The Hawaiian Adventure Begins

Jan 26, 2011

Vacation starts today!

Everything is just about ready for our departure to Hawaii tomorrow morning.

clothes : check
camera and gear : check
do web check-in for Ashara and me : check and check

Only thing left to do is wait for two deliveries:
1. lens filters from www.adorama.com
2. 15 mm f2.8 fisheye lens from www.borrowlenses.com

Check the two carrier's websites and both are out for delivery…perfect!

11AM : the lens filters arrive
11AM - 1PM : time moves slowly when you are waiting for a delivery
1PM : wash my car in front of the house while waiting for delivery
1:30PM : car is now very clean and back in the garage
1:45PM : check carrier website again and notice a delivery exception at 1PM…what the hell?

I look up the definition of 'delivery exception' on carrier's website and it states: no one at home to sign for package.

My language is laced with colorful metaphors.

Get on the phone to the carrier; ask about the delivery and the supposed exception since I was in front of my house washing my car and there were no delivery trucks to be seen.

Sweet as can be the customer service rep says "I don't understand why the driver posted that exception. Is it OK for the driver to stop by tomorrow?"

In my best Billy Crystal impersonation I say "I'm on vacationnnnn!!!, and I will be flying out tomorrow morning. So, the answer is NO!"

Customer Service rep puts me on hold for a moment and comes back with the carrier's local dispatcher. The dispatcher talked with the driver and the driver said he will not be coming back today.

More colorful metaphors pop in my head like bacon frying in a hot skillet.

"OK, let's work through this." I say. "Either the driver makes the delivery today or your company can forward the package to Hawaii at your cost."

Dispatcher asks if she can give the driver my phone number and we can connect later today in town. Sounds reasonable, "Yes, thank you."

Driver calls me and we make arrangements to meet at 5:30PM. I drive into town and meet the driver at a store where he had some packages to pick-up.

He's a happy guy 'cuz I help him meet his daily goals of delivering all packages. Nice!
I'm a happy guy 'cuz I have the lens in hand and now I can really start my vacation!

Go home to get my beloved, the luggage and the camera gear, then drive up to the hotel by the airport so we can make the morning flight.

The adventure continues...