September 30, 2003

AT&T
P.O. Box 57907
Murray, UT 84157-0907

ATTN: Claims or Probate Dept.

RE: Customer Number 757-***-****
Amount of dispute: $11.80

Dear Sir or Madam:

Please find enclosed the printout of my bank account showing the payment of $11.80, made on 8/29/2003. I have highlighted the payment and the payment shown as being received by YOUR COMPANY for your convenience. I have been paying my bill on your website for some time now and have NEVER had such a problem.

When I originally called about this error, I was informed that it would not be a problem to just transfer this money over to the correct account, since I was informed that the account showing on the website is inactive. (This is the same website that I have attempted to change my home address on a number of times, but it keeps reverting back to my original home address in Virginia Beach.)

When I was transferred, the individual I spoke to then told me that my account had gone to collections. Since I have been receiving my bill on a monthly basis with no interruption and payments are made in a timely manner each month, I knew that this woman was incorrect. I asked to speak to a manager, because it was obvious that we were having a communication problem. (By the way, it doesn’t help when your “customer service” personnel can barely speak English.)

I was put on hold for over TWENTY MINUTES, while she checked and re-checked my account. She kept insisting on transferring me to someone at “CMC” to discuss the collection. I continued to argue with her that I wanted to speak to a manager, because I knew that SHE was in error and there was no problem with my account. She did inform me that your managers are very busy, and I stated that I was willing to keep holding, even though I was at work and unable to answer my other lines.

Instead of letting me talk to a manager, she transferred me to someone in “CMC” to discuss the account. The man I spoke to, also barely able to speak English, informed me that I had to send proof that I paid the amount listed above. Considering the error in question here was on the PART OF YOUR COMPANY, I feel that being made to prove that I paid anything – WHEN IT WAS POSTED ON YOUR WEBSITE – is inane at best. This man also told me that the previous woman that I spoke to WAS IN ERROR about the state of my account and that it was not in collections.

You can believe that I will be switching my long distance to another company as of today. I have never had such a problem trying to deal with a customer service department in my life. And I will be more than happy to share my problem with all of our friends, family, co-workers, and who ever else visits MY website.

Sincerely,



Jenn**** * ****
Former customer


Yeah, I'm just a little pissed off. And I know we are only talking about a small amount of money but my thought is this: If they will fuck around with this little bit of money, what will they do with a large amount?

Viv had her interview yesterday for the job at StayStat - where Barry works. And since I have permission, I'll just let you know right now that he starts there on the 14th of October! :) As it turns out, this is actually going to be better for him (money wise) than that crappy job at Mancon with Mike.

Tonight is dinner at T&D. Bring balloons, we'll be celebrating Tony's birthday at dinner. Darrell is SUPPOSED to be picking up a cake. Yeah, I'm going to call him and make sure. :)

Well, sort of. Our server is not yet hooked up and my phone is out. So I get to sit here at my desk, drinking coffee, wishing I had brought a book - or anything for that matter. I don't even have my D&D shit with me to work on that. *Yawns*

I could work on my novella or cruise the 'net, but I just don't seem to have the energy for that. Guess it's back to playing games at candystand! :)

The hurricane is over, the yard is clean (thanks guys!), and things are pretty much back to normal. Except poor Viv sleeping on the couch. Hopefully, her and Chas and Todd will get their power on soon. Nothing extraordinary happened before, during, or after the storm really. Just a lot of wind and some rain here {Other parts were not so fortunate}. The hubby had fun having to cook everything on the grill - including boiling water for my morning coffee. :) And for the record - Maxwell House Coffee Singles suck. Too weak for my tastes, but then again there is nothing better than brewed coffee.

And yes, we'll be contacting our local gas company regarding replacing our current water heater with a gas powered one and replacing the electric stove with a gas one. Too bad they don't make gas powered refridgerators or coffee makers. :)

Norfolk Public Schools are closed tomorrow. Another day off for me! :)

And that fucker is off until Monday.

They shut down the base, so my wonderful day off tomorrow is fucked. Hubby'll be home. I was so looking forward to having a day to myself!!!

