Monday, September 9, 2013

9 September 2013 local service may be spotty


Cassi Creek:  After spending all summer waiting on local electricians to show up and repair the pool heater, we finally told them to cancel any further service.  The heating and cooling company that works in concert with the local pool company has wavered between telling us they will be here and telling us that they can’t get the right parts to repair the existing heater. 
          Between the pool company and the heating and cooling company, we’ve spent well over $200 for an older model heater plus two service calls.  We wanted to pull the heat exchanger from the older model to replace the heat exchanger in the newer model that failed last September.  Buying a new exchanger was out of the question.  They can be found in catalogues for about $600.00.  However, the pool and spa company has control of all the heaters and repair parts for that line of heaters.  All parts sold in the area must go through his store.  That doubles the price.  Replacing the heat exchanger would have cost $1300 plus labor.  A new heater would have run about $4000 installed. 
          We decided today to try to find another company for service and repairs.  We have a call scheduled for tomorrow afternoon and a message in queue for a second company that might be willing to trek out here. 
          Influenza shots are available now at CVS in Greeneville.   As of Thursday, VA is not offering immunizations.  Since my next appointment is in early November, I’m not that eager to make a special trip into town to stand in line for an hour or more.  We may drive over to Greeneville – roughly half the distance to travel – so that we have a longer time to develop the antibodies that may prevent influenza this season.
          Some of the bravest men I’ve ever encountered were the crews who flew “Dust Off” missions in VietNam.  Their ships were painted with targets.  They flew un-armed except for personal weapons.  Every flight was likely to take them into some form of danger.  The weather might be problematic.  Monsoon season spawned massive thunderstorms that could swat a helicopter out of the air.  The LZ might be dangerous because of its location and topography.  It might be a hot LZ with enemy soldiers doing their best to blow the chopper out of the sky.  These men along with their support and maintenance sections, made one of the greatest changes in the survival rate for U.S. wounded.  In ideal conditions no wounded were more than 20-30 minutes from a medical unit.  In other conditions, the crews did everything that they could to pick up casualties as rapidly as possible.  There is no superlative adequate for accurately describing these crews.  Thanks, guys.





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