10 minute oil change - need help today please.

[MikePA]

<font color="blue"> Personally, the whole Disney thing does nothing for me. I'll do a park 1 day for the kids sake. </font>
From my personal experience...may not apply to you. Don't mean to preach, just sharing what I've learned now that my daughters are 21 and 18.

When our first daughter was young, initially I either did not participate in events that were strictly for her, e.g., school plays, visits to 'kiddie parks', etc. I thought they were boring and if I didn't want to attend, I'd let my wife handle it. I always managed to convince myself I had more important things to do. Since my wife seemed to enjoy them, I let her attend, or I attended reluctantly. Then it dawned on me;

1. I didn't have more important things to do, either at home or at work.
2. Whether or not I 'enjoyed' the event was not important, my kids enjoyed it.
3. My daughters would only be this age once.
4. While it might not have been important for me to be there, it was important for my daughters to see their dad there.
5. I was focusing on what I was going to get out of an event, not what I could contribute to my kids experience.

I didn't want to miss the chance to make a memory with and for my kids. Some of the saddest words are, "I should have.". No more chances to squeeze into a tiny little school desk, no more chances to listen to off key band music, no more chances to tour the classrooms where my daughters spent their days. Believe me, all too soon they'll be grown and gone.

 

[gsxr1100]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
Two points:

1. The Chevy dealer I worked at had a fleet account at Jiffy Lube. Wonder why? Hint: Overflow from the "lube rack".

2. If you think the guys at the dealership on the "lube rack" are ASE certified mechanics, they aren't. They are what ever $7.00 an hour buys these days.

Go to Spee-D-Lube or whatever. You will get no better from ANY dealership. (Lexus included.) I would suggest taking your own quality filter though, their in-house filters are just normally re-branded Fram-type junk. )</font>

Well part is true here, #2 is right on along with fram being junk; but on the flip side Lexus service is way above most….it has to be since the service is pricey….

Lets see, I have been to a jiffy lube (JL) when I dated my ex, local garage been to Ford, GM dealer and Lexus…And so far Lexus wins hands down. No grease on seats (Ford), no 1 hour service (GM) and no torqued to 85 ft lbs drain lubes at JL. Nevermind the half day at the local garage. My in-laws own a garage and I will not even go there.

 

[bczoom]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( You said "I know I'm going to take beating for this". I just meant I don't see why anyone would get after you for doing this. )</font>

Richard - That was put out there (in jest) for Mike and I got the joking response I expected "Help - I need a medic"

 

[cowboydoc]

<font color="red"> 1. I didn't have more important things to do, either at home or at work.
2. Whether or not I 'enjoyed' the event was not important, my kids did.
3. My daughters would only be this age once.
4. While it might not have been important for me to be there, it was important for my daughters to see their dad there.
5. I was focusing on what I was going to get out of an event, not what I could contribute to my kids experience.

I didn't want to miss the chance to make a memory with and for my kids. No more chances to squeeze into a tiny little school desk, no more chances to listen to off key band music, no more chances to tour the classrooms where my daughters spent their days. Believe me, all too soon they'll be grown and gone.
</font>

Mike this should be in a VISA commercial. Priceless is for sure!!!! I truly thank God that I have learned these lessons while my gilrs are still young. I treasure every moment with them and whatever they are doing always comes first. Even if I really do not like being there I put a big smile on my face and act like I'm having the time of my life. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JASTN70D]

MikePa

It does sound as if the grown and gone part is hitting home with you.
At least you came to the relazation before it was the biger regret of missing all the little things that seem to stick in ones mind about kids growing up

 

[gsxr1100]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
Mike, I think that is a gross generalization and extremely unfair ... bordering on "arrogance". There are people out there who earn minimum wage who are very good at, and take pride in, what they do. Cut them a little slack.

My nephew is a Mercedes trained mechanic and I guarantee you that he doesn't change oil at the dealership. Who does? ... the minimum wage helper/gopher/floor sweeper ... under his supervision, ofcourse. )</font>

I agree and some work hard, but for the HUGE wage (at a dealership) level, you do not attract the highly-skilled or professional people. If you wanted or did, you would pay more then $7.00 per hour? Why would you work there if you are so skilled for min wage? Anyone??? Again my in-laws own a garage and some friends do. Even personally know a huge Ford dealership owner (open 24 hours) and so far you can’t even compare the diesel guys to the oil changers.

The co-op students where I work get paid over $14 hour and get FREE housing and a car. Nevermind the benefits…these people are helpers/gopher here and they know it. My point is that at least the pay is more to attract skilled people, still learning & in school and work.

Also if his people need supervision you need some better people. I see no need for supervision since all they are is a babysitter. I see my boss every 3-months for a review. Other then that I do not deal with him or see a need for him. I would cut these oil change people some slack when they stop messing up, come in on time & talk professional since it is not rocket science.

 

[bczoom]

Mike & Richard,

We take the kids to Disney probably twice/year.
When there, my wife's entire family is there. Most of them live there and don't come up this way to visit. The time in the parks is time to spend with their relatives. My tolerence level for "oblivions" (however you spell it) is kind of short so I don't do real well with 25000 other people in a park. Nobody has any consideration for others.

I prefer to spend time with my kids at the pools or something when it's a lot more "1 on 1" time with me and the kids.

I spend a huge amount of time with my kids. I attend every one my daughters dance and school events. (My son is 3 so he doesn't have any).

I do a lot of things with and for my kids. They're outside with me all the time and more often than not, we end up playing. They both have ATV's (although my son can't ride his yet) and we do a lot of riding. I can't even get on my RTV without both of them seated beside me.

 

[gsxr1100]

Bingo! You can have just as much fun without Disney and the 30K morons pushing, shoving, talking in movies, etc.

As long as the time is spent with your family, that is what matters. Not the $$$$$.

 

[MikePA]

<font color="blue"> It does sound as if the grown and gone part is hitting home with you. </font>
Yep. I was at the dentist earlier this week getting 2 crowns. There was a young mother there with her baby. The baby was still small enough to be in a rear facing car seat. While the mother was getting her teeth worked on, the baby (in the car seat) was sitting on the floor in the same room. The baby was not happy about this and was crying. The crying might have bothered others in the office, but it didn't bother me. Instead the crying served as fuel for my time machine which took me back 20 years. Sitting in a rocking chair in her room, 3 in the morning, holding her until she went back to sleep, staring out the window and wondering both "How am I going to get up to go to work in 2 hours?" and "What will she become and be doing 20 years from now?". I know it's trite and it's corny, but at the same time it's true...Nobody said on their deathbed, "I wish I would have spent more time at work.". Don't miss a chance to make a memory with your kids.

 

[rdln]

also dont pre fill the oil filter
and the plug is back in before the old oil stream turns into a drip leaving too much old oil left!


Alright, I'll stop. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif