Howie Update

I was at work today, doing what I do when I received a phone call from the owner of Howie’s garage.  Apparently when Howie came up in the scheduling meeting he was not happy to have him back for the third time with the same problem.

He wanted answers to questions the mechanic didn’t have so he called and asked me directly.  No, Howie was not making strange noises before he stopped this time nor either of the prior two times.  Yes, he got a new battery and wiring harness before the first starter went bad.  Then, when I mentioned the crayon smell was back, he was very interested and said that is important.  Seems Howie really isn’t supposed to smell strongly of crayons.

We had a lenghty conversation and I was very impressed that he took the time and actually listened to me.  He did not speak to me like I was a clueless idiot as the garage owner I went to previously had.  He seems to understand the meaning of customer service and cares that things are done properly.  He’s also concerned with the reputation of his business, something that not every business owner seems to be these days.  All in all it was a good thing.

So no, Howie is not fixed yet but I feel confident he will be soon.  In the mean time, I’ve been doing some urban hiking, mainly to prove to myself that I can, even with blisters.  Anyone up for some vicarious exercise?  My treat this time.

Whatever your plans are tonight, be safe,  Happy New Year all!

Winter Comes to Reading

Sometimes...

I feel really, really dumb.

Howie is still non-functional.  With it being the very end of the month, the nice garage people are tied up with last minute inspections, people who had set appointments.  So they haven’t even started to figure out what’s going on with him.  Okay, I understand that.  When I have an inspection appointment I want my allotted time too.

My very wonderful friends have been letting me drive one of their cars the last few days.  Have I mentioned how wonderful they are?  Anyway me, being me, can’t allow myself to impose forever.  Which leaves me with several options.

Take next week off.  Not good.  I don’t want to use up that much vacation the first week of the year for such a silly reason.

Take a cab to and from work.  Not good.  Too expensive.

Hike.  Only a mile and a half or so.  It would be fine except it is dark.  Reading is really not the safest place to be hiking around alone after dark.  Not the neighborhoods I’d be going through.  I really prefer not to start out the year by getting shot.

Take a bus.  Perhaps.  I’ve never taken a city bus.  I have no clue how to go about it but I decided it couldn’t be that impossible.  So I went online and did some research.  As far as I can tell I need to take Route 4 to get to work and Route 3 to get home.  Fine.  Only thing is in all the buses I’ve seen throughout the years, none of them have a route number.  They all have a destination.  And several different buses go to the same destination so how exactly do I know which to hop on?

There’s a woman at work who I know rides the bus so I questioned her.  Apparently the things I am clueless about are common knowledge to everyone who has ever ridden a bus.  So much so that she didn’t understand what I was asking.  It ended up being a bizarre conversation.  Me, mounting frustration.  Her, hysterical laughter.

The schedule lists the beginning stop, the ending stop and two in between.  Only in Reading there is a bus stop on pretty much every corner of every full street.  The corner closest to me isn’t on the list.  If I stand there will the bus stop for me?  And how do I know which one to get on when more than one goes to the same place? 

Then there’s the problem with getting off the bus.  Do I need to ride all the way to the end or is there a way to disembark at the corner nearest to where I work, again not list on the set schedule?  If I can get off where I want, how do I tell the bus to stop?  Or doesn’t it?  Is the door left open and I leap out when it slows for the stop sign, ready to roll when I hit the ground?

Then there’s the paying of the fare.  There are passes available.  Only no where could I find where to purchase one.  At a sales outlet the website says.  Hmm.  Sure would be nice if they provided a list of them, wouldn’t it? 

That’s when I decided it would be better to take my chances and hike.  Or I could continue to inconvenience my friends who are beyond wonderful to help me as they so kindly do.  I have told you how absolutely wonderful they are, haven’t I?

Yep

Don't Care if this is No Longer Politically Correct

Krampus, the Yule Lord by Brom

Have you read this yet?  Why not?  Go get your copy today and dig in.

Brom has retold the legend of Krampus bringing it into modern times, adding his own lure throughout.  It’s a wonderful tale that had me captivated right from the start.  He weaves together the natural and the commercial, old and new, mythology and Hollywood, Krampus versus Santa in a way that is unforgettable.  And, not to be specific and give anything away, it ends with a sigh and left me smiling.

