Look At What My Baby Did!

The Young One made some Halloween cards for friends that go on a weekly Dungeons and Dragons quest.She hand-lettered the envelopes with bone shaped letters and used the Dragon stamps coordinating colors with the color of each players dice.

 Even though she mailed the letters a couple of days before Halloween, recipients received their cards on 10. November. Two envelopes were being delivered to Massachusetts and the remainder were going to Ohio. The motto of the USPS is "we deliver for you" just not always on your schedule.

Buckeyes

Since the Eldest had to work second shift at the hospital, and we wouldn't have much time to spend with her during the week, we decided we would take up Moopa's invitation (Himself's college roommate) in South Carolina to spend some time with them.

Before heading down South, we headed four hours West to the Buckeye State aka Ohio. We dropped the Young One at her friend's house so she could spend the week.

As the Young One was getting out of the car, there was a doe on the far side of the yard. The doe leaped into the woods, and I didn't think I got a picture. but I did! See that thing behind the tree in the middle of the picture?

We headed to a Comfort Inn in

Yup, just like the name of my cowboy.

Deep sigh.

Anyway, Finnbadger, blog buddy and a Buckeye resident, had asked if I was treated well in Ohio. And indeed, we were. 

As we settled into our room at the Heath Comfort Inn, there was a horrible smell. A septic smell coming from a bathroom floor drain. I went to the main desk to ask if we could have another room. We were only staying over one night before heading South.

Not only did J.D., the desk clerk, arrange another room for us, but he arranged for us to stay in a suite.

We had a sitting room with a television and oddly, a Jacuzzi tub in the sitting room

and a King-size bed in a separate room with another television

Our stay was very pleasant. Though in the morning after showering, there was a faint whiff of septic gasses. We had reservations at the same Comfort Inn on the return journey. The staff was wonderful even remembered we had stayed with them at the beginning of the week. We didn't get the suite, but a regular room that was comfortable enough, but again as we were leaving that sewer gas whiff.  

Obviously, whoever plumbed the building didn't know how to vent sewer gasses properly. If we ever get back to that part of Ohio again, we'll find another hotel to stay at and not the Heath Comfort Inn.

Google Chrome and Blogger Problems

Anyone else having problems using Google Chrome (browser) and trying to access Blogger? Seems some cookie some place isn't being cached. I log in and have to go through the 2-step authentication. When I'm on my blog, in the upper right corner, I'm not "logged in" so can't leave comments. Just wondering if it's me or Google?

I don't have a problem (yet) using Internet Explorer which I don't really like.

Customer Service: MassDOT

I have an appointment  at 1 PM in Wellesley so I hop on the Pike  (I-90, Massachusetts Turnpike) at Exit 10A and toodle East. It's a beautiful late Summer day, and I'm making good time.All is right in my world until I get off at Exit 13 and approach the toll plaza to pay my 90 cent toll at 12:50 PM

There are five lanes at the toll plaza. Lanes 1,3, and 5 are cash lanes. Lanes 2 and 4 are EZ-Pass lanes. EZ-Pass is an automated system that requires a transponder which will deduct the toll from your bank account. I don't have a transponder.

After the tollbooths, the road forks. I'm heading East so need the left fork. Usually after the rush hour, lane 1 is closed. So, I'm happily heading to lane 3. As I look up, I see all of the cash lanes are closed with the red signal light showing and a caution cone in the middle of the lane.

I utter some colorful phrases. You've got to be sitting on me, sunny beaches, flocking words, or phrases to that effect. See, I'm now forced into one of the automated toll taking lanes. Without a transponder, if I pass through the automated toll lane I don't pay my 90 cent toll, I get whacked with a $50 fine. I think it's a $50 fine. Doesn't matter how much, it's more than the 90 cent toll I have in my hot, little hand.  I have no choice. I can't stop before the tollbooths. There's traffic coming fast behind me. I have to go through. I cringed when I heard the you-didn't-pay-your-toll-buzzer, and I'm pissed.

