Life | Piss and Moan

Paranoia

Posted on November 17, 2020 by backuphill

I went to Costco this last Sunday. It was a regular trip for me. Nothing of immediate need and I was actually going to do some research on a possible big purchase.

It just so happens that this was also the day the moron of a governor was announcing his new mandates for the next foreseeable future. Those mandates would go into effect the following day, or the day after. Lockdown Part Deux.

Anyway, it seems others who were visiting Costco that day were simply there to buy toilet paper and paper towels again. REALLY? Gosh you people are stupid. Panic buying.

Oh, and the panic was on the outside of the building too. The line, in the wind and rain, to get into the fricking place was the entire length of the building. Also, the sheep were wearing their masks while standing outside in the wind and at least six feet apart.

Apparently the fear is so great or they have now been so conditioned to wear the mask that they don’t even mind wearing it outside in the fresh air! Gosh you people are stupid.

Well, I was the only person in line that I could see that wasn’t complying with the mask thing. I stood there, with my mask off, will I got right up to the door. Yes, I will wear it inside (though I don’t really like it) to help others and also help businesses stay open. I am not going to intentionally get people in trouble (well, at least not yet…).

I just couldn’t believe all the stupidity on display. Actually, I guess nothing really surprises me. No, actually, there are still things that surprise me. I guess this was one of them.

How quickly people let the paranoia set in and control the.

Pooped

Posted on November 13, 2020 by backuphill

Maybe this falls into the TMI category, maybe it doesn’t. I am sure the male readers in the group can probably attest to something of a similar experience, and if nothing else it might provide for a little comedic reading.

So, I am an early morning pooper.

I really prefer to get to my squatting done before my shower. I mean, that way I can head into the day with a freshly clean keister and don’t have to worry about unintentional stankiness (at least for the first part of the day).

So, typically the day begins after crawling outta bed with a squat on the porcelain throne. The amount of time can vary, but usually the business is done in 15-20 minutes and then I can proceed to the shower.

Today, I spent my usual time on the commode and then proceeded to hop into the shower. Not 10 minutes later, I am getting the painful feeling that I need to cop-a-squat again. Now I am feeling those gaseous pains and squeezing the cheeks together hoping that I am not gonna drop a package in the shower. Thankfully, it subsided briefly and I was able to finish my shower.

After getting outta the shower, no pressing feeling to visit the “thinking throne” is persisting so I am thinking I am gonna be able to start the day as usual. I get dressed and make coffee.

HELLO! I am reminded that the gas has not passed and either I am gonna have to do the penguin waddle to the water closet or find something to lean up against and endure the sharp pain in the middle region again. I wait because no waddle will happen without an accident. After the gurgling stops and the pain is tempered, I quickly head for the pooper.

Wait…the gas pains have returned, literally just before the pants come down and I am left staring at the crapper whilst I grimace through the next wave of internal chaos. WTH! Literally a foot from the squatter and I can’t use it….yet…

I am not sure why decided to turn my bowels into a problematic mess that required multiple visits to the porcelain bowl. Either way, that last trip seemed to do the trick. The main tank has been completely emptied.

I still would have liked to done it the first time and not had to put on pants feeling “unclean.”

There ya go! A little Friday the 13th potty humor/giggle/TMI for you.

Anyone else have similar experiences or habits?

Resolved

Posted on November 12, 2020 by backuphill

Final episode of the whole Comcast/xFinity saga (at least until the next issue comes up…). If you are curious as the to what led up to this, you will have to take a look at Thieving and Ongoing Saga. Those will get you caught up.

So, yesterday, I was back on the phone with Comcast for over 45 minutes, again. I called and after running through the whole saga with yet another customer service representative, and him reading over all the previous notes left by all the various other people I have talked to throughout this ordeal, he finally messaged the payment services division.

He has to use use their internal messaging service to make contact so it took about 20 minutes to get a response back from this division. Once they responded back, they had to do their research based on the reference number I had been given. They finally sent a message back that the person who had been assigned the case wasn’t in the office but would get back to me in the next 24-48 hours.

So, after all of that, I am left with, “Don’t call us, we’ll call you.”

$#%@&!

My skepticism was at an all time high.

