The Signs, The Signs...

The Signs,The Signs...

Sitting with the usual guys having Diet Cokes  discussing politics, religion, sports, the Boston Bombings and one of the irregulars blurts out: "The signs went up the other day. Still don't know the why or the what... but still the signs went up. Town trucks arrived a little before noon and they installed the signs". I immediate thought  "Did this geezer lose it? What the heck is he talking about?" Stupidly I ask, "What are you talking about?".

And so the story begins: Seems there is a strange neighbor on this guys street. He has never met her and knows nothing about her except what others tell him. She had a husband. He left. She had a tenant. He left. She had another tenant. He left. The cable guy refuses to go back to the house , she calls regularly for service. The police who arrive occasionally leave shaking their heads. Not  a participant nor will she sign on for any block party however when it was held, at precisely the moment the permit ran out  (11PM) she drove down the street at a good rate of speed beeping her horn, chasing the kids and parents  off the pavement. When confronted by a neighbor about her recklessness she gave the neighbors a one fingered salute. (He did witness this).

Each of the homes on this street are well maintained,her's included, forming a nice little enclave. Yet deep down there is one who "has a problem" or so  I am told. Rumor has it she is a nurse who works odd hours so her lack of visibility is job related. But late at night her car is found in one of her two drive ways, one on each side of the home. Occasionally, a flash of light can been seen, according to an eye witness.  It appears Nurse Whatever takes photos of cars parked at her curbside as well as those on the street. "And...?", I ask.

My partner in conversation informs me that these photos were presented to the town board, with dates and times, as well as other "documentation " that her driveway (which one?) was blocked causing her to miss work at the hospital. She feels she is being harassed by the neighbors on this otherwise quite street.

"Hmmmmm", I said," Anything else?"." Why yes", he states. There was that time when a neighbor's mother was being cared for by hospice.  The hospice care giver was an African American  who one day brought her teenage son along, allowing him to sit in the car listening to a NY Yankees game. While the Nurse Whatever saw a car parked in front of her home, one with this young man in the car ....yea, you guessed it, she called 911 claiming her home was being staked out for a possible home invasion. The responding officer must have recognized the address. He was calm, cool, and collected. He asked the young man what he was doing (listening to the Yankees waiting on his mother), and could he present ID which he politly did. A few moments later the young man's mother saw what was happening and.... she became outraged that this woman  called 911. The police officer calmed things down and...

So I ask, "but the signs, what about the signs?"...Oh, yeah the signs.

Town trucks arrived a little before noon. Dug a few holes in the curbside and place NO PARKING ANYTIME signs, the ones  complete with arrows which now effectively designate her property a NO PARKING ZONE. What??? How can that be???? My partner walked over to the juke box, deposited in the appropriate coinage, hit a button, smiled and walked out. A few moments later I heard Willie Nelson's beautiful voice singing..."Crazy"...jazzbus@gmail.com

Artist of The Day: CRABBY APPLETON

Just had the urge to listen to Crabby Appleton on SPOTIFY. First two lps in sequence.Michael can really sing.

The Discount Double Check: Ha

The Discount Double Check AKA The Insurance Screw Job.

People still haven't been in their homes from Hurricane Sandy. Construction teams line the streets, PODS still on lawns, families still in campers, six months after the fact. Me I was only inconvienced by a few days of NO ELECTRIC. Back to a sense of normalcy fourteen days later. No biggie.
No claim needed to be filed on my behalf, luckily. But unluckily today I received the "heads up" from my local "discount double checker" at State Farm that my home was being dropped by the company because "the company (Not him and he emphasized his disagreement with the company) redrew the lines in the local map regarding home owner coverage". Bullshit.
 Continuous coverage is what I have had on my residence since  I purchased it in 1973 with State Farm. My drivers insurance goes back further than that. Now I have until May 30 to find coverage elsewhere. There is no codicil for "pre existing coverage" no "grandfathering" those who have coverage. Nothing, just a adios. So here's my letter...

Dear State Farm:

At 16 years of age (1968) I obtained my driver's license. Mr. Frank Burke, my neighbor and local STATE FARM agent wrote my insurance policy. While doing so he made me feel special and valued. A few months later he did the same when I purchased my first automobile and needed insurance.