Hmmm...wonder what we'll do ALL DAY LONG? ;)

I'm off tomorrow. I'm off tomorrow. I'm off tomorrow.

:P

The base is now at Hurricane 3.

That fucker is probably going to be off tomorrow.

Wish I worked on base. :)

The base is now at Hurricane 4.

There ya go, Todd.

A semi-relaxing weekend for me at least. Breakfast Saturday was fun - and only pointed out that I have too much time on my hands sometimes. Hubby had duty so missed out on the excitement that *is* Jack Hanna and Busch Gardens. And I'm sure he's real sorry his missed all the 'not chicken' being oogled at. Tank top boy being my favorite of the day! :) Best thing of the day: Getting Jack Hanna's pic and autograph. Worst thing of the day: Not getting to oogle tank top boy in line at Apollo's Chariot. When I can get my scanner to work right again, I'll have to post the pic of Mike, Todd, and I on said ride. I normally don't buy those pics, but Todd made me. And when you see it, you'll understand why. :)

Sunday was bowling at it's worst for me. I don't know what the hell was wrong {besides those things pointed out by Chas and Ed that were corrected and helped a great deal} but I was lucky to have a 310 series. On the bright side, I have more handicap now. On the down side, my average for CHIT is still a 132. More bowling lessons for me! Speaking of which, they did change the times {now 4-6 on Wednesdays} and this Wednesday we'll be playing a game or two afterwards if anyone wants to join.

The week ahead looks uneventful. Thursday dinner with Bob should be as interesting as always. And no, not concerned at all with the hurricane. It's so far away, anything could happen to direct it's path elsewhere. And even if it does come here, I am not leaving. Why? Because I'm not afraid of Gaia. Respect her, yes, afraid of her, no. I will probably be taking a trip out to Sam's Club and stock up on a few essentials, but nothing I hadn't planned on doing anyway.

The base is now at Hurricane 5. Of course, this doesn't mean shit for the majority of you. Doesn't mean shit to me either. The military are always on the way over-cautious side. I'll worry about it when they actually start talking about it on the news. When it's over. :)

What's the saying? "Assumption is the mother of all fuck ups." But what about: "When you assume, you make an ass out of you and me." That last saying isn't very true though, is it? I mean if you are making the assumption, that really only makes an ass out of you, not me. But that really depends upon the assumption being made, I suppose. But why do we do it? Why do we assume?

Is it because we think that everything is related to us in some way? Is it because we'd rather read what we want to into something? Is it because we are too scared to ask for an explanation for fear of looking stupid or worse?

Assuming just seems to come naturally to some people than others. I know I'm guilty of assuming shit when I shouldn't, but I can't tell you why. Maybe it's easier that way?

What's dangerous about assuming, though, is spreading your assumption around to other people. And depending upon who you are telling, they are going to make their own assumptions based on your assumptions. And so on and so forth down the road, to where the truth of the matter is long buried. Never mind that when this happens, those assumptions can ruin friendships, relationships, marriages, etc.

And why would anyone want to do that?

I don't know.

For those of you who are going to BG tomorrow (only scattered showers expected), let me know what you think of this plan: I'm offering breakfast (scrambled eggs and polish sausage) at 9am at my house. Then we'll head on up (I'll drive if no one else wants to). I'd just as soon leave the park for lunch since it's cheaper and we'll head home whenever ya'll want. My main motivation for going is seeing the show at the Royal Theater with Jack Hanna! I just need a head count for breakfast. :)

These types of people get on my nerves in some form or fashion. What's interesting to note, is that most of the people who fall into this category don't realize it. But there are a few who know they are users and just don't care. These are the people to really look out for and avoid at all costs. These are the people who will continue to use you until you've had enough and then just move on to the next person that comes along when you kick them to the curb (to borrow Viv's phrase). And for the most part, these same people are also the biggest liars you'll ever meet. And it doesn't concern them. Not one bit. They are out for themselves - one way or another - and whoever gets in their way gets stepped on.

From the PPP: Just something that struck me today when going over a client file.

