It's Alive!

Yep, I'm still alive and kickin'. Why has it been so long? Suffice it to say that I'm a bit busy these days.

This semester I'm taking a 4-credit research methods course for Psych, which is really interesting and I'm learning a lot, but it is time-consuming to boot. Thank goodness that it's what I want to do with my life and that I really do want to learn the material, or else it would be reaaaaaaaaally boring.

In addition to that, I'm taking a history of rock and roll class, which I thought would be a less intensive class to pair with psych. I was wrong. <rant> This class is tedious and annoying. The grading is not only entirely subjective (on papers, anyway), but we are graded against one another. Seriously. Here's an excerpt from an email our instructor sent:

"[Your papers] are read and graded subjectively based on the stated expectations listed in the Syllabus. INART instructors are not obligated to furnish graded papers, which would be nearly impossible given the time constraints. 

Additionally, your writing is graded on its own quality along with how it stacks up compared to others in this section. You may write a perfectly acceptable paper on Chuck Berry. Many other students might write one on that same subject. The better versions will get the higher grades. There are not a lot of A+ papers. They have to be REALLY GOOD and I know them when I read them. The median grade is usually B-/B+ for acceptable, but not especially memorable papers. Those papers make their case but may not offer especially interesting or thought provoking support. I usually hear from students that tell me they put effort into the writing, answered the question, and followed my instructions. That may be true, but it does not necessarily guarantee the highest grades. Someone may have said the same thing better."

So, I don't get any feedback on my paper (I can ask for a "quick recap" of why he graded the way he did), and I'm graded against everyone else. So if there happens to be another paper that chose a similar argument to make (these are primarily position papers) and our instructor likes that paper better, I get a lower score, even though I followed all instructions and met all criteria. Grand.

Oh, and how could I possibly forget that some of the quiz questions are subjective, too? I got a True/False question wrong on my first quiz. The question read something along the lines of "Rock and roll is clearly the combination of blah, blah..." I marked it True, because our book said that several music historians and experts believed that it was a combo of whatever. It was supposed to be False, apparently, because it wasn't "clear" enough. Really? Pretty sure that's subjective, and if a bunch of experts in the field believe it to be true, that's "clear" enough for me. But hey, that's cool. Feel free to completely brush me off when I write an email about this and asking whether or not future questions would also be subjective.

OK, OK. I know I'm being a whiny bitch. But I was really looking forward to this class. Don't get me wrong... I do enjoy the music we get to listen to and I love learning the history behind certain songs or musicians, but I don't feel like the quizzes (2/3 of my final grade, BTW) really measure what I've learned, or that the papers (the other 1/3 of my grade) are graded to reflect my understanding of the topic and material. This isn't a writing class; the syllabus specifically says that. And yet... Ugh. </rant>

Anywhoozles, any "free" time I have that doesn't involve work or school has pretty much been taken up with Uncharted 3 (a game on the PS3), reading (I'm on the third book of the Game of Thrones series aka "A Song of Ice and Fire" series) or sleeping. I've gotten out to do a few fun things. Like last weekend we went to the Pet Expo and I got to meet Wallace the Pitbull. And later this week we're going to a hockey game. And before the semester started, Hubby, Maxine and I went up to Door County for a long weekend (you can see/vote for some of my pictures from that trip at Capture Door County).

Spring break is in 3 weeks, and while we're not doing anything so exciting as last year's Disney trip, it will be so nice to have a whole week without homework. Hubby and I are even taking a day off of work together. Partly because we're getting a new fridge delivered (YAY!), but mostly because my weekends are pretty full of homework, so we need a day together to just relax. Can. Not. Wait.

Well, I suppose I should get back to my busy life. 

Weeeee.

Rant: Bitches Be Crazy

I just got back from a quick trip to Las Vegas to spend time with my sisters. I had a lot of fun and got to take a nice break from school AND work at the same time (a rare thing these days). There were awesome people, awesome meals, and awesome sites, but one thing that sucked was the flight home.

K and S dropped me off near security and I headed on in. Thankfully, I didn't have to do the full body scanner, just a good old metal detector.  Phew! I grabbed some snackage and a Coke and found a nice spot to chill for awhile.

