Some Random Thoughts
My mother thinks I should keep a journal. I've been lazy about posting lately, but I guess this blog is the closest thing. I find LJ a little more friendly and inviting for longer posts than Facebook.
Anyway, here are some random thoughts and happenings from the past week.
It is a bad idea to drink wine on an empty stomach (makes me grouchy).
Being con chair for Balticon really is about herding cats.
Designed a form I needed for Balticon - had no clue how to do it until I got some ideas from another organization's similar form. At least I did not have to reinvent the wheel.
No matter how well you do something, there is always someone who will say "nice job, but--" (nitpick, nitpick).
A 4GB smart-card is not large enough to record 50 minutes of video on my digital camera (although the 20 minutes I did record yielded surprisingly good video and audio). Thought I had an 8GB card in the camera. Oh well, lesson for future.
Why should the question of gay marriage (once approved) in MD be put to referendum? How can it be legal to allow a civil rights issue to be decided by referendum? And why would one group who had to fight for their civil rights not naturally be behind another group fighting a similar battle? I don't get it.
There has got to be a better way to clean up after a dog than picking up poo with your hand in a plastic bag. My neighbor's bag broke the other day while she was conversing with someone (and she still kept listening, just to be polite I guess). Yuck.
A company owes my husband $200 for writing a book chapter. The check was deposited within the allowable time stated on the check (180 days) and still bounced. I have contacted them twice for a replacement check, and it has been two months and they have done nothing. I am thinking of offering them a choice: a) I go to Philadelphia and pick it up in person, and you reimburse us travel costs (train) on top of the bad check; b) you mail the replacement check immediately plus the $29 bounced check fee. Take your pick. Kept calling today trying to get a live person, and every time I got voicemail and could not get back to the operator, had to hang up and call back. Poor customer service. Maybe I should just start invoicing them and see what happens.
Whatever happened to the old "phone etiquette" model that said a company should answer the phone (in person, not via voicemail) within app. 3 minutes, and keeping one on hold longer than that is poor customer service? Spent at least 5 minutes wading through my car insurance company's voicemail before I could get a person. Also, if a company is not open for the day, their recording should say so up front.
Why is there no Famous Dave's in Baltimore City or Baltimore County? I wonder if I should mount a petition.
I bet we are going to have an early spring (including lots of pollen) this year. One day it is cold and raw, the next it is mild and pleasant. What gives? Global warming maybe?
Had weird dreams last night about finding people I know inside my apartment without knowing how they got in, and then couldn't stem the continuing influx.
Why does my husband always have computer problems between 8 and 9 a.m. when I am trying to sleep?
Saw crocuses on Roland Avenue a few days ago. Can't wait until Ladew Gardens opens again.
Anyway, here are some random thoughts and happenings from the past week.
It is a bad idea to drink wine on an empty stomach (makes me grouchy).
Being con chair for Balticon really is about herding cats.
Designed a form I needed for Balticon - had no clue how to do it until I got some ideas from another organization's similar form. At least I did not have to reinvent the wheel.
No matter how well you do something, there is always someone who will say "nice job, but--" (nitpick, nitpick).
A 4GB smart-card is not large enough to record 50 minutes of video on my digital camera (although the 20 minutes I did record yielded surprisingly good video and audio). Thought I had an 8GB card in the camera. Oh well, lesson for future.
Why should the question of gay marriage (once approved) in MD be put to referendum? How can it be legal to allow a civil rights issue to be decided by referendum? And why would one group who had to fight for their civil rights not naturally be behind another group fighting a similar battle? I don't get it.
There has got to be a better way to clean up after a dog than picking up poo with your hand in a plastic bag. My neighbor's bag broke the other day while she was conversing with someone (and she still kept listening, just to be polite I guess). Yuck.
A company owes my husband $200 for writing a book chapter. The check was deposited within the allowable time stated on the check (180 days) and still bounced. I have contacted them twice for a replacement check, and it has been two months and they have done nothing. I am thinking of offering them a choice: a) I go to Philadelphia and pick it up in person, and you reimburse us travel costs (train) on top of the bad check; b) you mail the replacement check immediately plus the $29 bounced check fee. Take your pick. Kept calling today trying to get a live person, and every time I got voicemail and could not get back to the operator, had to hang up and call back. Poor customer service. Maybe I should just start invoicing them and see what happens.
Whatever happened to the old "phone etiquette" model that said a company should answer the phone (in person, not via voicemail) within app. 3 minutes, and keeping one on hold longer than that is poor customer service? Spent at least 5 minutes wading through my car insurance company's voicemail before I could get a person. Also, if a company is not open for the day, their recording should say so up front.
Why is there no Famous Dave's in Baltimore City or Baltimore County? I wonder if I should mount a petition.
I bet we are going to have an early spring (including lots of pollen) this year. One day it is cold and raw, the next it is mild and pleasant. What gives? Global warming maybe?
Had weird dreams last night about finding people I know inside my apartment without knowing how they got in, and then couldn't stem the continuing influx.
Why does my husband always have computer problems between 8 and 9 a.m. when I am trying to sleep?
Saw crocuses on Roland Avenue a few days ago. Can't wait until Ladew Gardens opens again.