I get to my destination, pull out my phone and tweet my ire:

CJ Kennedy @CJKennedyink

@MassDOT TIA for fine. Cuz all cash lanes closed 12:50 pm exit 13 Natick MassPike couldn't pay toll. #massholes #boilingmad

I figured nothing would come of tweeting to a faceless, government authority, and if I did hear from them, I thought it would be along the lines of Too bad for you. You should have a transponder. After sending the Tweet into the ether I felt better. Shortly after, I see a reply. Somebody at MassDOT heard me. Knock me over with a feather! I was asked to send MassDOT a direct message with my contact information. And then, I get a phone call! From a real, live person!

He listened to my story, and since he was so nice, I refrained from the color language. He apologized. Was a fluke thing that happened. Toll collectors coming from break at the same time, He politely listened when I suggested that breaks be staggered. He then said, he was trying to catch the toll violation notice.before it got mailed out. If I receive it in the mail, he gave me his cellphone number to contact him!

Thank you Mr. C. Refreshing to know patrons can expect excellent customer service from a large, government entity.

If you have problems, reach out to MassDOT via Twitter. Someone is listening.

It's Just Wrong

My mother-in-law used to make some pretty wonderful goodies. Her signature creation was home-made Whoopie Pies. (Two round, chocolate (usually), cake like cookies with a cream filling (preferably whipped cream) I got nostalgic for them when I saw Red Velvet Whoopie Pies at the Shop and Stop Bakery.

Hey, Stop and Shop Bakery,  your Red Velvet Whoopie Pie cake was pretty good. However, to fill the Whoopie Pies with overly sweet frosting is not only wrong, but utterly disgusting.

We're Getting Legs

So far, Customer Service at Sleep Number was easy to deal with. I explained my problem with the wheels on the bed. The Rep offered to send caster cups (free of charge.) I refrained from making a comment how they should be free. I asked if the bed frame could be swapped out for one that had good, old-fashioned legs. The legs were extra. I said after I paid the same amount for this bed as I paid for my first car, I didn't feel I should pony up any more dollars and cents. She said she would check with her supervisor. After a minute on hold (the hold music is ghastly), the Rep said she would order legs for the bed. Later in the week, Sleep Number would call to make an appointment for a technician to come remove the wheels and install the legs. Stay tuned.

Wheels on the Bed

The new Sleep Number bed arrived on Friday. Yay! The upside is the bed seems to be comfortable. The downside is the bed frame is on wheels. WTH? When I mentioned this to the delivery man who set the bed up, he said he could lock the wheels, and we could go to the big box store and buy cup casters. WTH? We paid close to the amount for this bed as my first car. He locked the wheels, but the frame still careens across the floor with the slightest touch. Not safe.

So, I went back to the store to complain. I mean, really, unless the bed is to be used in a hospital to get from the ER to another floor, what the hell does it need wheels for? What a stupid design! The store manager was very nice. She said  the design is being changed because of the complaints. She said the delivery guy was supposed to have the cup casters on his truck. Guess not, if he told us to go buy them at the hardware store.  I asked if we could swap the wheelie frame for a stationary frame. She called customer service, but CS isn't opened all day on Saturday and not at all on Sunday. Of course, not. She sent CS an email and noted my complaints. Said I should hear from them sometime Monday. Stay tuned.

Dear Maytag,

I just want to thank you for the brilliant idea of a textured top and sides on the refrigerator. What a relief I don't have to worry that guests will be able to see any fingerprints that may appear on the top of the refrigerator. If family members or guests happen to trail their fingers or hands on the side of the refrigerator as they make their way down the hallway, I can also breathe a sigh of relief the marks won't show. You have no idea how much sleep I was losing over this fact. I can now rest easy.

The high-gloss finish of the front of the refrigerator is a forensic investigator's dream. Every fingerprint, mark, smudge, and smear shows on the gleaming surface without the use of dusting powder. I only wish my children were small again as the hand and fingerprints on the refrigerator door would have served as a growth record. The glossy finish has given my life new meaning as I constantly buff and polish the surface. Thank you for adding to my chore list. If the front of the refrigerator had been textured and wouldn't show hand and finger prints, I wouldn't have an endless, thankless task to fill my days.

