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Showing posts with label Rant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rant. Show all posts
Monday, July 07, 2014
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Wednesday, June 06, 2012
FRIED
My computer, that is--or so it would appear.
So, they've been doing a lot of utility work around my complex--replacing old gas lines and trimming trees away from power lines. I was working from home yesterday afternoon, and the noise from the guys doing the gas lines was so loud, I didn't even know some idiot with a chainsaw was also there--until everything went dark. While I was on the computer. Yeah. Wasn't. Happy. Even less happy today.
I don't know if Chainsaw Wielding Idiot sliced through the line, or if a branch that wasn't properly secured fell and took it out, only that it knocked out electricity on one entire side of the street. And why is it that every time the power is knocked out on our block, it is only on my side of the street? It was out for two and a half hours, and was thankfully restored in time to prepare dinner--good thing I hadn't planned to make something in the slow cooker! Since it was only the lights and not the gas that was out, I could have cooked by flashlight had it been necessary, but am really glad it wasn't. I waited until after dinner and the news (okay, and a couple of reruns of MASH), then went in to check the computer. Crossed my fingers, powered it on...
And was greeted with the Blue Screen of Death.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
So seriously very not happy right now. The blue screen kept telling me I should run CHKDSK/F. I was more than happy to comply, but could not gain access to the function needed to do so. I finally located the disk that came with the computer, but since it was getting late, and my frustration level was already through the roof, I decided to leave it for another day. Hopefully it will allow me to get back up and running again, because I really CANNOT afford to fix or replace a computer right now, even if it is five years old. It was working perfectly fine until the power went out. And yes, you KNOW I would like nothing better than to send the Chainsaw Wielding Idiot the repair bill.
So, I may be pretty scarce for a while, unless the op disk helps restore the system. That means no Teaser Tuesday and Thursday Thirteen for a while. I don't know about Wordless Wednesday. Might be able to upload the occasional odd photo during the week, just to keep the blog alive, but am not sure how much I will be able to do from work.
On the bright side (not that there seems much of one), if I am unable to recover anything, at least it won't be as bad as the HD crash of 2003, when I lost everything. For one, I started ordering disks whenever I had pictures developed, so nothing prior to January 2011 will be lost, and a great many of those after 2011 have been uploaded here. I also made disks for friends with copies of photos, and have a memory stick that contains a backup of some files, including the family photos I have been in process of scanning. And...while searching for the op disk, I found a few disks that also contain backups of files (mostly photo, but also some documents). So. If the hard drive is indeed toast, and nothing can be recovered, I'm in a lot better shape than I was nine years ago.
Oh, and on my list of computer maintenance I was running yesterday? Defrag, Scan...and backup.
Sigh...I should have known that dead cardinal I passed on my walk yesterday afternoon was a bad omen. Usually seeing a cardinal is considered a good thing. But a dead one? Doesn't seem so lucky to me.
Speaking of birds...the baby robins at work are gone. They were there yesterday afternoon, but when we checked them this morning, the nest was knocked sideways and all three babies missing. Want to take a guess at who is responsible?
So, they've been doing a lot of utility work around my complex--replacing old gas lines and trimming trees away from power lines. I was working from home yesterday afternoon, and the noise from the guys doing the gas lines was so loud, I didn't even know some idiot with a chainsaw was also there--until everything went dark. While I was on the computer. Yeah. Wasn't. Happy. Even less happy today.
I don't know if Chainsaw Wielding Idiot sliced through the line, or if a branch that wasn't properly secured fell and took it out, only that it knocked out electricity on one entire side of the street. And why is it that every time the power is knocked out on our block, it is only on my side of the street? It was out for two and a half hours, and was thankfully restored in time to prepare dinner--good thing I hadn't planned to make something in the slow cooker! Since it was only the lights and not the gas that was out, I could have cooked by flashlight had it been necessary, but am really glad it wasn't. I waited until after dinner and the news (okay, and a couple of reruns of MASH), then went in to check the computer. Crossed my fingers, powered it on...
And was greeted with the Blue Screen of Death.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
So seriously very not happy right now. The blue screen kept telling me I should run CHKDSK/F. I was more than happy to comply, but could not gain access to the function needed to do so. I finally located the disk that came with the computer, but since it was getting late, and my frustration level was already through the roof, I decided to leave it for another day. Hopefully it will allow me to get back up and running again, because I really CANNOT afford to fix or replace a computer right now, even if it is five years old. It was working perfectly fine until the power went out. And yes, you KNOW I would like nothing better than to send the Chainsaw Wielding Idiot the repair bill.
So, I may be pretty scarce for a while, unless the op disk helps restore the system. That means no Teaser Tuesday and Thursday Thirteen for a while. I don't know about Wordless Wednesday. Might be able to upload the occasional odd photo during the week, just to keep the blog alive, but am not sure how much I will be able to do from work.
On the bright side (not that there seems much of one), if I am unable to recover anything, at least it won't be as bad as the HD crash of 2003, when I lost everything. For one, I started ordering disks whenever I had pictures developed, so nothing prior to January 2011 will be lost, and a great many of those after 2011 have been uploaded here. I also made disks for friends with copies of photos, and have a memory stick that contains a backup of some files, including the family photos I have been in process of scanning. And...while searching for the op disk, I found a few disks that also contain backups of files (mostly photo, but also some documents). So. If the hard drive is indeed toast, and nothing can be recovered, I'm in a lot better shape than I was nine years ago.
Oh, and on my list of computer maintenance I was running yesterday? Defrag, Scan...and backup.
Sigh...I should have known that dead cardinal I passed on my walk yesterday afternoon was a bad omen. Usually seeing a cardinal is considered a good thing. But a dead one? Doesn't seem so lucky to me.
Speaking of birds...the baby robins at work are gone. They were there yesterday afternoon, but when we checked them this morning, the nest was knocked sideways and all three babies missing. Want to take a guess at who is responsible?
Friday, September 30, 2011
Update
Hey gang!
Just checking in from work with a brief update on my communication woes. The problem seems to be even bigger than I imagined, and seems related to the "landscaping" they are doing behind our building. The work was only supposed to take one week, and it's now been more than a month.
I am NOT happy with office staff right now. When I stopped in Wednesday evening and mentioned having trouble with my phone, neither person to whom I spoke told me others were experiencing the same problems. Then yesterday I was talking with a couple of neighbors and found out that not only are people having trouble with the phone, but some are also experiencing cable problems as well. In fact, with all the rain we've had the last week, the cable box has been flooded.
The company doing the landscaping has apparently caused other property damage as well, including cracking the facade of the back side of the building, breaking at least one window ledge, damaging at least two air conditioners, and causing the power in our building to flicker at least three times during the past month (thankfully, it came back on right away, but it does make you wonder about this company).
Never mind the HUGE inconvenience for the past month to tenants.
What makes me mad is that management is not owning up to the problems. A conscientious manager would let tenants know that they are aware of issues and would take care of them, but no--that is not the case. They are not admitting anything. I do not like paying for services I cannot use, and tenants should not have to pay to fix what they did not break--right?
Anyway, while I cannot make or receive calls (it hangs up if I try to answer), I can at least hear it ring in now. I suppose that's something, anyway. If someone is supposed to be stopping by or is picking me up to go out, they can at least let the phone ring so I know they are there, or are five minutes out, depending upon what we prearrange.
Hopefully this entire frustrating saga will be resolved soon. As is, I have half a mind to deduct the cost of my next phone bill from the rent.
Just checking in from work with a brief update on my communication woes. The problem seems to be even bigger than I imagined, and seems related to the "landscaping" they are doing behind our building. The work was only supposed to take one week, and it's now been more than a month.
I am NOT happy with office staff right now. When I stopped in Wednesday evening and mentioned having trouble with my phone, neither person to whom I spoke told me others were experiencing the same problems. Then yesterday I was talking with a couple of neighbors and found out that not only are people having trouble with the phone, but some are also experiencing cable problems as well. In fact, with all the rain we've had the last week, the cable box has been flooded.
The company doing the landscaping has apparently caused other property damage as well, including cracking the facade of the back side of the building, breaking at least one window ledge, damaging at least two air conditioners, and causing the power in our building to flicker at least three times during the past month (thankfully, it came back on right away, but it does make you wonder about this company).
Never mind the HUGE inconvenience for the past month to tenants.
What makes me mad is that management is not owning up to the problems. A conscientious manager would let tenants know that they are aware of issues and would take care of them, but no--that is not the case. They are not admitting anything. I do not like paying for services I cannot use, and tenants should not have to pay to fix what they did not break--right?
Anyway, while I cannot make or receive calls (it hangs up if I try to answer), I can at least hear it ring in now. I suppose that's something, anyway. If someone is supposed to be stopping by or is picking me up to go out, they can at least let the phone ring so I know they are there, or are five minutes out, depending upon what we prearrange.
Hopefully this entire frustrating saga will be resolved soon. As is, I have half a mind to deduct the cost of my next phone bill from the rent.
Friday, June 04, 2010
They're protesting the Bee?!
A fellow Romance Diva just posted the link to the article below. Go ahead and read it, then come back. I'll wait.
In DC, even the Spelling Bee draws protesters
Done? Okay, here is my opinion.