On top of being a master storyteller, Brom is also an extremely talented artist.  His illustrations throughout the book add something truly special.  You’ll love them!

So after all the hustle and bustle of the season is over and you’re ready to relax, curl up somewhere cozy and read this.  You’ll be happy you did. 

Some Days...

It's such a struggle to get to work on time.  I got out of the shower this morning and went to get dressed, only to find Beau snuggled up inside my jeans.

I Am So Spoiled!

I arrived home to find a box, at least ten pounds, between my doors.  It was labelled "Fragile - Baked Goods".  Hmm...

Inside it went.  I was very restrained.  I fed the kitties before allowing myself to open it.

Three layers of total numminess from a very dear, sweet friend who spent all day Sunday baking to send me Christmas treats.  Naturally I had to sample everything as I packed it into containers.

Everything was incredible but the brownies exceptionally so.  Walnut with caramel, Nutella and Grand Marnier.

It doesn't get much better than this.  I love my friends!

Brr!

You know it's too cold inside when a slushie purchased 7 hours ago has not yet melted while sitting on the end table the entire time.  Yes, that's me in my writing gear.  Who would ever have thought heat would be a disposable luxury?  And it's not even that cold outside yet.  I really need to find a solution to this one before I chatter my teeth to bits. 

Home Again

The Sweater

 I went visiting to gift this year's sweater to my dear friend Kim.  Now that she has it, I can show it to you.

With my friends.  Isn't it perfect for her?

Out and About

And up to no good!

Today's Adventure

I don’t know if you recall but I’m had some difficulty with a wet floor around my toilet off and on for about a year now.  After having the wax ring replaced, needlessly it was determined to be the feeder line.  It was tightened up and I was told to watch it.

My floor was not good to begin with.  It was obviously replaced before I moved it.  The ex did a shoddy repair that didn’t help matters.  When the leaking continued and the ceiling below it started to show seepage I decided I had no choice.

I was at work one day, discussing the situation and stated that I needed a handyman.  Five minutes later I walked out the door to go to one of the other buildings and there, parked by the curb right out front was a van with a handyman sign painted on the side.  Okay, so the universe provided one.  Thank you!

Today I had the day off.  I called him two weeks ago and he said sure, he’d come today and yes, it would only take today.  I only have one bathroom.  That is essential.

Bright and early he appeared as promised.  He went about taking out the old toilet which had cracked due to the floor being unsteady.  Five minutes later there was water pouring down through the ceiling into my dining room.  The pipe leading to the feeder line snapped.

That mess cleaned up and he pulls up the floor to see what he had to deal with.  Do you know what it’s like to be sitting downstairs, listening to ongoing muttering about what a disaster it is and how impossible it is and how he has no clue what to do?   Not fun.  No, not fun at all.  Nor encouraging.

But off he went to Lowe’s to gather supplies.

Six hours and much muttering later, he says he thinks it should be okay.  Not very confidently.  Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Yay Me!!!

It's finished!  It's gorgeous.  It's magical!!!  I'll share a pic of the whole thing once it's gifted but I must say I'm very pleased with it.

Happy Weekend

When I born, my grandmother lived next door to an artist.  This was my birthing present.  Sadly, I do not know her name.  I wish I did.

She had a basset hound named Gomer who would come and stay with me whenever I visited my grandmother.

Happy memories. 

Yep

Still knitting.  I'm getting there...

It's That Time Again

I don’t need to have TV to know that the listings are overflowing with Christmas specials and holiday movies. Feel good, sometimes sappy with hardships but all with a happy ending. Don’t misread what I’m saying. There’s nothing wrong with that. Some are even good movies.

But they’re false advertising. Life, real life, doesn’t always have a happy ending. Problems aren’t magically resolved. Some can’t be overcome no matter how hard they’re worked at. A stranger does not show up on the doorstep to make everything better.