Virtually yours,
CJ

Kayak and Customer Service

A month and a half before the trip to Boston The Young One and I recently took, we searched for hotels that were close to the convention site. First, there was the sticker shock about the cost of a hotel room and then no hotel rooms from here to Nebraska were to be found.  Himself suggested we try booking the room through Kayak. We did and we got a great rate for 4 nights at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel, $170 less than the room rates offered by the hotel.

A week after the reservation was made, The Young One found out the team didn't have to be in Boston two days earlier than the convention start. Great, I'd save a bit of cash on the room. I called the hotel, told the clerk we wouldn't need the room on Wed. but would arrive on Thurs. instead. No problem. Even though, we had booked through a third party, he said he would take care of everything.

I should have called back, the day before we were to arrive, but I didn't and there was a small problem when I arrived for check-in. No credit had been issued and I had been expected the day before.  The clerk gave me a song and dance about dealing with a 3rd party company. Fortunately, I remembered the name of the clerk I spoke with over the phone. There was some back office chit chat behind the closed doors of the reservation desk. Clerk came back, told me to call GetARoom.com (company that handles hotel reservations for Kayak) for the credit as the hotel couldn't issue the credit.

I made the call and there was another song and dance about getting a refund, but the helpful clerk would talk to the hotel and call me back. No phone call to me. I figured I would have to eat the extra room rate. Punishment for not dealing directly with the hotel.

On check out day, I asked the desk clerk about the refund. She went to get her manager which turned out to be the clerk I dealt with when I checked in. He said he received an email from GetARoom that a credit would be issued. He said I would receive an email confirming the credit.

No Email, but it was over a weekend. No email all week. On Friday, there' was a voice mail from Kayak customer service. A credit will be issued, but depending on the "bank" it could take anywhere from 7 to 10 business days or two billing cycles to show up. It's been two weeks since our trip.

So here I am still in the Kayak without a paddle. It amazes me the lack of customer service there is nowadays. I spent most of my business career dealing in customer service. When I worked at the cement company (a Fortune 500 company, btw) if a customer had a problem with our product or delivery, the problem was resolved quickly and a credit issued quickly. Ditto when I was a programmer/consultant. If the client had an issue with the billing, the issue was resolved quickly. The motto was the customer was always right, even when s/he was wrong.

Honestly, Kayak, it isn't the bank that is taking a rock of ages to issue the credit. It's you! You charge my account quickly enough. You should issue the credit tout suite, also. The bank isn't issuing the credit. The bank is waiting for you to issue the credit. Your cashflow must be really low, really poor if you can't issue a credit for a measly $159 and change.

I have no issue with using Kayak to book services. As I said, we got a great rate at the Little Princess Hotel, but you may want to think twice about using the service especially if there's a chance a problem arises.

In hindsight, I know I should have listened to you, Andy. You never steer me wrong when it comes to advice. I'm confidant the Captain, my Captain wouldn't have let me down and a refund would have been issued without a lot of dancing around.

Have you used Kayak? Any problems?

The Friday Five

I love gadgets. When Lysol came out with the no touch soap dispenser for the kitchen and bath, I thought I'd give them a try.

1. I love the clean lines of the dispenser. No ugly bottles on the counters. The soap dispenses without dripping so no mess from wet hands or soap residue on the counter.

2. The bathroom and kitchen dispensers are slightly different shapes. Which means...

3. The soap refill from one won't fit in the other dispenser. Really Lysol? The kitchen dispenser matches the decor better in my bathroom. Soap is soap.

4. The refill bottle doesn't have a removable cap. You have to buy the small Lysol refills which can be more expensive than buying a larger bottle of soap and refilling the dispenser. That really bites, Lysol.

5. An easy fix to avoid having to buy the refill bottles: when the bottle is empty, drill a hole in the top. Using a funnel, you can refill the bottle with your favorite soap.

Have you bought a product or gadget you've been less than thrilled with?