Our dear sweet dahling Viv has gone off the deep end. She's gone too crazy for words. Dinner is going to be interesting tonight. Be forewarned! :D

And Michael - don't you return people's phone calls??? :P

In the what-the-hell-else-can-he-do-to-fuck-up-the-day department, he got himself into a minor accident today with his BARELY TWO MONTH OLD truck. This makes two accidents in less than six months.

Our insurance is going to go through the fucking roof. It's days like these that *not* owning a gun is good. 'Cause I really want to kill him now.

*sigh*

Okay, so he can't remember things real well. That is no excuse for him to not at the very fucking least say 'happy anniversary' to me this morning. BEFORE YOU COMMENT: today is the actual anniversary of our marriage ceremony in front of the eternal flame in downtown Honolulu, Hawaii. AS FAR AS OUR FAMILY IS CONCERNED: Our anniversary is actually Oct. 3, the date of our wedding ceremony. It's complicated, so don't ask. Either way, he has no excuse. AND BEFORE YOU COMMENT #2: I did leave him a message on his voice mail this morning wishing HIM a happy anniversary. I was hoping that the message he left on my cell would have mentioned it, but of course, it didn't. {We're sickly sweet and leave messages for each other every morning, get over it.} So bowling lessons tonight should be interesting...I'm not going home first. And to top it off, he's going to a meeting tonight for fuckin' CutCo {shudder}, so he probably won't be home until after I'm asleep. Fucker.

Hmmm...wonder if I can get a new microwave out of this? ;)

Doing up the apps - have everyone's ABC number and entering average {Sorry Chas - 204} - just need addresses. I'll have the stuff with me on Thursday night. Also, who are the team captains? I vote for Joe and Todd {Signatures not needed}. Entry fee is $89 and I'm mailing these suckers off on October 1. Ooh, and what times did you all want to bowl? S/D on Sat will be either 9a-3 or 3:30p-10p and Sun. Team, 9a-12 or 12:30p-3:30.

This weekend was very relaxing for the most part. Didn't get up Saturday until about 10am, which is a change for me. Usually get up by 7, so I *almost* felt guilty for sleeping so late. Then I thought, what the hell do I have to feel guilty for?? Just did the lazy, hang around the house thing until around 3, then it was off to shopping. Picked up the stuff we had on layaway at the NEX, then on to Hecht's. {And here is where all the money we spent is all Chas' fault!} Chas was sweet enough to give me a gift card for my birthday and I finally decided to use it. Went through the store, just looking, then found the clearance section. I hate buying any clothes for full price, so this is my usual stopping place in any store. I found a number of things that I really liked - work clothes all of them - and they were all marked down AND 60% off that price! Ended up with what would have cost me over $300 if purchased at the regular price, at just a fraction thereof. I spent a little out-of-pocket money besides the gift card, but it was worth it. Even the hubby thought it was worth it, and that's rare when it comes to me buying clothes! :)

After that, headed across the street to OfficeMax to pick up a new adding machine for work and ended up getting a network station for our computers. As soon as we get the office together {Which will be soon now that we purchased that!}, we'll have the computers networked together, and the hubby and I can both be online at the same time. I am a little leery there, because bad things happened the last time we did that {And not hardware related} but I'm pretty confident that that won't be the case this time. We still need to get him a new monitor, but that'll wait until next paycheck. That night found us at gaming - our once a month night with my *favorite* sister Todd and Mike. My poor little thief only got one attack in when that frickin' banshee opened her mouth and killed me. :( And to top that off, when Steve (not the hubby) tried to ressurrect me - I have a 98% chance for it - I had to go and roll a 100. Thank goodness for God calls, or that would have been the end of little Rimble. And yes, Tracy, that's what I get for naming a character Rimble. Should have known.