What irritates me most about this protest is that it's educators who are doing it. Instead of dumbing down the language (or standards in general), they should be encouraging people to follow the example set by these kids to excel. I have grandparents and great-grandparents who came to this country from Norway, Germany and France. They did not expect the people in this country to speak their language. They did not expect people to give them a break because they did not know the language. They immediately started to learn English, the predominate language spoken in this country, so that they could understand what was going on around them and fit in.
Also, the protester seems to completely miss the fact that the way words are spelled has much to do with country (language) of origin. The English language, more than any other, has always absorbed words from other languages. Unlike countries such as France, there is no language police here, deciding whether to accept or refuse a word from another culture, or whether to accept a word but alter its spelling so as to make it appear more "English".
It's no wonder the stereotype of the "dumb American" exists. It's appalling, really, how much the education system in this country has changed over the past several decades, and not for the better. Look at what our parents and grandparents were learning in school—and in what grades—compared to kids today. A prime example? One of my favorite Christmas movies is A Christmas Story. During the film, the 4th grade class is shown reading the book Silas Marner. That was in the 1940s. By 1980 you were lucky if kids could handle that book in the 9th grade, and not many schools teach it at all now. (It is, by the way, a good book.)
And have you ever read old newspapers from the 1950s or—even better—earlier? I love browsing old articles in the online archives of the Wisconsin Historical Society and the like. I love the vocabulary and the way they used language. It is not uncommon to see great four or five-syllable words. Why? Because they did not assume that 90% of their readers would not know what a word meant if it had more than two syllables. They assumed that if a person didn't know the word, they would look it up. Isn't that what most of us were taught from an early age, if you don't know something, look it up?
If anything we need TOUGHER educational standards in this country, not more lenient ones. Lengthening the school year would be a good start. The US already has one of the shortest school years in the world. The summer break is so long that kids forget half of what they learned by start of the next semester. Let's get back to the days when a fourth grader could actually read and understand a book like Silas Marner.
As for me, I believe I will protest the protesters by watching the Scripps National Spelling Bee on TV tonight and cheering these young spellers on. The Bee airs on ABC at 8PM/7C.
In DC, even the Spelling Bee draws protesters
Done? Okay, here is my opinion.
What irritates me most about this protest is that it's educators who are doing it. Instead of dumbing down the language (or standards in general), they should be encouraging people to follow the example set by these kids to excel. I have grandparents and great-grandparents who came to this country from Norway, Germany and France. They did not expect the people in this country to speak their language. They did not expect people to give them a break because they did not know the language. They immediately started to learn English, the predominate language spoken in this country, so that they could understand what was going on around them and fit in.
Also, the protester seems to completely miss the fact that the way words are spelled has much to do with country (language) of origin. The English language, more than any other, has always absorbed words from other languages. Unlike countries such as France, there is no language police here, deciding whether to accept or refuse a word from another culture, or whether to accept a word but alter its spelling so as to make it appear more "English".
It's no wonder the stereotype of the "dumb American" exists. It's appalling, really, how much the education system in this country has changed over the past several decades, and not for the better. Look at what our parents and grandparents were learning in school—and in what grades—compared to kids today. A prime example? One of my favorite Christmas movies is A Christmas Story. During the film, the 4th grade class is shown reading the book Silas Marner. That was in the 1940s. By 1980 you were lucky if kids could handle that book in the 9th grade, and not many schools teach it at all now. (It is, by the way, a good book.)
And have you ever read old newspapers from the 1950s or—even better—earlier? I love browsing old articles in the online archives of the Wisconsin Historical Society and the like. I love the vocabulary and the way they used language. It is not uncommon to see great four or five-syllable words. Why? Because they did not assume that 90% of their readers would not know what a word meant if it had more than two syllables. They assumed that if a person didn't know the word, they would look it up. Isn't that what most of us were taught from an early age, if you don't know something, look it up?
If anything we need TOUGHER educational standards in this country, not more lenient ones. Lengthening the school year would be a good start. The US already has one of the shortest school years in the world. The summer break is so long that kids forget half of what they learned by start of the next semester. Let's get back to the days when a fourth grader could actually read and understand a book like Silas Marner.
As for me, I believe I will protest the protesters by watching the Scripps National Spelling Bee on TV tonight and cheering these young spellers on. The Bee airs on ABC at 8PM/7C.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Dear History Channel
Dear History,
Fix your damn RSS feed already! I'm tired of getting the same damn update 100 or more times in one day. This has been going on for almost three weeks now, and I have now sent two complaints on the issue, with no results. Be assured that I am not the only irate subscriber. Since 1am this morning, I have received the same three notices 28 times each That's 84 "updates" in thirteen hours! Now, for those who have the feeds sent to a service such as Google Reader, this may be nothing more than an extremely irritating inconvenience. But one cannot help wondering how many email or mobile device accounts have been frozen over the past three weeks by your inattention to this problem. PLEASE FIX YOUR DAMN BUG -- NOW!
Thank you.
Fix your damn RSS feed already! I'm tired of getting the same damn update 100 or more times in one day. This has been going on for almost three weeks now, and I have now sent two complaints on the issue, with no results. Be assured that I am not the only irate subscriber. Since 1am this morning, I have received the same three notices 28 times each That's 84 "updates" in thirteen hours! Now, for those who have the feeds sent to a service such as Google Reader, this may be nothing more than an extremely irritating inconvenience. But one cannot help wondering how many email or mobile device accounts have been frozen over the past three weeks by your inattention to this problem. PLEASE FIX YOUR DAMN BUG -- NOW!
Thank you.
Monday, April 06, 2009
Stupid People Make Me Itch
OMFG... I'm telling you, some people in this world are too stupid to live. Seriously. This is an actual email exchange with a customer:
Customer: Looking to order 3/8 oz in XYZ and cant (sic) find them except in white on your website, can you help me?
ME: The 3/8 XYZ is a discontinued item. We only have regular white (no glow) left in stock.
Customer: So Im (sic) going to get the glow or the regular white?
AUUUUGGGHHHH! Someone pass the Calomine lotion, won't you? I think I'm starting to itch...
Customer: Looking to order 3/8 oz in XYZ and cant (sic) find them except in white on your website, can you help me?
ME: The 3/8 XYZ is a discontinued item. We only have regular white (no glow) left in stock.
Customer: So Im (sic) going to get the glow or the regular white?
AUUUUGGGHHHH! Someone pass the Calomine lotion, won't you? I think I'm starting to itch...
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
More Phone Etiquette
An addition to Monday's rant...
If you place the call, it is rude to ask the person you are calling to hold because you have another call coming in. This is standard phone etiquette. You make the call, you make time to complete the call, or ask if you can call the person back. You do not ask them to hold!
(And my day started off so well...)
If you place the call, it is rude to ask the person you are calling to hold because you have another call coming in. This is standard phone etiquette. You make the call, you make time to complete the call, or ask if you can call the person back. You do not ask them to hold!
(And my day started off so well...)
Monday, March 16, 2009
Issues
If it seems I've been a bit absent the last couple weeks, well -- blame it on computers. Seriously, I am getting so fed up with them. The one at work...okay, granted the biggest issue there is the outdated operating system. But before we can update that we have to upgrade the invoicing software we use. Which, of course, all costs money. Granted, some of that would be tax deductible, but it's still A LOT of money upfront and in case no one has heard, we're in a serious recession. So, I'm stuck dealing with daily frustrations, such as the fact this thing has frozen on me half a dozen times today. If not more. Thankfully, most of those times I have been able to ctrl+alt+del my way out of it, but have suffered one hard freeze that necessitated shutting the computer down the hard way and restarting. Ugh! I ran full maintenance this afternoon, hoping it would be an hour well-spent, only to receive another frickin' error report within ten minutes of coming back online. ARGH!
As for the home computer...there it's mostly connection issues. If it's not the ISP acting up, it's AT&T doing more line work in the neighborhood. And I can always tell when AT&T shows up. I'll be speeding through email or surfing along quite nicely when all of a sudden...nothing. Nada. Rien. Complete standstill. Take a walk around the block and nine times out of ten there will be an AT&T utility truck. Irritating in the extreme!
* * * * * * * * * *
Also irritating is the fact that someone stole my scissors over the weekend. I remember using them near the end of the day on Friday and returning them to their cubicle on my desk. Soon after coming in this morning I reached for my scissors and they were...gone! The boss claims he wasn't in all weekend, so who took them? A mouse? Someone was obviously here, 'cause they didn't just grow legs and walk out on their own. And these were GOOD scissors, not crappy ones like other pairs here at the office because I don't use mine to cut stuff you shouldn't. Which means they aren't stiff or dull but actually work. Someone better cough 'em up and fast!
* * * * * * * * * *
If it seems like I'm in a bit of a foul mood today well, that's because I have had a bit of an off day. Blame it on my neck, which contributed to a poor night. As some may remember, I suffered whiplash a decade ago when some bimbo at the Kohl Center tripped over her own feet returning from concessions, landing on--you guessed it--my neck. It's meant not being able to do some things, like reach for items shelved above my head, or sitting with my head turned at an angle for any length of time, and I can't look up at the sky (or a high shelf) without supporting my neck from behind with one hand. There are also (supposed to be) limits as to what I can lift. As in, not supposed to lift anything over 20 pounds. Ha! Yeah, like that's possible with my life. Maybe if I had a house boy to do all the heavy lifting and strenuous house cleaning for me. I also get migraines once or twice a month now, which causes my neck to throb with pain.