There are people hungry now who will continue to be long after the holidays are over. There are still hardworking people losing their jobs to the economy. There are people losing their homes. There are dedicated, longtime employees being forced out of their jobs by circumstances that should not be tolerated. There are people with hearts full of love who have no one to share it with, lonelier than ever.  There are people going without much needed medical care because they can no longer afford health insurance even though they have decent jobs. There are people giving up treasured pets, their only source for comfort because they are unable to continue caring for them. There are people who are sad to begin with that slip into deep depressions they may not survive. This list could go on and on but I think you get my point.

Life is not a movie. Many who struggle all year round suffer even more this time of year. As you go about your daily lives try to keep that in mind and be a little kinder to those you meet. They may be crying behind their smiles. You, if you act with decency and compassion, could make a difference without ever knowing it. Isn’t that the true essence of the season?

Busy, Busy

I've been picking at Indiscriminate Slaughter for a week and I think it may be finished.  Time to shop for an agent.  Hmm.  Wonder how to go about that?  I guess I need to figure that out.  Anyone know?

In the mean time, I have to finish the sweater I'm knitting for a very dear friend for Christmas, even though I'm developing a case of Knitter's Thumb.  I'll be back when it's done. 

Happy Weekend

Day 69 - 365 challenge
Perhaps a book cover?

Miffed

Within the past year one of our local hospital conglomerates installed a high-tech database which will allow all the physicians and departments under the name umbrella to share patient information. They spent who knows how much money advertising that the slight inconvenience of double checking this information at everyone’s next office visit would be worth it in the long run. Having this in place will supposedly streamline things in the future.

Hmm. Okay. Not sure how I feel about absolutely everyone who works for the newly named Medical Group having access to all my personal records but there was no option that would have permitted me to decline. Hopefully the employees are well-versed in HIPPA laws and understand the meaning of confidentiality. Yes, I know. No need to say it but one should always have hope.

My true displeasure is this. After all the hype of becoming one group, one name, one big happy healthcare family, I discovered that it wasn’t not exactly accurate. Information may be shared but billing is not.

I don’t know about you but my insurance isn’t all-inclusive. There are deductibles that must be paid and charges that are not covered. The hospital was very accommodating in that they will set up a monthly payment plan. The problem arose when the doctor’s office ordered tests that were performed in the hospital proper. The charges were not combined into one nice tidy bill. Oh no. Of course not.  I received a bill last week and a separate one yesterday.

When I called to arrange to add the most recent to my payment plan today my request was met with total silence. I thought for a moment. No, I hadn’t slipped into some foreign language. I was almost certain of it. So I waited and then repeated myself. I was informed, in a very unpleasant tone, that it was not possible, that they are not one and the same and that I needed to make my payment directly to them. I tried again, reminding her of their claim to becoming unified and she got nasty. She insisted that I pay them immediately.

Good luck with that. I already have the check ready for the nice people at the hospital this pay. She can get in line and wait her turn.

Visiting...

I'm over on the Masquerade Crew today with a lot of other NaNoWriMo authors.  Stop by and read some of the excerpts posted.  Maybe you'll find someone new you enjoy reading.

Ha!

Indiscriminate Slaughter, submitted and verified.

Mine!

This is Drum Castle located near Drumoak in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. I am a direct descendant of the Irvine clan, the owners of this castle for centuries. Thirty seven years ago it was given to the National Trust for Scotland. I'd like it back now please. You see, I'm planning this New Year's party and my current hovel isn't quite big enough to house everyone on my guest list.

Happy Weekend!

Day 21

NaNoWriMo day 21 update - Yes, I know it's technically day 22 since it's after midnight but I haven't slept yet so to me, it's still day 21. I'm finished!!! 3467 words, total 50,000. Exactly 50,000. Can you believe that! I couldn't do that again to the exact words required if I tried. Ha!

Day 20

NaNoWriMo Day 20 - 1835 words, 46533 total.