Sunday was the usual brunch with the gang and then off to the bowling alley. Being the first day of the fall season, we had to listen to the endless, mind-numbing sound of Chas reading the by laws. {No offense, dear!} I somehow found myself elected as VP of the league - mind you a Gay League and I'm only bi {I wonder if there is a rule against that?} - but it's a relatively simple job, with our fearless President Chas taking on most of the responsibilities. Then it was on to the actual bowling. I found myself on a new team - with Ed, Rick, and CJ - and I had a great time with them. I didn't bowl worth shit, but they need the handicap! The hubby wasn't going to bowl at all - due partly to monetary reasons and partly because he's having surgery on his foot {Bone spurs on and around his big toe} in November - but he figured that he'd only miss the last three weeks of the season because of the surgery and he really, really wanted to bowl. I think he missed it this summer. He's on the team of Daddie's Daycare. And there seems to be some arguement on who the "Daddy" is. :)

After bowling, it was on to Uncle Louie's for a little food and dessert. Okay, so *I* went for the dessert, and others went for the eye candy, but we had a good time - despite the shitty waitress. I always enjoy just hanging out and talking with everyone. The night ended with a desperate search for condoms - which I found out are not carried by the local grocery store down the street {Another reason to hate the Farm Fresh at Oceanview} - but we did manage to find a little store not far from the house that had 'em. :D And yes, we did use them all thank you!

Protector


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Seeing a trend in those silly quizzes. You'd think that I'd be over all that for a while.

Guess not. ;)

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"You Shook Me All Night Long" (by AC/DC)
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Whether it be Yahoo!, MSN Messenger, or AOL IM, it's all good. It gives us a way to be closer to friends that are not living around us. I like to be able to talk to Tracy and Jeff and Alex and Sean, et al, in real time and free of charge. But the problem is finding the time to connect with all of them. We all have different schedules and different activities going on all the time. I know the best time to get to talk to Tracy (who is at the top of that list!), but it's during my working hours, so I can't. {Side note: We aren't allowed any kind of IM program on our computers at work. It is cause for instant dismissal - especially since the state put out the memo on IM programs specifically. It sucks, but these slow, out-dated machines do belong to them.} And normally, when I'm home, I don't really get the chance to get on often enough. Usually too much crap going on elsewhere. I know that I really need to set up a time to talk, because although we know what's going on in each other's lives via blogs - it's not the same. There are nuances and little things that sometimes doesn't get conveyed through a blog.

That man has the softest lips. No wonder I can't get enough of kissing him.

Yeah, I'm in a bit of a better mood now. :P

I am in a *mood* that isn't very good. I am PMSing like a motherfucker and I am a little on the violent side today. I'm normally bitchy as hell anyway, but it's about 10 times worse today and any little comment may set me off.

You have been officially warned - so tread carefully.

“Opinions are like assholes; everyone has one.”

Never has a truer statement ever been uttered. Just because you think your opinion is right – and you may even have some statistic to back you up – it is still only an opinion. For example; you may be of the opinion that Madonna is the greatest living pop star ever. You may even have some poll to back up your statement. This doesn’t mean you are right – and also doesn’t mean that I can’t have the opinion that I think she’s the biggest record industry whore and that Michael Jackson is really the greatest living pop star.

But why is it that some people still feel the need to belittle or demean others who have a different opinion than their own? “Your stupid if you think that” or “If that’s what you really think, then you don’t know what you are talking about” are just two phrases I have heard (and probably have uttered at one time or another). But some people are outright hostile in their demeanor and words when expressing an opposite opinion. Just because I don’t think Madonna is that great, you have to get offended and say that I know nothing about music? What? Sorry, didn’t see your Ph.D. on everything connected with music and art hanging there on the wall and even if I did, that still doesn't make your opinion the end all and be all.

And no one should be sorry for their opinion on anything. Nor sorry for voicing said opinion. Why? If you feel a certain way about something, you have every right to say what you feel.

And ya know what?

This entire post was just my opinion.

While out in CA, the hubby took a fishing trip. He had a lot of fun and last night talked about taking me out deep sea fishing. Sounds great to me (I love to fish), but then he made mention that he was going to make me bait my own hook. {Um, excuse me, but I've been fishing almost as long as you've been alive and you think I'm going to have a problem with this??} I told him that I have no problem with this, but it brought up a topic of conversation. Am I feminine enough for him? Upon asking him this, he immediately said yeah and wondered what the hell I was on about. {I've told ya'll, he's not real swift sometimes.} Informing him that the way he said 'make me bait my own hook' like I was going to have some kind of problem with this made me pose this question to him. {The light dawned.} He said that he had no problem with the 'lack of femininity' I saw within myself. He sees it more as I'm an independent person who really doesn't "need" anyone to look after her. {Good answer, good answer!}