My neck has been bothering me a lot again lately, and I was hurting quite a bit when I went to bed last night. Yes, I took some drugs and applied heat before climbing into bed. And again when it woke me up at 1 and 5. The last set plus heat and another hour of sleep finally seemed to do the trick, but as is usual after a night like this, it starts to feel tense again after a long day at work. Not to mention how it sours my mood. Good thing stupid people have stayed out of my way today! *WEG*
* * * * * * * * * *
Oh, and what is with people not knowing how to talk on the phone? Okay, Phone Etiquette 101.
First, turn off the TV and radio. It's distracting to both you and me.
Second, silence screaming kids or barking dogs (likewise screaming dogs and barking kids). Again, it's distracting to both parties.
Third, if placing an order, have your order written down in front of you (item, description, part number, color, etc). Likewise your credit card.
Fourth, speak slowly and clearly. There are no prizes for speed, and no one likes repeating themselves twenty times when they can't be understood. Plus, if the person can't understand you, it could lead to your order being entered wrong.
Fifth, speak loud enough to be heard without deafening the person on the other line. This is the 21st century, people. You do NOT have to shout over the telephone line. Really. I'm not kidding.
Sixth, spell out names, especially unusual ones. You know whether your name is unusual or not by how frequently you have been asked to spell it. Also, do not be offended if asked which spelling of a name you use. Some people spell it S-t-e-v-e-n, some spell it S-t-e-p-h-e-n. Likewise, consider the number of different spellings of names such as Terry/Tari/Teri, Jerry/Jerri/Geri, and Chris/Kris.
Seventh, be polite. How you treat the person you're calling can greatly influence how they in turn treat you. So if you don't want to be treated like an ass, don't behave like one.
End rant. *g*
As for the home computer...there it's mostly connection issues. If it's not the ISP acting up, it's AT&T doing more line work in the neighborhood. And I can always tell when AT&T shows up. I'll be speeding through email or surfing along quite nicely when all of a sudden...nothing. Nada. Rien. Complete standstill. Take a walk around the block and nine times out of ten there will be an AT&T utility truck. Irritating in the extreme!
* * * * * * * * * *
Also irritating is the fact that someone stole my scissors over the weekend. I remember using them near the end of the day on Friday and returning them to their cubicle on my desk. Soon after coming in this morning I reached for my scissors and they were...gone! The boss claims he wasn't in all weekend, so who took them? A mouse? Someone was obviously here, 'cause they didn't just grow legs and walk out on their own. And these were GOOD scissors, not crappy ones like other pairs here at the office because I don't use mine to cut stuff you shouldn't. Which means they aren't stiff or dull but actually work. Someone better cough 'em up and fast!
* * * * * * * * * *
If it seems like I'm in a bit of a foul mood today well, that's because I have had a bit of an off day. Blame it on my neck, which contributed to a poor night. As some may remember, I suffered whiplash a decade ago when some bimbo at the Kohl Center tripped over her own feet returning from concessions, landing on--you guessed it--my neck. It's meant not being able to do some things, like reach for items shelved above my head, or sitting with my head turned at an angle for any length of time, and I can't look up at the sky (or a high shelf) without supporting my neck from behind with one hand. There are also (supposed to be) limits as to what I can lift. As in, not supposed to lift anything over 20 pounds. Ha! Yeah, like that's possible with my life. Maybe if I had a house boy to do all the heavy lifting and strenuous house cleaning for me. I also get migraines once or twice a month now, which causes my neck to throb with pain.
My neck has been bothering me a lot again lately, and I was hurting quite a bit when I went to bed last night. Yes, I took some drugs and applied heat before climbing into bed. And again when it woke me up at 1 and 5. The last set plus heat and another hour of sleep finally seemed to do the trick, but as is usual after a night like this, it starts to feel tense again after a long day at work. Not to mention how it sours my mood. Good thing stupid people have stayed out of my way today! *WEG*
* * * * * * * * * *
Oh, and what is with people not knowing how to talk on the phone? Okay, Phone Etiquette 101.
First, turn off the TV and radio. It's distracting to both you and me.
Second, silence screaming kids or barking dogs (likewise screaming dogs and barking kids). Again, it's distracting to both parties.
Third, if placing an order, have your order written down in front of you (item, description, part number, color, etc). Likewise your credit card.
Fourth, speak slowly and clearly. There are no prizes for speed, and no one likes repeating themselves twenty times when they can't be understood. Plus, if the person can't understand you, it could lead to your order being entered wrong.
Fifth, speak loud enough to be heard without deafening the person on the other line. This is the 21st century, people. You do NOT have to shout over the telephone line. Really. I'm not kidding.
Sixth, spell out names, especially unusual ones. You know whether your name is unusual or not by how frequently you have been asked to spell it. Also, do not be offended if asked which spelling of a name you use. Some people spell it S-t-e-v-e-n, some spell it S-t-e-p-h-e-n. Likewise, consider the number of different spellings of names such as Terry/Tari/Teri, Jerry/Jerri/Geri, and Chris/Kris.
Seventh, be polite. How you treat the person you're calling can greatly influence how they in turn treat you. So if you don't want to be treated like an ass, don't behave like one.
End rant. *g*
Monday, February 16, 2009
Riled Up
You're feeling a bit riled up over some recent trouble at work or at home and that might carry over into other parts of your life. Try not to inflict too much torment on those who don't deserve it!
Some days the horoscope hits right on. This is one of those days, although "riled up" may be putting it a bit mildly. Pissed off may be closer to the mark. Have I mentioned lately how much I loathe some of my neighbors? The narcissistic twit above me, the one who recently moved back in, would be one of them, along with her rude-ass friends.
I was run out of my living room Friday night and again this evening by them. These people have absolutely NO consideration for other people in the building, or for the rules they agreed to abide by when they signed their lease. They are constantly cranking the stereo or stupid Guitar Hero game up as loud as it will go, then talking over it, loud enough that I am either forced to listen to their conversation (every other word of which begins with the letter F), or vacate to the bedroom. In addition to which, the Twit likes to antagonize people, intentionally dropping large objects or drumming/stomping on the walls or floor to try to tick off the people around them. And if you tell them to knock it off, or give a little of your own, you're the one in the wrong because she, of course, is a virtuous angel (NOT). It's beyond ridiculous.
And then there was an incident with the chick next door two weeks ago. Way back in December, we asked a few people if they could please not stomp the way they were upon entering the building, to please have a bit of courtesy for those living next to the exits (six apartments total). Didn't raise my voice, didn't use profanity, just asked if they could please have consideration for others and stop stomping so hard. We're not talking about a little tap to knock the snow off their boots. People coming in were stomping their feet as hard as they could, often for several minutes at a time, with no consideration for time of day, or other people in the building. Not only was it completely unnecessary and rude, but stomping the feet doesn't remove the salt and crud from the bottom of one's shoes, it only compacts it into the soles. Wiping one's feet is far more affective--not to mention quieter.
Anyway, it seemed to work for a while, but a few people (ie: the Twit and friends who do it intentionally--seriously, they stop inside the door, and do it en masse, trying to best each other) have started up again. Yes, I've complained about it, but haven't said a word to anyone directly since December, so you can imagine my surprise when, a couple weeks ago, we received a letter from the office saying they had complaints we were yelling at people about the stomping. What?! Excuse me??
Come to find out, chick next door was apparently listening outside our door one day as I was talking to someone on the phone. Now see, you know the stomping is loud when people on the other end of the phone ask what the noise is. As was the case here, to which I replied it was one of my rude neighbors, and that I wished people would learn how to wipe their feet instead of stomping like uneducated rubes. So chick next door is apparently standing outside our doors and hears this, and runs crying to the office that I'm yelling at her.
First of all, if you're going to eavesdrop outside other peoples' doors, you deserve to hear whatever bad things people say about you. Second, the fact that she took something I said to someone else so personally tells me someone has a guilty conscience, and maybe she should ask herself why it hit so close to home. Third, though he did send us a letter about it, he also suggested to her that maybe she should be a bit quieter when entering the building. (HA!)
The fact is, I have far more consideration for my neighbors than most of them have for me. I don't crank the TV or stereo up as loud as they will go, no matter what the hour or day of the week. I don't run loud appliances such as dishwashers, vacuums or washing machines after 10pm, in accordance to property regulations. I make sure guests understand that I do have neighbors, as well as rules to abide by regarding noise and behavior. I have no qualms about asking people to quiet down a bit, or suggest that maybe it's time people leave if the kids won't behave. (IMO, far too many adults give control to the kids instead of being the one in control.)
My niece and other young guests know better than to race through the halls, or jump stairs. I don't have a dog, but if I did, I certainly wouldn't go racing through the building with it/them, so that it sounds like a thundering herd of elephants has just entered the premises (you are supposed to be the one in control, NOT the dog!), and I certainly wouldn't chase the animal around over other peoples' heads, especially not late at night, as does the Twit upstairs. Taking your pet for regular walks is part and parcel of being a dog owner, whether rain or shine, cold or hot. If you can't handle the responsibility, you shouldn't have the dog. Some people simply should not have pets; these are usually the same people who shouldn't be allowed to breed.
