Thursday, August 6, 2009

Thursday, August 6, 2009
Waning Moon
Pluto Retrograde
Jupiter Retrograde
Uranus Retrograde
Cloudy and cooler

It was supposed to storm yesterday and be pretty today, but they were wrong. Gee, what a surprise! 😉

Yesterday’s work day was truncated because I spent so much time on the phone with Apple Care. The Macbook is fine, but AGAIN, I’m having synch problems with the iPod. We couldn’t figure it out, so I’ve got another Genius Bar appointment on Saturday. Urgh. It seems to be connected to the Mobile Me. Mobile Me is supposed to make my life easier and more efficient; instead, I feel as though it’s limiting me. I’m getting really frustrated.

I also have HAD it with Verizon’s landline lack of service and the failing DSL. That’s because they’re trying to force everyone over to FIOS. I don’t want FIOS. They can bite me. Additionally, they still owe me a major credit they promised me TWO YEARS AGO, when we were without phone service for two weeks. They never posted it, and ignored all my contacts. They also have tried bait and switch offers too many times — an offer for better/cheaper/more efficient service,which, when you actually call to get it done, suddenly the offer’s expired, but they can offer it to you at double the price. Again, bite me. AND, they’ve refused any cooperation to stop the phone harassment situation with which I’ve been dealing for over a year. No, I am NOT changing my number. Give the damn number from which these calls originate to the authorities so they can deal with it. So I took the time to switch to Optimum yesterday. i save nearly $70/month AND actually receive customer service. Go figure. Of course, they have to send out a tech at the end of next week. The poor guy has to come into the middle of all this chaos — and I have to take down several bookcases so he can get to the correct wall jack.

It’s going to be a pain in the ass, but I’ll be happier in the long run, and I’ll be able to access wi-fi, which will also make my life easier. I’m keeping Verizon for wireless, but will also upgrade my phone and adjust my plan later this month. They used to be really good and helpful in most areas, but have really gone downhill in the past two years.

And the commercial, where they offer a “free” netbook — you ONLY have to pay the taxes and shipping? It’s either free or it’s not, and this isn’t free. The taxes and extra charges they add to everything — and raise every few months without proper notification — are ridiculous. And the daily solicitations, both by phone and mail, trying to get me to move to FIOS, even after I’ve told them orally AND in writing to stop — no. Buh-bye.

I know some really great individuals who work for Verizon, but the direction the company as a whole is taking is just not consumer-oriented enough to retain the bulk of my business.

On a happier note, I cleared off a bunch of client projects, and I’ve just got one or two more to finish tomorrow before I focus my attention on the site job next week. I applied for a job that could be really cool — if the price is right. I worked on a couple of proposals. The second mystery has really taken off — I think I can finish the first draft tomorrow, and then go back and make the cuts in the first ones. I’m happy with both these pieces — what I’ve learned over the past few months is applied, and it makes the pieces stronger.

Another story got rejected — I just love it when guidelines say they want something unique and quirky, but what they really mean is “mainstream neurotic.” The first issue of the publication I read made me think the piece could fit the publication, although I wondered why the voice of all the pieces in the issue were so similar. Now that I’ve read several issues (which, yes, I should have done first, but usually a full issue cover to cover gives you a good sense of a publication), ALL the pieces sound the same, and that’s worrying. I don’t know if they’re all actually written by the same person and appear under multiple names, or simply edited to sound uniform. Warning bells went off. In the interim, I found a market I think is a better fit, so out it goes again tomorrow.

I’m headed out to the city for a long lunch with Costume Imp for Prague Planning. In five weeks, we take off. And, even though it’s lunch, since it’s a three hour round trip, it becomes a day trip.

Have a great day all — I hope I don’t get rained on — we’re supposed to eat outside. Just in case — I’m switching OUT of the suede shoes to something more waterproof.

Devon

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Waxing Moon
Pluto Retrograde
Jupiter Retrograde
Cloudy and humid

Yesterday was a hit and miss day. The problems with UHaul continue — I can’t go into detail about it, unfortunately, but it will get very, very, VERY ugly tomorrow, and then there will be consequences.

The guy at the Genius Bar fixed my iPod in less than 10 minutes. I’m a little concerned because we couldn’t figure out WHY it went kerplooey, which to me indicates it could happen again (I always like to know the why), but it seems to work now. He did some Genius Bar magic and we re-entered information, and now it picks up wi-fi and is synched with MobileMe and doing all that stuff it’s supposed to do. I’ll know for sure this weekend, and then, if necessary, take it back. They were really nice in the store, as they always are, and they’re really good about herding people in a friendly way, so the rude, pushy people (the same ones who drive expensive cars and therefore feel that rules of the road and rules of basic courtesy don’t apply to them) don’t ride roughshod over everyone else. And the employees do it in such a friendly, humorous way that the a-holes don’t even realize they’re being herded. It’s quite an education to watch them do their thing.

I started spinning a story on the drive home, that I hope I can place with BOOKS FOR MONSTERS, since I enjoy working with them so much. I’m calling it comic urban fantasy, but it might veer off a bit in another direction.

Afternoon was spent fighting with UHaul, talking to a potential new client, and working on client projects.

It looks like I’ll get away for the weekend — provided I survive tomorrow, which will just be six ways of hell, if not more. There is no doubt in my mind that I will have to call for police intervention. That’s how out-of-control the situation has gotten.

Cooked pork chops smothered in garlic teriyaki sauce, with buttered noodles and crisp, steamed green beans. I haven’t had the chance to cook much this week, but intend to remedy that over the weekend and next week.

I’m really looking forward to a weekend of a whole lot of nothing. I will need to sleep a lot, eat a lot, drink a lot of wine, and maybe spend time by my friend’s pool after tomorrow.

Today, I’ve got to head to Trader Joe’s to stock up on cat food — we’ve only got two cans, and I can’t leave the cat sitter with an empty cupboard. The cats know what cupboard holds their food, and they are horrified when it’s opened and there’s not a tall stack of cans. We’re similar that way — we like well-stocked cupboards.

I’m going to try to get a little writing done, get the GDRS up, and prepare mentally for tomorrow.

Devon