But this really made me think about femininity. Besides the fact that I *am* a woman and have all the right equipment, what the hell about me is really all that feminine? Um, nothing. Most of the things that I do that *might* be considered as "feminine," I know too many guys who do them (including wearing dresses!). So where the hell does that leave me? With the realization that there really is no such thing as "feminine" or "masculine" anymore. These are labels - or stereotypes if you prefer - just like any other, that have nothing to do with who someone really is. So why do we insist on using them?

Seems like thats the way it goes with my work. Either there's too much to do or not enough. Being off for a few days definitely made the work pile up on my happy ass. And in about two weeks, I'll have nothing to do. That is the one thing about this job I hate the most. Well, that and a certain co-worker {who shall remain nameless} who drives me up a wall, across the ceiling and back down again. But otherwise, this job is pretty good. Some of the clients are just dumb girls who haven't a clue about real life or what to do with the existence they have and other clients are working hard to improve themselves and their future. And, while closing the cases of those dumb girls is quite satisfying, closing the good ones is a pity. {Usually closing them for reasons other than them turning dumb}

And just so no one has to continue to wonder whether or not to be depressed about the hubby and I moving to another state/country next year, I'll let you in on the news. Ready? Sure? Well, okay - here you go - he's going to a boat! {Yes, I know I'm a bitch, thank you.} He's been in the Navy for 9 years now and has spent a total of 16 days on a boat. That's kind of pathetic if you think about it. And when he gets to this boat next year, approximately October or November of next year, the boat will be pulling out for a 6 month cruise. Yes, that is SIX MONTHS you people are going to have to put up with my intense, whining, bitching, insane self here on the blog. Aren't you looking forward to that? :)

Last night was just another lazy night around here. My copy of 'Chicago' came, so of course we popped it into the DVD player and watched. The one deleted scene that they had was good, and I'm sorry they didn't keep it in the movie. I do so love Queen Latifah's singing. Also got our copy of 'Swordfish,' which is a great movie and I love the ending, and we ended up cuddling in bed watching it. Hmm...John Travolta, Hugh Jackman, the hubby, and a bed...that'd make for a fun night for just about anyone. ;) Of course, I've had a thing for John Travolta since his 'Sweathog' days. He's one of the few actors that I have grown up with that I still would love to have the chance to meet - if only to thank him for entertaining me all these years. And I know, he's gotten heavier lately, but he still looks good!

The hubby has gotten his orders for next year! He called the detailer today and got the orders he says he wanted.

Should I tell you what they are now or make you people wait a while?

I'm in a bitchy enough mood today, you can wait.

Well, back from Richmond and that damn tournament. I sucked, but not nearly as bad as at CHIT, so I guess I should be happy about that. I'm just really, really sorry I didn't do better in team. We could have monied if I had and that just upsets me. Joe bowled his ass off in team - getting his first 600 series - and I couldn't have been prouder of him. He did such a great job. The tournament itself went well, with a few problems with the hotel at banquet time but that wasn't anything they could really help. But I have to admit, our tourney last year did have better registration bags and better hospitality suite. And I'm not sure whether I liked the raffling of money better than the prizes we did.

The hubby made it up there Saturday morning before bowling started! And yeah, that was part of the reason I did so badly in team. Too sore. Yeah, it's all his fault...blame HIM! :) We had a good time and left very relaxed on Monday morning/afternoon. But all is back to normal in our house now, including the cats - who seem happy that we are both here again.

The hubby loved the projects that I accomplished while he was gone. We both agree that the blue in the bathroom still needs to be darker, so we're going to try the rag-on technique with a dark blue glaze and see how it turns out. Next project is going to be the office. I have a new filing cabinet I appropriated from work {they were throwing it out} and there are just papers every where in there. We need to get everything organized and we're also going to network the two computers together again - after we find a new monitor for his {his is dying, poor thing} and find a way to have both of them on the desk. I just need to decide on what color I want the walls. Any suggestions? {No pink!}