Lo and behold, 10 minutes after I get off the phone, I get a phone call from the guy supposedly researching the issue. He apologized three times for not getting back to me sooner since he had indeed received everything he needed last Friday when I emailed the documents in. BUT, they still couldn’t locate the payment as yet and he was still doing research. He would call me back when he knew more. I also asked if I could get a credit applied to my account because of all the time and trouble this has caused and it was an error on their part since it has been paid the same way for years. He said, no, he couldn’t do that and they weren’t sure why it had happened.

If I could have reached through the phone, I likely would have punched him. But, I was trying to be nice, not really expecting a response, so I thanked him and asked if there was a number I could reach him directly at. He actually gave me a number and extension. I was surprised, but hung up thinking I wouldn’t hear from him for another week.

15 minutes later, he calls back and said they had located the payment and that it got applied in a different division (whatever the F to the uck that means) and that it would be transferred and applied to my account within the next 24-48 hours.

20 minutes later he called back and left a message that it was now applied to my account and that would resolve the issue. No “Thanks for your patience” or “We’re sorry, here’s some credit…” or anything.

Honestly, I want groveling. I want profuse and profound sucking up to keep my business.

But we all know, especially them, that they have us over a barrel.

Anyway, I logged in this morning and the payment has been applied to my account. Case closed. I hope.

We’ll see how the payment goes this month, with I just schedule yesterday.

Mind reader

Posted on November 10, 2020 by backuphill

Photo by Gantas Vaiu010diulu0117nas on Pexels.com

I provide customer support to school district for their SIS. I have clients all the time that apparently think we are mind readers because they give us no details in order to investigate an issue.

Today’s email:

Hello, one of my teachers has posted his grades but some still show as not posted. Can you tell me why this is so so I can pass it along?

What am I supposed to do with this? There is nothing in this email that gives me any clue what to investigate other than it is a teacher and has something to do with his gradebook.

This should be proof about customer service people and why they are already irritated before you even start talking to them. If you are going to be a smart customer/client, you have to provide the people that help you with detailed information not just “it’s broke and I don’t know what to do.”

Now, I have to call this client and ask questions before I can even begin to investigate the issue. This is a waste of my time and a waste of theirs as well. It could be easily fixed, but I won’t know this on the initial call because I will have to get more info first.

*shakes head in disgust*

Come on people, work with us here. We aren’t mind readers.

Ongoing saga

Posted on November 5, 2020 by backuphill

Comcast/xFinity has some real nerve. Obviously, there is always an issue with the cost of their service. Too high for too little. That has never been in doubt. But, if you saw an earlier post (Thieving) about the issue I was having with their billing, well the saga continues…

So, brief catch-up if you haven’t read the other post. Comcast decided randomly that it wouldn’t accept payment from my bank. They have done so for years but suddenly have decided the payment last month wasn’t going to be accepted. Instead of notifying me of an issue, they just said I hadn’t made the payment and said my account was “past due.” My bank says and has proven the payment was made and accepted by Comcast (thus, money was deducted from my account.) Now you are caught up.

I have made several calls the Comcast and navigated their stupid automated system over and over to get to a live representatives, who quite frankly don’t know squat. I was told the first time I needed to get confirmation from my bank that the payment was made.

I did so. It wasn’t the “right” kind of verification.

So, I was finally able to get through to Comcast payment services who said that they did receive a payment couldn’t (read wouldn’t) apply it because they needed some kind of verification because it was paid by a “virtual credit card.” Say what? I am using the bill payer service from my bank and the payment is made electronically to their system. There has never been an issue before. They don’t me to contact my bill payer service at the bank to get the specific authorization they needed.

I contacted the bank. They did their research and communicated directly to Comcast with the information. Comcast’s response? The customer has to provide the proof.

#$%&#$$@!!!!

Listen, Comcast, I authorized the bank to pay you. You have an agreement with the bank to accept electronic funds payments. You have been accepting said payments for years. Now, you won’t accept the payment and want me to authorize a payment the bank made on my behalf?

What the F’n crack you smoking over there?

I haven’t yet sent the proof to Comcast yet, but I’ll let you know if need a couple of you to accompany me down the the office to voice my literal displeasure in doing business with them.

