The Interview

I'm getting kind of nervous about this Thursday.  I have an interview for a District Managers position within my company that I work for.  I've wanted this position for years however I've just never felt that the time was right for me to try to apply.  I first applied last July and 3 of the 4 people I interviewed with said yes.  However one, the vice president of operations, said no.  He has this vendetta against anyone who has left the ops department to go to another job.  He felt as though we were running from our current positions because we a. couldn't handle it, or b. didn't want to work hard.  Since then the new VP has asked for me and I've also ridden along with a Regional Manager.  They called me last week to schedule another interview this Thursday at the corporate office.  I hope it all goes well.  My friend Rusty is going to go with me because it is a 3 hour drive there.  It's going to be a long stressful day but hopefully in the end it all works out!   ha ha ha  I said "In the end"  :)

Dude! Where's my car???

So.... With all the crappy stuff that has been happening, window issues, snow, snow, snow, and more snow, I decided to lighten up the place and perhaps share some funny stories of my life's past.


Ahhhh... where to begin.  


I remember when I was probably 12 years old we had just bought a, new to us, blue Chevy Celebrity.  Growing up we didn't have a whole lot of money.  Mom and Dad both worked full time and getting a new car I'd do anything to take a ride in it.  Mom had gotten this book called The Entertainment Book.  It was a book of coupons for area businesses that offered free and discounted things in order to get new customers into their stores.  Mom asked me if I wanted to take a ride with her to Columbiana so she could drop something off at her friends house and we could stop at the florist and get a free rose with babies breath!  So, mom and I jump into the new car and head to Columbiana (a town about 20 minutes from where we lived).  We were coming up onto the center of town where the center of town circle was and mom said, "Will you take this coupon into the store to get our flower, and I'm going to drop this package off to Wanda (her bowling buddy) and meet you across the street?"  I of course agreed to do it.  She pulled up to the front of the corner store and I jumped out proudly holding my coupon for my free flower and walked into the store.  I remember handing my coupon to the cashier and watching make up the bouquet.  One single red rose, a patch of babies breath, rolled it up in green tissue paper and stapled it on the edge.  She handed it to me, I'm sure my eyes were as big as quarters as she asked me if I needed anything else.  I told her no thank you and left the store.


Standing outside of the store I look across the intersection and see our new dark blue car parked waiting for me to come get in.  I knew mom would be watching so I made sure to look both ways before crossing the street and watched for traffic as I walked over to the car.  I opened the door, sat down in my seat, put my seatbelt on and looked over to show my mom the flower and to my surprise it was an old man!  I couldn't believe my eyes!  I said, "Oops!", took off my seatbelt, and got out of the car.  Here the man had pulled up to the intersection in his blue car and was stopped at a RED LIGHT!  How embarrassing!  To this day I wonder what that man thought.   After he pulled away to his new turned green light my mom pulls up and I get in her car.  She knew something had happened because I was so quiet and somewhat scared of what had just happened.  


We still tell this story today when the family gets together. It just seems that weird things happen to me.  Have no fear, I have more stories to share.  I'm always doing something to embarrass myself!  :)

Energy Wise Home Improvements, Struthers, Ohio SUCKS!!!

Anthony J Porrazzo of Energy Wise Home Improvements, Struthers, Ohio came out to my house on 11-13-10 to give me an estimate on replacing my 5 upstairs windows.  I explained to him that Energy Wise Home Improvements of Struthers replaced my 8 bottom windows and I was calling to get an estimate.  I had previously got an estimate from another company that morning, and was comparing the two companies while talking to Mr. Porrazzo.  I showed Mr. Porrazzo that my front living room window was leaking and he asked why I didn’t call them to have it repaired.  I told him that I didn’t have time lately and that it costs 49 or 50 dollars to have them come out to fix windows they installed.  He looked at me and laughed and said, “You have a lifetime warranty, you don’t have to pay for that.” (LIE NUMBER ONE) I proceeded to tell him that the man who came out from Energy Wise before, when I had the windows installed the first time said that if I call them out for a torn screen that he said I should just tear them all so I get my monies worth.  Mr. Porrazzo just laughed and said, “No, a lifetime warranty means just that, we’ll fix them for the lifetime of the window.”  Then said, we’ll get this fixed now.  When we sat down to look at paperwork he agreed to a price of $2600.00 for the five windows that would be installed in my home.  Mr. Porrazzo did not even go look at the windows to measure them, he used the notes left from 2005.  I asked him if he wanted to go see them and he said, “There’s no need I have the measurements right here.”  I asked Mr. Porrazzo about the energy tax credit and he said not to worry, the windows will be installed by Christmas.  (LIE NUMBER TWO)  I was very surprised and asked if they even installed windows in the winter and he said, “Yes”  and that they would be installed by Christmas.   He said that one condition of the price was that I allowed him to put an Energy Wise sign in my front yard from the time they fixed my front window, to the time the job was complete.  He informed me that someone from the company would come to my home on November 18, 2010 to look at my windows and check to see if there was lead paint.  He said that that man would also fix my front leaking window.  I was very happy with the terms of our agreement and he left my home.