The Friday Five

The Eldest got a part-time job as a lab technician. The job is about an hour away, depending on the traffic. It's no longer possible for her and me to share my car. So she ponied up four grand she had saved working at her minimum wage job to put a down payment on her first car. She  needed wheels with superior gas mileage so she decided on a Toyota Prius in pale green. Himself took her up to Herb Chambers Toyota in Auburn, MA. on Sunday, 4. November. The salesman talked her out of her color choice. He had a white model on the lot he wanted to get rid of. He'd give her a "deal" if she agreed to the white car. He told her she could have the car by Saturday, 10. November

Today's Friday Five are five complaints I have about the dealership. Your mileage may vary.

 She called the salesman on Thursday to find out when the car would be ready for pick up. She had to leave a voice message and he never returned her call. When he did get back to her on Saturday, as he was off on Friday, he said there was a problem with the insurance company, but they got things straightened out.

Monday was a holiday so we figured she'd have the car by Tuesday.

Calls to the salesman went unanswered. She called the insurance company to see if things were all set. They told her the dealership hadn't faxed information they needed.

 On Wednesday, the dealership called to tell her the car was all set and would be ready for pick up Thursday afternoon.

She got out of her first job at noon, on Thursday. She called the dealer before we left the job, an hour away, to see if she could come an pick up the car. Yup, it would be ready. We got there and the salesman told her the car needed plates. The dealer has access to RMV computers and does all transactions at the dealership. The salesman took her to see her car. Tried to impress her with how shiny new it was and what a great job they did with the detailing.

After a fifteen minute wait, no tags coming. The girl needed to get back home, have lunch and then head to her other part-time job. The salesman told me he didn't have control of what "they" did upstairs to get the tags. I told him, it was his job to follow the process from start to finish. He was the contact person.

The salesman promised to deliver the car to the house in the afternoon. She took my car to work and I waited for the delivery. By 7 pm. no shiny, new car was in the driveway. I sent a text message to her on her break to ask if she had heard from the dealer. Yup, the computers went down  they couldn't do the transaction. Car would be delivered on Friday at 1 pm.

I called The Sales Manager to complain.

1. Customer service is not an oxymoron. He gave me excuses about trying to get her a "college grad" special offer financing package.

2. If there were anticipated problems with financing, don't promise the car by a certain day.

3. Don't talk the customer out of the dream color to push a "deal". The girl has waited nearly two weeks for an automobile that was sitting on the lot. She could have waited for her first color choice.

4. She was told to pick the car up on a certain day. She called to see if the car would be ready, and she was told to come and get it. She also called the insurance company to see if all the paperwork was done. Yup, no problems on the insurance end. The car should have been ready to drive off the lot when the girl got there. The salesman shouldn't have tried to impress her with the detailing. I expect a new car to be all shiny. I also expect a new car to have plates and an inspection sticker when told the car is ready. There should have been no excuses about not getting the tags.

4a. I asked The Sales Manager if the girl had been a young man, if the car would have been delivered when promised. I was told gender made no difference. A he would have been treated the same. Nice to know screw ups aren't gender biased.

5. The Sales Manager said my complaints would help him to improve service. I hope he learned a lesson. I told him I learned mine. I am next in line for a new car. Am also thinking about a Toyota, but I told the Sales Manager I would not purchase a car from Herb Chambers Toyota of Auburn.

Besides delivering the car today at 1pm  (I'm not pinning my hopes here), the dealer should also include a bouquet of flowers: white mums for truthfulness, yellow daffodils to show respect, and purple hyacinths to express a sincere apology. A box of Godiva chocolates wouldn't hurt, either.

Have you had a good car buying experience?

I Am An Artist

Thank you for contacting me. I'm flattered you liked one of my works and would like to use it for an e-book cover project. You said the only compensation I would receive is an attribution in the book for the use of my work. You stated the author is only going "to make pennies" so receiving payment is out of the question. However, I must decline your offer.

You see, I am an artist. My work is not my hobby. Art is my work. I earn my bread and butter from pen, ink, and paint. I have bills to pay. I'm sure you have bills to pay. The bank will not accept an attribution as payment for my mortgage. The electric company, telephone company, insurance, credit card and other companies I do business with will not accept an attribution in lieu of payment.