"But all right. Since you though it so important to ask, no, I have never killed anyone just because I could, as you so ungraciously put it. What do you take me for? Some sort of horrible monster? I’d respond carefully if I were you. Is that the conclusion you’ve reached? That I’m a cold-blooded killer? You haven’t been paying much attention, have you? Every judgment I passed has been swift and honorable. Oh, is that where the difficulty lies? That I act as both judge and jury, convicting people without giving them a chance to defend themselves.
You’re mistaken there. They have plenty of opportunity to show their worth. All they need to do is act responsibly, treat others, all others, with dignity and be a decent person. Do no harm. How is it my fault that they fail to do something as simple as that? If I weren’t here, doing what I do, imagine all the hurt they might inflict with their ongoing carelessness. The world is a far better place because of me." ~ Indiscriminate Slaughter

Haiku

Alone in the dark

Freezing cold, chilled to the bone

No tears left to cry

You used to know me

Back before everything changed

Moved on without me

You said we were friends

Would be forever, always

But then you vanished

Too busy for me

Will catch up some other time

I did nothing wrong

And neither did you

Now you are gone, I am here

Slowly dying out

With no one to care

No one to even notice

When I am gone, dead

You didn’t bother

To say ta or fare-thee-well

So neither will I

One day you will search

Remembering who I was

I will not be found

Then the hurt is yours

You will lose your best friend too

I already have

Day 19

NaNoWriMo Day 19 - 1459 words, 44698 total.

"One summer I ended up with extra vacation and I used it up by taking every Friday afternoon off. I’d leave work and head straight there for my steak sandwich. I was there so frequently that the owner stocked the brand of scotch I prefer, just for me. Sometimes, I’d be there so long that I had a second sandwich for dinner. Hey, I was a tiny little thing back then. That was pretty much all I ate in a week so I could afford to have two now and then. I’m fairly certain there might have been a time or two I was still there well after midnight and may have even consumed a third. Trust me, with all the scotch that I’m sure I also had, an extra sandwich would have been a good thing. But back then the streets were still relatively safe and I was on foot so I wasn’t a danger to anyone but me." ~ Indiscriminate Slaughter

Short chapter but perhaps one of the more emotional ones.

Day 18

NaNoWriMo Day 18 - 1978, total 43,239

"I’ve had nightmares my entire life. My earliest memory is standing in my crib, crying, screaming in terror and no one coming. Nope, not one ounce of maternal instinct in that woman. I was on my own right from the start and I knew it. You already know I survived quite well so there’s no need for that look. Oh sure, she helped provide basic needs, shelter, clothing, raw materials for food, but when it came to nurturing there simply was none.
From an observational stand point it’s a fascinating thing. I often disassociate myself and marvel at the outcome. But when I can’t do that, when I am trapped in the moment, in the memories… Well, let’s just say it isn’t easy and leave it at that, shall we?" ~ Indiscriminate Slaughter

Yep, I really did go there. Hahahaha!

Introducing...

Me!  Some friends offered a 365 day picture challenge.  One pic of yourself in some fashion every day for a year, taken with your cell if your phone has a camera. Any post processing is fine.  This was my pic from yesterday.  Not too awful for a change.

I also did an Andy Warholish version.  Picasa editing from Google is fun to play with and free!

Okay, off to do in someone else for my NaNoWriMo novel.  I'm over 37,000 words and the month is just half over.

Day 15

NaNoWriMo Day 15 - 2207 words, total 35,436.

"It was such a shame for his family, losing first his sister, then his brother and finally him in a series of freak accidents. I’m so fortunate to no longer be associated with any of them. We were all so close there for a while. I’m lucky to have escaped with my life. Ha! They’re the lucky ones. Had I stuck around longer I strongly suspect there’d be even fewer surviving family members." ~ Indiscriminate Slaughter

Busy, Busy, Busy

Books to write.  People to kill...

Day 13

NaNoWriMo - 1543 words, total 31, 209

"I might have been employed about four months when the store hired a new customer service associate. She was dreadful. Nineteen and already reached her peak potential. She’d remain in that sort of job the rest of her life. I was sixteen and facing a whole world full of possibilities. I felt rather sorry for her." ~ Indiscriminate Slaughter - The Other Coworker

Day 12

NaNoWriMo total 29,666. Ha!

