The call to schedule delivery never came last night, so I called Lowe's today and asked when. The response: how about now? I emptied the old, unplugged it, and rolled it toward the front door, finishing just as the delivery truck arrived.
The new 'fridge is huge; well, that's compared to the tiny apartment sized 'fridge I've been using for 10 years. It's black, which makes it look even bigger, but fits nicely into the space -- just tall enough that I can't see the dust collect on top. Because the delivery team could not hook up the ice-maker to the old line, I called my plumber, who said, "We're in the area and will come hook it up for you." While they were here, they also installed the two new outdoor lights by my front door, flourescent lights that will be brighter than the old fixtures and come on automatically at dusk (and go off with the rising sun). This is another item off the must-do-soon list.
Wahoo! And I have not just an ice-maker, but my choice of cubes or crushed, as well as cold water and a light built-in. All of the glass shelves are adjustable, so I've done that as I returned items to storage, throwing out those beyond salvation.
And, lest you think that this is no big deal: UPS called me to update me on the returned package. It is on its way back to the local area and they will call me when it arrives on-site so I can either schedule delivery or come pick it up. I guess that all is forgiven, but no business should ever have to bend this far over if they simply do the job correctly in the first place. Go Big Brown!
Life is good in the neighborhood this fine day.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
What Are You Doing, People?
Driving home from work Monday, I was trapped behind a van driven by a woman who was weaving across both lanes (one in each direction, even worse than two going the same direction), as well as running her tires off the roadside, the most common method of flipping a vehicle in the desert. There was no way to go around the van as there was no way to determine where it would be at any given moment on the pavement.
At an admittedly deadly intersection, she did come to a rolling stop, with oncoming traffic approaching in both directions, before she gunned it to avoid the collision and continued on her way. As she completed that totally unsafe turn toward the highway a mile up the hill, I saw her holding her cellphone to her ear! Worse yet, when we finally both made it to the highway and I was able to pass her safely, I saw her infant strapped into the car seat behind the driver. What was she thinking as she endangered herself, her child, and anyone else on that roadway? Was the call/text more important than the lives she put in jeopardy?
CA already passed a law that prohibits using a hand-held cellphone while driving, but you'd never know it on the roads I drive. On the last trip to LaJolla, I'd say at least half the drivers sharing pavement with me were busy talking on their phones or texting. On my weekly commutes to/from JT, the percentage is higher than half, and more often than not, combined with unsafe driving practices. Several weeks ago, a student left class to drive home and was killed in a head-on collision, allegedly her cell phone was still on and a text message half-completed. There is an endless string of examples of death, disfigurement, and maiming of victims in accidents caused by either cellphone use or texting, but still it's a matter of routine for most people who are also behind the wheel to be talking on their phones and/or texting while driving.
Yesterday, I was cut off by a vehicle that suddenly was right in front of me, coming diagonally into my lane. As I slammed on the brakes, she waved at me, her cell phone in her hand. Obviously, this is a person who fails multi-tasking, especially when she's behind the wheel! I wonder how many of the other sudden lane changes, failure to stop at a traffic light, and head-on collisions are "waved away" by a driver who is otherwise occupied?
SoCal is also the home to a major commuter train wreck attributed to an engineer who missed a stop signal because he was texting. That action didn't just destroy a train, but it destroyed many lives needlessly. What text could possibly be worth the price of dozens of victims' lives? The employer should not have to tell an engineer to pay attention to what he's doing as that's implied by both the job title and the job responsibilities, but that's the recourse left to the train company. If it's not spelled out, that long list of don'ts, the employee may not be liable for the deaths and damage caused by their actions while on the job.
We don't need more legislation: we need enforcement. Just as we all are urged to report drunk drivers who are weaving all over the roadway, we need to report cellphone users who are doing exactly the same thing! The difference between a drunk driver and a texter is that the texter is wide awake and aware of what s/he is doing, while the drunk usually passes out behind the wheel and survives to drive another day.
