It's official...I have issues. Apparently after 3 months of bi-weekly travel vouchers, .5 month of weekly vouchers and 10 plus years of intermittent travel vouchers... I have no idea how to complete one! After two attempts and a 5 minute phone call - I was able to learn that checking into a hotel at 2:48a.m. and checking out the same morning means that I DID NOT stay at the hotel. Wow, I officially entered the twilight zone during that conversation - because while my memory occasionally fails me I'm pretty sure I recall being there. Trying to explain to the woman that life happens and while I had all intentions of getting to the hotel at a NORMAL hour - sometime the evening before - it just didn't happen. Apparently, she must go to bed at 8p.m. The conversation ended with her explaining whatelse I had completed incorrectly (don't you think that I should have learned this 10.5 years ago?) and that she needed to discuss my hotel stay with her Supervisor.
Bottomline, had I not gone to the hotel, I would have been charged regardless and then not be reimbursed as I wouldn't have had a receipt and then I truly wasn't there. Something about here, people accuse of things that just don't happen. Maybe that has something to do with being in a political city.
A few weeks ago, the parking structure decided that someone needed to stand up at the exit to say which lane to drive through for cash or credit. I went to the credit line and it kept repeating..."time expired". I know the woman was elderly - but I think 4 blocks away could hear the machine belting at me repeatedly. So the woman came down to explain to me that I had illegally parked in the structure. I inquired as to..."WHAT?" She proceeded to tell me that I had parked on the 4th floor, came back to my car and moved it to another floor and then decided I was going to leave. WHAT???? Seriously, what planet was she from? The Walmart greeter appeal wasn't working on me, not that day.
For one, NEVER accuse me of something I didn't do. Likewise DON'T tell me what you THINK I did, because well you are probably wrong. Ask and I will offer and explain. Clearly if you are right, I'm one to acknowledge, but BS...I just don't accept well. So the lady went on to tell me of course what I must have done when I questioned again. So I calmly said, if you look at the ticket I came in at 9:34 and parked on the first floor as it was clearly after 9:30a.m. So she finally got on her walkie talkie and learned that the credit card machine was down. Hmm...always seems like a good idea to check the facts before accusing.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Magic Mirror
My first issue of the morning....is the Magic Mirror. Do you have one? I SWEAR that I do! The mirror that completely lies to you. The one that you do your hair and makeup (hoping to not look like a 3rd grader applied it!) in, brush your teeth and with one last look...you nod in satisfaction because afterall it just MIGHT be an OK day. The hair seems in place, the bags under the eyes seem empty and well...satisfaction.
UNTIL...I don't exactly know how or when it happens. It may happen in the whirlwind mayhem of flying through the house doing the last ten things in 59 seconds and racing to the car in the wind/sleet/snow to drop my son of to school and then rush to sit in traffic for the 1.5+ commute. But...IT DOES HAPPEN. Something or someone silently attacks. Seriously...by the time I muster up the courage to look in the mirror at work (which sometimes may not be for many hours) and strictly by default as someone had the idea of putting one behind the sink, I look TERRIBLE. The waterproof mascara seems to have ended up on the bags, the eyes are now bloodshot and the hair, oh my the hair! The hair has become attack of the friz monster - all awry and full of static. Usually five sizes thicker/messier and obnoxious then when I walked out of the bathroom in the morning.
Oh Magic Mirror...WHY, WHY, WHY???? (Wow, that just made me sing that song in my head...yep it truly is going to be one of THOSE days!)
UNTIL...I don't exactly know how or when it happens. It may happen in the whirlwind mayhem of flying through the house doing the last ten things in 59 seconds and racing to the car in the wind/sleet/snow to drop my son of to school and then rush to sit in traffic for the 1.5+ commute. But...IT DOES HAPPEN. Something or someone silently attacks. Seriously...by the time I muster up the courage to look in the mirror at work (which sometimes may not be for many hours) and strictly by default as someone had the idea of putting one behind the sink, I look TERRIBLE. The waterproof mascara seems to have ended up on the bags, the eyes are now bloodshot and the hair, oh my the hair! The hair has become attack of the friz monster - all awry and full of static. Usually five sizes thicker/messier and obnoxious then when I walked out of the bathroom in the morning.
Oh Magic Mirror...WHY, WHY, WHY???? (Wow, that just made me sing that song in my head...yep it truly is going to be one of THOSE days!)