On November 18, 2010 Mr. James Lebaron (330-716-1806) stopped at my home to look at and measure the windows.  I also asked him about my front window leaking.  Mr. Lebaron didn’t know what I was talking about.  I showed him the window and where it was leaking and he told me that he didn’t have time to fix it, but call him on Monday November 22, 2010 to remind him to come and look at it.  He told me then that it would be 49 dollars to have the window repaired.  I told him that Mr. Porrazzo had just told me the day prior that Energy Wise doesn’t charge for service to the windows because they have a lifetime warranty.  Mr. Labaron said, “I’m sorry sir, a service call is 49 dollars, but maybe he waived the fee for this one.”  I said ok and set an alarm in my phone to remind me to call him.  Mr Labaron left and I proceeded to call Mr. Porrazzo.  I asked him why the service man said it was 49 dollars but just the day before he said service is free?  He laughed at me and said, “Mr. Allen as I told you I waived that fee.  I did that so you wouldn’t have to pay for it.  I didn’t say service calls were free.  They are 49 dollars.”

On November 22, 2010 I called Mr. Labaron to remind him.  He did remember me and said that he would come out this week to fix them. 

On November 23, 2010 at 9:35 am, Mr. James called me from outside of my home asking which window was leaking.  He told me he couldn’t see where it was leaking, but he replaced the caulking around the inside of the windows and hoped that it fixed the problem.

On December 16, 2010 Mr Porrazzo called my home and left me a message to call him back regarding installation of my new windows.  I got the text message directly to my cell phone and called him right back from Erie Pennsylvania, which is where I was at the time.  I spoke with Mr. Parrozzo and he told me that the earliest they could install my windows was January 4, 2011.  I asked him why it wouldn’t be done before Christmas like he told me they would be.  He told me, “Mr. Allen, when we spoke in your home you may remember that I told you that they would NOT be installed before Christmas.”  I then asked if I would still get the Energy Tax Credit even though they weren’t installed now before the new year.  He assured me that since I have my contract stating the price that it didn’t matter when they were installed that I would still get my tax credit.  Mr. Porrazzo has a way of talking down to you and making you feel very stupid.  I know what he told me and I knew that he was lying to me.  I told Mr. Parrozzo that the 4^th would not work for me because I work for a living and I asked if they install on Saturdays.  He said yes they do and we decided that they would install the windows on Saturday January 8, 2011 at 9am.  (LIE NUMBER THREE)

On January 8, 2011 I called the company to make sure they were still coming because I’d not heard from them since we spoke on December 16^th.  I left a message at 8:30am and called them back at 9:15am.  I spoke with Betty the secretary.  I asked her if they were still planning to come at 9am being that it was already 9:15.  She put me on hold and came back to the phone to tell me that they would be at my home between 9:30 and 10am.   At 9:26 am I get a call from Raul Magallon (330-506-7140) telling me that he is the installer, he doesn’t know why they keep telling customers what time he will be at their homes without even talking to him first.  He said this is a constant problem and he was on his way to Chardon Ohio and wouldn’t be to my house till at least 2am, but would call me a half hour before he gets to my house.  I then hung up with him and called Energy Wise back to let them know that there is a break in communication somewhere.  I spoke with Betty again and told her that now they wouldn’t be to my house until after 2pm.   I also spoke to her about how frustrated I was with the service that I was receiving and Mr. Porrazzo was very arrogant and I don’t want to talk to him again.  I even apologized to Betty telling her I know it’s not her fault, that I just needed to vent about this whole experience and hope the rest goes well.  She said that was fine and we hung up.