At an admittedly deadly intersection, she did come to a rolling stop, with oncoming traffic approaching in both directions, before she gunned it to avoid the collision and continued on her way. As she completed that totally unsafe turn toward the highway a mile up the hill, I saw her holding her cellphone to her ear! Worse yet, when we finally both made it to the highway and I was able to pass her safely, I saw her infant strapped into the car seat behind the driver. What was she thinking as she endangered herself, her child, and anyone else on that roadway? Was the call/text more important than the lives she put in jeopardy?
CA already passed a law that prohibits using a hand-held cellphone while driving, but you'd never know it on the roads I drive. On the last trip to LaJolla, I'd say at least half the drivers sharing pavement with me were busy talking on their phones or texting. On my weekly commutes to/from JT, the percentage is higher than half, and more often than not, combined with unsafe driving practices. Several weeks ago, a student left class to drive home and was killed in a head-on collision, allegedly her cell phone was still on and a text message half-completed. There is an endless string of examples of death, disfigurement, and maiming of victims in accidents caused by either cellphone use or texting, but still it's a matter of routine for most people who are also behind the wheel to be talking on their phones and/or texting while driving.
Yesterday, I was cut off by a vehicle that suddenly was right in front of me, coming diagonally into my lane. As I slammed on the brakes, she waved at me, her cell phone in her hand. Obviously, this is a person who fails multi-tasking, especially when she's behind the wheel! I wonder how many of the other sudden lane changes, failure to stop at a traffic light, and head-on collisions are "waved away" by a driver who is otherwise occupied?
SoCal is also the home to a major commuter train wreck attributed to an engineer who missed a stop signal because he was texting. That action didn't just destroy a train, but it destroyed many lives needlessly. What text could possibly be worth the price of dozens of victims' lives? The employer should not have to tell an engineer to pay attention to what he's doing as that's implied by both the job title and the job responsibilities, but that's the recourse left to the train company. If it's not spelled out, that long list of don'ts, the employee may not be liable for the deaths and damage caused by their actions while on the job.
We don't need more legislation: we need enforcement. Just as we all are urged to report drunk drivers who are weaving all over the roadway, we need to report cellphone users who are doing exactly the same thing! The difference between a drunk driver and a texter is that the texter is wide awake and aware of what s/he is doing, while the drunk usually passes out behind the wheel and survives to drive another day.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Brown Becomes Psychic Delivery Service
My former husband sent me a package: cool, huh? It would be if I could get the package! I didn't see the first delivery notice posted on my front screen door until too late: the second delivery had already occurred. I signed both of the package slips as I knew I would not be home for the third delivery, but no package: just a third (and final) notification.
I signed on to the website, but UPS must be a branch of the Masons: no phone number, no street address, no way to figure out how to go pick up the package. I was assured at both the website and on the back of the package delivery notification that I had 5 business days to retrieve it before it would be returned to the sender, so I decided that after returning home Monday, I'd go pick up the package, which required first driving to the local UPS store to find out either an address or a phone number. Because I was already in the car, I drove to the address, tucked next to the runway at PS Airport, not all that easy to find. Nope, they are closed when I arrive, so Business Day One has come and gone with no package, but not for a lack of trying.
Business Day Two, today, Tuesday, I drove to UPS to pick up the package, but they were closed: don't open until 9 am, and I arrived at 8:30 am. No problem as I was on my way to Lowe's to buy a new 'fridge (free delivery, installation, and removal of the old box were my motivation to pick Lowe's because my 'fridge is now freezing everything in the cold box and freezer burning everything in the freezer). I bought a black 'fridge (with an ice maker), which will sort of match the black front on the stove, but not the beige dishwasher or the white beverage 'fridge. Oh, well. Paid for, delivery arranged, my coffee purchase done at Wal-Mart, I drove back to UPS.