Me, riled up? Ha! I bet you couldn't tell from this post. What it really all comes down to is living by the "Golden Rule" -- do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Treat people the way you want to be treated. No one knows more than I how difficult this can be--hard not to, with neighbors such as mine. But if you want people to respect you, to have a modicum of consideration for you, try having some respect for them. Consider how your actions affect other people, because whether you like it or not, almost everything you do directly affects someone else. When you have complete disregard for others, when you treat them like garbage, you give people permission to treat you the same or worse--and you have no right to complain when they do so.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
How to Spot a Telemarketer...
...From 50 paces:
* When you answer the phone, you are greeted to 30 seconds of dead silence before a smarmy-sounding salesperson comes on the line
* You are greeted with an automated voice instructing you to, "stay on the line for an important message."
* There is an actual person on the other end, but when asked what company they are calling on behalf of, instead of giving you a direct answer (eg: Acme Company), they respond with, "I have a very important matter to discuss with (insert name)."
I don't know what the deal is, but we have been inundated with telemarketing calls lately where I work. At least two a day, whereas we used to almost never receive them. It's a royal PITA and, as a mail order company, every minute of our time wasted by slime is a potential customer/order lost. Yes, we repeatedly request that they remove us from whatever list our name has suddenly appeared on, but it's difficult to report them when they refuse to give the company name. I swear telemarketers are more evil than lawyers.
* When you answer the phone, you are greeted to 30 seconds of dead silence before a smarmy-sounding salesperson comes on the line
* You are greeted with an automated voice instructing you to, "stay on the line for an important message."
* There is an actual person on the other end, but when asked what company they are calling on behalf of, instead of giving you a direct answer (eg: Acme Company), they respond with, "I have a very important matter to discuss with (insert name)."
I don't know what the deal is, but we have been inundated with telemarketing calls lately where I work. At least two a day, whereas we used to almost never receive them. It's a royal PITA and, as a mail order company, every minute of our time wasted by slime is a potential customer/order lost. Yes, we repeatedly request that they remove us from whatever list our name has suddenly appeared on, but it's difficult to report them when they refuse to give the company name. I swear telemarketers are more evil than lawyers.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Thursday Thirteen #78: Random Stuff
I'm feeling rather peevish this week. Here's some of the random stuff bogging me down.
1. Note to self: Next time you loan a stamp to someone, no matter how good the friend or experienced the stamper, make sure said stamp has been thoroughly cleaned so you don't end up with Perfect Plum (a dark purple) in your Pretty In Pink ink. Argh! Thankfully, it is only one end of the ink affected, I did manage to sop some of it up, and I noticed in time to clean the stamp before more damage could be done.
2. It's October. It's been in the low 40s every night this week and may possibly dip lower tonight. So why the hell haven't they lit the furnace already? It shouldn't be so cold inside my apartment that I'm worried about frost on my plants. Not that I think anything could kill the stupid dragon tree.
3. Speaking of things that are cold... Why is my freezer leaking inside the refrigerator and all over my floor? I de-iced it three weeks ago, which helped all of two weeks before the problem started again. Appliances!
4. Of course, if I could actually find a new apartment, the above problem would no longer be mine. However, as I am the primary caretaker for my mother and therefore require a ground floor, handicap accessible apartment, and a good 90 percent (if not more!) of the housing in this city is not accessible, finding a new abode has proven extremely difficult and stressful. Note to all builders: Stop building apartments that are completely inaccessible and which require one to walk up five billion stairs to enter!
5. CBS owes me ten minutes of Criminal Minds due to their "technical difficulty." Robbing viewers of the last ten minutes--the dénouement--is just plain rude! It's not like pushing CSI:NY back ten minutes to re-air those lost minutes would have killed you. Heck, Cold Case is frequently delayed much later than that! Give me the ending, damn it!
6. Leave it to the Milwaukee Brewers (baseball for you foreigners) to finally make it to the playoffs for the first time in 26 years...only to choke their first game out. *Sigh* We can only hope for a better showing today (Thursday). Ah well--at least the Chicago Cubs lost too. Hehe...
7. It's past time my elbow healed. Really. I refuse to acceptblame responsibility for the fact that what was originally a strain has taken months to heal. I mean, if inanimate objects would stop getting in my way my elbow wouldn't be garnering a new bruise every time I (literally) turn around. The stove, kitchen counter, door handles, the printer at work, and remote control (don't ask!) all seem to be conspiring against me.
8. I have been condemned to work two days of an upcoming show for work with Thing One (Thing Two being out of town that week). And yes, condemned. One, I was not asked if I would be able to work this show and two, I would much rather be left behind--alone--at the office, than forced to breathe stale, canned air and deal with buyers all day. I am not a salesperson, and this is the sort of stressful situation guaranteed to bring on a migraine. Not to mention how absolutely bored I am going to be. I am also peeved by this because...
9. I have scent allergies, perfume and cologne being the worst. No matter whether I take meds in advance or not, they do not alleviate the symptoms 100 percent. The non-stop sniffling and sneezing isn't the worst of it, either--in extreme cases my throat tightens and breathing becomes laborious (shudders at memories of RWA 2002). No matter how many times Thing One has been told I am allergic, he still insists on bathing in cologne, especially for business meetings and shows. Seriously, worse than the proverbial French whore. I rather like breathing, thank you very much.
10. The stupid show "assignment" also means having to cancel my Wednesday and Thursday night plans. That Wednesday kicks off the Wisconsin Book Festival. I had hoped to attend the talk with Judy Blume that night (or, failing to obtain a free ticket for that, the program with Cristina Schwarz), and a program with Jacquelyn Mitchard Thursday night. However, given how late the show runs, and the hour plus ride back in rush hour Interstate traffic, I will not make it home in time to attend either. Color me ticked! *growls*
11. Okay, in order to keep this post from being completely negative, there is something to look forward to this weekend: The annual Talking Spirits tour at Forest Hill Cemetery Sunday afternoon. This year's emphasis is on the Civil War.
12. One good thing to come out of the past week: I received an order for 20-30 cards from a friend, after she saw one posted last week that she liked. Yay me! Excellent timing, too, as I have a rather large stamp order arriving next week. Can't wait to play with all my new toys!
13. Saturday is World Card Making Day. Local stores are hosting make-and-takes, and many online sites such as SCS will have online challenges throughout the day. Since I have no plans (read: life), I intend to celebrate the day by--what else?--making cards. Maybe I'll finish that order mentioned above, as well as refill my personal supply of birthday cards!
1. Note to self: Next time you loan a stamp to someone, no matter how good the friend or experienced the stamper, make sure said stamp has been thoroughly cleaned so you don't end up with Perfect Plum (a dark purple) in your Pretty In Pink ink. Argh! Thankfully, it is only one end of the ink affected, I did manage to sop some of it up, and I noticed in time to clean the stamp before more damage could be done.
2. It's October. It's been in the low 40s every night this week and may possibly dip lower tonight. So why the hell haven't they lit the furnace already? It shouldn't be so cold inside my apartment that I'm worried about frost on my plants. Not that I think anything could kill the stupid dragon tree.
3. Speaking of things that are cold... Why is my freezer leaking inside the refrigerator and all over my floor? I de-iced it three weeks ago, which helped all of two weeks before the problem started again. Appliances!
4. Of course, if I could actually find a new apartment, the above problem would no longer be mine. However, as I am the primary caretaker for my mother and therefore require a ground floor, handicap accessible apartment, and a good 90 percent (if not more!) of the housing in this city is not accessible, finding a new abode has proven extremely difficult and stressful. Note to all builders: Stop building apartments that are completely inaccessible and which require one to walk up five billion stairs to enter!
5. CBS owes me ten minutes of Criminal Minds due to their "technical difficulty." Robbing viewers of the last ten minutes--the dénouement--is just plain rude! It's not like pushing CSI:NY back ten minutes to re-air those lost minutes would have killed you. Heck, Cold Case is frequently delayed much later than that! Give me the ending, damn it!
6. Leave it to the Milwaukee Brewers (baseball for you foreigners) to finally make it to the playoffs for the first time in 26 years...only to choke their first game out. *Sigh* We can only hope for a better showing today (Thursday). Ah well--at least the Chicago Cubs lost too. Hehe...
7. It's past time my elbow healed. Really. I refuse to accept
8. I have been condemned to work two days of an upcoming show for work with Thing One (Thing Two being out of town that week). And yes, condemned. One, I was not asked if I would be able to work this show and two, I would much rather be left behind--alone--at the office, than forced to breathe stale, canned air and deal with buyers all day. I am not a salesperson, and this is the sort of stressful situation guaranteed to bring on a migraine. Not to mention how absolutely bored I am going to be. I am also peeved by this because...
9. I have scent allergies, perfume and cologne being the worst. No matter whether I take meds in advance or not, they do not alleviate the symptoms 100 percent. The non-stop sniffling and sneezing isn't the worst of it, either--in extreme cases my throat tightens and breathing becomes laborious (shudders at memories of RWA 2002). No matter how many times Thing One has been told I am allergic, he still insists on bathing in cologne, especially for business meetings and shows. Seriously, worse than the proverbial French whore. I rather like breathing, thank you very much.
