There Is No More Customer Service....Anywhere!

Don't you miss good Customer Service? Don't you miss that when people had a job to do, any job, they did it well, or as feasibly well as they could? Don't you get tired of calling 800 Customer Service numbers and just want a simple resolution to a problem; and you get transferred over and over again; each time having to repeat your address and last four digits of your SSN? Then you finally get someone who you THINK is finally able to help you and their sole purpose is to get you off the phone so they can jerk someone else around? When you call them on it, you're "inadvertently" disconnected. Ever been there? Sure you have. Customer Service today is non-exist ant and on the RARE occasion that you think you might be getting it--you're being lied to (again; to get you off the phone).

And the funny thing is----every so called resolution requires a lot of effort on YOUR part, (not theirs) having to do things out of YOUR way, for THEIR SCREW UP! Sometimes you think you get lucky and they actually say halfheartedly, that they are sorry for the inconvenience, but you still have to jump through hoops and go out of YOUR way to correct it, and the apology is never sincere. Again, this is just a ploy to get you off their phone a little faster, so they can mess with someone else. Let me hasten to add that these are all English speaking people in the USA. One must give credit to the fact that I was not transferred to a call center in India.

That my friends, was my morning (three hours) with Qwest and Verizon (Qwest is ceasing their wireless telephone service, so they are going with Verizon). This was a total of three phone calls--one to Qwest, then to Verizon, then back to Qwest (with one "inadvertent" disconnect). That just shouldn't be. And get this, at Qwest there was no Supervisor available for the first person I got on the phone. She said her Supervisor was on maternity leave. When I told her I knew that she had a fill in Supervisor and I wanted to speak to that person, well, that's when we got "disconnected". Now wasn't that just convenient? Anyway, a total of three hours later, I've been told four different things, and the problem? STILL NOT RESOLVED! Not unless I go out of my way to do several things to try an fix it, which involves me going across town to a Fed Ex office and returning a phone to Verizon.

You already know how this will turn out. I'll take the f****** phone to Fed Ex and have it returned and get a receipt, and Verizon and Qwest will bill me anyway, saying they never got it and if I don't pay up immediately my cell phone servce will be disconnected. You just KNOW that handwriting is on the wall.

I need to take a nap with my cats and listen to some purring and breathe deeply and try to relax. This will be resolved sometime by 2010.

"Here Kitty....Kitty......"

Special About Air Force One On National Geographic

I just finished watching a special about Air Force One on Nat Geo. It was outstanding! I hope you look on Nat Geo and see when it will air again and if you can't watch it, then record it. Following that show they did a special on Marine One (the Presidential helicopter). I DVR'd that one to watch later. There's also one coming up about armored cars. I bet that will be good too. Things like that intrigue me.

When I watched Air Force One I was so proud to be an American! What a great country we live in. What technology! It's just unbelievable. I think the hardest part about leaving the office of President would be having to fly commercially again. All that pampering on Air Force One. You would have to miss that. It would be hard to go back to being a private citizen again.

A Hiss By Any Other Name Is Still A Hiss....

There must be some cat lover's out there reading my blog. Don't you just love those elegant creatures? I love this saying which fits all cats, "When in doubt--groom." I love my Fab Four. They bring me such joy and comfort. I realized the other morning at four when I went to the bathroom and they all came in from various parts of the house where they had been sleeping, to sit in the bathroom with me, that I was indeed what people would refer to as "the cat lady". I don't know when or how it happened, but that's what I am.

So they sat in the bathroom with me--watching me, yet interacting with each other. I am after all, their Goddess. I provide food, shelter, and love daily. Their lives revolve around me. So they sat and waited to see what I was going to do. I went back to bed and they all settled back in where they had been before I got up. Except Sammy. He decided he would come to bed with me and he jumped up on the bed and settled in on the pillow on the right side of the bed by my head. It's always the same side. Cats don't like change you know. They stick to a ritual religiously. I have put him on the other pillow just to see what would happen. His tail twitched in annoyance and he came back over to the right side. So much for that experiment. Did you know if you just move their litter box or food dish by a mere six to eight inches in any direction, it's a MAJOR thing to them and they need to go to therapy?

But I love them, silly quirks and all. They love me unconditionally in their quirky feline manner. I know that. And on the special occasions when they all decide to sleep with me and they take their various positions on the bed with me and they start purring, well....let's just say I don't need a sleeping pill. That purring from all of them soothes me and makes me relax. I turn off the television so I can hear them better and all is okay with the world. Perhaps we should all listen to cats purring. It sure can't hurt. XOOXOX

Never Call Me Before I Have My Coffee....

