 2. Be more patient (I always want things to happen fast). 3. To get my domains up and running. 4. Continue to be a creative genius that I think I am! And last but not least 5. Make something Life Changing happen this year!

Those are pretty good goals I think. So all my friends help me keep on track and I also wish you all a great new year too.

Old Friends and Fishing

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An old friend has gotten in touch with me after not having seen him for 37 years. Chuck and I were good friends and he brought up a lot of memories that I had forgotten! But how appropiate was his timing in that I had been doing alot of reflection on my childhood days.

I guess at our age were all probably doing alot of reflection and wondering what we have accomplished in our lives or what will we do with the years left before retirement. I wish I had thought more of my childhood when I had been raising my three sons. But, were so busy in our lives raising them and with the day to day activities we don’t have that much time to think.

But in reality I think many thoughts and ideas were instilled in me that I had to trust that we did a good job raising them. I guess it was instinct. So far, as I have written before, my boys have done pretty well. Yes of course I could have always done some things different. But so far they have turned out pretty good!

But back to my childhood friend… Chuck was a good friend and we went fishing alot. In fact as often as we could we would go to the County Forest Preserve Lake. Though I don’t ever remember catching anything big! Or for that matter catching very much except for misquito bites. I still like to fish even though I haven’t done it in years. Funny thing though, I never liked to eat fish. I’m a catch and release kind of a guy. I’m also more into being clean, not getting up so early, enjoying the services of a good hotel. So I’m not sure I want to go fishing anymore? Definitly not into camping at all! Ever since I went on a campout in Boy Scouts and in the middle of the night I “sleep rolled” out of my tent and woke up on the edge of a small cliff! Just not my idea of fun anymore.

So Chuck when you come home in December to see the folks I don’t think fishing will be a good idea. But hell, I am open to a good softball game on our street corner if you can get a game going?