10. The stupid show "assignment" also means having to cancel my Wednesday and Thursday night plans. That Wednesday kicks off the Wisconsin Book Festival. I had hoped to attend the talk with Judy Blume that night (or, failing to obtain a free ticket for that, the program with Cristina Schwarz), and a program with Jacquelyn Mitchard Thursday night. However, given how late the show runs, and the hour plus ride back in rush hour Interstate traffic, I will not make it home in time to attend either. Color me ticked! *growls*
11. Okay, in order to keep this post from being completely negative, there is something to look forward to this weekend: The annual Talking Spirits tour at Forest Hill Cemetery Sunday afternoon. This year's emphasis is on the Civil War.
12. One good thing to come out of the past week: I received an order for 20-30 cards from a friend, after she saw one posted last week that she liked. Yay me! Excellent timing, too, as I have a rather large stamp order arriving next week. Can't wait to play with all my new toys!
13. Saturday is World Card Making Day. Local stores are hosting make-and-takes, and many online sites such as SCS will have online challenges throughout the day. Since I have no plans (read: life), I intend to celebrate the day by--what else?--making cards. Maybe I'll finish that order mentioned above, as well as refill my personal supply of birthday cards!
Adelle Laudan * Tempest Knight * Shelley Munro
Ms Menozzi * Stephanie Adkins * Darla * Mel
Debbie Mumford * Jennifer McKenzie * Nina Pierce
Paige Tyler * Claudia * Kaige * Alice Audrey
(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
Friday, May 09, 2008
Myanmar aid shipments confiscated
I don't usually get all political on this blog, but headlines like this really piss you off:
Since the original story was posted a little over an hour ago, Myanmar's government has acknowledged taking control of the shipments, but claims plans to distribute the aid "without delay by its own labor to the affected areas." Since the cyclone that devasted the area a week ago, relief organizations from around the world have stepped forward to offer aid, only to be turned away at the door. Meanwhile, hundreds more have died due to injury, with thousands more expected to succumb to disease, exposure to the elements, and starvation. If they truly want to save their people, the junta needs to get over their fears of the outside world and let the aid workers in. Trained doctors and health officials can do a hell of a lot more for the country than a militia trained to kill first and ask questions later.
The confiscation of matierlas raises a lot of questions, such as how we know people in the areas worst affected will get the aid they need. What is preventing the junta from killing the sick and injured instead of attending to their needs? How much food is being left to spoil at docks and airports because the junta won't let it off ships or planes? What other reasons could there be for refusing to let humanitarian organizers into affected areas? What is the junta trying to hide? And what will be left of Myanmar if they continue to refuse help from countries much more capable of providing the sort of aid needed in the face of such devastation?
What really ticks you off is the knowledge that these people begging for help are being led to believe that the rest of the world has abandoned them when, in fact, it is their own government that has failed them. It is incidents such as this that really make you angry!
UN halts aid to Myanmar after junta seizes supplies
Myanmar's junta seized U.N. aid shipments headed for hungry and homeless survivors of last week's devastating cyclone, prompting the world body to suspend further help on Friday.
The U.N. said the aid included 38 tons of high-energy biscuits and arrived in Myanmar on Friday on two flights from Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates.
"All of the food aid and equipment that we managed to get in has been confiscated," U.N. World Food Program spokesman Paul Risley said. "For the time being, we have no choice but to end further efforts to bring critical needed food aid into Myanmar at this time."
Since the original story was posted a little over an hour ago, Myanmar's government has acknowledged taking control of the shipments, but claims plans to distribute the aid "without delay by its own labor to the affected areas." Since the cyclone that devasted the area a week ago, relief organizations from around the world have stepped forward to offer aid, only to be turned away at the door. Meanwhile, hundreds more have died due to injury, with thousands more expected to succumb to disease, exposure to the elements, and starvation. If they truly want to save their people, the junta needs to get over their fears of the outside world and let the aid workers in. Trained doctors and health officials can do a hell of a lot more for the country than a militia trained to kill first and ask questions later.
The confiscation of matierlas raises a lot of questions, such as how we know people in the areas worst affected will get the aid they need. What is preventing the junta from killing the sick and injured instead of attending to their needs? How much food is being left to spoil at docks and airports because the junta won't let it off ships or planes? What other reasons could there be for refusing to let humanitarian organizers into affected areas? What is the junta trying to hide? And what will be left of Myanmar if they continue to refuse help from countries much more capable of providing the sort of aid needed in the face of such devastation?
What really ticks you off is the knowledge that these people begging for help are being led to believe that the rest of the world has abandoned them when, in fact, it is their own government that has failed them. It is incidents such as this that really make you angry!
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Thursday Thirteen #57: Pet Peeves
I'm taking this directly from a thread at Romance Divas this week, Nitpicking Things That Drive You Nuts. Here are some of the things that bug me.-- People who don't push chairs in, or who leave doors/drawers/box flaps hanging open, especially when they block narrow aisles.
-- People who blast their car stereos, especially those who sit in front of someone else's house and do this.
-- People who block store aisles. Pull your cart over to the side to look for the item you can't find, or to chat with friends. And don't give me a dirty look when I ask you to move your a$$ so I can get through.
-- People who don't pick up after their dogs. You put food into it, you clean what comes out of it. It's as simple as that.
-- People who are too lazy to take their garbage with them. I don't throw my garbage in your yard, don't throw yours in mine!
-- People who keep dialing the same number after being told they are dialing the wrong number, as if the connections will magically rearrange if they just. keep. trying. I actually had to leave an outgoing message on my machine for two months last year telling people the number they were dialing was NOT ABC company, and screen all incoming calls. They finally got the message.
-- On a similar note, people who argue with you when you tell them they've misdialed. One lady who called my home number actually accused me of being lazy and not wanting to help her. It was soooo tempting to "make an appointment" for her so she would look the fool when she showed up somewhere she wasn't expected.
-- People who leave long rambling phone messages and then suddenly hit warp speed when leaving their phone number. Sorry, but if I can't understand the number, I'm not calling you back.
-- People who do laundry after 10pm or before 6am. That may be fine if you own a house, but when you share walls with other people...uh-uh. Have a little consideration for the people around you, and they might have some for you.
-- And, as someone who does a lot of walking, drivers who refuse to stop for pedestrians at/in crosswalks, despite the fact that it's state law. This especially irks me at the mall, when I'm standing directly under the bright neon sign reminding them of said law.
-- People who continually forward emails that have already been forwarded a billion times. I won't even open them. If it's really so great that you have to share, then copy, paste and clean it up before passing it on.
-- People who hold loud cellphone conversations in public, particularly on the bus/train, or in restaurants. Newsflash: you do not live in a sound proof bubble, and no one wants to hear all the intimate details of your life. Except maybe the stalker sitting behind you.
-- People who don't control their children in public. It's a store or restaurant, NOT a gymnasium. Please do not inflict the children you refuse to discipline on the rest of us.
So...what's bugging you?
Kaige * Adelle Laudan * Nina Pierce
Tempest Knight * Shelley Munro * Alice Audrey
Tara Nichols * Ms Menozzi * Darla
Debora Dennis * December * Debbie Mumford
Jennifer McKenzie * Paige Tyler * Lia Morgan
Gina Ardito * Robin Rotham
Gwen Mitchell * Brenda Davis * Chloe Devlin
Dana Belfry * Kat Oxley
(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
Monday, April 21, 2008
The Trouble With Dogs
My friend Nina posted about the problem of dogs in cities on her blog last week, and since this is a major peeve of mine, I thought I'd post my reply to her here and expand on it, for lack of anything better to post today.
First, there is the problem of taking dogs out to public places, especially crowded places. With the exception of service animals, dogs are supposed to be banned from events on the Capitol Square, as well as other area events like 4th of July, but there are still people who refuse to leave Fido at home where he belongs. This is a safety issue for both the dog and other people. Kids especially don't know not to approach strange dogs, and even dogs that don't usually bite can become easily stressed in noisy, crowded situations. They should be kept at home where they belong.
Second, are the dogs at our apartment complex. When we first moved in here, it was cats only, and all was good. The property was clean and well-kept. There used to be luscious thick grass right up to the stoop of both the south and north side entrances of our building, and you could sit outside on a summer evening and enjoy the quiet.
Since many dog owners are too lazy to take their dogs further than the back door, even in decent weather, this is no longer true. It doesn't take a botany major to figure out what happens when a dozen or more dogs all do their business in one small area! They have almost completely killed the grass outside both side entrances of our building. Try explaining that to management or the loser dog owners, though. We now have no grass until about six feet out from the stoop, and the dirt patch expands every year. VERY annoying! They have tried reseeding it a couple of times, but since you can’t pound sense into the stupid dog owners’ heads...it’s been a waste of time, effort and money. And even where there is grass you can no longer enjoy it for fear of what you might sit/step in, not to mention the smell.
Living on the edge of the city and quite near to the Arboretum, we also used to see more wildlife--raccoons, fox, hedgehogs, rabbits, wild turkeys--even signs of deer and coyote. Now, only the noisy squirrels remain.
Then, of course, there are those owners who do not pick up after Fido as they are supposed to. You should have seen the disgusting mess uncovered by the melted snows. Yuck! Management sent a nasty warning letter out about that and flat out told dog owners that if they didn't start picking up after their dogs, they would lose the privilege of having them. Now if they could just catch the bad ones in the act! Someone's dog has also gone in the middle of the wheelchair ramp and in the hallway during the past three weeks and, of course, the owner didn't clean it up either time. A few of us told management, but unless you actually see who did it...not much you can do, other than make everyone get rid of their dogs.
