Someone stole my identity

So maybe the headline is a bit dramatic, but that's honestly how I feel, and why I rarely get my haircut.

It's the day after my traumatic hair cut, yes I said traumatic! I know it's only hair and it will grow back (hopefully really fast) but I'm devastated! There has only been one other time (that I recall) that I cried after and every time I looked in the mirror after a haircut. Now I can add another cut to my haircut sob story.

Here's the story:
For the last two weeks I have been considering whether to trim or cut my hair, the only times I have really considered cutting my hair is during and after a run. When I run I pull my hair up into a pony tail but due to the length the ends still hit my lower back, and without going into full details, running = sweat, long hair seems to = more sweat, and that sweat tends to run down the pony tail. Since my hair hits my lower back, that sweat, well...runs right down the back of my shorts...you get the picture.

Well yesterday, we were all going to head down to watch the kids play baseball and softball, but due to the cooler weather (and leaving at 4:30am), Bre and I decided to stay home. While Eric has never been against me getting my haircut, his response has always been "it will grow back", I have always been a bit more hesitant on actually cutting my hair off, and lets face it, I LOVE MY LONG HAIR!

A little of my sob story....for the last two years, I have been unsuccessful on finding a job, getting pregnant, or really finding me in our new surroundings, Seattle 2011-2012 and now Dothan 2012-now. Anyone and everyone seems to relate me to my hair, they recognize me from the back just as often as they do seeing my face, so in a sense my hair was me!

So yesterday, after a brief workout and with no product in my hair, I realize the ends are starting to get bad, and maybe its just time for a trim (my last 'trim' was July 2012, which isn't untypical of me to go 6-12 months between trims). From what I could tell the ends were pretty bad for about an inch, but since the under part of my hair (the longest layer) has less curl than the top layers, I decided I would go get 3 inches cut off the bottom and 1/2 inch off the shorter layers. So I jump in the shower, wash my hair, quick comb through, throw it up into a twist (to try to keep it somewhat wet), grab Bre and off we go to the closest salon. Luckily, there wasn't much of a wait (less than 10 minutes), the gal (Patti) calls my name, and asks what I'd like done before she escorts me to a chair, I tell her I just want a trim of about 3 inches (her asking was to make sure I was given the correct stylist) and as I am telling her I take my hair out of its twist. Everyone, including some random guy waiting for his friend makes a comment how long my hair is, and even though its pretty much soaking wet, says how pretty it is, which just reassures me a trim is all I want.

Patti and I discuss what I'd like done for 10 minutes. She repeats every thing I want multiple times and even agrees with my request to stand up as she cuts my hair. As she is sectioning off my hair, she comments on how the curls are starting to spring up, now that my hair is down and starting to dry, and recommends a little more tapering in the back than what I currently have, I am fine with that as long as we are only still taking off 3 inches on the longest layer, she confirms we are. I stand up she cuts the first section, 3 inches, has me make sure that is all I want taken off, I agree and she continues to cut. Back in the chair, she starts to define the layers, the first few cuts I can't see but as she moves to the side I realize these layers are losing 6-8 inches, my mouth drops!

Now, I always have one exception on having more cut off than I request, if my hair is damaged more than what I can see or tell. Sadly this wasn't the case, through my entire time in the salon Patti continually commented on how healthy my hair was, especially for its length, it was so healthy (per her) that my initial 3 inch request was a bit much just to get rid of dead ends. So now comes my confusion...we seemed to be on the same page at the beginning, and even after the first sections were cut, AND my hair is extremely healthy, SO why when my cut is done my shortest layer has now become my longest AND I was going to get side bangs, but those weren't needed because my shortest layer is the length of bangs!!! I know she could tell I was disappointed at the length, especially when I kept looking at all my hair on the floor, but the comments of how I won't need as much product for my curls AND then trying to sell me every product in your salon didn't help, obviously my current choice of product is working great or my hair wouldn't be as healthy as you said it was!

