College Pro Painters – Very unprofessional!

I’ve been trying to get some bids for a new roof and an exterior paint job on my home of two years and as I have seen the handmade signs on the road-side for many years in the Portland Metro area advertising “College Pro Painters”, I decided to call them and get an estimate.  I called and made an in-home appointment for 1:00 PM on July 13th, 2013, approximately ten days prior to the actual appointment.

On the day of the appointment at 1:15 PM (yes, they were late!) they called and left a message to say that they, “Would be on time for our 2:00 PM appointment.”  I guess they must have thought that as I’m a senior that I wouldn’t notice the delayed appointment time!  Anyway, come 2:05 PM (yes, late again!) a woman named “Lauren” called to cancel and asked to reschedule?!!  I told “Lauren” that due to their lack of professionalism and their un-business-like way of conducting their operation, I would not now or ever be interested in using their services!  And then hung up the phone.

Today is July 18, 2013 and guess who just called me to state that she had a note that I was interested in getting an estimate?!! You’re kidding me right? Evidently at her young age she has already developed selective senility considering “Lauren” and I spoke only five days ago!  She also didn’t like me “bad-mouthing” her company and kept trying to cut me off by speaking over me, and doing it rather loudly!

Admittedly she tried to offer me a “trim paint job” as recompense for the bad service and their rude behavior, but putting up with more scheduling headaches from them for the sake of paint on a few skinny boards . . . not worth the attitude.  Forget ’em! I don’t know what her/their problem is but if she is indicative of their company and the other employees they use, then the world would be better off if they’d just closed their doors, permanently!

By the way, a different girl this time called a couple of days ago saying she received a note stating “I might be interested in an estimate” . . . .  sheer stupidity!!  And they’re supposedly “college educated”?  Hmmmm . . . I doubt it.

SparkChaser4

Another “Brother” home from Vietnam

From Military.Com – Jul 03, 2013

Soldier Killed in Vietnam War Copter Crash Buried

A Vietnam War soldier missing since his helicopter was shot down in 1970, was identified
and laid to rest Tuesday at Arlington National Cemetery.

Dozens of family members gathered in Section 60 to watch a horse-drawn caisson deliver the remains of
Army Spc. John L. Burgess in a casket draped with the American flag.

 

Find the rest of the article at their website located HERE.

Welcome home, my brother!  You’ve done us proud!

SparkChaser4

New vinyl flooring? Say no to detergents!

Finally, thank you Shawna for your question!  Your vinyl installer was right.  Many of the vinyl floorings used today are damaged by strong detergents as well as other cleaners.  Do not use them on your floors.  Just use straight warm water and rinse often.

The reason for no detergent is this, it eventually will remove the protective coating on the vinyl exposing the subsurface to dirt, stains and grit.  You’ll want the coating to last for years so, plain water only.  If you want to disinfect or remove some stain once in a while than typically you can use a little vinegar in your water, but not straight vinegar!  I mix a couple of tablespoons in a pint spray bottle with the balance filled with warm water.  Spray, then rinse with the mop.  Works great!  Thank you for your question!

SparkChaser4

Where Our Freedom Comes From

WHERE OUR FREEDOM COMES FROM:

T’was the night before Christmas,
He lived all alone.
In a one-bedroom house
Made of plaster and stone.

I had come down the chimney
With presents to give,
And to see just who
In this home did live.

I looked all about
A strange sight I did see.
No tinsel, no presents,
Not even a tree.

No stocking by mantle,
Just boots filled with sand.
On the wall hung pictures
Of far and distant lands.

With medals and badges,
Awards of all kinds.
A sober thought
Came through my mind.

For this house was different,
It was dark and dreary.
I found the home of a soldier,
Once I could see clearly.

The soldier lay sleeping,
Silent, alone.
Curled up on the floor
In this one-bedroom home.

The face was so gentle,
The room in such disorder.
Not how I pictured,
A United States Soldier.