I had paid an extra $10 to board early (instead of being in Zone 5 or whatever, I got to board with Zones 1 and 2, even though I was in 24F). I met a nice guy who saw I was reading A Game Of Thrones and suggested some other books for me, and then I settled into my nice window seat. 

The couple who sat next to me were among the last to get on the plane. The gentleman (24D) on the aisle was (by my estimates) probably around 50 years old. He looked and sounded smart and polite, and seemed pretty laid back. The woman in the middle seat (24E) looked younger (maybe mid-thirties?), but she pretty much fell asleep (cuddling with the man; I assume they're married or at least dating) as soon as we took off, so I didn't think anything of her. I just kept reading.

I got a Coke on the first round of drinks, but 24E missed it because she had been sleeping. She got something on the second round, and while trying to set it down, sloshed some liquid and ice on to the tray. She almost dropped it completely, but 24D was able to help her out a bit. Some liquid hit me, and the most I heard was a mumbled half-apology that I think was aimed at the attendant (who was trying to help clean it up) but I decided that hey, shit happens. I let it go.

When the flight attendants came back through for garbage, 24E asked if she could get another drink because she had missed the first round. She ordered a vodka and tonic, and the attendant told her to hit the call button if she forgot to bring it.  About 5 minutes passed, and 24E hit the call button. Along came the vodka and tonic. Another 5 minutes or so and the drink was gone. 

At some point here, she went looking for a pen in her purse and couldn't find one. She turned and asked me if I had a pen in my purse, to which I replied, "I don't, I'm sorry." (It wasn't even for her; her friend across the aisle wanted to do a crossword puzzle.) Shortly after, she hit her call button again. Since nothing happened (she gave it probably a whole 3 minutes or so), she hit the button again to turn it off, and AGAIN to turn it back on. What did she need so badly? Another vodka and tonic. ("Not that I need one!" she told told the attendant, as she sloshed some more liquid onto her tray.)

Quick break to let you know that during the flight, I had a headache. I alternated between reading and laying back with my eyes closed to fight off the pain, and I kept my window shade down so I didn't have sun in my eyes. OK. Back to the story.

We had about an hour left in our 3 hour flight, and 24E sloshed her drink again. This time, a decent amount hit me right on the leg and it was icy cold. Still no apology, so at this point, I'm a bit annoyed, but whatever. Back to my book.

And that's when it all went downhill.

24E turned to 24D and said (loudly), "Next time, I want a window seat. Whenever we fly, one of us should have the window seat!" I hear that. That's why I request a window seat; I like to be on the inside so I can lean on the plane and control the window shade. Understood.

For the last 45 minutes or so of the flight, that's all she talked about. Loudly. She complained to 24D (who told her, "it's not that simple" to which she replied, "oh yes it is!") several times. She shifted around to look out the window of 25F behind me, stating that she couldn't see out her window. She kept asking the row behind us about how close we were to the ground, and asking what they could see, since she couldn't see anything. It was pretty damn obvious that she wanted me to open my shade, but she never actually addressed me (aside from the pen inquiry).

I was about ready to just open the damn thing so I didn't have to hear her complain anymore until this happened.

24E: "Next time I want a window seat! One of us has to have the window seat. I can't see anything!"

24D: "OK, but I can't do anything about it. Stop yelling at me."

24E (twisting around to try to look out 25F's window again): "I know, I'm not yelling at you. I'm indirectly yelling at someone else!"

So, in case you haven't realized, I'm the someone else she was indirectly yelling at. Once again, she never addressed me directly. She never once said, "Excuse me, I'd really like to see out the window. Could you open your shade?" or "Can I check the view?" or even "Hey! Open the shade!" It was all a bunch of passive-aggressive statements said to others around me. That's when I decided there was no way I was opening that shade.

I read until we landed. While we were waiting to get off the plane, 24E started getting all sorts of belligerent. "Oh my God! The people up front had like twenty fucking minutes to get their shit out from overhead! Come on! We're from Wisconsin, we're not that stupid!" Um, really? Because as best I could tell, people got up to grab their stuff as soon as the seat belt sign went off, which is the earliest you're really allowed to do so. Twenty minutes? Not so much. She kept yelling things like that. Even on the way out of the plane. ("We're back in Wisconsin! Fuck you, Las Vegas!")