To give my work away without compensation not only devalues art, but more importantly, devalues and demeans myself. Other people get paid for goods or services they make or provide. You stated your author will be receiving pennies for her writing. The amount aside, she's still being compensated for her work. To do work for free implies that I am not worthy to receive a wage.

Now, from time to time, I do work for charitable causes. When I choose to donate my work, it is for a cause or an organization, church, or school that resonates with me. I get to choose. I also get to choose style, suitable decoration, and deadline. And paying clients come first. Always.

You wouldn't consider asking a "professional" (e.g.doctor, lawyer) to provide services to you for free. Somehow artists and craftsmen, especially if they work from home, are not accorded the same respect. The public perception is we just slap paint on canvas or whip out a pen. That what we do is nothing so we deserve nothing for our skill or time. I, and my colleagues, have spent years, and thousands of dollars, studying and honing skills. I have been blessed to have been able to study with nationally and internationally respected artists in my field. To give away work for free, disrespects them for the knowledge they have passed to me.

I do want to thank you for asking my permission to use my work. You could have just stolen the image, and you didn't. Thank you for respecting copyright.

The Down Side

of getting used to new prescription eyeglasses is motion sickness. Does this ever happen to you?

Comment Moderation

Dear Blogger,

Would you kindly fix your "new" Captcha words for the comment moderation? I have no problem with the concept, but the practice is another thing. One word is perfectly legible, but the other is beyond comprehension even if I wasn't having problems with my vision. Sure, I can click the reload button to try again, but  the next group of words isn't any better, or the group after that, or the group after that. I have the same complaint with the audio. I couldn't hear any intelligible words above the babble when I tried that option. I'm apt to not leave a comment just so I don't have to waste ten minutes hitting the reload button for a second or a third option. Not being able to leave a comment punishes the blog author.

None of us want automated programs to abuse our blogs. Just make it a little easier for the humans to leave a comment and move on.

Thanks,
Ceej

Am I  the only one having problems with the "new" Blogger Captcha?

Seven

My computer is giving me fits and starts. It seems to get slower and slower, especially on boot. I am so tempted to try percussive maintenance but instead will whine about seven things to dislike about Vista.

1. Microsoft, the "we say so" company. I wish Bill wouldn't decide what I want my machine to do.

2. Vista 64, the quad processor isn't faster, and it doesn't interface well with some peripherals. Like my scanner which was working until the computer was moved for the remodel.

3. Like all the previous versions of Windows OS, Vista is a pig.

4. The machine is chugging, but I have no idea what it's working on. I miss the days of being able to press the escape key, put a Settrace and follow what the program was doing. I miss DOS

5. Even though you are allowed to schedule or cancel Windows updates, this is a Fisher-Price feature. Lights flash and wheels spin, but the program flips you the bird and does the updates anyway.

6. Vista makes the Unix OS on the old Burroughs XE-550 I used to work on, look like a gazelle.

7. Microsoft's new OS, Windows 7, will be shipping at the end of this year. A Vista by any other name is just as slow.

Is This Any Way to Run an Airline?

The problem, I received a bill from Charter for internet, phone and television services for October. The last bill was paid on 12. Sept. and you will recall on the 15. Sept, we began 3 days of installation hell with Verizon. We had no telephone, no internet, and no phone services for those three days.

I called Charter Customer Service only to be told since my name is not on the account, they could not speak to me. Even though I'm the one who pays the monthly bill. An argument ensued and I asked to speak to a Supervisor. Was put on hold and the call never answered.

I call a second time and had to endure the same song and dance, and the frustration of being put on hold and no supervisor picking up in a timely fashion. By now, I'm spitting nails.

From the Charter website, I followed a link to talk to a live representative. I pretended to be Himself. Part way through our conversation, I almost asked the representative if she was mentally impaired. Bostonians will instantly understand the expression I was going to use including the colorful adjective. At this point, I began typing in CAPS

Here is the actual transcript:

Thank you for choosing Charter Chat Live! A Customer Care representative from Billing Inquiries will be with you shortly. You have been connected to TTD Ria .