Sorry: you weren't home for the delivery service, so the package has been returned!
"There must be a mistake," I gently chided the counter person. "I have 5 business days to pick up the package before it's returned. This is only Day Two of the Five."
Sorry: our policy has changed and we attempt delivery three times -- then return the package.
"What? That's not what it says on the back of these three delivery notifications, nor on the website. It clearly says that I have five days to pick up the package."
Sorry: that's no longer our policy. You can call customer service and see if the sender will resend it, but you'll probably have to pay again for shipping.
"No, that is not going to happen. I'm not psychic, so how would I know that you've changed your policy -- but not your notification of delivery slips nor your website. It's on you: deliver my package."
Sorry: we can't do that. However, you are welcome to talk to our manager and explain your problem. (He provides me with directions, I find the office, and I ask to speak to said manager.)
We go through the whole thing again, with her assuring me that it's their "new policy," and me questioning how I would know that if both the delivery slips and the website assure me I have five days to pick up the package before it's returned. She's very sorry for the confusion, but it's their new policy, especially because this package delivery did not require a signature.
Oh, now we went there: not two minutes before, she told me that if a package delivery requires a signature, you have five days to pick it up, but since this package didn't require a signature... . I interrupted her again to point out that it did require a signature, so I signed two of the delivery notification slips and left them affixed to my front door, but the UPS driver simply attached a final notification to those two and did not leave the package.
It took about 10 minutes for her to get it: the only place the new policy is articulated is, apparently, internally, so the delivery notification slips are out-of-date, as well as the website. She agreed that I was relying on the published policy, not the psychic policy, and began tracking down the package so it can be returned to PS and delivered to me. Believe me, she saved the company from a scathing letter of complaint by seeing this issue from a customer's perspective, rather than continuing to articulate the company patter!
Now, I just have to figure out WHEN the delivery van is going to stop by my house so I am home at that exact moment to sign for and receive the package as no one tells you when it will be delivered until the truck has already arrived! Yes, I understand: great international company with an incredible record for delivering packages quickly, efficiently, and reasonably priced -- but not MY package.
I signed on to the website, but UPS must be a branch of the Masons: no phone number, no street address, no way to figure out how to go pick up the package. I was assured at both the website and on the back of the package delivery notification that I had 5 business days to retrieve it before it would be returned to the sender, so I decided that after returning home Monday, I'd go pick up the package, which required first driving to the local UPS store to find out either an address or a phone number. Because I was already in the car, I drove to the address, tucked next to the runway at PS Airport, not all that easy to find. Nope, they are closed when I arrive, so Business Day One has come and gone with no package, but not for a lack of trying.
Business Day Two, today, Tuesday, I drove to UPS to pick up the package, but they were closed: don't open until 9 am, and I arrived at 8:30 am. No problem as I was on my way to Lowe's to buy a new 'fridge (free delivery, installation, and removal of the old box were my motivation to pick Lowe's because my 'fridge is now freezing everything in the cold box and freezer burning everything in the freezer). I bought a black 'fridge (with an ice maker), which will sort of match the black front on the stove, but not the beige dishwasher or the white beverage 'fridge. Oh, well. Paid for, delivery arranged, my coffee purchase done at Wal-Mart, I drove back to UPS.
Sorry: you weren't home for the delivery service, so the package has been returned!
"There must be a mistake," I gently chided the counter person. "I have 5 business days to pick up the package before it's returned. This is only Day Two of the Five."
Sorry: our policy has changed and we attempt delivery three times -- then return the package.
"What? That's not what it says on the back of these three delivery notifications, nor on the website. It clearly says that I have five days to pick up the package."
Sorry: that's no longer our policy. You can call customer service and see if the sender will resend it, but you'll probably have to pay again for shipping.
"No, that is not going to happen. I'm not psychic, so how would I know that you've changed your policy -- but not your notification of delivery slips nor your website. It's on you: deliver my package."