Images & Appearances
Yesterday while shopping for odds and ends on my trip I truly struggled with purchasing a carry on. Seriously, it shouldn't be that difficult. It really shouldn't. By nature, I'm not a shopper. Unless it's on a clearance rack or in the grocery section of Meijer. I've never been one to have the material or name brand things. I'm not even big on knock off name brand items either.
I may own 12 pair of shoes - really only two that I wear on a regular basis - the basics: black and brown boots. Whatelse would I need? Sticking with the shoe issue - I did buy a pair of shoes for my trip...a pair of z-coil sandals. If I were computer/blogger savvy - here I would input a link to check them out - which I am not so you can go to http://www.zcoil.com/ and that works too :) I bought my first pair of z-coil shoes last spring/summer when training for the Breast Cancer 3-day 60 mile walk. Plantar fasciitis, heel spur and my aunt led me to zcoils. As obnoxious looking as they are - they were miraculous on my feet. I am actually wearing the tennis shoes now. They are great for the knees and back and literally add an extra (besides the spring coil) spring to your step. They make me feel like dancing - and that's a scary thought! I'm not a every day tennis shoe person unless I'm doing some form of exercise/aerobic activity, so the thought of wearing tennis shoes or my zcoil tennis shoes around Europe wasn't sounding very appealing. So I broke down and bought the sandals. They look great on others - of course they are 100#'s, petite, wear size 6 shoe and have all their toenails. Ok, probably too much information - but I'm still in the process of losing my big toenail from the training/walk and my 9.5 size boats are anything but cute! But I figure they are definitely great for walking, hiking and I don't have to feel like I'm dressing down/slumming in tennis shoes. And the physical benefits far outweigh the cost. Did I mention that I have had two knee surgeries too? ;)
So back to the carry on. Much like my shoe issue, everything seems to look good on everyone else. Is that always the case? Case, yes that is what I need for my carry on! Oh, tangent again. So I purchased a handbag because honestly what do I REALLY need in my carry on. I figure if the plane goes down I won't need it anyway. If my luggage is lost, it isn't like my carry on is going to have backup clothes for my trip. Essentials baby, essentials. I bought a purse/hand bag yesterday. I must have been in some shopping coma or trance since I looked at the bag today - and I wonder if my journal, camera and passport will even fit in it!
Then I bought this hat. You know, this trip is about rediscovering myself. Yep, that's what I keep telling myself. So why not create myself since no one knows me anyway! I bought this hat - it looked cute on the rack. It probably even looks cute on people. But on me???? Hmm....does it really matter? It fits my large head and can cover up a bad hair day. I've even considered putting my hair in braids and putting the hat on. The hat looks like an upside down flower pot. Yep, sounds hot, eh? I can flip the brim all over and it goes with my gothic/I mean black theme since it's all about essentials and packing bare minimums. I actually like the hat. Like my feet - I have a large head. Something has to hold my ramblings...my son ah so much like myself and my mother tells me tonight when I proudly show it to him, "Wow, that's a big hat. You don't have a big head mom, you have big hair!" I have to tell you, my mom still to this day tells me I have big hair. I grew up in the 80's. I wasn't (big) into the AquaNet hairspray and the wall, but well I had a little one. And there is nothing better than having a bad hair day (all hair days) confirmed by your mother pushing your hair out of the way saying, "You have big hair". I walked by my back door and saw the reflection of myself with my new hat on - yep, all I could think of was the nanny from Sound of Music. Sigh...good thing I'll be in foreign countries with my crazy hat and zcoil shoes. I even looked at sun glasses - but those to look better on others - and well I don't want to freak out too many people! Ah, it's probably too late for that anyway.
