Satisfying Saturday

 I did it, I did it, I did it;                                                                                                                                 Got rid of it, rid of it, rid of it!

All right, that doesn't scan properly, but I don't care--I finally got to FedEz and sent the devil box off to Verizon hell! 

I had walked to Telephone and taken the 11 to the Office Max shopping center, just across the street from Cricket, so I stopped there next. I doubled my data coverage for $1.33 and I'll pay only $5.00 more a month because I have it on automatic payment. That adds up to $35,00 per month total to cover my phone. No, I don't understand it, but I'll take it.

I then went to the bigger Target, which is so much better than the one at the mall. Bought another bath rug and a tub mat, plus blueberries, tangerines, and plant milk. I was pleased to find a nice bench in the shade, where I ate lunch and enjoyed watching passerbys. From there, I bused to the mall, caught the 10 home and got in at 3:00, having accomplished what I set out to do, and more. I did, however, sit and watch T.V. for an hour or so, then, even worse, took an hour nap. 

Don't quite remember what else I did until dinner, which was vegan, consisting of half the kabocha squash and the leftover lima beans. Got the mail, which included some kind of retirement package for Mike; took a pic and will ask if he needs it.

Other than that, it was pretty slow most of the day, but I feel better emotionally and that's good. Looking forward to being with my Ellen today. 

Friday

Note: I cannot understand this: I modified this, then published and got the message it would revert to a publishing date of April 26th. Why and how that happened, I can't understand, but I'm actually "publishing" this on Saturday, 6:18 am, on April 27th.

Weight: home, 125.4, so no change; T.O.P.S., 125.5, so I lost a pound. I did the program and it was well received. However, the unrelated chatter--mostly from Sharon, of course, went on so long before I started that we ran out of time and I'll present the rest next week.

Didn't get home and breakfast until 10:30 and I skipped the citrus and just had the oatmeal. Got over to the Thai restaurant at noon to meet Susan and Eliot (or Elliot) and we had a good time reminiscing about our teenage years. (Actually, Elly didn't say much). Susan is 74, so of a generation later than mine, but we've had similar experiences. They included bar-hopping--yes, while in high school--so we were pretty naughty. We ate and chatted until after 2:00, then said goodbye. I won't see her again for several months, as she leaves today to go back to Westchester, NY, until the next time she's here to baby-sit. Unfortunately, a lock of hair fell over Susan's mouth, making her look weird; she's actually more attractive than this picture shows: 

As I was crossing the middle area, I saw Lorraine at her usual spot and stopped to chat for a bit. Got home and took a nap, as I've done several times recently. I don't want to make this a habit, though, as I think it's unhealthy--for me, anyway. I then made a batch of cabbage fritters, again using cornmeal instead of flour. This takes awhile, especially to thinly slice the cabbage, but I like them a lot. I froze several in individual containers, reserving three for my dinner. 

Today, I plan to finally take that friggin' box to FedEx and send it off to Verizon. I fervently hope that will be my last interaction with that company, which I consider Satan's cohort.

Thursday

Left for the mall and Target a bit after 10:00. Returned the two large towels, picked up two packages of blueberries, then walked to The Market. Unfortunately, they're going out of business, as is the other store on Victoria where I go often. However, the store was poorly stocked and there were no read bargains. The only thing I bought was kabocha squash--two of them. I've always liked that variety and you don't find them in regular supermarkets. 

Diane, who had had a dentist appointment nearby, was next door on the patio of a small restaurant and we had lunch. Our usual far-ranging talk was enjoyable and we stayed for more than two hours. She and I then walked back to the transit center and, on the way, who did we run into but Jim. Stopped to chat with him--he has met Diane before--then continued on. She took the 11 and I the 21 bus home.

I spent an hour or so figuring what in the world I was going to do for the T.O.P.S. program I had promised to run today at the meeting. I should have prepared long before this, but what with my Verizon programs and house-rental obligations, I just didn't have time. My printer was acting up, too, but I pulled together a program.

When I finished, I made a turkey stir-fry for dinner. To the ground turkey, I added julianned onions, slivered orange and yellow sweet peppers, and roasted tomatoes. I had enough for two dinners, so ate one and stowed the other in the freezer for later.   

Later, Susan texted me to ask I was available to meet for lunch today, so we'll got to the Thai restaurent across at the shopping center. She goes back to New York tomorrow. 

Wednesday

Busy, but not in a good way. I'm sure nobody else would want to read it, but I've elaborated on my entry a few spots down entitled "The Nightmare Named Verizon." I consider I wasted four hours of my life on it yesterday and I want to keep a chronicle of my problems with them--another company right from hell along with BOA.

Other than that horror story, once I got home, I ate my lunch with O.J., then took a nap. I had Messaged my nephew, David, suggesting he consider presenting about his book at senior-living facilities. Many people of older ages lived through WWII and remember much of the information. As I suspected he had, he already has a list of facilities in New England (he lives in New Hampshire) and will be speaking at some of them.

After my nap--I wasn't tired, just bored to death--I went over to Von's for IPA, tomatoes, and so on.  I'm meeting Diane today for lunch after her dentist appointment, so at least,, that's something to look forward to. Darn, I wish I hadn't told Lennie I'd do the T.O.P.S. program tomorrow; I'll have to come up with something today.