At 3:43 pm I receive another call from Mr. Magallon saying that he just arrived at the warehouse, was loading up my windows, and would head over to my house.  They arrived at my home at 4:45 pm and Mr. Magallon came to my door.  He asked if he could come in and look at the windows.  I agreed and he walked in, not wiping the snow and dirt off his boots or anything, and walked across my kitchen, on my carpet, up the steps to the hallway window, then to my bathroom, then to my bedroom measuring windows.  He complained the entire time saying that they shipped the wrong windows, the windows that they gave him were too small, and that no one told them that I have steel casing windows that need cut out.   He went outside and the men began unloading the windows.  One man knocked on my door and asked if I would open my garage so they could store the windows in there.  I opened it and let them put them in there.  Mr. Magallon came back into my house tracking snow and dirt through my kitchen again and over on the hardwood living room floor, and of course across the carpet and up to the upstairs rooms.  Mr. Magallon and another gentleman came into the house and said that he doesn’t have the tools to cut out the windows today.  That he has to get more supplies to build up around the windows because they are too small, and that it’s now dark outside so it will just have to wait until tomorrow.  So now I’ve taken the day off of work, and wasted the entire day just so they can come back tomorrow.  And the supplies and windows are currently being stored in my garage!  What if something happens to them in there?  Why am I responsible for storing them?  What do you think I should do?!?!  I think I should contact the Better Business Bureau! 

Operation Declutter 2011

So!  Operation Declutter 2011 is well under way!  I'm really trying to make this work as a new year resolution.  It's actually kind of difficult because I can't recall ever following through with one of my resolutions.  You see, I'm always full of good intentions and excellent start up however I have a HUGE problem with follow through.  So this is my intentions.  If I can declutter my home it could spill over to my life.  If I declutter my life I will feel better, and if I feel better I will be healthier!  

The new windows will be installed in the house on Saturday.  Pretty cool right?!?!  Well I think it's going to be quite odd.  Basically, it's January 6th and it's snowing outside.  It hasn't stopped snowing all day.  Soooooo.  Are they just going to leave great big holes in the side of my house for all the snow and cold to come inside?  I dunno!  It's going to be an experience.  I can tell you this, my house was built in 1941 and it still has the original metal, crank out windows upstairs.  Air and sound come though them just as easily as the sun does!  LOL I cannot wait for the new windows to be in.  I haven't even taken the storm windows out in years.  It's too hard to take the storms out and put the screens in, just to take the screens out to put the storms back in.  It's a pain in the butt, however now all the windows will be replaced and all the exact same kind of window.  It will be great to be able to open them up and let the spring air in.  Ahhh!  I can't wait!

December 31, 2010 - The End......

Ahhhhhh!  The smell of the new year is in the air and I cannot wait to see what it has to offer!  I've made pork and sauerkraut, a few snack foods, and sandwich items for friends to eat while stopping by.  I'm sitting here in the living room waiting on James to get home.  He had to drop off his mom and stop at his house.  I have the Bubbies here with me however, they are waiting on their cans of food that their dad forgot to bring over :)  Tee hee.

I think that my two cats and his two dogs are getting along much better now.  At first it was quite strange for all parties involved but now it's all good.  Kodi (Bubbies #1) is a Chow mix, Gizmo (Bubbies #2) is a Shih tzu and then we have Fiddos (the woman of the house) my cat and Jackie Doo Butt Stick (the little man) also my cat.  Gizmo has a little peeing problem that we've run into once or twice because he's a little spoiled man and likes to pee on things without repercussions.  So I did have to make a trip over to James' house to pick up the rug scrubber for the floor near the corner of the guest room bed.  What he was doing in there I'm not quite sure, but he must have enjoyed it.