I was proud of myself for being the bigger person and not saying anything on the plane. I also felt like I had done the right thing by not opening my shade. I had selected the window seat on purpose and no one ever asked me to open it. What's done was done.

Until I was walking through the terminal to get to baggage, and from behind me I hear, "...and I couldn't see anything 'cause she wouldn't open the fucking window!" 

Done.

I whipped around and yelled, "You never actually asked me to open it!" She pointed and yelled, "It was you!" as I turned back around.  "Yep. It was me."

To my back she said, "You heard me say it like 5 times!" So I turned back again.

"Yes, but you never asked me to open it. Had you asked me to open it, I probably would have, but you never asked me to." She had the decency to at least look a bit taken aback or (could it be?) a little ashamed. I turned back around and hauled ass to Baggage. 

Thank god Hubby was there right away. On the way to the car, I told him about the experience, almost crying because I was so frustrated and upset. I've never sat next to someone so rude and obviously passive-aggressive as this woman was. I had been able to bite my tongue through the flight. Never mind that I got spilled on. Twice. Never mind that she was CLEARLY trying to goad me into opening my shade for her. I let it all go. But bitching about it in the airport after all was said and done? That was the last straw.

Hubby says I did the right thing and not to dwell on it. I'm not dwelling, but I am reflecting and I agree. I did nothing wrong. I don't work for her or take orders from her. I don't have to open my window shade because she wants to see how far up we are (which, btw, is almost impossible from the middle seat anyway, because I sure as hell wasn't going to let her lean over me; I was reading!). I was never addressed, so I never acted. Sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

So, if you're out there, 24E, I'm sorry you couldn't see out the window. But next time, either get a damn window seat, or think about asking someone directly if you can see out their window (just because you're in a row, it doesn't make it your window), rather than being a passive-aggressive tuna* who thinks the world revolves around her every desire. You're old enough to know better, bitch.

*My alternative for the 'C' word.

Moronic Monday - Valentine's Day Edition

Fair warning: This post will offend some people.  If you don't like it, don't read it.  Or read it, and then post an angry comment.  Or start your own blog to complain about my blog.  I don't care.  The point is, these are MY feelings.  Word.

So, there are a few things about Valentine's Day that really bug the shit out of me.  Don't get me wrong - I actually like Valentine's Day.  It's not my favorite holiday, but I think it's a fun way to show people you care about them.  But some people or things really rub me the wrong way on February 14th every year.

1) Engagements.  Okay, I get it.  It's a romantic holiday and you want to embrace that with some huge romantic gesture.  But really?  Be more original, FCOL!  Unless it just so happens that you met/started dating on a Valentine's Day or something incredibly meaningful happened on Feb 14th at some point in your past together, there's NOTHING romantic about a V-Day proposal.  Tons and tons of other couples are doing the same exact thing.  And even if it comes from your heart and you're truly in love, it just seems too easy.  Make some other random day special, and then you can really look back on that together.

2) "Every day is Valentine's Day with my sweetie!" Yes, we know, you're madly in love and every day is wonderful, but seriously?  Get over it.  I love my husband dearly, and he is wonderful to me, but that does NOT make every day Valentine's Day.  Do I look forward to each day with him?  Sure!  But there's something nice about a day to do something different or special just because.  Also, you sound really cheesy saying something like this and it's bound to make people cranky with you.  Just saying.

2b) An alternate to this one is something like, "I don't need a holiday to show how much I love (fill-in-the-blank)!"  Often this is along the same lines, but also tends to scream, "My significant other didn't get me anything, so I'm going to make it seem like I really don't care by playing it cool!"  You care.  You SO care.

3) "Valentine's Day sucks."  Way to sound like a joyless person who wants everyone else to be miserable with you.  It doesn't actually make you cool to dislike a holiday.  And all your friends will likely just think you're a sad, lonely individual who couldn't get a date for Valentine's Day OR that you've become so jaded that nothing they can say or do will ever make you feel better.  Neither sounds particularly like someone I want to hang out with.  But that's me.  

