I hate Orkin.  I mean I really, really hate Orkin.  I hate their stupid little white trucks, I hate their dumb commercials and I really hate their incompetence and poor service.  In 2007. we made the idiotic decision to purchase a 5-year termite service contract with Orkin,  When we originally called them they sent someone out fast to discuss their "protection" plan.  What we quickly found out is that the overpriced plan we bought, should be called an anti-protection plan. 

Since that fateful day in 2007 when we signed the contract, it's been nothing but problems.  The termites have come back to the exact same spot three years running.  Every time we call for service, it takes them no less than a month to provide treatment.  One time, the Orkin guy asked me to drive his truck up my driveway.  Seriously.  The proverbial straw was a week-and-a-half ago when we noticed termite trails in the garage.  The soonest they could schedule an appointment was May 12.  Don't worry they tell me, it takes a long time for termites to do serious damage to your home.  Maybe so, maybe not.  All I know is there will be more damage tomorrow than there is today and there will be a hell of a lot more damage a month from now.

Here's a picture of the termite trails in the garage.  By May 12, this will look 5x worse.  We unfortunately know this from experience due to Orkin's apathetic attitude and plodding pace. 



While on the subject of bad decisions, here is my list of the worst decisions in history:

10) Decca Records decides not to sign the Beattles to a contract.
9) Hitler invades Russia without a plan to get out before winter starts.
8) Japan operates outdated nuclear plants in a tsunami zone.   
7) In 1984, Portland drafts Sam Bowie instead of Michael Jordan. 
6) "New Coke".
5) Daryl Hannah passing on the role of "Vivian", in Pretty Woman, because she felt it was demeaning to women. Strangely, a few years later, she played a stripper in Dancing at the Blue Iguana.
4) In the aftermath of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, President Bush says, "Brownie, you're doing a heckuva job".
3) Robin Ventura charges Nolan Ryan.
2) Adam & Eve tempt fate and eat the apple.
1) On July 20, 2007, I sign my name to an Orkin contract!