Can I rant just a little?? Why not! You can always skip, but by doing this I have the information out of internet for others searching for it!
Airport shuttles between LAX and Home. On the Way to the BVI in the spring I used ExecVIPShuttle It was prompt, the guy was nice, and no problems at all. I was quite happy. Coming home this week, I thought I had booked the same company, but I had not. I had booked Airport Express Shuttle
They confirmed my reservation at $145.00 and $5.00 for extra person, and had my flight arrival times. They did tell me to call them when I arrived at LAX, which I thought was a tad strange, as they usually have people there with your name on the sign. But then I thought, ok, well it is a busy airport, so in case you miss them....
We arrived 5 minutes late. We arrived at baggage, got our bags, and I called them. Well, I attempted to call. Apparently cel service in LAX is HORRENDOUS, at least on ATT and I felt like a commercial walking around going "can you hear me now?"
The guy on the phone said to call him back in about 5 minutes and he would try and get a description of the guy I was looking for! Ok, we did... and were told that "we got there earlier then they thought" (Our plane was 5 minutes late) and the soonest they could get someone there (because of traffic) was 405 PM. Fully an hour after we landed. I was definitely not impressed, but what can you do? He then tried to appease me by saying "but it will be direct to Murrieta, no stops" I countered with "well, I had booked that anyways so I was not that impressed"
We watched every other person in sight on our packed flight disappear into cars and we stood at the curb and waited...and waited.... OUr driver finally arrived at 430. Almost an hour and a half after our flight landed, putting us firmly in the freeway traffic.
OUr driver rattled on about nothing, to the point that we just wanted him to shut up. He was a horrible driver and when we were backed up in the real rush hour traffic, as he drove like a beginner, I sadly watched the express lane whizzing by and wanted to say " Its ok, I will pay the extra $5.35 to use that lane" but kept my mouth shut as we crawled along going to Riverside. We finally made it home around 630.
This was after picking us up at the airport and saying "I really don't know where you are going, I don't have the address" and asking us what the best way to get to there was!!! He said "if we wanted" he could put it in his navigator but never did. I started to wonder where in the hell they got this guy from! I figured they really dropped the ball and picked up someone from the street to come get us.
Then to add insult to injury, I asked him how much was due, not having my email with me, and he said "didn't they tell you? I hate to have to call him for it" I told him that he was just going to have too....
Then he wanted to know if they told me about the 18% gratuity. (Funny, seemed to have that figure down!) He called, came back and told me it was 165.00 plus (more then originally quoted) and the 18% gratuity. Then he got out his calcuator and started calcuating the gratuity for me!!!! I laughed and told him to call a spade a spade, it was not a Gratuity, it was a service charge! He said, "well, no not really, it is just for my gas etc" I thought that should be included in the fee...what do I know??? Then he says, "well to make it easier on you, I will just charge you a 11% gratuity" I laughed and at this point might have told him what a loser company they were. I paid $190.00 which was more then the 18% gratuity and now I am composing my letter to the Better Business Bureau and TELLING everyone how horrible they are and how they ripped me off.
Please DON'T use them!!
Now, back to the islands....
**
Apparently it is still raining and flooding in the islands. More rain then you could ever imagine... More rain then anyone could ever want. WEEKS of rain! Guess it was a good thing we covered all the hatches with garbage bags before we left.
This is what Promenade looked like as we left it, totally stripped and tied up for any potential hurricanes (and rain apparently)
The saddest thing in our world is cutting off the bimini, as putting it back on is a two day job for two people, even if it only takes 15 minutes to cut down! We debated on leaving it, as without it, the varnish really goes to ruin, but we surely would have regretted that as soon as a hurricane was on the horizon!
Anyways, there she sits... See you in 3 months Promenade!
We have been swamp dog busy the two days since arriving home. We had to transfer our drivers licenses to CA from Florida, as well as our license tags, finding out that we had to pay a fine because we had not done it in the 20 days since buying the house in April, since we left for the BVI. Plus since we had bought the Lexus less then a year ago in Florida with lower taxes, we had to make up the differences in sales tax to the CA government. Glad to see that we are doing our part to help out California's deficit!!!
Was surprised to see how much paper work was still used at the DMV here compared to Florida! I felt like I was in the 70's...One panic moment was finding out when I switched my license over I had to do a written test...Ha Ha...Ha Ha... Can I say that I looked at the first question which was "what is the legal limit on blood alcohol level for driving" and it had 8, 5 and 0 and I DID NOT know the answer I knew I was in trouble!!!
Bazza "guessed" that since it was CA it would be low and put 5 which was wrong. I opted for the "go outside first and READ the drivers handbook after reading the questions and before doing the test" option. He squeaked through with 6 wrong (the max he could have) and i only had 2! He says it does not count since I read the book!!!
The tests were marked by comparing them to a sheet...Never mind computerized, they did not even have an answer key to put over the circles with the right answer numbers!!!
**
Went to get renew insurances on vehicles, and instead of "what is recommended" she basically told us we had to tell her how much we had to lose in the states so we insured for that amount. My jaw dropped. Welcome to California folks.
**
After all that fun and games, I have managed to eat out at Outback, Panda Express and Red Lobster without going off my eating plan for the days, except for in sodium which is an absolute shocker when you see how much is in this take out food!
**
I think that is enough blabbering on today....
Kevin started a school today to take a bartending course, and looks much better then when I got him a month ago...
And, someone mentioned that we had not had pictures of our granddaughter Ella for awhile, and we have not so here is one! Growing like a weed!