I guess I shouldn't say that these people are all morons.  They probably aren't.  Many of them are just hopeless romantics or have been scorned too much to appreciate the day.  But some of them are just idiots.  Proposing on V-Day because you can't come up with anything better?  Trying to make yourself feel better by writing off an otherwise sweet notion of a holiday?  Bah humbug much? 

How about you just go buy a box of chocolates, find a good movie, and enjoy the day.  No matter who you are, chances are you love SOMEONE, so celebrate that, whether it's your best friend, your pet, your family...  It doesn't matter!  Celebrate love.  It makes the world go 'round. :-)

Snow Day? I Wish...

Again, one of the non-perks of working from home is that you don't get snow days.  In fact, it's hard to even take a sick day (it's not like you're going to get anyone at the office sick, you know?) unless you really feel like crap.  

Thus far, my non-snow day has sucked.  

• Woke up and looked outside to see the world covered in snow.  No big surprise.  However, my fear of how I was going to let the dog out escalated when I could open either of our screen doors more than an inch.
• Woke the hubby up so he could advise me on the best method for doing so.  He tried to help me put some boots on, but that didn't work.  They were supposed to go over my shoes, but kept getting stuck.
• Hubby managed to open the door about a foot.  I held on to the pupper's leash and let her wander a few steps.  When she realized she wasn't going any further, she got the hint and took a piss.  However, she was then COVERED in snow (since the drifts are twice as tall as her... at MINIMUM), which was not so fun to deal with.
• That's when hubby managed to fall down the basement stairs.  This is the 3rd time it's happened since we moved into this house.  Those stairs are scary steep, we have NO railings, and the floor was starting to get wet from the snow that was falling in from having the door open.  Not cool.
• Hubby checked his email.  Of course, HE has a snow day.  Ugh.  We were supposed to both be working and miserable!  Instead, I am now working while he sleeps.  -le sigh-

To help, I did make some popcorn (and used REAL butter on it for the first time in ages... soooo good).  But really, that only helps so much.  Reading on Facebook about everyone's snow days and not being at work just makes me wish we had a sympathy snow day or something.  But, alas, that's what I get for "being able to work in my pajamas all the time!"  (The next person to say that will likely come to regret that decision.)

Here's to a long day that just keeps dragging on...

Frustrated!!!

WARNING: This is long.  I apologize.  I need to rant.

Ok, so, since getting married in September, I have successfully changed my name on my social security card, my bank accounts, my debit and credit cards, my paychecks, my student loans, and at Penn State, ALL without having to go anywhere.  The only time I had to go anywhere to make the change was my driver's license, and that's understandable (I had to get a new mug shot, ya know). 

So why is it that Chase seems to think I need to come into a local office to get my name updated on my mortgage?  That wasn't what they said in November.  Wasn't what they said in December.  But now they seem to think I have to go to the nearest branch (which, of course, I've never been to because they're NOT MY BANK - MY bank was able to handle it all online).

Sure, they were HAPPY to give me a new credit card with my married name without any documentation.  But changing my last name on the mortgage (to MATCH the last name of my husband, who is also on the mortgage, I might add) is apparently too hard for people to handle.

Mostly for documentation purposes, I'd like to post here the emails I've had back and forth with Chase (with some details removed) via THEIR secure message center. 

11/12/10 I sent:

Good afternoon,

I was just married in September of this year and have since changed my last name to my spouse's.

How do I update my name on my accounts and get a new credit card with my married name Erika (Married Name)?

Thank you,
Erika (Maiden Name) (Married Name)

I got a response that same day:

Dear Erika (Married Name),

Congratulations on your recent marriage. Wishing you a
successful life ahead.

I am pleased to inform that I have changed the name on
your account ending in **** as requested. A replacement
card with your new name reflected on it should arrive at
the address listed on your account by 11/19/2010.

Additionally, I have forwarded your inquiry regarding
mortgage account to our Home Mortgage department. You
should receive a response from them within two business
days.

If you need immediate assistance... [boring content removed]

It was a pleasure assisting you today. Have a great day!