Today, I met James and his mom for lunch at Rotelli's Italian Restaurant.  We ordered two pizzas because they were buy one get one free!   Then, this boy I know was working there, Bob, and he gave us some fried ravioli as well!  It was very nice of him.  During lunch, James' mom was telling me about her trip to Germany to see James while he was in the Army.  You see, his mom Ana grew up in Puerto Rico and ended up quitting school very early in order to take care of her brothers and sisters.  So to this day she cannot read or write (either English or Spanish) and talks pretty broken English yet fluent Spanish.  So she was telling me how she missed her flight from New York to Germany to see him.  That she ended up getting another flight with a connection and ended up getting lost in Germany.  She's so funny.  And when you think about it, not only would it be hard to get around in an unfamiliar airport but then throw in that you cannot read or wright or barely speak English and no German.... That would be pretty scary!  However she wasn't scared.  She said the airport was filled with military men walking up and down the hallways with machine guns and here she comes with a bag of rice and beans and pastelles. LOL  ( If you ever get a chance to try Puerto Rican rice and beans with pastelles I HIGHLY recommend it!)  :)  

So anyway, Happy New Year to all of those who may come across my page.  I wish you all the best in the new  year!  Take it easy and take care!

((HUGS))

December 28, 2010 - Stupid, Ignorant People.........

So why do people feel so entitled?  It drives me absolutely crazy! Today I went to the grocery store to pick up the traditional pork ribs and sauerkraut for New Years Eve.  While pulling into the parking lot to find a parking place you have to drive in front of the store to go back the aisles of parking places.  An elderly couple with a buggy stopped directly in the middle of the crosswalk from the store to the parking area, are just stopped talking and talking and talking to another older lady.  Now really?  Get a grip people!  YOU are not the only people on the planet!  All of the other cars are squeezing around them to get by and the three of them are absolutely clueless of what is going on around them!  So annoying.

I go into the store to pick up my items and yet another elderly lady.  This one obviously somewhat underprivileged with her brown and tan coat, ratted hair, brown orthopedic shoes and her grocery list with a running total of how much she was spending.  For a moment I thought, HOW COOL!  She's keeping track of what she's spending so she doesn't go over her budget!  Very good idea!  However, that idea went right out the window as I pull up behind her as she was sitting in the middle of the aisle adding up her list.  Really?  Do you honestly think that by sitting with your buggy in the middle of the aisle that you will not be inconveniencing anyone that is behind you?  Grrrr!  Drives me crazy!  I try very hard to get out of the way of traffic when I'm out in public.  Meaning that if I am out in a grocery store and I need to text or look something up, I'd pull over to the side of the aisle out of the way of people.  Apparently I'm of rare kind!  Thank you to my mom for raising me correctly!  :)

December 27, 2010 - New Year Resolution - Operation Declutter 2011

What a constructive day!  James stopped by here after he got done work today to pick me up and take me to Home Depot to get the new pantry cabinet I wanted.  We got it hauled back here and I built it.  I wouldn't have asked him to stay here and help me because a. he had to get home to feed the Bubbies, and b. because he had just worked all day.  It wasn't so hard anyway to get it put together.  Let me tell you though!  I'm absolutely delighted it's all up and ready to use!  I guess I should tell you the story.


I decided that for my New Year Resolution this year I'm taking on "Operation Declutter 2011"!  Hell, I've even just created a Facebook page for others to join and exchange tips and chronicle our milestone achievements.  I think it's going to be great!  And if we talk about it we may be able to make sure that we keep on it.  I'm also hoping that by decluttering and organizing my home more, that it might spill over into my life as well.  Perhaps I can get more organized when it comes to eating right and exercising too.


So, I've started cleaning out my closets, and no not the proverbial one!  And this pantry is going to be wonderful!  It will make shopping much easier because I'll be able to see what I do and do not have.  Hopefully save me some money because I've now realized that I have 4 entire bags of powdered sugar.  Now really, what does one person need with 4 bags of powdered sugar?  Ha!  However, organizing the kitchen cupboards with only the items that are opened and currently being used I think is a great idea!  Well if anyone is reading this and would like to share ideas on organizing and decluttering, by all means please feel free to comment and let me know! :)