Tag Archives: Avis

NoVA, RoVA, Raleigh

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I arrived safely in Raleigh a few minutes ago. Since my arrival, enough time has elapsed to unpack my duds, set up my toiletries, call my little bride, hook up the computer, and find the NASCAR race on teevee.

It was a beautiful day for a trip; the fall colors, which I’d say are past peak, are still beautiful in the sunshine, and it was just a pleasant drive coming down,

This trip is powered by Chevy Malibu; Greg the Avis agent at IAD saved me some money (about 100 bucks) on the rental by giving me my company’s corporate rate instead of the AARP rate I used when I booked the car. Such customer service is rare, and most welcome when you see it. I’d always thought the AARP rate was pretty good; Greg told me that AARP rates aren’t as good on holiday weekends. I’d have thought the Avis website would have reflected the higher rates; Greg says that’s sometimes not the case.
Savings is savings, though, and Greg got my day off to a great start.

Tomorrow, off to the Red Hat Mothership, for 4 days of book learnin’, followed by what I’ve heard is an ass-kicker of a certification exam.

-k-
[stags]Raleigh, Avis, Red Hat[/stags]

Search for America Tour, 2007, Leg 1

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Tonight finds SWMBO and I west of Nashville, on our way to Hot Springs AR. Normally, we would be in Hot Springs by mid-afternoon tomorrow, but we’re staying in Little Rock tomorrow night. Elder Daughter is taking the red-eye from California, and arrives on Friday morning. So, we’ll stay close to the airport there, and meet her flight on Friday. It’ll be nice to see her again, even though the purpose of the whole trip is a little bittersweet. SWMBO’s mom is beginning to fail noticeably, at least mentally, so this could be the last time they’re all together in some semblance of the way things have always been. I plan to consume my brother-in-law’s beer, watch his TV, and generally hang out.

There are no Buick fuel economy numbers to report; Avis was out of Buicks, so we were stuck with a Mercury Grand Marquis, a supposed equivalent. I made so many snarky comments about the Merc on the drive over that I feel like I’ve blogged them already. I will recognize the efforts of Drew, the Avis agent on duty at Dulles airport this morning. He turned over every Avis inventory for 30 miles in search of Buicks, to no avail. I appreciate his efforts; he did proffer a Lincoln Town car. I told him I’m a GM guy, and asked if they had any Cadillacs. Nope. If I’m going to go funereal when it comes to driving, make mine Cadillac.

The Merc accomplished one thing worthy of note; it maintained my no-fly streak. And that’s worth something, I guess.

-k-

Podless

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On arriving home from work tonight, I observed SWMBO’s green Saturn occupying its regular parking spot. The spot that used to be the PODS’. As utilitarian a device as it was, I’m glad to see it gone. Another step on the road back to normalcy.

I’ve lavishly praised PODS’ service and online account management tools. This morning, my cell phone rang at 9:08; it was the PODS guy, confirming the address, and state of the POD. It shouldn’t be necessary to rave about good service, but in these times it’s a rarity.

As much as I’m glad to see the container gone, I will definitely do business with PODS again. Next time, we’re redoing the upper level of our place, and we’ll be able to take advantage of the PODS’ built in clothes rods to hold some surplus stuff from closets. Hopefully, when we’re ready again, the AAA discount (about 50 or 60 bucks) will still apply. Even without that discount, it’s a good value.

So, if/when you have a need, and if PODS are available in your area, by all means check them out. A 5-star rating from the tbbs-land real world test labs.

Good job, PODS!

-k-

Watching Pod-Zilla load the pod off the flatbed truck is worth a bunch of the price of admission. But I’m old, and easily amused.

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Be it Ever so Humble

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Arrived safely back home a couple of hours ago. SWMBO and the cat were happy to see me; the feeling was mutual. The big ol’ Buick rental has been delivered back to Avis, and all’s right with the world.

The Buick economy numbers went from 24.9 life-to-date MPG on my arrival in Raleigh, to 24.5 while I was there, because of the start/stop short jaunts. I managed to get it back to 24.9 on the return trip. Those City/Highway MPG numbers are really true.

-k-

Are You Ready for Some Football?

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Tonight, the Hall of Fame Game, from Canton OH. I don’t get as fired up about football as I once did, but tonight’s game features the Raiders against Philadelphia.

I’m a fan of the Kansas City Chieves, and as such, would probably be run out of KC for saying I like the Raiders also. But that Raider mystique, Al Davis periodically telling the NFL to get bent, and the general outlaw image of the team, makes them hard to resist in my book.

-k-

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