Just a bit stressed here!!!

As you may have noticed I haven’t blogged in almost a week. It has been a bad few days for me. Just when I get one trouble behind me something else comes up and smacks me in the back of the head and knocks me down again. I thought I had all my troubles behind me but that isn’t the case.

I really needed a break so this past weekend we decided to take a day off and go fishing. About a mile from the boat landing, my boat died and we had to row back to the landing. I decided to go ahead and finish the work on my cars and one thing after another fought me as I worked. I had problems with tools, parts and even sand gnats. If you aren’t from this area and have never experienced sand gnats they are more than aggravating. They are enough to make the pope curse. And the worst thing about them is they have this knack for attacking you when you are working hard or trying to concentrate. Needless to say they ate me up and I said a few choice words. The local name for them is flying teeth because they are so small that you can hardly see them but they have a bite like a beaver.

The next “wonderful” thing that added to my stress was a “nice” letter from the “good hands people” You know the insurance company that cares about us so much and saves us bunches of money. Well our flood insurance is up for renewal next month. Have you seen the flood insurance commercials where they say that flood insurance is cheaper than you think? Well guess again. Last year our premium was $208.00 a year. This year those same good hands people wanted $4100.00 a year. Don’t you think that is kind of an excessive jump since we made no improvements on our house and have never filed a claim? Yes you read that right 208 >>>>> 4100.

So I called the good hands people, oh who am I fooling it was Allstate and they gave me some story about it being all FEMA’s fault and refused to discuss it anymore. This is the point where I lost my temper and said some things that were not so nice and that I would take my business elsewhere. She said that it didn’t matter where I went, I was going to have to pay that same amount. So we called the people who have our home owner’s policy and they got us the flood insurance for $1100.00. I have to say that I am fighting the urge to call that woman back and tell her off. It won’t do any good so I will simply tell everyone I know not to use them. “You are in bad hands with Allstate” “Raising your rates….. That’s Allstate’s stand”

So what caused the large increase you might ask? Well it was partially (but not totally) FEMA’s fault. They decided that our side of the island which just happens to be the furthest side from the ocean, just happens to be the highest point in the entire county and also just happens to be 99% black is in danger of flooding while the front side of the island which just happens to flood on a good high tide and is 99% white is at a low risk. Something is fishy here. I have not yet begun to fight on this issue. You can expect some letters to fly on this one.

And one last stressful thing has to do with family (children) and I prefer not to discuss it here. Let’s just say it has me totally stressed out and I can see why some animals eat their young and it's not because they taste like chicken.

I am trying to have a good day,
Greg

Comments

Skoots1moM said…
my heart goes out to you, especially regarding the gnats...I used to have to endure them in Savannah, ugggghhhh!
Praying this valley becomes a mountaintop soon so your suffering is lessened.
Andrea said…
Sounds more than fishy to me! My sister lives in Pensacola and they, too live at the highest point in the city. I will have to ask her if they have been affected. I am not sure who her insurance carrier is.

Hope things get better, soon.
Blessings, andrea
Deb said…
I totally agree about those gnats. The ones we have around here not only bite, but they so fly around your head that you look like you're having a seizure trying to flap them away.
Nothing like teens to keep you guessing--mine are within weeks of being 17 and 19. Thankfully God has been gracious and when one is causing a.....stink...the other is doing pretty good!
Praying for you for wisdom and patience...
Blessings!
Deb
Wow you are having some stressful bouts.

The flood insurance rates/premiums is all sanctioned by the government; that said, you are so right on with Allstate and State Farm is no better. Did you know that in the months following Katrina, Allstate bosted the biggest ever profit margin...Yep, people had problems collecting and they were dropping customers in the Gulf region left and right.

I wouldn't insure my worst enemy's gdog's hind end with either of them.

Whew, I feel better and hope your week gets better!
I'm sorry to hear about your troubles, my friend. I will pray for strength for you to endure until you get to the other side of the valley you're in.

I have to tell you, though...your last paragraph...made me LAUGH.