And now off to my pity party... I don't know what's wrong with me! But I can't stop crying over my hair...seriously. I actually had to lock myself in the bathroom and take a long shower to try to stop crying! Its pathetic! There is really no reason to cry...it's a cute cut (personally I think it would be cuter if it was 6-7 inches longer), my hair will grow back (and it usually grows fast - but it would be so much longer if 10-inches weren't gone), I know I am not defined by just my hair...but it was a huge part of me (and I miss it!!!). Poor Eric doesn't know what to say to me, except that its a cute cut, it will grow back, and there isn't any reason to be upset.

The positives of my stupid short hair...it could have been cut shorter, maybe I won't have a sweat stream running down my back when I run (cause now when I pull it up into a pony tail it barely hits my shoulders instead of my waist), I don't have to pull my hair out of shirts, sweatshirts, sports bras...etc, and like Patti said, I don't have to use as much product...so why am I crying...STILL??? and why do I feel like someone stole my identity???

Before:

Only pic I could find that shows how long my hair is...even though you can't see the ends!

After:

As I sit in awe....

Tragedies occur daily, and I know everything happens for a reason, but come on! What is going on??? Maybe it's the holidays, maybe people are off their meds, maybe I am overly sensitive because things are closer to home than usual.

Tuesday, a 22-year old openly fired at mall shoppers in Portland Oregon, killing two and injuring one before turning the gun on himself.

Today, Friday, while reading the news online earlier this morning, I noticed that there was a small breaking news link stating there had been a shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut. At this time, there were no known injuries or deaths, but as most of the country learned while being glued to televisions, radios, and/or computers the fate of that community dramatically changed.

While I type this updates continue to come in. The shooter, deceased, was 24 years old. His mother, also confirmed deceased was a teacher at the school where he opened fire. Currently it is reported that 9 adults and 18 children are deceased, with the majority of the children being students of his mother's.

On this same day, 22 elementary students in China were stabbed. Thankfully all of these children survived.

I finally have to turn off the television, too much conflicting information is being presented, and the same information is being repeated over and over again, and lets be honest, there is nothing I can do.

Like everyone I know, with or without kids, my heart aches, I want my kids and family near, I contemplate on how easy it is to walk in and out of public places, including schools, and I also vow that I will not live in fear.

This afternoon, with a quick text to both kids in Utah and a short sweet text exchange between Bre's teacher, I carry on with my day. Laundry is done (again), dinner is planned, cooked, ate and cleaned up, and as sad as today's events, and even this weeks events, have been our life appears to have returned to normal at our house. Which is easy because overall we haven't been affected, just made aware.

Everyone has faced tragedy in some form or another, and I can honestly say (from some aspect of experience) life goes on. One will never forget, some will never get over it fully, but all in all life goes on. Memories will be relived, the events of the day will repeat in ones mind, but life goes on.

Many friends and acquaintances are screaming (okay not literally) for gun control, others are talking about how to better protect our schools, some are just still in awe and posting their thoughts of today's events, and most are sharing their thoughts and feelings about their spouses, families, and most importantly their children. Like so many things, there is no right, nor no wrong on what to say, think, or do about any of these tragedies.

May time comfort those in pain, and may these awful tragedies unite not only families, communities, and our nation. Our thoughts are with those affected by this weeks tragedies.

Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: That we are here for the sake of others. ~ Albert Einstein

Have you ever noticed

Have you ever noticed...how negative people are? Maybe it's always been like this or maybe in the last 5 years or so I've just paid more attention to things, but either way I guess it's finally bothered me enough to make me write about it.

Years ago some of my friends and I got onto this topic and threw out the question if others had noticed how negative people are. I think part of my reasoning for asking the question was to help me determine if I personally was looking for negativity in people, having a bad day (or week), or that just people in general were negative. It's funny because I still, years later, remember what brought on the question. I had been working as a medical assistant in Hillsboro, OR and had ran to Starbucks for my daily coffee run (in between patients appointments) and during my short drive (about 3 blocks or so) I had encountered several annoyed drivers. Now I usually don't let people bother me and actually tend to make up defenses for them, such as 'there's a family emergency that the person, who is practically running me off the road, needs to to get to immediately' or 'they are just having a bad day and I just happen to be the first person they don't know, so I'm getting their frustrations', but regardless I don't let them affect me.