I may own 12 pair of shoes - really only two that I wear on a regular basis - the basics: black and brown boots. Whatelse would I need? Sticking with the shoe issue - I did buy a pair of shoes for my trip...a pair of z-coil sandals. If I were computer/blogger savvy - here I would input a link to check them out - which I am not so you can go to http://www.zcoil.com/ and that works too :) I bought my first pair of z-coil shoes last spring/summer when training for the Breast Cancer 3-day 60 mile walk. Plantar fasciitis, heel spur and my aunt led me to zcoils. As obnoxious looking as they are - they were miraculous on my feet. I am actually wearing the tennis shoes now. They are great for the knees and back and literally add an extra (besides the spring coil) spring to your step. They make me feel like dancing - and that's a scary thought! I'm not a every day tennis shoe person unless I'm doing some form of exercise/aerobic activity, so the thought of wearing tennis shoes or my zcoil tennis shoes around Europe wasn't sounding very appealing. So I broke down and bought the sandals. They look great on others - of course they are 100#'s, petite, wear size 6 shoe and have all their toenails. Ok, probably too much information - but I'm still in the process of losing my big toenail from the training/walk and my 9.5 size boats are anything but cute! But I figure they are definitely great for walking, hiking and I don't have to feel like I'm dressing down/slumming in tennis shoes. And the physical benefits far outweigh the cost. Did I mention that I have had two knee surgeries too? ;)
So back to the carry on. Much like my shoe issue, everything seems to look good on everyone else. Is that always the case? Case, yes that is what I need for my carry on! Oh, tangent again. So I purchased a handbag because honestly what do I REALLY need in my carry on. I figure if the plane goes down I won't need it anyway. If my luggage is lost, it isn't like my carry on is going to have backup clothes for my trip. Essentials baby, essentials. I bought a purse/hand bag yesterday. I must have been in some shopping coma or trance since I looked at the bag today - and I wonder if my journal, camera and passport will even fit in it!
Then I bought this hat. You know, this trip is about rediscovering myself. Yep, that's what I keep telling myself. So why not create myself since no one knows me anyway! I bought this hat - it looked cute on the rack. It probably even looks cute on people. But on me???? Hmm....does it really matter? It fits my large head and can cover up a bad hair day. I've even considered putting my hair in braids and putting the hat on. The hat looks like an upside down flower pot. Yep, sounds hot, eh? I can flip the brim all over and it goes with my gothic/I mean black theme since it's all about essentials and packing bare minimums. I actually like the hat. Like my feet - I have a large head. Something has to hold my ramblings...my son ah so much like myself and my mother tells me tonight when I proudly show it to him, "Wow, that's a big hat. You don't have a big head mom, you have big hair!" I have to tell you, my mom still to this day tells me I have big hair. I grew up in the 80's. I wasn't (big) into the AquaNet hairspray and the wall, but well I had a little one. And there is nothing better than having a bad hair day (all hair days) confirmed by your mother pushing your hair out of the way saying, "You have big hair". I walked by my back door and saw the reflection of myself with my new hat on - yep, all I could think of was the nanny from Sound of Music. Sigh...good thing I'll be in foreign countries with my crazy hat and zcoil shoes. I even looked at sun glasses - but those to look better on others - and well I don't want to freak out too many people! Ah, it's probably too late for that anyway.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
English
I've mentioned it briefly, my inability to comprehend directions, even when written in English. Every day I am faced with language and communication barriers. The new program I am testing - is not very likely to work as the developers of the program are foreign. The users of the existing program (like me) are American and speaking about the programs is challenging as it's difficult for all parties to comprehend what is happening. If humans can't understand each other, how can two programs be able to communicate effectively?
Why is it that CSR's are seldom American? Why can't we as callers push a button for an American CSR rather than trying to explain our issues with our phone, internet, order to someone in India or Somalia?
The other day on my way to work I was listening to the DJ's discuss cursive writing. My son is in 5th grade and he knows some, but not much. I swear when I was his age - I was writing cursive on my late homework while walking to school in my bare feet in 4ft of snow, uphill both ways! ;) I still use cursive - although depending on how rushed I am, depends on the legibility. If I'm writing a note or a card, I spend more time to make it readable. I have to admit, even at times I struggle reading my own writing if I abbreviate or was again multi-tasking too much. Anyway, back to the DJ's - they were discussing the validity and purpose of cursive writing. Of the three on the radio, none of them frequently write - other than sign their name - or read cursive. They felt that cursive should be obsolete and that children should just be taught to type! Ok, because now notes to family and loved ones on the kitchen table are to be typed? Or maybe we should just text them on our cells, right? Yeah, don't get me on the texting thing! And I haven't bought my son a cell...yet. I was appalled! Maybe it shows that I AM OLD - no longer getting old...I AM OLD.
Why is it that CSR's are seldom American? Why can't we as callers push a button for an American CSR rather than trying to explain our issues with our phone, internet, order to someone in India or Somalia?