OUT loud. A lot.
Amen.
Good grief! So much for a relaxing day off. Thankfully we don't have those gnats here nor do we need flood insurance. However, the truck that hit us in the wreck was insured by Allstate...don't even get me started!
Praying for your kid situation. I always liked Bill Cosby's comment,"I brought you in to this world and I can take you out." ;)
Rena Jones said…
Oh geez -- sounds like you're getting hit from all sides. I hope things start to calm down for you soon. Boring is good sometimes.
Heidi said…
We recently had our rates raised too, because of an insurance claim last year. We have only had two claims in our lives. Isn't that why we pay out all that dough, so we can get something back if ever we need it- when the house falls apart- without having our rates raised? What a racket!

I haven't blogged in almost a week either! At least you have both of your eyebrows.
Terri Tiffany said…
Oh man! Here I saw you on Facebook and panicked cause I hadn't been over here and this is why! I am SOOOO sorry! Oh Greg, I did my own thing with a lady at the doctor's office yesterday about benefits. And hung up ready to have a stroke. Breathe deep. But I can't believe they were going to raise it that much!! WOW! That is awful!!
Praying right now that life settles down in your household. Stess at our age is not good at all:)) hang in there!
Beth Herring said…
Greg - I hate to say that I enjoyed this post, because that would seem just not right somehow. But you are always entertaining and always good for a laugh or two.

I sympathize with you and the flood insurance. I worked for Sate Farm until I escaped into freedom 2 1/2 months ago and I know how those things go....

I pray that today is an awesome day for you. Filled with joy and great things!
larkswing said…
Agree with you about the problems with the insurance - and the rest of life, hang in there, I do understand - our year was 2006, the same year the country music song "if your going through hell, keep on moving ...) We lost a family member to murder. Children problems - one chopping of two toes with a lawnmower, same child blowing up found gun powder (that is just the legal side it)etc, etc, etc.

Find some time to prop your feet and find something funny to make you laugh - helps to balance it all.
Heart2Heart said…
Greg,

I too have been away for a while and just begun to slowly catch up. At least I can say that your blog made me laugh. There are no truer words than when it rains, it pours right? Gotta love your new tag line for Allstate. In general, I think all insurance is a scam. By the time, you ever file for a claim, there still made money off of you. Makes me wonder out of all the money you invest in premiums each month and the amount of claims you file, how much did the insurance company make off us all?

Can't wait to know what is going on with your last situation. The un named one. I could care to wager a guess but will wait it out.

Love and Hugs ~ Kat
Yep, you are stressed, aren't you! They don't taste like chicken, that was funny. Even stressed you seem to keep your sense of humor.

Hey, what happened to "My God shall supply all of my needs according to His riches in glory." Don't forget that, Greg. Just pray and know that this wasn't a shock to the almighty.

Believing you will have a better tomorrow.
Greg, I hope for the tide to change for you. And, boy, do I share your feelings on insurance companies.
Daisy said…
Sorry to hear about all your troubles.

I've had problems with kids too. So frustrating!!!!
Patti_Cake said…
You have been stranded in mechanical hell lately!!!!
Glad "the other" thing ended up ok.
Mama Bear signing out.
Carmen said…
"Wow" on the insurance rates!! It's criminal how they dictate! I'm glad you found a better rate though. We don't deal with flooding here...just fires. My husband works on our cars and all our appliances when necessary. You must be pretty handy too! Hope your next week will be better!!
Heckety said…
I'm so sorry for your troubles, when charges go up and you unexpectedly have to find money which isn't there that certainly is stressful.
And I'm sorry for bother over your off-spring, but I'm afraid your last paragraph made me laugh out loud....though I do SO APPRECIATE the sentiment!
Heckety said…
Oh, and didn't you know that water runs up-hill?
Susan Skitt said…
Oh man Greg, I'll be praying. That's CRAZY about the insurance!!! Oh those stressful times in our lives and about kids, I hear you on that one. We are going through it the last few days too... foolish choices lead to trouble... now how can you get that through to kids... sometimes they have to learn the hard way.

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