What made this day even more interesting (again maybe I was just more aware of the people I was around) was when I pulled into Starbucks there was a man and woman waking in front if me having a rather interesting conversation (yes I was eavesdropping). He was attempting to tell her some positive things and news while she seemed to only be spouting negative comments, one right after another. He finally stopped her and, rather bluntly, asked her if she was actually listening to what he was trying to tell her and then asked her why she always so negative. She then got a bit defensive and the two stopped to continue their conversation outside. But his comment really got me thinking, am I like her? Do I only see,hear, and focus on the negative?

Throughout the rest of the day I really paid attention to not only myself, but how people carry on their conversations, from the conversations they had, their word choices, their tone, and their body language. Overall, I noticed that the majority of conversations focused in negativity. Now this could have been partially due to working in a doctors office, because let's be honest no one goes to the doctor (or rarely goes) for fun or for positive reasons. So I decided I was going to continue my little thought process/ experiment. The end result, was I noticed certain individuals not only started their conversations in a negative manner (complaining, gossiping) but it seemed as though that was all they could talk about, even when others attempted to change the conversation into a positive one. I also learned how that negativity was impacting me. Needless to say, I made a drastic decision and started limiting and eliminating certain individuals from my life. At first I was devastated, but then it was as if boulder after boulder started to be removed from my shoulders. Since then I have been striving to be more of a positive person, from the way I present myself, carry myself, carry on conversations, and, although I am still working on this, be more aware of my body language and how it may come across to others.

Now I do understand that certain events and circumstances can alter a persons behavior, but there are some things I just don't understand, and I guess is more of the reason why I started this post.

• Why does the news only focus on negative 'news'?
• Why do people complain and attack others for their believes or views?
• Why do the majority of conversations start with a negative opening statement? or gossip?
• When something is free, whether its a service or a gift, why do people complain about it? It's free! If you don't want it, or to use it, move on.
• Why is everyone the victim? It's just not possible for everyone to be!
• Are we, as a society, nation, world, so blind we don't see the positive/ good in anything? Is all we really see the negativity of every little thing that surrounds us?
• Are we as an individual setting the example that being negative is okay? Though our words, actions, and behaviors?
• Are we able to change ourselves and those around us to be more positive? Or are we damned to be negative forever?

I could go on and on, but in all honestly I don't know if its even worth it. Maybe this is how its supposed to be....or maybe we just need a wake up call.

Comcast, how I LOATHE thee...updated 12/01/12

If it were up to me, we would not have cable in our home. Honestly, I think it is the biggest waste of money, EVER!!!! But when two people join in union they must learn to compromise, so cable tv welcome to my home, my check book does NOT thank you.

While living in Seattle we had Comcast, and they were great. We did have a few bumps in the road, but it was expected since we lived in a newly developed neighborhood. But their prices were great, their service was beyond amazing and more times than not, if something went wrong they always graciously gave us a credit (without us even asking). So when we found out we were moving to Dothan, AL I instantly called Comcast to see if they provided service, and they did! Since our move was sudden and we didn't have a place to live, we could not instantly transfer services, which is understandable, so they made note in our account in an attempt to make us a transfer customer instead of a new customer.

Fast forward two months, we find a place to live, I call to set up service and here is where the nightmare begins.

Sept 20, call to set up service (the exact service we had in Washington), but I can't get the gal to stop telling me about what is each option long enough for her to listen to me.
Me: I want the premium package, 1 extra HD box, 2 free adaptor boxes, Internet and phone service.
Her: So in the premium package you get ...... but let me tell you about our other packages
Me: I just want the premium package, 1 extra HD box, w free adaptor boxes, Internet and phone service.
Her: So in the premium package you get... are you sure that's the package you want.
Me: yes, I want the same service I had before which is the premium package, 1 extra HD box, 2 free adapter boxes, Internet and phone services.
Her: Okay so in the premium package you get...

