Extreme Makeover?

Its time for a random post.   Its been awhile since I've done one of these.

Do you remember this picture of our VW?   Its from a post I did about duct tape.

There were comments about it looking getto.   Well Candi and I went to one of my favorite stores - Princess Auto.   Well, Candi found some black tape.  What do you think of the new look VW?

I must admit that it does look better.

We actually stopped at Princess Auto after we went to Pick N Pull - its basically where old cars go to die and you can take any parts off that you can find.  I've used it many times.  For example Mike and Angie had a car with an electric window that didn't go up and down.   Not only did I find the parts to fix their car, I was able to see how everything came apart before I worked on their car.    

We went looking for a part for our VW.   You see, the VW had this strange problem.   It worked great except when it rained or snowed.   I first noticed it in a spring snow storm.   Basically it would stall when it was wet outside.   After waiting a few minutes it would start up again.   With all the rain we've had lately its been a problem because we couldn't rely on the car.    

I googled "VW Golf stalls in rain".   I found out that this is a common problem with the VW Golf and Jetta.  Most people suggested that it is a cracked ignition coil.  Moisture gets in and the car stalls.   I looked at the ignition coil in our car and sure enough it was cracked.   I sealed the crack with some shoe goo and I figured the problem was solved.   But next rain, it stalled again.   I priced it out and you could pay up to $200 for the part.   Being the cheap person I am I figured I'd check out Pick N Pull.

We went and there were 3 VW's Golfs about the same age as ours.   On the first one we looked at the part was already gone (I told you it was a common problem).  We took the part out of the second one.   It didn't quite look the same but we figured that it should work.  

We came home and it fit.  We wanted to confirm that this would fix the problem.  On the internet is said to get some water and pour it on the ignition coil when the car is running and see if it stalls.  We did that and sure enough it stalled and we couldn't start it.   We put in our "new" used part and it started right up.   

Here's the "new" used ignition coil.   

Its been raining all week and the car seems to be running fine.    The best part of this was how much this part cost.   A grand total of $6.47 including tax (plus the time to go find it).   

  

What's the opposite of a Raving Fan?

  
I've done some posts about my raving fan experiences.   Those customer service experiences that are so outstanding that you just have to tell every one.   (My Apple Story- My WestJet Story)


Isn't it unfortunate that when we get good customer service we find it remarkable but when we get bad customer service we aren't surprised.  More often then not we just live with it.  But here's the story of one person who did something about it.


I was listening to CBC radio the other day and they were interviewing a Canadian musician named Dave Carroll.  His group is called Sons of Maxwell.   Here's a short version of his story in his own words:

In the spring of 2008, Sons of Maxwell were traveling to Nebraska for a one-week tour and my Taylor guitar was witnessed being thrown by United Airlines baggage handlers in Chicago. I discovered later that the $3500 guitar was severely damaged. They didn’t deny the experience occurred but for nine months the various people I communicated with put the responsibility for dealing with the damage on everyone other than themselves and finally said they would do nothing to compensate me for my loss. So I promised the last person to finally say “no” to compensation (Ms. Irlweg) that I would write and produce three songs about my experience with United Airlines and make videos for each to be viewed online by anyone in the world. United: Song 1 is the first of those songs. United: Song 2 has been written and video production is underway. United: Song 3 is coming. I promise.

You can click here to get the detailed version of his story.


Here's the first video.







Over 4.7 million views on YouTube.   Dave Carroll has been interviewed on CNN, MSNBC, CBC, etc, etc.   It's been a PR nightmare for United.   United Airlines stock dropped 10% after  the story hit the press.  Was it because of this song or simply because they are a struggling airline in a tough economy.   I'd like to think that this song had something to do with it.  One article I read estimated that drop cost shareholders
 $180 million - or enough to replace 51,000 Taylor guitars.   


I think that its great that someone is fighting back and is making a difference.    I'm sure that the popularity of this video is because we've all had a similar experience and can totally relate.     