Sorry: we can't do that. However, you are welcome to talk to our manager and explain your problem. (He provides me with directions, I find the office, and I ask to speak to said manager.)
We go through the whole thing again, with her assuring me that it's their "new policy," and me questioning how I would know that if both the delivery slips and the website assure me I have five days to pick up the package before it's returned. She's very sorry for the confusion, but it's their new policy, especially because this package delivery did not require a signature.
Oh, now we went there: not two minutes before, she told me that if a package delivery requires a signature, you have five days to pick it up, but since this package didn't require a signature... . I interrupted her again to point out that it did require a signature, so I signed two of the delivery notification slips and left them affixed to my front door, but the UPS driver simply attached a final notification to those two and did not leave the package.
It took about 10 minutes for her to get it: the only place the new policy is articulated is, apparently, internally, so the delivery notification slips are out-of-date, as well as the website. She agreed that I was relying on the published policy, not the psychic policy, and began tracking down the package so it can be returned to PS and delivered to me. Believe me, she saved the company from a scathing letter of complaint by seeing this issue from a customer's perspective, rather than continuing to articulate the company patter!
Now, I just have to figure out WHEN the delivery van is going to stop by my house so I am home at that exact moment to sign for and receive the package as no one tells you when it will be delivered until the truck has already arrived! Yes, I understand: great international company with an incredible record for delivering packages quickly, efficiently, and reasonably priced -- but not MY package.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Design Star Disappointment
One of my favorite programs is on HGTV: Design Star. Over the last couple of years, contestants have decorated homes and backyard living spaces in a competition to earn their own show on the HGTV network. There are always obvious not-going-to-win candidates, as well as those who are really good at design and execution. This season, however, was the worst one to date because the attitude of one of the contestants was disturbing.
Usually, the competition is intense, but fair, with what we often call a "friendly" feel to it. Yes, each person wants to win, but NOT at the expense of another contestant: the design wins or loses, not the designer. This year, one of the contestants did as little as possible to work with the other designers, stepping in only at the last moment to add "his" touch to the design, usually something that I found offensive, such as the shocking pink birds he affixed to the fireplace against the decision of the rest of the team who told him NO, NO, NO. This, however, the only part of the project that Antonio actually did, caught the judges' eyes and singled him out for daring to be different. He also set the others up to fail by deception, including outright lying about a sum of money allocated for a group project, which got the project leader cut from the competition. His work was often shabby, tossed together, and everything he said/did was all about him, not about design.
Needless to say, I was totally aghast when Antonio was named the ultimate winner this season! The distinguished panel of judges applauded him for the over-the-top touches he added to what the design teams did, somehow ignoring his failure to engage in the process. Even when they dissed his design as not well executed, he went to the next level. Kathy Griffith's home office comes to mind, which was judged as a great use of the space, but dissed for the lack of balance in the size/placement of elements of the design. He presented himself far better than the quality of his work justified, and the judges bought it, praised it, and awarded him the TV show.
Last night, as I was flipping channels after watching some football, there it was: The Antonio Project, HBTV's new design star's showcase. I watched to see if I got it wrong during the competition, but no, my assessment was spot-on. It was all about Antonio not doing the job, then scurrying about to find pieces that would look like he did a good job. Sort of a "flip this house" approach: add a granite countertop and stainless steel appliances and no one realizes that the kitchen cabinets are hung wrong, the electrical doesn't work, and the sub-flooring is rotten.
Believe it or not, he actually did not make a purchase at a retail outlet as he thought the saleswoman was hot ("potential date material" was his assessment) and he wanted to come back a second time to hit on her! That tells more about Antonio than his design ever could: he was in it to win it for what it could do for himself, not for the design. Antonio creates the perception, rather than the reality, and the judges bought into the deception, but it's going to come back and bite Antonio in the ass when he fails to do the job and loses the contract.