I wish I was exaggerating, but this call went on for 45 minutes before she placed my order. She then stated she needed to transfer me to someone else to schedule my installation time. Great! We are almost done! Call is transferred

Comcast #2: How can I help you?
Me: I was transferred to you to schedule my installation.
Her: Ummm okay, they didn't need to transfer you, but let me see if I can help you. She then asked a million questions to verify who I was.
Me: I have the new account number if that would help.
Her: I can't pull up the order that way. (Really???)
So I answer all her verification questions and of course my cell number was used to not only set up my service in Alabama but also in Washington, so guess what she pulled up? Yep you guessed it, the Washington account. She quickly states she can't help me because that account is closed and no notes on reactivating that service. UGH
Me: Are you sure you can't pull it by the new account number?
Her: Of course I can, why didn't you tell me you had that before...(are you freaking kidding me! Bite tongue and move on)

Short version of the extremely long conversation with Comcast #2. First gal placed wrong order, second gal put in correct order then told me the bill would be $300 a month! WHAT???? that's not what online says the amount would be, as I am looking at it during this entire time! In Washington we paid $135 for the same service how can it be that different. So after being on the phone for almost 2 hours I tell them I need to rethink this and will call back but verified that they would save this info, which she stated they would.

Eric and I talked about what channels he needed to have to determine if we could get a different package and he decided we could go down 1 package. So, per online, the new package we decided on was a lower cable deal and Internet service, 1 extra cable box (not HD) and 2 free adapter boxes, which online stated would be less than $100 a month! Done... or so we thought.

Next day (21st):
Call to Comcast to change earlier request of services to our new choices and was quoted the price of $280 a month. How is this possible, I mean really? I cut from premium channels, higher end internet service and phone service, to mid-level channels and so-so internet service...no phone and it's only $20 less, are you kidding me??? After about an hour on the phone with a representative, this call is over...no service ordered.

Next day (22nd):
Log onto Comcast, place my order, set up installation date, get confirmation of correct monthly charge, correct items/ services ordered, and my installation would be completed on the 25th (of the same month!) between 10-12. I could have gotten installation sooner but our belongings weren't due to arrive until the 24th and I needed to get all the TVs and at least the wifi hooked up.

Installation day (25th):
Received several calls from Comcast and the technician as he was having major issues at the house before us and would not make his 10-12 installation time. Which stinks but I was unpacking so it wasn't like it was a huge inconvenience. He finally showed up late afternoon a little before 4, and quickly installed all of our boxes and Internet in about an hour, even with having to run cables in the kids rooms from one side of the room to the other and from the master bedroom into the master office. Internet was set up quickly, final check of the cable boxes and we have a slight problem, two cable boxes aren't working. A few tweaks here and there, numerous phone calls (on his part), and it turns out 1 dead box and 1 room without any signal at all. Knock on the door at 6:30pm, its another Comcast installation tech, between the two of them they didn't have what they needed to resolve the problem so we made plans for them to return the next day.

26th:
Return of the installation guy and within an hour the issues are resolved.

Oct 8th:
In an attempt to update my billing calendar and budgeting, I log into Comcast to see if I can determine what my due date will be and there is a bill amount for $204.49 due on the 29th. I admit I was expecting a higher bill due to installation charges but not this high! Then I noticed several charges that I had no idea what they were for including:

• HD technology fee $9.95
• HDTV service $9.95
• Add/ relocate A/O $60.00
• Franchise fee for 9/25 was $5.43, but franchise fee for 9/26-10/25 is $4.11 (how is it possible that 1 day worth of fees is higher than an entire month?

Basically the only fees that made sense were for the Internet/ cable package, installation fee, and the month worth of franchise fees.

Oct 9th:
Call to Comcast, spoke with a really nice guy names Chris. He stated that one of the $9.95 charges was correct for the additional HD box, the higher franchise fee made no sense, and he had no idea why I was charged $60 for the add/ relocate as there were no notes from the installation tech on adding any cable boxes to the house. Which we couldn't do anyways since we are renting. He informed me he would credit the account for the $5.43 and $9.95, but the $60 he had to send to his supervisor because he wasn't authorized to provide credits that high. But he promised I would see all the credit within 48-72 hours. With all these credits the bill would drop to $129.11.

In Washington our tech was 30 minutes late and he granted us a $25 inconvenience credit, but so far no one here was willing to give me that credit even though the tech was hours late AND had to come back the next day.

Oct 15th:
I received an email offering my old package (cable/ Internet/ phone) for $89 a month. Of course I jumped on the offer, made a quick call and was informed our area doesn't provide that offer, but they do offer it for $99 but with less channels than what we currently have, but I can get my current channels plus phone, plus 1 movie channel for the $137 a month. I don't really want to spend more money, but I do think it would be beneficial to have a home phone number at lest until I get a job. So I order it, which requires us to be sent a new modem with a phone connection, and because our local Comcast office doesn't provide equipment, they have to ship it to us, but will also send a return label for the old modem. The new charges won't be added until the new modem is activated.

Oct 19th:
Logged on to Comcast to see if credits were received and my bill is now $285.53, I can't view the bill to see what caused the increase, AND it says I am 16 days late on my bill! I am so confused!
Received a box from Comcast...it's empty! Turns out they only sent the return box and label, not the new modem.
Call to Comcast...Increase in bill amount is due to collecting 2 months of service on first bill, the initial bill i viewed only had 1 months worth of charges. I was informed that I did received the credit for $5.43 but that is all, as the other charges are correct. Turns out the reason I have two $9.95 charges is because the installation tech installed two HD boxes and my package doesn't include that type of box, but since it was their error, once the correct box is received, installed, activated, and returned I should get a credit for each month I have had the box. The $60 fee was for setting up the 2 free adapters and one of the cable boxes, but it shouldn't have been $60 it really should have been $39.90 AND they are still unwilling to issue the $25 inconvenience credit for the tech being late on the 25th.
Correct cable box ordered, correct modem ordered, and return box and label for cable box ordered.

Oct 22nd:
Went to pay bill online and account states its still overdue and the amount is now $275.53, but I still can't view the billing details. Called to find out why bill amount and why I can't view bill online. Was informed that bills received in mail are correct.

Later that same night:
Received the following message while trying to view online account "Comcast requires you to update your account information at this time. Please chat with a Comcast representative." I won't totally bore anyone with the lengthy chat conversation that took place (2 pages worth of conversation in 6 point font worth, that is printed for the record!!!), but the gist of the conversation revolved around the message and why I couldn't view my online account. August, the comcast employee who was chatting with me online told me I had the wrong department and he would transfer my 'chat' to the right person, before he could 'ditch me' I quickly typed numerous questions regarding what their 'department' could help me with. After a page of him or her writing each line of my bill and by the end of page two s/he tells me I have to call the 800 number to resolve my issues and s/he exits the chat.

Oct 23rd:
Called to check on status of modem and cable box. Was informed that neither were ordered, so order was replaced and he waived the $10 return fee for me. Oh how nice of him since this is all their error anyways! Still no $25 credit for inconvenience... (37 minute call)

Oct 24th:
Attempted to view bill online again, still not able too, online still states account is overdue and each day I owe a different amount. But I now have a message that I need to chat with a representative online. So I log onto their chat feature, copy and paste the message, and that rep tells me he can't help me.

Nov 1st:
Whoo hoo UPS delivered the correct cable box...no modem though. Quickly changed out cable boxes, packaged wrong cable box so I could run it to the UPS drop box and realized there was no return label. UGH!

Nov 2nd:
New cable box = wrong channels! Call to Comcast to correct channels on new cable box, check status on modem, and request return label for wrong cable box. Patrick attempted to send signal to box to reset it and when he did it blacked out entire box. He did let me know the reason I can 't view my account details online is because I need to receive a PIN, he placed request for PIN to be mailed to me. Transferred me to another employee, Diane, who didn't understand why I was having to go through all these hassles based on their mistakes, but reset cable box, and processed a return label for me. (55 minute call)

Nov 3rd:
It's a good thing Eric is out of town this weekend, cause the living room cable/ tv is nothing but a black screen. Call to Comcast to have them resend signal to reset box waited an hour (as they stated to do) and there is still nothing! So before having to deal with another long phone call to Comcast, I unplug the DVR box in the living room, unpack the HD cable box that I was in the process of returning, plug it into the living room TV and voila cable! Hopefully they are all the right channels and Eric doesn't want DVR. Now lets hope the modem shows up today!

To date: Comcast has gotten $275+ of my money and I still don't have the correct services, being billed for Comcast errors, and not one person has offered or granted me a credit due to over a months worth of mess-ups on their end and the inconvenience of me attempting to continually correct their errors, including the hours I continually have to spend trying to fix things.