Not that that would break my heart, but it certainly wouldn't be fair to the few who actually walk and take care of their dogs as they should. People not picking up after their dogs can be a problem particularly for someone in a wheelchair. Luckily, the mess on the ramp a few weeks ago was right in the middle, so the wheels didn’t track poo into the building, but it isn’t fun trying to push a chair up a ramp and not step in anything at the same time.
There is also the barking issue. It grates on one's nerves listening to someone's dog bark all the freakin' time -- not to mention how much sleep I've lost due to such a beast. I know some people are going to say that's what dogs do: they bark -- however, a properly trained dog will not bark 24/7.
Dogs, like humans, need to exercise their brains and bodies, and obedience training is one way to accomplish that. All too often, though, the owner needs more training than the dog. Dogs need to know that you are the one in charge, not them, and they need consistency in both their lives and their training. They need at least one hour of pant-inducing exercise every day. That means getting your lazy ass up off the couch and taking your pet outside. Proper exercise and training makes for a happy dog, and a happy dog doesn't bark, whine and howl all day. Not only will the dog be happier, but so will your neighbors.
Personally, though, I wish more apartment complexes would start banning dogs, instead of changing policies to allow them. And if they are going to allow them, they should only be allowed on the ground floor so as not to disturb people living under them, and owners should provide proof of obedience training. Just my inconvenienced opinion.
ETA: Just for the record, I don't dislike dogs, I simply don't believe they belong in apartments or at crowded public events.
First, there is the problem of taking dogs out to public places, especially crowded places. With the exception of service animals, dogs are supposed to be banned from events on the Capitol Square, as well as other area events like 4th of July, but there are still people who refuse to leave Fido at home where he belongs. This is a safety issue for both the dog and other people. Kids especially don't know not to approach strange dogs, and even dogs that don't usually bite can become easily stressed in noisy, crowded situations. They should be kept at home where they belong.
Second, are the dogs at our apartment complex. When we first moved in here, it was cats only, and all was good. The property was clean and well-kept. There used to be luscious thick grass right up to the stoop of both the south and north side entrances of our building, and you could sit outside on a summer evening and enjoy the quiet.
Since many dog owners are too lazy to take their dogs further than the back door, even in decent weather, this is no longer true. It doesn't take a botany major to figure out what happens when a dozen or more dogs all do their business in one small area! They have almost completely killed the grass outside both side entrances of our building. Try explaining that to management or the loser dog owners, though. We now have no grass until about six feet out from the stoop, and the dirt patch expands every year. VERY annoying! They have tried reseeding it a couple of times, but since you can’t pound sense into the stupid dog owners’ heads...it’s been a waste of time, effort and money. And even where there is grass you can no longer enjoy it for fear of what you might sit/step in, not to mention the smell.
Living on the edge of the city and quite near to the Arboretum, we also used to see more wildlife--raccoons, fox, hedgehogs, rabbits, wild turkeys--even signs of deer and coyote. Now, only the noisy squirrels remain.
Then, of course, there are those owners who do not pick up after Fido as they are supposed to. You should have seen the disgusting mess uncovered by the melted snows. Yuck! Management sent a nasty warning letter out about that and flat out told dog owners that if they didn't start picking up after their dogs, they would lose the privilege of having them. Now if they could just catch the bad ones in the act! Someone's dog has also gone in the middle of the wheelchair ramp and in the hallway during the past three weeks and, of course, the owner didn't clean it up either time. A few of us told management, but unless you actually see who did it...not much you can do, other than make everyone get rid of their dogs.
Not that that would break my heart, but it certainly wouldn't be fair to the few who actually walk and take care of their dogs as they should. People not picking up after their dogs can be a problem particularly for someone in a wheelchair. Luckily, the mess on the ramp a few weeks ago was right in the middle, so the wheels didn’t track poo into the building, but it isn’t fun trying to push a chair up a ramp and not step in anything at the same time.
There is also the barking issue. It grates on one's nerves listening to someone's dog bark all the freakin' time -- not to mention how much sleep I've lost due to such a beast. I know some people are going to say that's what dogs do: they bark -- however, a properly trained dog will not bark 24/7.
Dogs, like humans, need to exercise their brains and bodies, and obedience training is one way to accomplish that. All too often, though, the owner needs more training than the dog. Dogs need to know that you are the one in charge, not them, and they need consistency in both their lives and their training. They need at least one hour of pant-inducing exercise every day. That means getting your lazy ass up off the couch and taking your pet outside. Proper exercise and training makes for a happy dog, and a happy dog doesn't bark, whine and howl all day. Not only will the dog be happier, but so will your neighbors.
Personally, though, I wish more apartment complexes would start banning dogs, instead of changing policies to allow them. And if they are going to allow them, they should only be allowed on the ground floor so as not to disturb people living under them, and owners should provide proof of obedience training. Just my inconvenienced opinion.
ETA: Just for the record, I don't dislike dogs, I simply don't believe they belong in apartments or at crowded public events.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Venting
Those who know me know that I do not do this very often, at least not in a public forum, but sometimes, you just have to vent.
Have I mentioned how much I hate my upstairs neighbors? And yes, I do mean HATE. They are loud, rude, and completely lacking in any consideration for others in the building. We have so many grievences against them it's difficult to decide where to start.
No, maybe not so hard. Let's start with the fact that it's 11:20pm on a Monday night, I'm tired, I have a headache, I have to get up in the morning -- and I'm still up. Why? Because apparently the sows above me think they live in a vacuum. They must, judging by the fact they seem to think no one can hear them chasing their stupid dog around, or the damn washing machine running after hours. I was actually ready for bed about 9:30 tonight--which, as those who know me know--is pretty rare for me. I confess to night owl tendencies I frequently have to fight. But I've had a sinus infection for some time now and am really tired. But was I allowed to sleep?
No.
Why? Because the stupic dog they kennel above my bedroom when they are gone was barking, whining and battering its cage, as it often does when abandoned. And let me tell you all--a muzzle does not completely deter a dog from barking. It may not be able to produce a full-throated bark, but a muzzled dog is still capable of short, sharp barks. Don't let anyone tell you different.
Anyway, about 10:30pm the sows above me came stomping in (and I do mean stomping), prompting the dumb dog to buck in its cage like a crazed bull, lifting it and slamming it against the floor--which is MY ceiling. This is no little dog, either, easily weighing in at around 80 pounds, if not more, so I'm sure you can imagine how loud it is. The first time my BIL heard the beast romping overhead he looked at me aghast and said, "How can any manager allow a dog like that in an upstairs apartment?" And believe me, he knows what he is talking about. He has managed university owned properties across the country and is so effective at turning them around that he has frequently been sought out. Too bad you have to be a student to live in his buildings--or that I'd then be surrounded by undergrad stupidity.
Unfortunately, this is typical behavior for this dog. It does this so often I'm surprised there isn't a hole in the ceiling, and you can't tell me that they don't know how loud it is, either. But do they try to deter the dumb mutt from this negative behavior? Of course not--quite the opposite, in fact. Yes, they make an already high-strung dog even more excitable. Nice, huh?
So, sows come home, dog goes ballistic until they let him out--at which point we are treated to an hour of the dog stampeding over our heads while we are trying to sleep. As if that isn't enough, the narcissistic sows decide to do laundry after hours. Never mind the fact that loud appliances are NOT supposed to be used after 10pm or before 8am. Not only is this in accordance with city/apartment complex noise ordinances, it's common courtesy. You don't run loud machines late at night when people are trying to sleep. At least, people with MANNERS don't run loud appliances late at night. Not when you live in a multi-unit apartment building with little soundproofing.
So yeah, here I am online after 11:30 at night when I'd rather be sleeping--all because my upstairs neighbors are being their typically rude selves.
I suppose I should be grateful I didn't ccome home to their loud stereo, as I did Friday night. I got home a little after 6pm and could hear the music as I entered the building. My apartment sounded like a State Street bar. I couldn't even sit in the living/dining area to eat dinner, it was that loud, no exaggeration. Seriously--if I wanted to live in an apartment that sounded like a State Street bar...I'd move into an apartment over a State Street bar. But this isn't State Street, or even Langdon for that matter. It's a residential neighborhood and there are a lot of families and people who have to get up early for work and don't want to hear pounding music after being surrounded by noise at work all day.
And seriously--why are so many people afraid of silence? While I revel in power outages, others whinge and complain at not having their stereos, TVs or video games.
But I digress. To return to what I was saying, no one wants to hear someone else's music all the time, particularly when it is so loud it drives you out of the livingroom you pay for. I'm not saying people don't have the right to listen to whatever they want to listen to, but they need to be mindful of the fact that others don't want to hear it, nor should they have to. As Alderman Schumacher said several weeks back, "Peoples' rights end when they infringe upon other peoples' rights,"--and I have the right to sit in my livingroom at night, and hear my TV or music without having to crank it up over someone else's--which would make me as rude and guilty of negative behavior as they are, not to mention irritate the people next to and across from me. I have the right to eat at my dining room table, and to have company over and not have to shout at each other in order to be heard over someone's loud music or unruly dog romping overhead.