I heard that United has asked if they could use the video in their customer service training so that they handle these issues better in the future.   


I'm not a singer or a songwriter , but my kids are.   Next time I have to deal with customer service and I don't get any results, I may have to get one of my daughters to write a song for me.   


Dave Carroll's United Song Number 2 is coming out next week.   

Congratulations Erika!

In my post on Erika's birthday I included a link to a youtube video that she put together for a Jonas Brother's cover contest.     Yesterday she called me and told me that she got an email telling her that she made the top 10.




Its amazing that she did all the instruments and vocals.    What is just as amazing to me is that she did all the sound and video recording and mixing on her macbook.  She used the built-in camera and microphone and the software that comes with the computer - iMovie and Garageband.

The results of the contest were posted today.    Erika was a runner up.   Good Job Erika.  You're a winner in my books.

You can see the official results on the Team Jonas website.

July Catch Up.

Lately it seems that my only posts have been for birthdays or anniversaries.  I'll try to catch up an cover a some of the events of the summer.

Young Women's Camp 2009

In July we had our Ward Young Women's Camp.   Both Judy and I were there as leaders.  Jamie and Jenelle were there as young women.   We went to a campground near Beazer Alberta (between Cardston and Waterton)

YW Camp 2009 - Group Shot

   

The accommodations - there are tarps over several of the tents because it poured when we were setting up the tents.

  

The camp kitchen - this was nice because it had windows on one end but was open on the other end.  The windows blocked the wind and the roof kept us dry.   There was also a wood burning stove that kept us warm.  We ate very well thanks to Brother Wilmot and Brother Payne.

    

We went white water rafting - the water wasn't that white.   There was a cool breeze blowing so when you got wet - it was cold.

    

  

Notice the happy hiker in the pink shorts

  

On the trail to Bertha Lake

  

Group shot at Bertha Lake.  Notice that everyone is in dark colors except for one person.

  

  

Young Men's/Venturer Camp 2009

The next week the young men had their camp.  They took 6 days and hiked the Rock Wall trail in Kootenay National Park in BC.   Apparently its rated as one of the best trails in the world.  I didn't take a camera with me so I don't have any pictures.   One of the leaders took his camera and shared a few pictures with me.

I didn't go on the entire hike but the Young Men's President and I hiked in to meet them where they were camping the last night and then hiked out with them the last day.    The deal was that we would bring them real food for the last big meal on the trail.   The last campsite allowed fires so we packed in tin foil dinners for the group.
  

No we did not pack in tablecloths and centre pieces with candles.   The picture above shows something you would not see at a young men's camp.    This is from the YW Camp the week before.  At young men's camp they didn't even have tables.

  

The mighty hiker

  

We packed in raw meat in bear country.   How crazy is that?    When we approached the camp the young men were all there as of they came out to greet us.   We wondered how they knew we were coming exactly at that time.   As we got close they told us that there was bear about where we were standing not more than a minute earlier.   When the bear saw them it went running up a hill.   Good thing it didn't go running up the trail.  

   

Our accommodations for the night.  We rented the tent.  We reserved a 2 man tent but when we went to pick it up they only had a 3 man tent available.  Turns out I'm glad because if this is a 3 man tent - I want to know what 3 men they are referring to.   We wouldn't have wanted  anything smaller than this for the 2 of us.

  

Group shot - ready to hike out the last day.

  

  

Other events of July

  

 

The girls went on a road trip to see the Jonas Brothers in Edmonton

  

We celebrated Erika's Birthday.

   

We also had lots of company stay with us.  Sharon and Troy were here for basketball.  Troy is on the Alberta Team.  Darrell and Julia were here for a BMX race.  Trish and Calvin were here just for a nice visit. Grandma and Grandpa T. were here so they could visit with Erika before she left.  

  

It was a fun month that went very quickly.