I texted Greg to ask how he was adjusting to his new digs. He wrote back it "was and is a big adjustment," which doesn't seem too promising. Told him that one of these days, I'd pop into The Rainbow Bridge where he works. 

AAGH! I got a message that this machine  "unresponsive" because the battery is very low. Maybe I'll have to take it over to Office Max for first aid. Everything seems to happen at once! 

Tuesday And Noreen

I had planned to go to Verizon first before my lunch with Noreen. It's down Mills Street from the mall, where the transit center is, too. However, once I got to the transit center, it was already noon and the Verizon store is at least a half-mile away; so I knew I couldn't get to town by 1:00. I decided to continue on to meet Noreen and go to Verizon before going home. 

Even so, I was barely on time for lunch with Noreen at Immigrant Son, but I got there at 1:00. We had a great time; I always do with Noreen, as she's one of the few people I know who don't think it's up to them to give advice, whether you ask for it or not.

We talked--this seems to happen all the time--for almost three hours, then parted. I walked to Ventura Avenue for the bus, the down Mills Street to the Verizon store. (The following entry wouldn't interest anybody in his or her right minds (I refuse to subscribe to the illiteracy of using "their" in the singular), so it's there just to refresh my memory, if that's ever needed.

Almost 5:00 before I got in. Ellen called on her way home from work and we had a good chat. Saw the second-to-last O.J. saga and slept pretty well.

Note: See following entry for my Verizon ordeal.

The Nightmare Named Verizon

Tuesday, April 23:

This is just a memo for myself, in case I ever have to deal with that company from hell again: In October, 2023, after calling Verizon four times to ask for a shipping label so I could return their "box," I gave up and stowed it under my bed. Then, two days ago, I got a call that I owed them money because I hadn't return it. Called Verison yesterday and here's the saga: 

 I called at 9:15 am and was on the phone for one hour and seven minutes. Gave all the info--the saga of the "box," plus all my personal data and was told I'd be transferred to another department. Was, and the whole thing happened again; had to repeat my problem and data. Was transferred and did all a third time, then simply was sent to the original line! I kept getting asked for my account number and they could not grasp there is no account; I just wanted to send the damn box back. Finally got Justin in Fraud and after another long conversation, he put me on hold for a LONG time, then came back on to say all was okay, I wasn't liable for anything, and he was sending me to "Service" to fill me in on steps to take.  There, I talked to George, who said he couldn't do anything without an account number--AAGH! Well, what about pin number? What pin number??? So I was just screwed around. George said the only solution was to physically go to "corporate Verizon." By that he meant this retail store down the street from the mall. It's on Mill Street, so that meant I had to bus there, then walk roughly a mile to Verizon, then walk back to bus to town. I did so, stated my case to the manager, Rizo, and he went in the back and in fifteen or so, came back out with two sheets of paper. One, I'm to take to Fed Ex to mail the box back, the other is a copy for me, plus a confirmation number. I'll do that today.

Justin talk confirmation: 888-483-7200

George "call I.D.": 284-475-033

Rizo: for tracking number, call 1-800-922-0204 

Note: See previous entry for the day-to-day saga.

Wednesday, April 24:

Walked the mile and some to FedEx--I thought. I've shipped things there before, but when I got there, I discovered I was mistaken about the company--it was UPS and the label was for FedEx--damn. But wait, there was another FedEx at the WinCo shopping center, so I caught the 11 bus to the transit center and from there, took the 11 going the opposite way. Crossed Telephone Road and found...another UPS! After mentally cursing myself and Verizon and UPS and FedEx and the universe, I again took the 11 to the transit center then the 21 home. I had left at 10:00 and arrived home at 2:18, so had spent more than four hours and still have the Verizon box! It got worser and worser: Looked it up when I got home and found there's a FedEx in the Office Depot shopping center, which is just a short distance from where I had been. So I STILL have the box; I fear it's an albatross that, like the ancient mariner, I'm doomed to have it around my neck for good!

Monday

 I slept pretty well, I'm happy to say: got up once, but went back until after 6:00.  Got a call from Zak Dental to see if I could come in today, instead of Friday. Nope, and I was going to call them to say I wanted to cancel Friday and ocme next Tuesday. No prob and that's what I'll do. 

After breakfast, I walked to CVS for their decently-priced paper product (I'm being coy). On the way home, I stopped in to Great Clips and found Maria there. I could have gotten my hair trimmed then, but just didn't feel like it. She's off on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so I'll have her do it another time. 

Got my lunch ingredients out, set the table, and otherwise prepared for Jim.  He came at his usual 12:30 and we had an enjoyable time. He seemed to be in better spirits and talked more than usual. I told him I wanted to take him out for his birthday (on April 29th, he'll' be 81) and we'll make arrangements for that. He ate most of the Bertolli's Chicken Parm and liked the baked apple dessert. After, we did the crossword puzzle thing and actually chatted a bit, Jim staying until almost 5:00.

Incredibly, I got a call from Verizon, saying I owe them two hundred bucks for the set-up box. This was from six months ago and I never did switch to Verizon. I had changed my mind about switching carriers and was never able to get them to send me the information about how to return. I then found they had "apartment six" listed on my address. All apartment numbers here have three or four digits and besides.  Called Verizon and was on hold so long, I hung up. I'll have to pursue this further, damnit.