I have to make a separate post on this...Yesterday morning I got a phone call from one of my liberal loon friends. She was sooo happy that President Obama had signed a decree closing Gitmo in the next year. Here's what happened:

Liberal Loon: "Darling, (she calls everyone Darling) I am so overjoyed that Gitmo will finally be closed! What a wonderful thing to do. It was nothing but a concentration camp!"

Now, you have to realize she called me early, and I hadn't had my first cup of coffee of the day, and I am known to be on the cantankerous side until I have said cup of coffee in me, so without apology...here's a continuation of what happened when she said that to me:

Me: "You have got to be absolutely f****** kidding me! You call Gitmo a concentration camp? NOT EVEN CLOSE! It's insulting to those who were in real concentration camps! Those detainees have their prayer rugs facing mecca and they can pray all day long if they want to. They're allowed to wear their turbans (even though it would be a good hiding place for a makeshift weapon). Most of them don't eat pork so they have alternative food choices, and they eat three times a day. Where the hell do you make such a comparison???? ARE YOU F******NUTS?? That is undoubtedly the most asinine thing you have ever said to me."

Liberal Loon: An intake of breath and silence....

Me: "And furthermore, where will they go? Not even their own countries want them! Maybe you'd like to take that hairy ass ape Sheik Kahlid (the one who masterminded 9/11) and invite him to live with you? Now that would be just and fair."

Liberal Loon: (Finally catches her breath...and says, "Well Darling....."

Me: "Don't Darling me. That's the dumbest thing I ever heard coming out of your mouth. Don't start with me. I have to go and MAKE SOME COFFEE and TRY to calm down...."

So I hung up and made my coffee....and was irritated all day. I can't believe how stupid some people can be. Oh, she called again this morning and we never mentioned Gitmo at all. Like it never happened......She and I never talk politics because her ideas are so left wing and you know I'm at the other end...I think she'll think twice before she hits me out of the blue like that again.

And More On The Anthony Case.....

And just when you think you've heard everything about the Caylee Anthony case---there's more. Seems like the grandfather, George Anthony, checked into a motel in Daytona, FL and threatened to commit suicide. Can it possibly get any more bizarre? (Don't answer that because you know it can and it will). I think the poor man knows in his retired cops heart that his daughter killed his granddaughter, and his looney wife won't accept it and is still in denial. The poor man must be at his wits end. I feel so sorry for him. He seems to be the sole voice of sanity in this ridiculous circus playing out, and he finally cracked under all the pressure.

Sadly, when it's all over and Casey is convicted, I feel that the strain of all the pressure will end the marriage of the Anthony's. And Casey sits in her jail cell, smiling, happy with all the devastation she has caused, because it was all about revenge and attention. She was jealous because her parents doted on Caylee. She was upset because her dad wanted her to get a job because he was tired of supporting her. She was upset because she was caught stealing from everyone, including her own daughter's piggy bank. What a pathetic worm she is. I hope and pray justice will prevail and she gets what's coming to her.

Crayons In The Box

My day got off to a crappy start. First thing this morning I get a call from one of my liberal friends. She's so elated that Gitmo will be closed within a year. "After all, she said, " it was like a concentration camp." Well, needless to say, don't start with me before I have a good cup of coffee. "A concentration camp?!!", I said. "Are you nuts? They have their prayer blankets facing mecca, their turbans, and since they don't eat pork, they have alternative food selections....and you DARE compare that to a concentration camp? They don't look starved to me! They don't look tortured either. Where do you even dare make that kind of comparison?"

So I asked her to lay off the drama for a minute and just think about where these wonderful people were going to go? Their own countries don't want them back! What country in their right mind would take them? I suggested she invite Sheik Khalid (the so called mastermind of 9/11) to stay with her. You know, sometimes I just can't figure out a person's reasoning. They don't think beyond their nose. Goes to show ... all the crayons in the box aren't bright.

Gotta go now. I need that cup of coffee and hopefully my day will get better.