TTD Ria : Thank you for contacting Charter Communications Support Team. My name is Ria. How may I assist you today?

Himself : Hi Ria, I received a bill for bundled phone, internet, and tv, however on Sept 15, services we terminated because we switched to Verizon

TTD Ria : Hi, Himself.

Himself : since we have not had charter services since Sept 15, we should not have a bill nor expected to pay any bill

TTD Ria : Please let me check on this.

Himself : thank you

TTD Ria : Can you please provide me with your account number?

Himself : Yup

TTD Ria : Thank you.

TTD Ria : The balance left on your account is $115.74.

Himself : except there should be no balance

Himself : and when I returned equipment, we were told there was a credit on the bill. and we should receive a check

Himself : the last bill paid was in the amount of $183.90 and paid Sept 12

TTD Ria : Himself, this bill is for your services for the period of 10/16/08-11/15/08.

TTD Ria : Please be reminded that you are paying for your services one month in advance. Himself : we are no longer with charter

Himself : services were terminated Sept 15

Himself : we did not use charter services after Sept 15

TTD Ria : Yur services are scheduled to be disconnected on October 15, 2008. Himself : the services were disconnected on Sept 15

Himself : for 3 days while Verizon completed installation I had NO phone, NO internet, NO TV TTD Ria : Himself, you had Charter services since 2004.

Himself : yes, but as of Sept 15, 2008 we switched to Verizon

Himself : so from Sept 15 2008 to the present, we are not using Charter services Himself : we are Verizon customers

Himself : ergo the bill was sent by mistake

Himself : I turned in 3 boxes and a modem for the phone

Himself : we no longer have charter equipment

TTD Ria : Himself, I are you saying you had your services connected September 2008 and had those disconnected on the same month?

Himself : yes

TTD Ria : Himself, I'm sorry but I can see on the account that you had Charter services since 2004.

TTD Ria : You may go to your local office to check on this further.

Himself : is that the only way this issue can be resolved?

Himself : you cannot help? TTD Ria : I'm sorry but I can't see what you are saying on the account that I pulled up.

TTD Ria : What is reflected in my database is that you had services with us since 2004.

Himself : WE ARE NO LONGER CHARTER CUSTOMERS

Himself : what don't you understand

Himself : WE TERMNATED CHARTER SERVICES ON SEPT 15, 2008

Himself : THIS YEAR

TTD Ria : Himself, I'm sorry but I can't just believe in what you are saying. I need something as proof. I'm sorry but what you are saying is not reflected in my database.

Himself : WE RECEIVED A BILL FOR OCT-NOV, BUT WE HAVE NOT USED CHARTER AS WE ARE CONNECTED TO VERIZON. WHAT DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND ABOUT THAT? Himself : THE BILL WAS SENT ERRONEOUSLY

Himself : OUR SERVICES ARE NOT TO BE TERMINATED IN OCTOBE3R, BUT WERE TERMINATED IN SEPTEMBER

TD Ria : Well, I'm sorry but only the local office can check on that further.

Himself : can you tell me if the local office is open on Sat

Himself : and what the hours are

TTD Ria : Sure. TTD Ria : Your local office is open Monday8:30 AM1:00 PM2:00 PM5:00 PMTuesday8:30 AM1:00 PM2:00 PM5:00 PMWednesday8:30 AM1:00 PM2:00 PM5:00 PMThursday8:30 AM1:00 PM2:00 PM5:00 PMFriday8:30 AM1:00 PM2:00 PM5:00 PM

Himself : No Sat hours?

TTD Ria : I'm sorry but no.

Himself : do these transcripts get looked over for quality assurance?

TTD Ria : Yes.

Himself : please note: Customer Service should not be an oxymoron.

Himself : I guess this ends the session

I'm of a good mind to ignore the bill and wait to receive if you don't pay this bill, we will terminate your services. Let them!