How about a peaceful protest involving some windows and flipped cars? I feel like burning something down.

Fatigue

Posted on November 4, 2020 by backuphill

Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

Anyone else just tired of everything? I mean, like, EVERYTHING.

Literally half the country has lost it’s freedom loving mind.

Not to mention that literally three counties in my state control (read that as dictate) the election results for the other 36.

I am just tired. No wonder people wander into the wilderness, live off grid, and desire to never see other humans again.

Cavemen had it good.

Last minute

Posted on November 2, 2020 by backuphill

Nothing like starting the day off at work thinking you are going to be doing one thing, only to find out that that plan is totally out and you will be doing something completely different and something you haven’t prepared for at all.

I got thrown into a training today, on a piece of the software that I am somewhat familiar with but by no means an expert on. Someone else has been prepping for this training for weeks and they were ill so they couldn’t do the training this morning. Luckily they had written a script for the training and I had an outline to work from. Otherwise there would have been a lot more fumbling around than there was.

The training went fine (I think) with only a few little spots where I needed a little help from my co-host, but the software was demonstrated and is now at least familiar to those who might be using it.

I may not get the best training ratings though. As someone who has sat through plenty of trainings, you can always tell when the trainer isn’t as familiar with the subject matter as they would like to be. That was me this morning. So, I imagine the reviews won’t be all the great.

Oh well. Good thing my paycheck doesn’t depend on it at this point.

Perfect storm

Posted on October 29, 2020 by backuphill

I could use a perfect storm. Not just any perfect storm though. I want a specific perfect storm of relief, not one that full of problems either.

I want a perfect storm that:

Gives me unlimited free time (I don’t want a job).
Gives me an unlimited amount of money (ok, doesn’t have to be unlimited, but a VERY VERY large amount).
Gives me freedom from all current responsibilities…read that however you’d like…

That’s it.

I am easy to please (ok, not really but those things would go a long way to pleasing me).

You might be thinking, “Oh, but money creates problems too, so it won’t solve all your problems.” If you’re thinking that, you can just take your negativity some place else. I am the only one around here that can have this kind of attitude.

Besides, I have never had that kind of money, time, and freedom. I would like to see if I can handle those “problems” that arise from this perfect storm of relief. I think I can do it.

I know I can!

Who wants to perfect storm with me?

Thieving

Posted on October 26, 2020 by backuphill

Corporate thieving of the little guy. Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do in the world of “allowed monopolies.” The cable company has you over a barrel and if you don’t fight them tooth and nail, you’re gonna take in the tail.

Friday night saw an email come to the inbox that indicated I hadn’t paid my cable (internet) bill. I knew that wasn’t the case, but immediately went and reviewed the checkbook (yes, I keep a hard copy) and then the online transaction roster for my bank. Sure enough, payment was made in the middle of the month. Mind you, I have paid the same way via the bank with an electronic payment for years. Never any trouble. So why now?

Saturday morning I called Comcast/xFinity and asked what the heck was going on since I had confirmation from the bank that the payment was made. I didn’t have all the real specific details because I honestly didn’t think I would need it. Turns out, I did and will need to talk to them again.

They proceeded to tell me that a payment was never received and I know owe them for two months (past and upcoming).

Uh, I don’t think so! The payment has clearly been deducted from my bank, so you can eat my shorts.

I called the bank and got REAL specific details and will need to call the thieving corporation back.

Hopefully I have better luck this time…I can’t wait to wait on hold for hours on end…

Have you had this happen before? Have you had this happen with Comcasst/xFinity, specifically? What did you do or how did you get it resolved?

Group texts

Posted on October 23, 2020 by backuphill

I feel very strongly about this. Like, VERY strongly.

Group texts (and even group chats, for that matter) are impossibly stupid and annoying.

I don’t want to participate in all the inane drivel most people have to talk about. I especially don’t like my phone getting lit up because of a stupid conversation.

Please don’t include me, unless it is an emergency or something needs to be coordinated. Otherwise, leave me out! AND once those few instances need to be used, stop using the group chat asap. Delete it so there is no accident in choosing the wrong one.

UGH. I despise their use…and, quite frankly, I despise people who feel the need to use them often.

Now you know why I am so grumpy all the time. I just don’t like people. Really.