To be continued...unfortunately!

And now we continue
Nov 4th:
Bre and I decide to watch tv in our living room as this tv has the HD cable box. We turn on the TV and nothing...just a black screen! Ugh. Call to Comcast (AGAIN) and hear, through the automated portion that our area is having difficutlities and they are aware and working on it and expect to have the issued resolved by 8:30pm, whoohoo...it's 10:30am! But I decide I will try to send a signal to reset the box (this has worked in the past in this same situation). Several hours later, still no channels, so I guess their technical issues are a bit more than just having the signal reset. Receive a call at 9:30pm saying the issues has been resolve, but still no channels for us. Signal resent and we cal it a night.

Nov 5th:
Still no cable in the living room. Call and rest the signal again, two hours later still no service. Call to Comcast and I explain to the employee how on Friday I had issues with one box and when Diane fixed that box, the box that currently doesn't have service stopped working. I also explained to him how she told me she deactivated one of the boxes, however I tried both HD boxes and neither of them were working. He told me that Diane had not done anything on Friday and that I needed to take the box to the local office and change it out or have a technician come to my home (at my expense) to resolve the issue! REALLY at my expense??? I explained to him that our local office did not have equipment, that is hwy they mail me equipment and oh by the way I am still waiting on a modem from almost a MONTH ago!!! Yea I think NOT! So I ask if I could speak with someone else and he quickly says he will look into my account further but needs to place me on hold. Sure no problem (not even sarcastic...really!). I will admit, I have been beyond nice to everyone I have spoken too, because these problems are not one persons fault and I don't believe there is any reason to get upset at someone who had nothing to do with the previous problems and I will even admit, I hope that with each phone call, this will FINALLY be the person to resolve all this! Anyways, I am on hold for a minute or so and viola cable! He returns to the line, I tell him that tv/cable box is working and ask if he can wait while I check all the tv/cable boxes so I don't have to call back in case something is wrong. So far so good, all tv's have cable channels. Issues resolved, well this issue resolved...for now, no offer of credit due to no cable for 2 full days.

Nov 12th:
Still no new modem to activate phone service (order was placed on 10/15/12). Sadly I found out last week that I have lost opportunities to interview for jobs as some of the companies I have applied with are unable to call long distance. After 18 minutes of waiting to speak with someone, Jed comes on the line. I don't even have to tell him the whole story of all my drama, he can tell there has been issues by the long LOG from previous employees. He doesn't show that our new modem was sent, nor the label to return the incorrect cable box (which I am still getting charged $9.95 a month for until it is returned). Jed not only re-ordered our modem, re-issued the label, but also offered...did you read that...OFFERED a credit for the inconvenience. I about fell over, but thanked him repeatedly. He said there was no need to thank him, it was company policy to offer customer credits due to any inconvenience. When I informed him that no one had ever offered and never granted a credit when I asked, even the installation tech who showed up half a day late and had to return the next day, he couldn't believe it. So although I still don't have a modem or a label in my hand, Jed informs me they both should arrive by next Monday through UPS. (crossing fingers he's right!) He also offered us some premium channels for free for 3 months due to other employees dropping the ball. I know I am married, but I heart Jed!!! (total call 36 minutes)

I hope my final post on this long, drawn out rant will occur in 1 week....to be cont.

Nov 13th:
DANG... I jinxed myself. Received an email notice that my self install kit was mailed today BUT it was just the return label NOT the modem! UGHHHHH. 

Call to Comcast, I swear they know I am calling because every call I end up being on hold longer and longer just to talk to a person. Currently I have listened to their awful music/ advertisements for 24 minutes...no live person yet and yes this call is taking place during office hours!
...29 minutes
...30 minutes later and Archy is on the line, turns out this entire time I have needed to acknowledge and accept Comcast's E911 notice. Unfortunately he can't transfer me so I am off to make another call. (total call time 35 minutes)

Call to number Archy gave me... yea no clue what options I am supposed to choose. Looks like another call to Comcast is in order...but first I must charge my cell phone.