The best design star is David Bromstad, who is into his third season! He comes across not just as a nice person, but a member of the design team, not the "star" of it. He works as hard as everyone on his team and listens to comments/suggestions from the team about making the design work. He always adds his own unique touch, usually a design element that no one else would think to do, punctuated by an original work of art that simply finishes the design the way nothing else would.
This week, David had two shows. The first was a bedroom that went from ordinary to extraordinary by the use of lime green in a headboard that began at the top of the mattress and extended across the ceiling above the bed. Talk about a WOW factor. The second was a huge space that he converted into a multipurpose room: an office space connected to a leisure space. This time, red was the pop of color, featured in a unique set of curtains on one wall: wooden panels that slide together to form a graphic during the day and slide open to cover the windows for privacy at night. His program, Color Splash, not just sets the tone for what the design concept is, but reflects that it's about the design, not about the designer.
Hence, naming this season's winner's program The Antonio Project says it all: it's all about the designer and there isn't much there.
Usually, the competition is intense, but fair, with what we often call a "friendly" feel to it. Yes, each person wants to win, but NOT at the expense of another contestant: the design wins or loses, not the designer. This year, one of the contestants did as little as possible to work with the other designers, stepping in only at the last moment to add "his" touch to the design, usually something that I found offensive, such as the shocking pink birds he affixed to the fireplace against the decision of the rest of the team who told him NO, NO, NO. This, however, the only part of the project that Antonio actually did, caught the judges' eyes and singled him out for daring to be different. He also set the others up to fail by deception, including outright lying about a sum of money allocated for a group project, which got the project leader cut from the competition. His work was often shabby, tossed together, and everything he said/did was all about him, not about design.
Needless to say, I was totally aghast when Antonio was named the ultimate winner this season! The distinguished panel of judges applauded him for the over-the-top touches he added to what the design teams did, somehow ignoring his failure to engage in the process. Even when they dissed his design as not well executed, he went to the next level. Kathy Griffith's home office comes to mind, which was judged as a great use of the space, but dissed for the lack of balance in the size/placement of elements of the design. He presented himself far better than the quality of his work justified, and the judges bought it, praised it, and awarded him the TV show.
Last night, as I was flipping channels after watching some football, there it was: The Antonio Project, HBTV's new design star's showcase. I watched to see if I got it wrong during the competition, but no, my assessment was spot-on. It was all about Antonio not doing the job, then scurrying about to find pieces that would look like he did a good job. Sort of a "flip this house" approach: add a granite countertop and stainless steel appliances and no one realizes that the kitchen cabinets are hung wrong, the electrical doesn't work, and the sub-flooring is rotten.
Believe it or not, he actually did not make a purchase at a retail outlet as he thought the saleswoman was hot ("potential date material" was his assessment) and he wanted to come back a second time to hit on her! That tells more about Antonio than his design ever could: he was in it to win it for what it could do for himself, not for the design. Antonio creates the perception, rather than the reality, and the judges bought into the deception, but it's going to come back and bite Antonio in the ass when he fails to do the job and loses the contract.
The best design star is David Bromstad, who is into his third season! He comes across not just as a nice person, but a member of the design team, not the "star" of it. He works as hard as everyone on his team and listens to comments/suggestions from the team about making the design work. He always adds his own unique touch, usually a design element that no one else would think to do, punctuated by an original work of art that simply finishes the design the way nothing else would.
This week, David had two shows. The first was a bedroom that went from ordinary to extraordinary by the use of lime green in a headboard that began at the top of the mattress and extended across the ceiling above the bed. Talk about a WOW factor. The second was a huge space that he converted into a multipurpose room: an office space connected to a leisure space. This time, red was the pop of color, featured in a unique set of curtains on one wall: wooden panels that slide together to form a graphic during the day and slide open to cover the windows for privacy at night. His program, Color Splash, not just sets the tone for what the design concept is, but reflects that it's about the design, not about the designer.