The other day on my way to work I was listening to the DJ's discuss cursive writing. My son is in 5th grade and he knows some, but not much. I swear when I was his age - I was writing cursive on my late homework while walking to school in my bare feet in 4ft of snow, uphill both ways! ;) I still use cursive - although depending on how rushed I am, depends on the legibility. If I'm writing a note or a card, I spend more time to make it readable. I have to admit, even at times I struggle reading my own writing if I abbreviate or was again multi-tasking too much. Anyway, back to the DJ's - they were discussing the validity and purpose of cursive writing. Of the three on the radio, none of them frequently write - other than sign their name - or read cursive. They felt that cursive should be obsolete and that children should just be taught to type! Ok, because now notes to family and loved ones on the kitchen table are to be typed? Or maybe we should just text them on our cells, right? Yeah, don't get me on the texting thing! And I haven't bought my son a cell...yet. I was appalled! Maybe it shows that I AM OLD - no longer getting old...I AM OLD.
Mail Carriers
So my latest issues stem from the mail carrier. Maybe I'm not a good homeowner or a good person. I couldn't tell you who my mail carrier or garbage person (or is that waste management executive) is. I honestly think that it seems to change by the day or week. Flavor of the week employees...as long as things run smoothly - and I follow the rules and put the mail and garbage in their respective places, it's little that I think about. Until recently...
It isn't very often that I end up with other's mail. Typically it is sorted out well. I've never been a mail carrier. But, it would seem to me that you might verify what you are putting in someones mailbox - but I guess that takes to much time to double check consistently. In the last month I have had other's mail and other's mine. Blame that on Granholm I suppose (or as my stepfather says...Grahamcracker) for all the budget cuts and the poor economy. Ok, no offense people - really just throwing it out there. Anyway, in the past two weeks I have tried to understand the unspoken rules of informing a mail carrier that you have received the wrong mail. Apparently I'm not psychic. Took me three times and large dark magic green marker to convince the mail carrier that one envelope wasn't mine. S/He even went so far to take it out of the box on the second day and set it on the table on my porch. Hmmm...not worth looking at I guess. See I live in the city and we have either door slots or boxes - but not mail boxes. So I have one posted on the pillar on my porch. There isn't a flag - it has a flip up lid. Outgoing mail I put half in the box. It's always seemed to work...BEFORE. Yesterday I received another letter (the all important IRS notification of money coming - wow, that's good use of government money to notify us of something I'm sure 95% have heard about either online, on t.v., on the radio from friends/family, from the tax man himself) and then today yet another. I don't want to be obnoxious or treat the mail carrier as incompetent - but I also don't want to be driving the letters all around to find their rightful owners.
I pay my taxes. I shovel my walkway and driveway when I'm home. Hey maybe that's it - maybe my reward is receiving other's mail!
It isn't very often that I end up with other's mail. Typically it is sorted out well. I've never been a mail carrier. But, it would seem to me that you might verify what you are putting in someones mailbox - but I guess that takes to much time to double check consistently. In the last month I have had other's mail and other's mine. Blame that on Granholm I suppose (or as my stepfather says...Grahamcracker) for all the budget cuts and the poor economy. Ok, no offense people - really just throwing it out there. Anyway, in the past two weeks I have tried to understand the unspoken rules of informing a mail carrier that you have received the wrong mail. Apparently I'm not psychic. Took me three times and large dark magic green marker to convince the mail carrier that one envelope wasn't mine. S/He even went so far to take it out of the box on the second day and set it on the table on my porch. Hmmm...not worth looking at I guess. See I live in the city and we have either door slots or boxes - but not mail boxes. So I have one posted on the pillar on my porch. There isn't a flag - it has a flip up lid. Outgoing mail I put half in the box. It's always seemed to work...BEFORE. Yesterday I received another letter (the all important IRS notification of money coming - wow, that's good use of government money to notify us of something I'm sure 95% have heard about either online, on t.v., on the radio from friends/family, from the tax man himself) and then today yet another. I don't want to be obnoxious or treat the mail carrier as incompetent - but I also don't want to be driving the letters all around to find their rightful owners.
I pay my taxes. I shovel my walkway and driveway when I'm home. Hey maybe that's it - maybe my reward is receiving other's mail!
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