August,

 AA> I had a similar situation once, but the problem WASN'T the
 AA> thermostat. I turned everything on, but the A/C wouldn't kick
 AA> in. I call them, like you did, but all they did was was send
 AA> someone over.  They didn't suggest anything prior to that.

  Better open up your wallet wide for the service call. :P

 AA> The guy comes over, does exactly the same thing I did to turn
 AA> onthe A/C, noticed no change, and then just stood there.  I
 AA> asked him, "Now what? Do you think it's more serious?.  He said,
 AA> "No. But sometimes it takes about 8 minutes for the system to
 AA> get started."   Sure enough, about 8-10 minutes later, the
 AA> system revved up.

  I never heard of a thing like that.

 AA> I thought "Great! I'm glad I wasn't going to be a maintenance
 AA> bill."

 AA> BUT.. about a week later, I get an invoice in the mail for a
 AA> "Service call,  $90".  I was furious.  All the guy did was push
 AA> the ON button and wait.  Besides, the "and wait" part was
 AA> something they could have told me over the phone! 

  Did you still have to pay it??

 AA> I could probably cope with pains, but lack of eyesight would be
 AA> worse for me.

  Same here. I joke (truthfully) that several years ago, I had to have
blind ham radio operators direct me out of a hamfest parking lot, and
out of a hospital parking deck (that's my legacy in that hobby ).
At least it has been "caught early"...the same thing as for when cancer
is found...as it's more easily treatable.

  Speaking of which, I've started preparation for my colonoscopy next
month...getting the paperwork filled out and turned in, and getting 
the prep work items. At least this time, I won't have to guzzle a
gallon of NASTY liquid...but take 2 dozen pills...splitting the doses
6 hours apart (12 per dose). My prescription drug company wasn't going
to cover it (it's a new drug, classed as Tier 4), and I told the
gastrointerologist that I was NOT going to pay over $200 for 24
tablets. Well, they worked it out where my co-pay will be only $10.

 AA> That's the price we pay for wining and dining on sugars and
 AA> processed foods?  :/   I think that we (as consumers) can make
 AA> better choices with the foods we eat so as to mitigate the
 AA> marshaling of health problems.

  This is true...as the saying goes "if it tastes good, spit it out". 

 AA> I think you have much more other stuff INSIDE your body that is
 AA> probably more important to deal with. Hope things work out for
 AA> you!

  It is so true, that if you don't have your health, you have nothing.
Yet, I know folks who refuse to go to the doctors office, medical
clinic, emergency room, hospital, etc., because "they don't want to
be seen naked". I can't convince them that "the medical folks have
seen it all before, and nudity means nothing to them".

Daryl

... Never stand between a dog and a fire hydrant.
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