Thank You

Variations on a Theme

Quinn was not at all happy to have his picture taken today.  Nor was he impressed with what I did with it. The wounds he inflicted are fortunately not that bad.  Hopefully there will be no scarring.  Just teasing.  He was annoyed but he didn't hurt me.  Much. And this after I'd just finished killing of the vet who was mean to him when he first came home with me. Ungrateful kitty. Oh wait, he is after all, a cat and therefore unfamiliar with that concept.

NaNoWriMo Day 10 - 3901 words, total 23796

Day 9

NaNoWriMo Day 9 - 2206 words, total 19895.

"Cats are truly magnificent creatures. You may think one is the same as all the others but that is so wrong. They’re not. Each is an individual and every cat is unique.

They don’t usually acknowledge it but cats understand every word we say. However, they don’t obey unless it suits them. Actually, I share that trait. I am, after all, a Leo born in the year of the tiger. I am very much feline in that I listen to everything whole appearing not to and then go off and do as I please, whether it suits those around me or not. Heh. I can tell by your smile that you have gained some insight into feline nature through that comparison." ~ Indiscriminate Slaughter

Day 8

NaNoWriMo Day 8 - 1685 words, total 17689.

"There is an incident I’d like to relate to you although it doesn’t quite fit what I’ve shared so far. Without a doubt, the person in question deserved to die. That is a definite. My mind was racing with possible scenarios, trying to work out how best to exterminate the lying thief encapsulated within her bubble of security. I had yet to derive anything suitable, though in my defense it had only been a minute and a half since her heinous crime, when fate stepped in and eliminated the problem for me.

Tell me, do you believe in karma? As in say, an undesirable does some sort of harm to someone good, do you think there’s a cosmic entity out there just waiting to swoop in and extract vengeance? I’m confident that is precisely what occurred in this instance.

One thing’s for certain, I was clearly the victim. I so often am. Oh? You don’t agree? I don’t see why not. I thought I’ve been very succinct in explaining the need for swift justice in each and every case I detailed for you. Which part are you having trouble with? I know I told you this was a monologue but now I’m curious. What don’t you understand?

      Ah. You believe I may have been too harsh in my determination that the individuals always deserved the death sentences I bestowed upon them. I suppose you’re entitled to your own opinion even though you are most assuredly wrong. Consider this. Had I permitted any of those you’ve heard about to persist in their behavior they would have gone further down the path they were heading and gotten much worse. As I see it, what I’m doing is a service to humanity. I’m protecting those decent folk who are too squeamish to dole out justice as I do. If each of us who is capable as I am did our part then the world overall would be a nicer place. That’s often the theme in my tales, the little people finding a champion willing to do the arduous things that they are unable to undertake on their own"~ Indiscriminate Slaughter

Day 7

NaNoWriMo - 1701 today, total 16004

"You may not think so, from what I’ve revealed to you already, but on occasion I do have a moment of remorse for executing someone. Oh, not while it’s happening. I’ve never killed anyone without being justified in doing so. What I’m referring to here is later, at a time when I would have had some interaction with the individual I dispatched.

That’s what happened with a coworker of mine last year. She wasn’t a bad person. Nothing of the sort. Personally, I found her highly likeable. I went so far as to socialize with her on occasion. Yes, she was rather personable the majority of the time. Conversationally entertaining, a sense of humor that rarely grated on my nerves, full of amusing anecdotes. This woman had lived her life and wasn’t hesitant to discuss it. That trait is one I find desirable when seeking a companion." ~ Indiscriminate Slaughter

So Ghetto!

For the past five years I have had a designated parking spot at work. Running the length of the lot there is a knee-high cement wall with an iron railing seated into the concrete on top of it. Or there was until this morning.

I pulled in to my space and looked to the railing to gauge how close to the wall I was as I have for years only to discover huge chunks of it were missing. I did a double take. Surely it had been complete previously. Yes, I’m certain it was.

I gathered up my lunch and told Howie to have a good day and to please wait for me to go home. Then I took a closer look at the rail. There were metal shavings all along the top of the cement. The two-inch round pipes were beginning to rust but they were the old, thick variety and were still very sturdy.

There’s only one conclusion I could reach.  Someone or more likely several someones crept out of the shadows last night, hacked off pieces of the super-heavy railing and toted it away to sell as scrap metal. 

