Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles review: Visa appointment and procedures

With all due respect, trying to use your online website and your consulate services here in Los Angeles, have been the most confusing and difficult out of all the consulates/embassies I ever visited. The information online is so scattered that I arrived today with the wrong amount in the cashier's check and missing some basic information. I am going to get all that information, but I need to book another appointment, your representative said there will be more online. But there aren't any appointments online. You said we can call you guys between 12 & 1pm. My wife and I both called, waited an hour on hold before the call just disconnected before us even talking to anyone.

I am travelling with my Family Via Rome to Lebanon on April 3rd. I am the only one that needs a visa since my wife and son are US citizens, I am a green card holder. I am worried, due to the lack of communication and your lack of appointments on the site, that there may not be enough time. I already paid in full for the flights, and I am about to pay in full for the hotel reservations as per your direction. But how do I do this and I don't even know if I Am going to get an appointment? It seems to be a simple process that is very complicatedly executed. What do you recommend I do?

Your help would be much appreciated. If you think I should go to the embassy instead, I am willing to fly there but please let me know.