That last one is a major bone of contention right now, what with Thanksgiving being ruined by them. We couldn't even have a normal conversation without having to yell over the pounding bass coming from upstairs. It did not make me happy. And now, as if ruining our Thanksgiving wasn't enough, they are working on destroying our Christmas. Seriously, what little bit of Christmas spirit I had the beginning of this month has been depleted by their escalating rudeness. My sister, niece and BIL are supposed to be here Christmas Day and I can't even look forward to it because you know the sows upstairs are going to ruin it.
Anyone reading this is probably wondering why I don't talk to the manager. The thing is, she's half the problem. The current manager is extremely ineffectual and by far one of the worst this property has had in all the years we've been here. We have complained to her several times over the past three months about the dog, constant noise (especially late at night), and excessively loud music--to no avail. Her opinion is that people can do whatever they want, no matter what the hour, rules set forth in the lease agreement, or how it affects those around them--with no consequence. She'd be of a completely different opinion were she to spend one week under these people and got as little sleep as I do. It's a rare night when they don't keep me up late or wake me between 2 and 4am.
And yes, we have even called the police, who were also no help. In short, we were basically told to take our noise complaints to the manager, that it was their responsibility to do something about it, never mind the fact their loud music was in violation of city noise ordinances. Yes...our tax dollars at work. In fact, the officer was even quite insulting, saying at one point, "Well, they pay rent." Excuse me? And we don't? And yes, it was said in that snooty, condescending manner. I pay rent, too, and my rent includes the use of a livingroom. I shouldn't be banished to the bedroom or forced out of my apartment whenever they're home, simply because they have to respect or consideration for others.
And yes, I would like nothing more than to file a complaint against the current manager, but cannot find a number or address for the property owner. Nothing we have received since this rental group took over the property contains that information and we've had no luck searching it out.
So, what recourse do we have, other than to move? Granted, we would like nothing more when our lease is up at end of April, provided we can find affordable handicap-accessible housing. And that is the biggest problem--finding a quiet living space in a decent neighborhood that my disabled mother can access...and that we can afford. Not exactly an easy feat in this city. I've been scoping out properties for more than a year and everything within our budget either isn't handicap accessible or is in an undesirable neighborhood. I've noticed this problem with many of the new condos and apartments that have gone up in Madison over the last few years. Very few are accessible to disabled individuals, with most having flights of stairs or even short stoops in front of them. Whatever happened to ordinances mandating that buildings be handicap accessible? And those that are want $1000 a month in rent or more. Like anyone on a fixed income or disabilty could afford that!
So, at least for the time being we are stuck where we are. If I make it to the end of April without strangling someone (or their damn dog)--it will be a miracle. Merry ho ho ho.
Have I mentioned how much I hate my upstairs neighbors? And yes, I do mean HATE. They are loud, rude, and completely lacking in any consideration for others in the building. We have so many grievences against them it's difficult to decide where to start.
No, maybe not so hard. Let's start with the fact that it's 11:20pm on a Monday night, I'm tired, I have a headache, I have to get up in the morning -- and I'm still up. Why? Because apparently the sows above me think they live in a vacuum. They must, judging by the fact they seem to think no one can hear them chasing their stupid dog around, or the damn washing machine running after hours. I was actually ready for bed about 9:30 tonight--which, as those who know me know--is pretty rare for me. I confess to night owl tendencies I frequently have to fight. But I've had a sinus infection for some time now and am really tired. But was I allowed to sleep?
No.
Why? Because the stupic dog they kennel above my bedroom when they are gone was barking, whining and battering its cage, as it often does when abandoned. And let me tell you all--a muzzle does not completely deter a dog from barking. It may not be able to produce a full-throated bark, but a muzzled dog is still capable of short, sharp barks. Don't let anyone tell you different.
Anyway, about 10:30pm the sows above me came stomping in (and I do mean stomping), prompting the dumb dog to buck in its cage like a crazed bull, lifting it and slamming it against the floor--which is MY ceiling. This is no little dog, either, easily weighing in at around 80 pounds, if not more, so I'm sure you can imagine how loud it is. The first time my BIL heard the beast romping overhead he looked at me aghast and said, "How can any manager allow a dog like that in an upstairs apartment?" And believe me, he knows what he is talking about. He has managed university owned properties across the country and is so effective at turning them around that he has frequently been sought out. Too bad you have to be a student to live in his buildings--or that I'd then be surrounded by undergrad stupidity.
Unfortunately, this is typical behavior for this dog. It does this so often I'm surprised there isn't a hole in the ceiling, and you can't tell me that they don't know how loud it is, either. But do they try to deter the dumb mutt from this negative behavior? Of course not--quite the opposite, in fact. Yes, they make an already high-strung dog even more excitable. Nice, huh?
So, sows come home, dog goes ballistic until they let him out--at which point we are treated to an hour of the dog stampeding over our heads while we are trying to sleep. As if that isn't enough, the narcissistic sows decide to do laundry after hours. Never mind the fact that loud appliances are NOT supposed to be used after 10pm or before 8am. Not only is this in accordance with city/apartment complex noise ordinances, it's common courtesy. You don't run loud machines late at night when people are trying to sleep. At least, people with MANNERS don't run loud appliances late at night. Not when you live in a multi-unit apartment building with little soundproofing.
So yeah, here I am online after 11:30 at night when I'd rather be sleeping--all because my upstairs neighbors are being their typically rude selves.
I suppose I should be grateful I didn't ccome home to their loud stereo, as I did Friday night. I got home a little after 6pm and could hear the music as I entered the building. My apartment sounded like a State Street bar. I couldn't even sit in the living/dining area to eat dinner, it was that loud, no exaggeration. Seriously--if I wanted to live in an apartment that sounded like a State Street bar...I'd move into an apartment over a State Street bar. But this isn't State Street, or even Langdon for that matter. It's a residential neighborhood and there are a lot of families and people who have to get up early for work and don't want to hear pounding music after being surrounded by noise at work all day.
And seriously--why are so many people afraid of silence? While I revel in power outages, others whinge and complain at not having their stereos, TVs or video games.
But I digress. To return to what I was saying, no one wants to hear someone else's music all the time, particularly when it is so loud it drives you out of the livingroom you pay for. I'm not saying people don't have the right to listen to whatever they want to listen to, but they need to be mindful of the fact that others don't want to hear it, nor should they have to. As Alderman Schumacher said several weeks back, "Peoples' rights end when they infringe upon other peoples' rights,"--and I have the right to sit in my livingroom at night, and hear my TV or music without having to crank it up over someone else's--which would make me as rude and guilty of negative behavior as they are, not to mention irritate the people next to and across from me. I have the right to eat at my dining room table, and to have company over and not have to shout at each other in order to be heard over someone's loud music or unruly dog romping overhead.
That last one is a major bone of contention right now, what with Thanksgiving being ruined by them. We couldn't even have a normal conversation without having to yell over the pounding bass coming from upstairs. It did not make me happy. And now, as if ruining our Thanksgiving wasn't enough, they are working on destroying our Christmas. Seriously, what little bit of Christmas spirit I had the beginning of this month has been depleted by their escalating rudeness. My sister, niece and BIL are supposed to be here Christmas Day and I can't even look forward to it because you know the sows upstairs are going to ruin it.
Anyone reading this is probably wondering why I don't talk to the manager. The thing is, she's half the problem. The current manager is extremely ineffectual and by far one of the worst this property has had in all the years we've been here. We have complained to her several times over the past three months about the dog, constant noise (especially late at night), and excessively loud music--to no avail. Her opinion is that people can do whatever they want, no matter what the hour, rules set forth in the lease agreement, or how it affects those around them--with no consequence. She'd be of a completely different opinion were she to spend one week under these people and got as little sleep as I do. It's a rare night when they don't keep me up late or wake me between 2 and 4am.
And yes, we have even called the police, who were also no help. In short, we were basically told to take our noise complaints to the manager, that it was their responsibility to do something about it, never mind the fact their loud music was in violation of city noise ordinances. Yes...our tax dollars at work. In fact, the officer was even quite insulting, saying at one point, "Well, they pay rent." Excuse me? And we don't? And yes, it was said in that snooty, condescending manner. I pay rent, too, and my rent includes the use of a livingroom. I shouldn't be banished to the bedroom or forced out of my apartment whenever they're home, simply because they have to respect or consideration for others.
And yes, I would like nothing more than to file a complaint against the current manager, but cannot find a number or address for the property owner. Nothing we have received since this rental group took over the property contains that information and we've had no luck searching it out.
So, what recourse do we have, other than to move? Granted, we would like nothing more when our lease is up at end of April, provided we can find affordable handicap-accessible housing. And that is the biggest problem--finding a quiet living space in a decent neighborhood that my disabled mother can access...and that we can afford. Not exactly an easy feat in this city. I've been scoping out properties for more than a year and everything within our budget either isn't handicap accessible or is in an undesirable neighborhood. I've noticed this problem with many of the new condos and apartments that have gone up in Madison over the last few years. Very few are accessible to disabled individuals, with most having flights of stairs or even short stoops in front of them. Whatever happened to ordinances mandating that buildings be handicap accessible? And those that are want $1000 a month in rent or more. Like anyone on a fixed income or disabilty could afford that!