Was this the hero
Of whom I’d just read?
Curled up on a poncho,
The floor for a bed.

I realized the families
That I saw this night,
Owed their lives to these soldiers
Who were willing to fight.

Soon ’round the world
The children would play,
And grown-ups would celebrate
A bright Christmas Day.

They all enjoyed freedom
Each month of the year.
Because of the soldiers,
Like the one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder
How many lay alone,
On a cold Christmas Eve
In a land far from Home.

The very thought
Brought a tear to my eye.
I dropped to my knees
And started to cry.

The soldier awakened
and I heard a rough voice,
“Santa don’t cry,
This life is my choice.

I fight for freedom,
I don’t ask for more.
My live is my God,
My Country, my Corps.”

The soldier rolled over
And drifted to sleep.
I couldn’t control it,
I continued to weep.

I wept for hours
So silent and still,
And we both shivered
From the cold night’s chill.

I didn’t want to leave
On that cold, dark night,
This guardian of honor
So willing to fight.

Then the soldier rolled over
With a voice soft and pure,
Whispered, “Carry on, Santa.
It’s Christmas Day, all is secure.”

One look at my watch
And I knew he was right.
“Merry Christmas my friend,
And to all a Good Night!”

Thanks to An Ordinary American for allowing us to copy this from his site.

Merry Christmas Everyone!
SparkChaser4

H&W Carpets review

It’s been almost a year since I hired H&W Carpets to supply and install the flooring in our newly purchased 1974 ranch home. I had to wait this long to write this review for a reason. It was to give them enough time to follow-up on the job (which they didn’t) and time for my temper to cool! Their address is given as: 19505 SW Tualatin Valley Hwy, Aloha, Oregon.

In the beginning everything went as expected, it was near job completion that he (our sales rep) showed us “attitude” in a comment he made to us about when the payment in full was due! Snarky indeed! We have also found poor quality workmanship in the way they installed the flooring. One section of the vinyl was installed leaving what could best be described as a bubble in the flooring upon completion. A bubble approximately 16 inches in diameter!

In another part of the house, the carpet was cut to reinstall the floor heat register to the heat ducting. Only problem is, in addition to the rectangular cut-out, they also made a second cut from one end of the cut-out and extended it out into the flooring where they proceeded to make a large letter “e” cut into the carpet.

My 45+ year construction background tells me that the 4-inch large “e” cut in the carpet field was the installer trying to find the register opening in the floor in the beginning. He then extended it over to cut the rectangular shaped hole afterwards. The fact that he made this excessively large cut without repairing the damage shows poor work ethics as well as a bit of dishonesty in failing to bring it to the attention of either his boss or myself, the buyer.

In both cases what with the vinyl “bubble” and the sliced-up carpet, a proper installer taking pride in his work would have ripped out the damaged flooring and replaced it with new at his own expense if need be, instead of trying to hide his work and hope the buyer doesn’t notice his shoddy workmanship. With numerous flooring suppliers around, I cannot in good faith recommend H&W Carpets, Inc. to anyone. Nor would I even allow them into my house again to clean my floor much less buy and install a new one. My rating? Is there such thing as a Negative Star Rating?

Too bad, as I prefer doing business with local mom and pop shops and tradespeople. Just not this one I guess!

SparkChaser4

What I’ve been up to . . .

Now that my better-half and I have been in this “new” home of ours for nine months now, our efforts are finally beginning to show around the homestead. Particularly the shrubs and plants found in our yard! Here’s a dozen to sample.

And this doesn’t even include the four varieties of plum trees and the taller fauna! I hope like me, you’re all staying busy and enjoying the beautiful weather we’re having now!

God bless.

SparkChaser4

Vietnam War airman’s remains identified

Missing Vietnam War airman’s remains identified

This article from CNN in full print found here.