The parking lot is downtown.  It’s fairly deserted in that area at night.  Even so, it’s obvious whoever took it needed to cut it into pieces, either to fit into the back of a car or to be able to lift. That must have taken a lot of time and effort.  Scrap metal isn’t all that valuable.  I can’t imagine it would be worth the risk of being caught but I don’t know what they wanted some quick cash for.  Perhaps it was worth it to them.

Day 6

NaNoWriMo Total - 14303.  Not too shabby.


"Did you know I had a brother? Or so they claimed. I have always believed I was adopted. How could I not be? I certainly have nothing in common with those people who were in the house while I was raising myself. If not adopted then I must have been switched at birth. Somewhere in this God forsaken town is a family whose members are still shaking their head over the child sent home with them all those years ago. I bet she was dull from the get go. It makes me sad. For each of us. Think how all our lives would have been different had the hospital not made the unfathomable mistake and damned us to our separate Hells as they did." ~Indiscriminate Slaughter

Hahahaha!

Did You?

At 4:45 I was 338 out of 1012 registered voters in my precinct. The apathy in my neighborhood makes me sad.

November 6th

Is election day.  Go vote.  The rule at my house is if you didn't vote you don't get to complain.  If you try to complain and haven't voted you get tossed out.  Don't make me do that to you!

Day 4

Look at the stats the nice NaNoWriMo people track.  There's a sweet little graph too but I couldn't get it to copy so I could include it here.  I've done away with five people in four days and I'm having a blast!  Listening to some great tunes too. I'm keeping a playlist by chapter.  Something new for me.  I'll post it when the book is finished.

 

Your Average Per Day 2,276

 

Words Written Today 1,846

 

Target Word Count 50,000

 

Target Average Words Per Day 1,667

 

Total Words Written 9,106

 

Words Remaining 40,894 

 

Current Day 4

 

Days Remaining 27

 

At This Rate You Will Finish On November 21, 2012 

 

Words Per Day to Finish On Time 1515

Day 3

Chapter 3 just about wrote itself.  I love when it works like that!  2130 words in under two hours which brings my total to 5798.  I'm having so much fun I might go start chapter 4.  I just need to choose tunes to write to and a victim but I organized my cds today so that is a lot easier than it was yesterday.

"Oh, in case you’re wondering? Dead blow hammers create a much smaller splatter pattern than ball peen ones do. Something to keep in mind if you’re ever faced with such a choice."

Giggle!

Day 2

Word Count - 3668

"I suppose, since you’ve heard about my most recent extermination, I should perhaps tell you about my first. It might give you insight, not that I care if you understand or not. That’s not the point of this. I feel like talking at the moment and you happen to be here. Don’t think I’m confiding in you. No, this is nothing of the sort. You’re merely convenient. And, if you’ll take note, I’m between you and the only exit."

Giggle!

Happy weekend all!

And It's Begun

NaNoWriMo that is.  National Novel Writing Month.  Indiscriminate Slaughter.  A bit different from my usual but I'm having a lot of fun so far.  Want a peek at the very beginning?  Click here to see.  As you might expect my time here over the next month will be sporadic but I'll be back!

Ready for NaNoWriMo

Cool Pic

Yep, I took this.

My Summer Project

Near the Beginning

Almost Done

Happy Weekend!

Go out and enjoy the foliage before Sandy gets here and blows all the pretty leaves away!

Doom, Gloom and Weather Drama

It seems to be that time again.  Time to make dire predictions that get everyone in a tizzy and send them scurrying to the stores for Armageddon supplies.

Hurricane Sandy is in the Caribbean.  There’s a cold front coming in from the west.  Current weather scenarios indicate that they will collide somewhere near the New Jersey coast during the next week or so.  Full moon is on the 29^th so tides will be high.  Sandy holds the potential to dump 8-10 inches of rain.  Which could translate into many feet of snow if the front truly does its thing.

Depending on what track both systems take and where exactly they meet up things could get very, very nasty.  Okay, no denying that, best to be prepared.  I have nothing against reports that encourage that.  But the few I saw and heard before I got fed up and began ignoring them are, in my opinion, geared to panicking people.  They’re talking billions and billions of dollars, much more than the Storm of the Century, in damage with power outages that will last until after the presidential election.  Even if that’s the case I believe they could state it in a less sensational manner.