Nov 14th:
Call to Comcast at 8:45am, thinking my initial wait time will be shorter....WRONG 22 minutes later spoke with Nikita who informed me that I have a package due to arrive tomorrow so there is no need to do the E911 confirmation at this time. I explained to her that the shipment she is seeing is for an empty box and return labels so that I can return a cable box that was installed in error (costing me $9.95 a month). She further looked into my account and stated that an order was never placed for the modem, in which I told her I could tell her the dates and names of each employee who claimed they placed the orders. She stated that if they did not complete the order on their end, including transferring me to complete the E911 portion, the order was cancelled.
So new order placed, call transferred to complete the E911, I was connected a little too soon, so I had to try and figure out some of the prompts as Nikita was no longer on the line. I was able to speak with Thelma to complete the E911 process and received a transaction number, #212111408183507, so hopefully we are one step closer to resolving all this Comcast BS.

Nov 15th:
Received a large box and return label to return the incorrect cable box.

Nov 16th
Received a small box, which was empty, along with a return label for the modem I currently have. Call to Comcast to find out where the modem is. Rexine stated that only return box was ordered on 11/14, the box I received today. She stated that she believes that since Nikita transferred me too early (before obtaining the transaction #) the order was cancelled, so she placed another order for 1 wireless gateway, to be shipped priority, arriving by Tuesday. Fingers crossed!

Nov 24th:
Still no new modem, which means still no phone service....call to Comcast. After 40 minutes (yes 40 minutes, I even took a pic!) of being on hold just to talk to someone I had to hang up.

Nov 30th:
Still no new modem, call to Comcast. I find it...amusing...that no matter what time of the day I call, I sit on hold forever, and ever, and ever, and ever...
After 31 minutes, I finally speak to a representative, Carrie, who states she will have tech come out tomorrow with modem between 10-12 since there has been so many ongoing problems.  Tech will also pick up incorrect cable box and current modem. Carrie also gave me a $20 credit due to installation delay that occurred 9/25-26, since no previous credits had been issued. Crossing fingers that not only does a tech show up tomorrow, but that they show up with the correct modem AND installation doesn't interfere with the cable since college football is on...don't want Eric killing me or the tech for missing part or all of his game :). Total call time 39 minutes

Dec 1st:
Comcast tech (Randy), who was scheduled to arrive between 10-12, knocked on our door at 12:50pm. I am not sure why, but he said it would take 30-60 minutes to install the modem. WHAT???? not going to complain, not going to complain, not going to complain
But wait!!! I was promised that the cable service would not be interrupted AT ALL today, but before that knock came...cable out, then as he was working on the modem for the phone line (duh unplug old, plug in new, send signal to activate...) he informs me he needs to change out some connectors and the cable would be out for 30-60 minutes. Can  you say I am dead meat with Eric!!! Yea...thankfully the cable was back on before the Alabama game, phone is working, a few slight hiccups with the internet/ wifi, but by mid/late afternoon everything is working!
I know I should be happy, but here are a few things I found out while Randy was here,

• Tech who did the initial installation on 9/25-26 didn't change out the connectors that had to be changed out today. Randy stated this was not fully his fault as most techs weren't changing them out.
• Carrie (from yesterday) didn't put on the order for Randy to pick up the incorrect cable box, and because so he is unable to pick it up (WHAT - even louder!!!), but he was authorized to take the old internet modem cause she did put that on the order...wow thanks!
• And the biggest shocker I found out today...the local office, yea the one in my town, down the street from me, does carry equipment, so I can go there on Monday to return the equipment he couldn't take in order to get 3+ months of credits for the wrong equipment being installed...keep in mind folks that even if they install the incorrect items YOU STILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKE!!! my checkbook does not thank you!!!!

So this brings me to the end of my 2+ month old rant on stupid Comcast.

I still dislike you!!!!
I don't understand how we could have received such wonderful service in Washington and have nothing but problems here.
We are paying more than what we paid in Seattle and get less!
And although this isn't fully Comcast's fault, I have missed out on several job opportunities because companies, were unable to contact me on my (long distance) cell phone versus the home phone I set up October 15th.
And finally, as much as I would love to never have to deal with you or your staff, who by the way ALL need training on how to do their jobs correctly and learn the value of customer service, I am sure I will have to contact you again once my next bill arrives, cause I am positive there won't be a credit for the tech being late today, incorrect charges, or problems with our service.
So until our next interaction....I think I will sign off on this rant.

humor?

