An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Issues Getting Resolved
I don’t usually post much of anything on Sundays, well, except my verses. But this morning, since I was up a bit earlier than normal, I thought I’d share what’s been happening. Besides, the Mr’s desktop was available. 
Not to fond of desktops. They feel too….well, different from laptops, and are no where near as portable, don’cha know. 
As you might know, I was having issues with my laptop and my phone, the piece of crap Android X. Well, since I had to go see Dr Dimples on Thursday, in Jackson, for another follow up, I figured I might as well try to get everything done while I was in Jackson. Since Jackson is between and hour and 15 minutes, to an hour and a half, when we go over there, it just make sense to do all ya can instead of making multiple trips. Granted, gas prices have gone down a bit, but I see them creeping back up, so why waste both time and gas doing a back and forth for up to 3 hours each time, right? Yep, made sense to me too.
So, I get to Jackson and head straight to Best Buy, which is where I was foolish enough to purchase the contraption. I stand in line, watching the clock tick. My doc’s appointment is for 2:15. I actually got there in plenty of time, sorta, to explain the problem, and drop it off. Well, the dude behind the counter, contrary to his appearance, had to be in the 90 to 95 year range. No one in their 20s could move that slow intentionally, could they? 
When it finally got to be my turn, all the while looking at my watch, I explained to him the problems I was having, and asked to drop it off, and come back. At this point, I had about 12 minutes to make it to the doc’s. He informed me that it would take at least 15 minutes to check it in. Why? I give him my name and other pertinent information, leave the computer, go to my appointment, come back afterwards, and go from there. Nope! He informs me they have to input a bunch of info into the computer, have me sign a variety of papers, and only then, can he take my computer. Seriously? Has business gotten so bad, that they have to make it a major ordeal to get anything fixed? Evidently. So, me being me, I said forget it, I’ll come back. I don’t have time for you to pussy foot around. Naturally, I walk out the store, grumbling, out loud of course, said to the greeter/security/info type guy, “I don’t know why the hell anyone does business with this store, if they go out of their way to make your life a bit more complicated!” He just smiled. Smart dude! Under normal circumstances, I have a lot more patience with young idjits. They can’t help it if they are raised as a generations of slackers. NOT all, mind you, but a great many of them who work in the customer service/retail business are a real pain in the hinder! That tech dude was one of ‘em.
So, I take my uncooperative computer, get it under the backseat as best I can, and make it to my doc’s office with a full 60 seconds to spare. Naturally, you always have to wait a bit, but this guy is pretty good at getting you in quite close to your appointed time. I only had to wait 5 minutes. The report? I’m doing pretty good, and there are days I am absolutely going to hate him. His words. Heh. He also informed me that at my next appointment, they will be taking xrays of both knees. Ya see….lucky me, will likely have to have the right knee done next year, AFTER he is satisfied with the progress of the left one. I glared at him. Told him as much as I like him, I am not going to be happy having to go through all this again. He said, “Nope, you’re not, but the alternative isn’t too enjoyable either.” He’s got a point there. I asked questions, he answered, I got him to laugh. Seems to be a talent I have. This is how I know he has dimples. Heh. My friend told me she wasn’t aware he had those pits in his cheeks. Told her she had to get him to smile to see ‘em. “How do you do that?” “Be your same wisenheimer self.” “Oh.” *shakes head* So, I don’t have to go back till February, and I don’t have to do the exercises everyday. Well, yes I do, actually. That’s when I do my daily Bible readings. 
A minimum of 3 miles on the torture bike to nowhere. Sometimes a lot more. Depends on the size of the chapters assigned. But always, at LEAST 3 miles.
Oh yeah, and one other bright spot. They are no longer going to be accepting my insurance. Evidently, I’m not the only one who has been left out in the cold by this particular company. Oh joy. Well, they didn’t pay dick for this whole experience anyway. It was ALL out of pocket. He did say not to worry, they’d work something out. I like him, so ok, we will deal when the time comes. sigh…
Ok, after the joyous news, I head back to Best Buy. Thankfully, there was someone else at the Geek counter, a guy who actually had a personality, and could at least treat me like a human being, and not a burden on his time. Unfortunately, I had failed to bring along the power cord, assuming that a company such as Best Buy would have power cords for every make and model that they sold in their store. Pfft! That’s what I get for assuming. Thinking that a company is prepared for every eventuality is just down right silly in this day and age! grrrr So, of course, I had to dish out 70 something plus a LOT of tax, to purchase a power cord. I guess the Mr can put it to good use and leave it in his computer case so he doesn’t have to unplug his all the time when he/we go someplace. So, now, between the 2 of us, we have 5 power cords for 2 laptops. One is out in his man cave, don’cha know.
So, evidently, the issues I was having with the direction keys was not something they could fix in the time I was there. We did the check in process, which, by the way, only took five minutes! NOT 15! (the dorkus dude spent more time pissing me off than it would have actually taken him to let me leave it with them) No virus was found, so he said it might be a dormant one that doesn’t show up on the scan. They’ll need to keep it for at least 3 days, leaving it running the whole time, hence the need for the power cord. sigh… So, I will call them this afternoon, or tomorrow morning, and find out what’s going on, did they fix it, are they going to replace it, and can I come get it. Not that it’s bothered me that much not to have a computer at the ready. You’d be surprised at how much I’ve actually gotten done. I made a total disaster out of the breakfast nook! Heh. Hey, wrapping presents is a serious enterprise, and messes will be made.
Leaving Best Buy, I head a block down to the Verizon store. A company store, and not a privately owned place that will give you major attitude of the snotty, “I’m better than you and you’re stupid attitude”, like the one over in Savannah. I checked in…you actually have to do that over there…and within five minutes, they called my name, and we started the process of finding out just how bad a piece of crap that Android really was. Ok, so they take it back, put it on a charger. I wait. I wait. And wait. And wait some more. After an hour and a half, I was pretty tired of waiting, so I asked the check in dude what was going on and why was it taking so long. He went and found the manager, and I explained to him I had been waiting an hour and a half. He looked perplexed, probably for my benefit, making me believe he actually gave a happy crap. So, he went to find out why it was taking so long. Apparently, they had been trying to charge the piece of garbage, and it was not being cooperative. Shoot, I could have saved us all time, and told them that! SO….a very nice young fellow took over, and said I had two options: I could either leave that one there, and they would ship me a new one, or we could find another phone to replace the paper weight my phone had become. Well, after being there that long, I was in no mood to have them ship me another piece of garbage Droid X!
Naturally, during this ridiculous wait, I had been snooping around, and one particular phone had caught my eye. An LG something or other. Has a slide out keyboard, plus a touch screen keyboard. It was smaller than the Droid and does basically everything the paper weight did BEFORE they did the “upgrade” on it. The young man, Adam, said they had had a LOT of those upgraded paper weights come into the store. Some, they could fix with a hard reboot, some they could not.
So, we started discussing my options, and there was no way I wanted another expensive paper weight, so we started discussing the LG. After another hour of him messing with the computer, pulling up my account, making sure I was ‘eligible’ for all the wonderful discounts they were offering at this time, with the rebate, the waiving of the activation fee, and having the phone turn out free, plus the monthly bill would be lower, among a number of other things, I FINALLY walked out with new phone in hand.
Now, I am not exactly pleased that this one sucks batteries like the other one, but I’m consider buying a couple of spare batteries to have on hand. Someone mention an external battery charger? I’ll have to check into that. Of course, the problem might be I have been playing with the silly thing, trying to figure stuff out, and texting and getting on FB a lot, since I don’t have a computer, and THAT might be why it’s using up battery?
I finally made it home close to 8pm. I wanna tell ya, I really hate driving in the dark these days. I mean…seriously…it’s VERY dark in the Podunks of TN. BUT, one plus, there were a lot of really cool Christmas lights on a LOT of houses on my drive back. Quite enjoyable, which of course made me wonder….how much is THEIR electric bill gonna be? Heh.
Yep, I’ve gotten a lot done around here, but as usual, have forgotten that last load of laundry…one in the dryer, and one in the washing machine. sigh… Reckon I’ll have to start those all over. Well, at least rewash the jeans that got left in the washer. But hey….what the heck. I got ALL the Christmas stuff wrapped and ready to tote to Texas next week. Ain’cha proud of me? And hopefully, tomorrow, I will be back to normal, whatever that means. Being domesticated is hard work!! 
Glad to hear things are getting better with the knee. The batteries in the phone will run out faster if you have the data on all the time (Facebook). Would love to find you on Facebook, BTW. We are at http://www.facebook.com/TheSweeneyFamily
Here in Haiti, clothes can sit on the line overnight to dry if you don’t get them up early enough. Just stick those jeans in the dryer already. They’ll be alright.
Sorry, didn’t mean for it to come out as a lionk. Wasn’t thinking. I’m sure that’s probably a no-no, no?
That’s ok. It’s worked. Now, when I get my own computer back, or perhaps even on my phone, I can click like. You’ll know it’s me….from all the pictures of guns and such. LOL