In disasters, isn’t it better to keep people calm?  Wouldn’t it be more conducive for safety to not create mass hysteria?  I’m not suggesting you not pay attention and take this threat seriously.  I just think it might be more prudent for the weather folks to be a bit more cautious in what they say.   Perhaps urge people to use some common sense.  Stock up on a reasonable amount of supplies.   Don’t drive through deep, standing water with live electrical lines that have fallen into them.  Don’t take your cute little sports cars out in a blizzard.

Think for yourself, people!  We’ve all experienced storms, rain and snow, before.  We’ve all lived through power outages of varying lengths.  We can and will deal with whatever comes our way.  If you have special needs, make sure they’re covered.  No need to become a bunch of lunatic sheep and wipe out everything in every store you’ve ever walked past, driven by or flown over.

As for me, I have a box of crackers and I just picked up a jar of Nutella so I’m all set.  An so you know, I have outside things to do that will take up much of Saturday so this whole mess will simply have to wait until I am finished.

I am ANGRY!!!

After picking up Howie today I went off to Best Buy only because I was almost there.  I’ve decided to upgrade my internet and switch providers.  Several friends have good things to say about Clear, the price is reasonable so that’s what I went for.

I got there and a very nice man directed me to the Clear salesman.  He asked if all my devices were wifi compatible and then recommended a hub unit since my desktop is not.  It has Ethernet capability as well as wireless.  Sounded good so far since the places I take my laptop generally have wifi so I really don’t need to be my own hotspot.

Mr. Clear logged into the system to get me started and up pops a flag saying hubs don’t work with my address.  Hmm, okay.  The map however shows it does.  He switches to another screen which seemed to indicate it would work.  Fine.  I asked if I could trade gizmos if it didn’t work.  Yep, no problem.  While I was off paying I saw a Best Buy individual chatting with Mr. Clear and thought nothing of it.

Got home and guess what?  Hubs do NOT work at my house.  Back I went to Best Buy.  Angry!  Customer service woman was very pleasant and sent me to mobile department.  Curious but okay.  I ended up with an extremely nice, helpful woman by the name of Cora.  Off we go to the computer department where Mr. Clear has gone for the day.  Mr. Best Buy from earlier was still there.  He told me he tried to stop Mr. Clear from selling the hub to me because he knew it wasn’t going to work.  I asked why he didn’t tell me directly and the look said everything that needed to be said.  Mr. Clear would not have been easy to work with in the future had he done that.  Fine.  I get it.  However I think keeping customers happy would be a better policy.

Mobile Cora called Clear and got everything all switched around even though it turned out she generally has absolutely nothing to do with Clear sales or computer gizmos.  If I didn’t already have the wonderful Miss Amber as my mobile guru I’d definitely go to Cora.

After she had me all set to go I went off the find a store manager and lodged a complaint about Mr. Clear.  He was very nice and apologetic and said everything he should have said.  So.  If you happen to be considering switching to Clear and would buy the gizmo at the Best Buy in Wyomissing, PA seek out a Best Buy salesman to assist instead of Mr. Clear, log in bboy508.  Yeah, I pay attention to such things.

Ordinary?

Adjective

-          of no special or interest; commonplace; unexceptional

-          plain or undistinguished

-          somewhat inferior or below average; mediocre

-          customary; usual; normal

Synonyms  accustomed, customary, established, everyday, familiar, general, habitual, humdrum, natural, normal, prevailing, routine, run-of-the-mill, settled, standard, traditional, typical, usual

I was having one of those days.  So I had to check on this.  Nope, definitely does not apply to me.

Antonyms – extraordinary, uncommon, unaccustomed, unusual, atypical, exceptional, extreme, outstanding, original, rare, exotic, interesting, lively, foreign, novel, unique, individual, luxurious, exhilarating, imaginative

Oh yeah, that’s much more like it!  As I said, it was one of those days.

Hmm...

I suspect it is a Black Widow spinning a web that is covering an entire window at work.  I think I'll send someone else out to investigate.