Needless to say when I bought my home in 1973, the same home I am still residing in, Mr. Frank Burke whose office is within walking distance of my home, again wrote my STATE FARM policy. Since that time I have been a continuous and faithful State Farm client; adding my wife's car and later my two son's policies, and each time feeling special by my State Farm agent. An easy transition occurred when Frank retired and Anthony Albano retained Frank's client list. Anthony it should be noted is wonderful.

Mr. Albano was even kind enough to call to "give me a heads up" that a letter from Corporate was in the mail. To my dismay I received the letter which stated that after 40 years of continuous home owners insurance STATE FARM would "value me as a customer"(as the letter states) and unceremoniously DROP my coverage due to State Farm's losses in my area during Hurricane Sandy. To me this is outrageous.

Let it be known that I DID NOT (fortunately) having any damage to my home during Hurricane Sandy NOR did I Initiate any claims at that time. However, your letter asserts "THIS ACTION IS DUE TO THE EXPOSURE TO LOSS TO YOUR (my emphasis added)PROPERTY FROM CATASTROPHE..."

During the storm of March 2010 (three years ago) I did need to file a claim regarding my roof and siding(claim #XXX-XX-XXXX).  At that time I did also have standing rain water accumulating in my basement for which I did not have coverage.

Since that time  my home has been repaired  (roof and partial siding by claim) and followed completely at my own expense with a series of "French Drains" installed in the basement subflooring (with a generator backup), all exterior windows and doors replaced (Anderson energy efficient) as well as further energy efficient initiatives completed in 2011 through the office of the TOWN OF BABYLON'S- Long Island Green Homes Project.

As you can ascertain, I truly care for my home and property. Being a proud "valued customer"  ( I correct you as it should be" client") State Farm finds it in their best interest to drop me after 40 plus consecutive years of faithfully paying my premiums.

Since your letter I have searched for a carrier to pick up my policy. It should be noted that, yes, policies are available to me by companies offering to  moving my $912.00 a year premium to an outrageous over $2000.00 a year threshold.

 

Lastly, I wish to remind STATE FARM that when my original policy was written in 1973 I WALKED to the office on Montauk Highway which is just north of my home. What has changed in the "map" since that time  40 years ago?  As a long time CLIENT in good standing, a having gone through the "discount double check" in Mr. Albano's office only last spring where he voiced no concerns on STATE FARM's part regarding my home owners policy,  I request your re-consideration of this move to drop my policy and consider "grandfathering" mine and others like me.

 

Awaiting your immediate reply I remain,

jazzbus@gmail.com

So Sad About Us...

Traveling north on I-95 my wife's cellphone went off just a few miles south of Washington D.C. My son called to inform us that there had been "a bombing" at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. His phraseology of "bombing" immediately needed clarification. Not being one to exaggerate we took him at face value but asked for any and all updates. As soon as my wife disconnected the call she searched using her smart phone for further information while I ejected the CD from the player and scanned for an all-News station.
A live feed from Boston was located on a Baltimore affiliate of CBS Radio Network. With much interest we listened. After the first report a local announcer came on to "interpret and rehash" what was said but in doing so he seemed to have taken great liberties in his interpretation, or so we thought.
By this time I was nearing the bridge in Washington. Quite cautiously I scanned the horizon. Planes were off in the distance and one helicopter off toward the Capitol. Nothing unusual. By the time we entered Maryland I noticed a few more than normally situated police vehicles. And by the time we reached the tunnel the presence was seen and felt. To my right a police car had a car pulled over and officers, about four or five in number, looked to have dismantled the vehicle's seats and trunk. My blood pressure started to elevate.
A few miles further  north a police cruiser with siren blasting passed on my right, a shoulder of the highway  not part of the road proper. And officers were noticed near the tolls before the tunnel entrance. A slow stop and go ride through the tunnel did not help to calm my nerves.
Upon leaving the tunnel the AM News station returned indicating that numerous victims were injured, about 20 was the first report. The further north we traveled the higher the number of injuries.
On the NJ Turnpike we picked up the WCBS 880 Radio report. Neither my wife nor I had too much of a conversation other than "Oh God". What to think? jazzbus@gmail.com