Hence, naming this season's winner's program The Antonio Project says it all: it's all about the designer and there isn't much there.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Wish I Hadn't Said That ...
Upon awakening this morning and facing the mirror for the first time, I was startled to see that my right eye is blood red. Yep, went to the Mayo medical site and it's nothing ... usually. Since I have no idea what caused it, I'm going to go with the "nothing" diagnosis unless/until I have reason to think otherwise.
Then I wandered out to pick up mail and buy groceries, early enough in the morning that fewer drivers are on the road/shoppers in the store, an environment that I prefer. Up and down the aisles I pushed my cart, picking up items here and there, and then moved into the closest check-out lane, where I was blinded by the neon greenish yellow shirts worn by the cashier and 2 helpers standing nearby. Not only did the color hurt my eyes, but it made the wearers of the t-shirts look convincingly sick!
When the totally gay cashier effusively greeted me, darlin', he asked how I was doin' this mornin', so I told him that I was fine until I came face-to-face with those hideous shirts. Gasp! Yes, often gay men actually gasp, and this one is a drama queen most of the time, so I set him off with my somewhat harsh fashion critique.
He took the time to explain to me that they are wearing the shirts NOT as a fashion statement, because God only knows there is NO fashion in a t-shirt, but because the color of the shirt matches the color of the price posters throughout the store that draw attention to the new, lower prices. He smiled smugly upon completion of his unnecessary explanation as if it would completely turn around my reaction to the shirts.
It didn't. I smiled in return and said, "Well, I'm glad YOU are wearing it and not me," the wrong reaction on so many levels.
He thanked me for sharing my opinion and assured me that "We value our customer's opinions," but as I was pushing my purchase toward the exit, he left his cash register and headed posthaste toward the floor manager, waving his hand at her to catch her attention.
You know what? It's a hideous color and it does not flatter anyone who wears it, but I understand the employees have no choice. After all, someone else decided that the employees should match the pricing posters, not this poor cashier. I could have kept my mouth shut, but it just tumbled out, and once you say it, there's no taking it back.
I drove home, put away the groceries, and stayed home the rest of the day, rather than risk offending anyone else with my public fashion critiques.
Then I wandered out to pick up mail and buy groceries, early enough in the morning that fewer drivers are on the road/shoppers in the store, an environment that I prefer. Up and down the aisles I pushed my cart, picking up items here and there, and then moved into the closest check-out lane, where I was blinded by the neon greenish yellow shirts worn by the cashier and 2 helpers standing nearby. Not only did the color hurt my eyes, but it made the wearers of the t-shirts look convincingly sick!
When the totally gay cashier effusively greeted me, darlin', he asked how I was doin' this mornin', so I told him that I was fine until I came face-to-face with those hideous shirts. Gasp! Yes, often gay men actually gasp, and this one is a drama queen most of the time, so I set him off with my somewhat harsh fashion critique.
He took the time to explain to me that they are wearing the shirts NOT as a fashion statement, because God only knows there is NO fashion in a t-shirt, but because the color of the shirt matches the color of the price posters throughout the store that draw attention to the new, lower prices. He smiled smugly upon completion of his unnecessary explanation as if it would completely turn around my reaction to the shirts.
It didn't. I smiled in return and said, "Well, I'm glad YOU are wearing it and not me," the wrong reaction on so many levels.
He thanked me for sharing my opinion and assured me that "We value our customer's opinions," but as I was pushing my purchase toward the exit, he left his cash register and headed posthaste toward the floor manager, waving his hand at her to catch her attention.
You know what? It's a hideous color and it does not flatter anyone who wears it, but I understand the employees have no choice. After all, someone else decided that the employees should match the pricing posters, not this poor cashier. I could have kept my mouth shut, but it just tumbled out, and once you say it, there's no taking it back.
I drove home, put away the groceries, and stayed home the rest of the day, rather than risk offending anyone else with my public fashion critiques.
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