Wednesday Weigh-In

Fifteen weeks and I've lost 13 lbs! I was surprised to see I lost one pound this week. This was a very hard week for me. The hungry horrors just seemed to take over. I really wasn't even hungry, just seemed to have a need to shove something in my face. Why do carbs have to taste so good? Why can't carrots or broccoli taste like chocolate or cookies?

Speaking of chocolate, The Young One will be bringing home a case of chocolate bars to be sold as a fund raiser for the Junior/Senior Christmas Ball and the Junior Prom. Deep sigh. Forlorn look. I can see another rough week ahead with candy bars in the pantry.

My new jacket in size medium arrived yesterday. Color me blue like the new jacket. Remember I tried The Young One's jacket on and it fit? My new blue jacket is a little snug through the arms and bust. Seems LL Bean decided to change the style slightly. Why do they do that? Why do they assume every woman wants fitted clothes? I like my clothes to fit well, but I like a little breathing room too. This jacket makes me feel like a sausage.

So I don't know what to do. Do I wait 4 or 5 weeks and hope if I lose another 4 or 5 pounds, the jacket will fit the way I like? I'm not even sure losing a few more pounds will help. Maybe that's punishment for buying clothes made in foreign countries where a size 2 is considered a medium.

If I wait to drop a few more pounds, I might not be able to wear this jacket, but that will put us into late Fall and it gets pretty darn cold here.

Send it back or keep it? Send it back and order a man's jacket? Mens clothes are so much more comfortable. They don't princess seam men's clothes and the manufacturer's don't add lycra spandex to men's clothes either.

So this week's question. How do you handle the hungry horrors? And what would you do about the jacket?

Seven

Seven reasons to be unhappy with the installation and phone service for Verizon FIOS

1. We were told the technician would arrive at 1pm and the installation would take 4 hours. We took time off from work. At 2pm, we called to find out the job had not been dispatched and the technician would arrive between 1pm and 5 pm for an installation that would take 4 to 6 hours.

2. A call at 5pm said the technician would be on his way. The technician, two helpers and 3 Verizon trucks with cherry pickers arrived at 6:50pm. The lead technician was surly. I was too. They couldn't get things up and going so left close to 9pm with a promise they would arrive the next day at 3pm.

3. The next day, Charter, our previous cable company, yanked service to phone, Internet, and television. At 3pm, using my cellphone I called Verizon and waited on hold for a half an hour while the Customer Service Rep. tried to get in touch with the dispatcher and technician. The technician called a half hour later to say he would arrive in an hour. He kept good his word, was in a better mood and set about getting phone service, Internet service on my computer, the television in the bedroom up and running, and the local network stations on the television in the sunroom.

4. When asked for documentation for the telephone options such as setting up voice mail, he said Verizon would be mailing the booklet in 3 to 5 business days. There was a help section online. The technician left close to 9pm. By the way, what is the proper etiquette when dealing with technicians who arrive during dinner and the family hour? Are they invited to dinner? Given clean linen and shown to the guest room?

5. The online phone help was as useful as a teat on a bull. Though it told me in a general vague way how to set up the voice mail, it did not provide access numbers or temporary passwords. I had to call Customer Service to obtain this information.

6. Through online help I found the access codes for Call Forwarding to another telephone. A feature I use quite frequently. When I went to attempt to forward calls to the home phone to my cellphone, I received a call can't be completed as dialed message. A call to Customer Service revealed that this service is not available as part of my package. I would have to pay $5 per month for this feature. Seems that all of the features the cable company included in our cable bundled package, Verizon charges!

7. The installation began on Monday and was completed Wednesday night. I have not received documentation for the telephone features.

The whole experience left me more with an OMG! feeling instead of the WOW from the Verizon media blitz. If it sounds too good to be true, it generally is. I'm not inspired to recommend Verizon FIOS to anyone without adding caveat emptor, buyer beware. Verizon, do you hear me now?

I had no trouble with Charter, the cable company. The technicians arrived on time, were never surly, completed installations in a timely fashion, and left us up and completely running. Maybe we should have paid attention to the adage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it.