By the CNN Wire Staff – June 8, 2011 5:53 a.m. EDT

(CNN) — The remains of a U.S. Air Force pilot listed as missing in action since his plane crashed in Laos in 1967 have been identified, and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors, the Defense Department’s POW/Missing Personnel Office said Tuesday.

On June 21, 1967, Capt. Darrell J. Spinler was piloting an A-1E Skyraider — a propeller-driven, single-seat aircraft — attacking enemy targets along the Xekong River in Laos when villagers reported hearing an explosion before his aircraft crashed. The pilot of another A-1E remained in the area for more than two hours but saw no sign of Spinler.

In 1993, villagers who witnessed the crash told a joint U.S.-Laotian team led by Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) that Spinler’s body was on the river bank after the crash, but that it likely washed away during the ensuing rainy season. The team surveyed the location and found wreckage consistent with Spinler’s aircraft.

Note:  During my time over in Asia as an aircraft electrician, I worked on many of the A1-E Skyraiders there. They were referred to by the call-sign of “Sandy” by the men on the ground and we repair crews, and were thought of highly for their ability to loiter for long periods of time while providing necessary ground cover to the men. Please welcome home at last another “lost brother”, Capt. Darrell J. Spinler.  And may God bless him and his family, and give him the peace he’s rightly earned. Amen.

Hand . . . Salute!

SparkChaser4

Spring cleaning ?

Decided it was time to get rid of some things around the ol’ household. We’ve been in our new place (built in ’74 I believe) for six months now and the missus is still antsey about not being able to park her car in the garage. Little does she know that I’m considering taking over the whole garage for my “new” workshop anyway!

Meanwhile, out goes the Electric typewriter, four Handspring Visor Neos with USB cradles and a complete Windows Me computer system that I changed over to run on a Linux Operating System. I’m beginning to wonder if I’ll ever get this house in order before it’s time to meet my maker. Well, back to work!

SparkChaser4

‘Smart Meters’ Prove to Be a Dumb Idea

As an electrician, I stated that a plain electric meter containing a transmitter wasn’t a good idea! Weren’t there enough signals going through the air already without adding another one from every wired home and business around?  Appears I was right, and The Blaze agrees with this consensus. Find their article here.

Now join the crowd and demand their immediate removal and return to the plain meters. This would also give the added benefit of rehiring Meter-readers back on and don’t we need all the jobs we can produce in these times?

SparkChaser4

How hot’s the water?

Wanda asked me, “How do I know what temperature the water-heater is set at, when all it says on the thermostat is “A”, “B” or “C”?

My Answer:  Wanda, my gas water-heater thermostat’s settings are identified in the same way.  There are also others identified only with “Low”, “Med” or “High” instead of an actual temperature (in degrees) setting. So how do you tell?  Pick the faucet or bathing facility that is the farthest from the water-heater in your home and turn it on to the “full hot only” position.  If you don’t know which faucet this is then turn on the one centrally located in your home.  Next, let the water run until it won’t get any hotter to your touch, then hold the end of a thermometer in the water’s flow until the temperature won’t rise any longer. 

That is your water temperature setting or at least close enough to allow you to adjust the temperature to the proper 120-125 degrees in your home.  As to the thermometer, you can use a candy or even a meat thermometer as they will readily read in the temperature range necessary to make your adjustments.  By the way, most mercury “wall thermometers” aren’t very accurate at the higher temps so skip using them.  Adjust your thermostat(s) ever so slightly over a period of days until your water temperature is where you want it to be.  Why days?  Because unless you go through large quantities of hot water regularly, it will take an extended period for the water-heater to readjust to the new setting.

As a last hint, once you have the thermostat set to the temperature you’re happy with, make a small mark on the thermostat dial next to the arrow with a bright-colored or white latex paint, fingernail polish or the like.  Then you will always know at a glance what the temperature on your water-heater is set to.  Hope this answers your question. And thanks.

SparkChaser4