Enough Already

Okay, don't get on me until you've read the entire post, BUT this inauguration is getting way out of hand. That train ride yesterday was ridiculous. Do you realize how much extra security had to be provided for that little bit of posturing? Good grief already! The cost for this inauguration is already 3/4 time more then any other inauguration in the past! And this pomp and ceremony in this economy? Come on! If this were a Republican you would see headlines in the media demanding a scale back! And another thing...Obama is not Abe Lincoln! This is getting to the point of being absolutely ridiculous. Yes, he certainly deserves an inauguration worthy of a President Elect, but this is definitely over the top and utterly ridiculous. Enough already!!!

This And That

It's been a while since I've blogged (to the relief of some I guess). I've been doing quite a bit of reading, and watching movies I've DVR'd and need to watch and delete. Nothing much has changed. The Casey Anthony travesty is still on in Florida and just gets more ridiculous every day. All autopsies have been concluded and that poor childs bones still haven't been put to rest. The whole thing disgusts me. The three ring circus continues and the little victim still suffers.

The US Air plane crash in the Hudson River...now that was a miracle! Finally, an uplifting news story that gives one hope. What an amazing pilot and crew!

Is it just me, or are all teen age kids smart alecks? No respect for anyone or anything. I'm so disgusted with one that I have been close to since he was a baby. Someone told me I wouldn't like him again until he was about thirty. I'm beginning to believe that. I could go on and on about this, but it's just best for me to drop the subject. I do know one good one, but he has good parents. Thank God for some good parents out there. Parenting isn't easy and my hats go off to those who really put forth the effort to make their children good citizens.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Snow Day

Today I had a million things to do but when I woke up there was quite a bit of unexpected snow on the ground. A bit of a surprise to say the least, so I had to change my plans. It's really cold out, so a nice day inside sounds more in order. A good day to snuggle up on the couch with a warm comforter and a cat or two, and a good book. A cup of hot chocolate sounds good too:-) My long haired cat Sammy is always ready for a nice snuggle. He's the only cat I have who comes when he is called. The rest of them look at you like "Whatever". They only come when called if they want to.

Have a good week everyone. I have a good book calling my name. Jonathon Kellerman's new book called, "Bones". Any Kellerman fans out there? How about John Sandford fans? He's the author of all the "Prey" books.

Casey Anthony Update

A new update on the Casey Anthony drama unfolding down in Orlando (will the drama ever end on this?)--that idiot meter reader that finally looked in the area he had been reporting suspicious garbage bags and found the body of the toddler--well it seems he was arrested on kidnapping charges twenty years ago. First reports say he was exonerated. I'm sure the news teams are digging around to find information on this. I had an uneasy feeling about him. I just thought from the very beginning he was weird. I think more drama will unfold about him in the days to come. According to reports though, law enforcement is still looking at only Casey Anthony as the killer of her child.

The cookies turned out real good. Next time I'm going to try chocolate rum cream cheese cookies. These were vanilla almond. Such an easy recipe. In the comment section let me know if you're interested in the recipe. Only three basic ingredients, so you can't go wrong.

Today's Soap Box Topic:

When are we going to stop the atheists from infringing on our rights?? Now they want the words, "In God we trust" omitted from the oath of office on Inauguration Day when Obama takes the oath of office. If he caves in to the atheists and says it without those words, folks, we are in the deepest doo doo we have ever encountered. You might as well turn around and kiss your butt goodbye, because life as we know it, will be over. Those of us who still believe in the power of prayer had better pray about this. Isn't it funny that we are the MAJORITY and yet we are relatively silent about everything. We better wake up and smell the coffee or all of our rights will be gone and the MINORITY left wing loons will have everything their way.

Okay, I'll stop my opining for tonight. If it at least gives you pause to think, I've done my part. Have a good weekend All!

Happy Day. Oh Happy Day!

Oh my goodness! I'm back in business and in technicolor!!!! Thank you fellow bloggers for your help!! As I said in an earlier blog, it was frustrating me and finally almost by accident, I found the problem with the help of several of you out there. Thanks again.

It's snowing lightly here. A beautiful fine snow. It got me in a cookie baking mood. Cream cheese cookies (a new recipe from a friend). They turned out good but I like crunchy cookies, and these are chewy.Willy had to have some cream cheese while I was putting the dough together. (To those of you who don't know--Willy is my twenty pound male tabby cat). I love to dunk a crunchy cookie in my coffee. I guess I'm still a kid at heart. I get in a baking mood and have two cookies and that's all I want. So I'll freeze most of them. That way when company comes, I'll have something to serve them.