While I am trying to take the higher road on a situation I came across today, I dumbfounded on how some adults act.

Earlier today a friend posted a picture on Facebook, her comment above the picture stated "I'm not a racist, just a sucker for sick humor. Sorry!" Before even seeing the picture, I am thinking, if you have to post that comment maybe you shouldn't be posting the picture! But hey, that's just me.

I admit, I am not great friends with the person, they are actually someone I met through Eric and due to their friendship we have 'hung-out' on occasion and are Facebook friends. Personally, there are quite a few things this person does, I don't agree with or support, yet I still associate with them...WHY???

Um, I am not sure... I would tell the kids that this is not an answer, but today, it's mine when it comes to responding why I am still friends/ acquaintances with this person.

While I am somewhat appalled by the picture this person posted, I am more devastated and disturbed by the several comments that followed. Without getting into too much detail of the picture I will say it was about Jews and concentration. I admit I was the first to respond to the picture, and maybe I should have kept my fingers silent, but I simply had to state how I did not see the humor in this picture. Of course I wanted to write more, such as how a person who claims they are such a devote Christian could post something like this, and what if their teenage children (who have access to this person's page) started showing everyone at school, and finally if you want to post stuff about other people and religions, why don't you post about yourself...just saying....

Again, the disappointing thing about this entire situation, was everyone's, including the person who posted the picture's response to my comment about how I didn't find the humor in picture. And maybe my disappointment and frustration is due to feeling like these people (who don't know me) attack my comment. Instead of getting into the defensive mode and responding, I am now keeping my fingers silent as there is nothing more to say. Plain and simple, whether intended as humor or not, I don't find it appropriate to post negative things/ comments period! especially when it's about race, gender, religion...

To top this story off, another friend of this person has now decided they are going to keep this going and has began to find every Jew bashing picture and website and post it on the mutual friends Facebook.  Sadly, these individuals are 35+ years old.

Looks like it's time to re-evaluate a friendship.

Who gave you the right to judge?

Today while Eric, Breanna, and I were out doing our weekly shopping a cashier attempted to carry on a conversation.  He started with the usually “how are you today?” in which I replied, “great thank you and yourself?”, his response, “fine.”  He then asked, what I up to today in which I responded that our family was out doing our weekly shopping.  His next question kind of threw me as he asked if our family went to church today.  Now let me paint a little picture of this cashier, he appeared to be in his early twenties, with ratty, matted blond, long hair that he had somewhat separated and pulled over both shoulders.  He also had some form of a rubber band that appeared to just ‘lie’ in his hair, not on top of his head, or around any given section of his hair, it was…well…just there.  He had tattoos on his uncovered arms, so on one hand his question on whether or not my family went to church today somewhat took me by surprise.  My response was “no, our family did not attend church today.”

His next question to me, “it is Sunday right?” in which I acknowledged that in fact today was Sunday.  He then asked “well why you didn’t go to church?” HUH????? Do I know you? And why am I having THIS conversation in the checkout of a store?  I politely responded, that I have my beliefs and I don’t need to attend church to know or have a belief, regardless of religion.  He then stated, “Oh please, don’t tell me you are an atheist.”  I kindly responded, “I am not” and secretly prayed that he would speed up and finish my transaction.  While I didn’t make or voice an opinion on his appearance, what right did he have to stand there and question me on my religious beliefs and practices?

This conversation really haunted me for the rest of the afternoon.  Eric, who was not in the checkout line with me was appalled that a cashier attempted and continued to have this conversation with me.  It made me stop and ponder how many of us and how often do we judge others?

On what others do or don’t believe, what they do and don’t do with their life, what they stand for and what they don’t, what political party they follow, what religion they do or don’t believe in, appearances, finances, financial status or the appearance of their financial status (keeping up with the Joneses), what clothes people wear, cars they drive…this list can go on and on and on.

Last I knew my life was my own.  To make decisions and live my life based on my choices. Since when did my life become yours to tell me how to live it and I really would like to know WHO gave you the right to judge me?