So, at least for the time being we are stuck where we are. If I make it to the end of April without strangling someone (or their damn dog)--it will be a miracle. Merry ho ho ho.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
"Jericho" fans Say "Nuts!" to CBS
This is absolutely amazing! I came across this article via the SCS "Jericho" thread tonight and think it worth sharing, if for no other reason than to show what a bit of determination and organization can do. I was not aware of the “NUTS” campaign, but apparently it is 'one of several grassroots efforts by the fans of the recently cancelled CBS series “Jericho,”' with tons of nuts being delivered to the network so far. One can only wonder what the "Powers That Be" at CBS are making of this campaign.
Read the article:
Shipping Nuts: NutsOnline For Jericho
As one commenter to the post stated, "This is not for Jericho alone. Part of the passion is to make a stand against the dumming [sic] down of America and the encouragement of sheep. We are insisting that it is time for a change of course."
Amen to that!
I'm among the many who are fed up with the endless "reality" programs, stupid game shows, and tripe that plague the networks. Not just the big four, but cable channels as well. In putting together last week's Thursday Thirteen, it occured to me that one thing missing from current programming are family television shows. Think back to the 70s and 80s. There were a lot of great sitcoms that appealed not just to parents, but to kids as well. Name one sitcom currently running that can be labeled family programming. There isn't a one. Nada. Zip. Zilch. And this doesn't extend solely to sitcoms, but current programming in general. While some shows may be okay for older teens, most shows today are simply not suitable for family viewing. We need a return to quality television programs and an end to the mindless drivel saturating the airwaves.
Whether or not the nuts campaign is successful, it will be interesting to see where it leads. As a post on another board said, this isn't just about one cancelled Television show. It's about the lack of quality programming, the dumbing down of America, and an antiquated method (Nielsen ratings) for guaging the nation's TV viewing habits. Nielsen ratings do not take into consideration VCRs, Tivo, Cable OnDemand or online viewing habits, and are therefore an inaccurate measure of a show's success or failure. CBS built up the "Jericho" website as an alternate way for fans of the show to watch -- or rewatch -- that week's episode, and they are not alone in this practice.
If the networks are going to encourage viewers to watch online, that viewership must be taken into consideration. Especially for a show that was consistently ranked number one on CBS's Innertube service and was ranked in the top ten at itunes. If CBS comes to their senses, it would not be the first time a show was renewed after being cancelled, though CBS execs seem to think it would signal the end of the world. "Seventh Heaven" was renewed for a final season after initially being cancelled last spring. "Jag" was renewed after being cancelled, as was "Touched by an Angel"--and for more than one season. "ER" is one of many shows that has been on the chopping block for a number of seasons now and somehow keeps being renewed.
"Jericho" was a quality, thought-provoking program and deserves another season. Here's hoping it gets it!
Read the article:
Shipping Nuts: NutsOnline For Jericho
As one commenter to the post stated, "This is not for Jericho alone. Part of the passion is to make a stand against the dumming [sic] down of America and the encouragement of sheep. We are insisting that it is time for a change of course."
Amen to that!
I'm among the many who are fed up with the endless "reality" programs, stupid game shows, and tripe that plague the networks. Not just the big four, but cable channels as well. In putting together last week's Thursday Thirteen, it occured to me that one thing missing from current programming are family television shows. Think back to the 70s and 80s. There were a lot of great sitcoms that appealed not just to parents, but to kids as well. Name one sitcom currently running that can be labeled family programming. There isn't a one. Nada. Zip. Zilch. And this doesn't extend solely to sitcoms, but current programming in general. While some shows may be okay for older teens, most shows today are simply not suitable for family viewing. We need a return to quality television programs and an end to the mindless drivel saturating the airwaves.
Whether or not the nuts campaign is successful, it will be interesting to see where it leads. As a post on another board said, this isn't just about one cancelled Television show. It's about the lack of quality programming, the dumbing down of America, and an antiquated method (Nielsen ratings) for guaging the nation's TV viewing habits. Nielsen ratings do not take into consideration VCRs, Tivo, Cable OnDemand or online viewing habits, and are therefore an inaccurate measure of a show's success or failure. CBS built up the "Jericho" website as an alternate way for fans of the show to watch -- or rewatch -- that week's episode, and they are not alone in this practice.
If the networks are going to encourage viewers to watch online, that viewership must be taken into consideration. Especially for a show that was consistently ranked number one on CBS's Innertube service and was ranked in the top ten at itunes. If CBS comes to their senses, it would not be the first time a show was renewed after being cancelled, though CBS execs seem to think it would signal the end of the world. "Seventh Heaven" was renewed for a final season after initially being cancelled last spring. "Jag" was renewed after being cancelled, as was "Touched by an Angel"--and for more than one season. "ER" is one of many shows that has been on the chopping block for a number of seasons now and somehow keeps being renewed.
"Jericho" was a quality, thought-provoking program and deserves another season. Here's hoping it gets it!
Friday, April 27, 2007
Ticked
I'm ticked. Beyond that, even. What has happened to common courtesy and respect for one's neighbors? This is something my rude, inconsiderate (insert several harsher adjectives here) have apparently never heard of. You can tell a lot about people from the moment they move in, and they have been rude since the very first night -- when they and their friends were still moving in after 11pm on a Sunday and were then congregating outside my apartment. They finally left and I was almost asleep, only to have them return and keep me up slamming and banging around up there until 2am. That first week they kept us up three nights in a row doing laundry late into the evening.
This is a pattern that has continued the past nine months. They're good for a week or two, then go right back to cranking the stereo as loud as it goes, having extremely loud guests (I've had people cut their visits short because they were so loud upstairs, I kid you not!), or doing laundry late at night. Complaints to the office are like a bandaid pasted over a severed limb: to no avail. We get a placating "we'll talk to them" and it might get better for a week or so...and then they start all over. There have even been reminders sent out to the entire building -- more than once -- and still it doesn't sink in. Rules, it seems, are for everyone but them. The past two nights I have been extremely tired and had a headache, wanting nothing more than to go to bed early and try to get a decent night's sleep (yeah, right). But no.... Here I am after midnight -- again --and the dumb bitch upstairs is still doing laundry. Grrr!
This might be fine for those who own a house, but when you live in a multi-unit apartment building...there are courtesy and laundry hours for a reason. Loud appliances such as washing machines, dryers, dishwashers and vacuums should NOT be run after 10pm or before 8am, no matter what night (or day) of the week. It's rude and inconsiderate to your neighbors who may be trying to sleep -- who may have to be up at an ungodly hour the next day, who may actually have to work. What really irritates me is the fact that she is home all day long doing nothing, then waits until 8 or 9pm to start laundry. Sorry, people -- completely unacceptable. If you want your neighbors to respect you, try respecting them for a change.
You can best believe someone will be paying a visit to the office tomorrow. I have had it with these peons!
This is a pattern that has continued the past nine months. They're good for a week or two, then go right back to cranking the stereo as loud as it goes, having extremely loud guests (I've had people cut their visits short because they were so loud upstairs, I kid you not!), or doing laundry late at night. Complaints to the office are like a bandaid pasted over a severed limb: to no avail. We get a placating "we'll talk to them" and it might get better for a week or so...and then they start all over. There have even been reminders sent out to the entire building -- more than once -- and still it doesn't sink in. Rules, it seems, are for everyone but them. The past two nights I have been extremely tired and had a headache, wanting nothing more than to go to bed early and try to get a decent night's sleep (yeah, right). But no.... Here I am after midnight -- again --and the dumb bitch upstairs is still doing laundry. Grrr!
This might be fine for those who own a house, but when you live in a multi-unit apartment building...there are courtesy and laundry hours for a reason. Loud appliances such as washing machines, dryers, dishwashers and vacuums should NOT be run after 10pm or before 8am, no matter what night (or day) of the week. It's rude and inconsiderate to your neighbors who may be trying to sleep -- who may have to be up at an ungodly hour the next day, who may actually have to work. What really irritates me is the fact that she is home all day long doing nothing, then waits until 8 or 9pm to start laundry. Sorry, people -- completely unacceptable. If you want your neighbors to respect you, try respecting them for a change.
You can best believe someone will be paying a visit to the office tomorrow. I have had it with these peons!
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Grrr!
Damn Beta Blogger!
I had this wonderful Thursday Thirteen post typed up and ready to go -- hit "publish" and...ACK! Blogger ate my post! It said there was an endtag missing, but would not return me to my post, as the old version would have, so that I might correct the error and try to post again. Grrr! How rude! Not only that, but you know that button above the text box that says "recover post"? Yeah... Apparently that function no longer works either, and is merely decoration, since clicking on it produced nothing but more frustration--and I know that function used to work, having used it many times last summer. Why do programmers insist on rolling something new out before all features and bugs are thoroughly tested??
Damn it...off to try to recreate my awesome Thursday Thirteen post. Bear with me, fellow Divas, I will get it done--whether Blogger likes it or not.
I had this wonderful Thursday Thirteen post typed up and ready to go -- hit "publish" and...ACK! Blogger ate my post! It said there was an endtag missing, but would not return me to my post, as the old version would have, so that I might correct the error and try to post again. Grrr! How rude! Not only that, but you know that button above the text box that says "recover post"? Yeah... Apparently that function no longer works either, and is merely decoration, since clicking on it produced nothing but more frustration--and I know that function used to work, having used it many times last summer. Why do programmers insist on rolling something new out before all features and bugs are thoroughly tested??
Damn it...off to try to recreate my awesome Thursday Thirteen post. Bear with me, fellow Divas, I will get it done--whether Blogger likes it or not.
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