Well, I'm back in business again..so I'll post another blog tomorrow. Right now, I think I'll have a cookie and a fresh cup of coffee. Life is good!

I've been having a problem with the fonts and colors on my blog, so I've been quiet for a few days trying to figure this out (without any luck). When I started this blog I had the options available, now I don't and I don't have any idea what happened. I've asked for bloggers to help and I got some responses, but apparently I've got a major brain freeze going on because I can't find what they ask me to do. SIGH! This is annoying but I'll figure it out eventually. I'll be blogging again soon:-)

Israel and Hamas Part 2

I forgot to mention that last night on the Fox News Channel there was an outstanding special entitled, "Escape From Hamas". They will show it again throughout the week. Look for it. It gives you deep insight into Hamas and how one of the leaders and founder of Hamas had a son who was to take over for his father upon his death. The son (about 25) met a Christian who innvited him to a Bible study. He went. After much turmoil he converted to Christianity. The verse in the Bible that got him was when Jesus said. "Love your enemies". The young man said that's what moved him most. That is unheard of in Hamas. They turn against each other, as the special will show you. He said Islam is a religion of hate and death and he fled to America.

Israeli's and Hamas

The foremost thing on my mind today is the Israeli and Hamas conflict. I really don't blame the Israeli's for getting tired of the constant barrage of mortar and rocket fire over their border every day and night by Hamas. It's a stressful way to live. Hamas, the cowards that they are, entrench themselves among the Palestinian people to hide. I wish the Palestinians would unite together and oust Hamas from their midst.

If this were happening on a daily basis in our country we wouldn't allow it to happen and neither should Israel. Iran is real happy about the situation. After all, they want Israel "obliterated". Is it any surprise that the rockets and mortars that Hamas is shooting into Israel are supplied by Iran?

In a side note in my crossword puzzle some weeks ago the clue was "a contentious strip". I knew right away the answer was Gaza. Clever clue, don't you think? Another cute crossword puzzle clue a few days ago was "Eltons john". Answer: "loo". Clever huh? Anyone else love crossword puzzles?

Post Holiday Blues

I wasn't going to post today because I'm crashing down from the holidays and if you can believe it, I really don't have anything to say today. "What?", you say?

As unbelievable as it may sound, it's true. I'm just chillin'. Today, no opining from me. Enjoy this, because it usually doesn't last long. I ALWAYS have something to say:-) as all of you who know me well, already know. But today and possibly tomorrow, all is quiet on the western front. I'm spending the day reading and napping. Feel free to comment--possibly you could rile me up to respond:-)

More another time......

Friday

Today's Friday. I'm so confused with all the holidays. I keep thinking this is Monday for some reason. The holidays are behind us now. I usually get a little depressed in January. All the festivities are over and it seems to be a let down. The weather is cold and sometimes snowy, and the sun comes and goes. The next real holiday is Memorial Day. I think I need a sunlamp. Studies have shown that people get depressed during the winter months because of lack of summer light. I believe that.

Well today I'm on my soapbox about Caroline Kennedy. Governor Patterson seems to be leaning her way for the New York Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton. That annoys me. She has ZERO qualifications. Have you heard what few interviews she has given? The woman sounds like an idiot. Very inarticulate, which surprised me. She is under the impression that she should get the go ahead simply because she is a Kennedy. Well big whoop! I'm not impressed with her name. They released the fact that she hardly ever voted in state issues, and she has only donated $1000 in twenty years to the Democratic Party! Some Democrats are ticked off big time about that fact and I don't blame them. There are certainly more qualified people Governor Patterson can choose. And as an afterthought, and this is really petty on my part, Caroline has a real funny way of walking. I mean, she'll be all decked out and she walks like a lumber jack. I cringe every time I see it. Okay so I already told you it was a petty thing to say about her, but this is my blog remember? 'Nuff said.

New Year's Day

Just want to say Happy New Year to everyone! I actually stayed up until 1:00 AM this morning. I had a cup of hot chocolate and two oatmeal cookies about the time the ball fell in Times Square, and decided I'd better let them settle before going to bed. How boring is that, huh? It gets worse. I actually watched two episodes of 'The First 48' that I had recorded from an earlier date, before finally going to bed. I like that show. How detectives have to get clues within the first forty eight hours of a case to get a better solve rate. I thought it was a great night myself:-)

No opining for me today. I'm still working on today's Gazette crossword puzzle so I need to direct my focus there. Have a great day everyone!