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AAA members are a mixed bag of responsible drivers who respect the rules of the road and know where they actually are when they breakdown.

Then there are THESE members:

About a week ago I received a call from a member who was (at least) eight miles from the Indiana/Ohio border headed eastbound on I-70 which would put them near Eaton Ohio. The call was very clear that our wandering Pennsylvania member had driven quite a ways into our fair state.

God of course suffering fools and grumpy dinosaurs as He does was merciful in sending an Ohio State trooper to call in to tell he found our man at mile marker 2. This dude was barely past the rest areas and didn't remember seeing them!!! Sigh.

It doesn't happen often but when it does it is embarassing. One of our fleet drivers was unloading a vehicle off his flatbed that was so excited at getting home safely that said auto helped the driver out by slipping off the carrier on its own volition and began practicing garage door renovation. AAA has the decency NOT to talk much about this sort of incident. All about privacy and respect don't you know.

Had another member taking a bus trip to our area to get her car towed. This worked out a little better then the last fellow because this person was only 10 minutes late arriving for my waiting chariot. Was even pleased I had her picked up at the bus stop and driven the 500 feet or so to her car. Did you know that tow truck driver's have a complete unsullied record for NOT sharing their tips with the dispatcher that put them in the way of earning said tip? One for the Guiness books I'm sure. (AAA does NOT expect members to tip nor have we ever hinted at it except in jest or on Sweetest Day.)

Last Sunday was the quietest day I worked in ages. For grins and boredom I tracked how many calls on the board based on my keeping 12 visible on my screen at one time before having to scroll down the page. From 5:28 pm to Midnight was below the 12 calls. This would have been cause for celebration which it was as I caught up on Litnet and found Logos talking to Hyde with Anza's approval no less but I digress. It was really a bad thing because for one of the very very rarest times Tami worked the shift with me until 10 pm when I became the Lone Wolf dispatcher and I ALWAYS whine we get busier on weekends then first shift who keeps three on board to my two and because of the slow day all my grumping was shown to lack evidence. Tami just smiled and kept reading her book. She cranked out 200 pages she told one of the drivers. I had bought a candy bar in for her--3 Musketeers Mint flavor with the precise motive of buying her sweet nature and leaving the detail show-off side of her at home. It worked. Not a ripple of a bruised ego on my part all night nor a reprimand from her about reading ALL of the ticket before acting on it.

The ALL of a ticket can backfire. Lately we have recieved transmitted calls from Cincinnati and Columbus that have fill in the blank type comments. But they often look filled in with useless detail that looks pretyped. One such call came and went to Station 10 and buried in the remarks was multiple flats. No additional details included. Just a short tow from the highway and we send a regular tow truck in 10 minutes.

One angry member later claiming he had mentioned the flats--two on passenger's side and requested a flatbed. All my protests to the contrary of lack of CLEAR info was to no avail. There was that remark albeit buried in the call that should have sent a signal to 'check' it out. Can't win them all. Worse the fellow cursed out the driver and made things worse. I'm reluctant to send service while member's are in that sort of frame of mind. Supervisor Jeannie overrules and you guessed it--no flatbed anytime soon available. Member somehow gets a ride and leaves keys. He says.
The abused driver decides in that case HE would switch trucks and get the current migraine out of my life. Arrives back at scene and lo his new best friend decided to stay after all. Surprisingly the rest of the tow goes well and I heard no more grumblings from members, drivers, supervisors.

Been real slow at 'good' AAA stories. Nothing outstanding occuring of late. So this will have to do for now.