If you have any further questions, please reply using the
Secure Message Center.

Thank you,

V*** M***
E-mail Customer Service Representative 

Well that was easy!  And helpful!  Huzzah!!  Just have to wait to hear about the mortgage...

On 11/15/10, I got this response:

Dear Erika:

I am writing in response to your Internet inquiry to Chase
about your home mortgage loan.

I have attached a name change request form. Please fill
it out and send it back to Chase together with the
required documents.

Chase's goal is to provide the highest level of quality
service. If you have questions about your mortgage,
please contact Customer Care at 1-800-848-9136.

We appreciate your business and value our relationship
with you.

Thank you,

L*** T***
Vice President
Customer Care


Fair enough.  On 12/6/10, I sent the requested documentation along with this message:

Good evening! Per the message I received on 11/15/10, I am submitting the requested documentation to update my name on this account from Erika (Maiden Name) to Erika (Married Name).

Please let me know if anything further is needed to make the requested change.

Thank you!
Erika (Married Name)

I got no response.  Waited a month.  Still nothing, so on 1/4/11, I sent this:

Good afternoon!

On 12/6/10, I had submitted documentation as requested via the Secure Message Centre to have my name changed from Erika (Maiden Name) to my married name of Erika (Married Name). To date, it seems this change has not gone through, so I was wondering if there was anything else I needed to do to help implement this change.

Thank you for your assistance!
Erika (Married Name)

I got a response on 1/5/11:

Dear Erika:

I am writing in response to your Internet inquiry to Chase
about your home mortgage loan.

We did not receive the e-mail you previously sent.

I have attached a copy of the name change request form.
Please fill it out and send it back to Chase together with
the required documents.

Chase's goal is to provide the highest level of quality
service. If you have questions about your mortgage,
please contact Customer Care at 1-800-848-9136.

We appreciate your business and value our relationship
with you.

Thank you,

L*** T***
Vice President
Customer Care

Ok...  Annoying much?  Whatever.  I attached the SAME documents and sent a reply:

Ok, I will send the same attachments I sent a month ago. Please let me know that they have been received, as the last attempt shows up in my Sent Messages so I have no way of confirming receipt.

Thanks,
Erika

No response.  Didn't want to wait a month, so I gave it a few weeks instead.  On 1/19/11, I re-sent the SAME documentation with this message:

Good morning,

I have submitted the attached documentation twice to have my name changed on my Chase account I was just married in September and it has not been completed yet.

Could someone please confirm that this is being worked on and/or when I can expect completion?

Thank you,
Erika (Married Name) formerly Erika (Maiden Name)

On 1/20/11, I got this response:

Dear Erika (Maiden Name),

Thank you for contacting Chase.

To process this request, you will need to visit your local
branch with one form of ID and supporting documents to
complete changes that are not minor name corrections.

We recommend that you contact the branch before visiting
to verify additional requirements. You can locate the
nearest branch and its number using your zip code via
Chase.com.

We value you as a Chase customer and appreciate your
business. We apologize for any inconvenience this may
cause you.

If you require further assistance... [More boring stuff removed]

Thank you,

M*** G***
Internet Service Center

Oh HELL no.  I was told I could do this shit online.  Twice.  I'm done with formalities at this point, so on 1/24/11 I sent this:

Why was this not explained to me when I first made the inquiry in November?

I have submitted documentation to get this change processed, per the instruction of 2 other Chase employees (via the Secure Message Center) after 2 separate inquiries. I was told this could be handled online (in fact, I was told it was already changed for the credit card account, just not the mortgage account)...

I was able to make these changes will my primary bank and many other services via fax or internet request and would MUCH prefer to do so in this case as well. If there is any way to do this online, as I was previously told, please let me know.

Respectfully,
Erika (Married Name)

Now, note that I was actually told twice by the same employee (didn't notice that until after I sent it), but the person who told me I could do this online is the VICE PRESIDENT of customer service.  I would have to imagine he knows what's what.

But the response I got today (1/25/11) says differently:

Dear Erika (Maiden Name),

Thank you for contacting the Internet Service Center.
Congratulations on your marriage!

In response to your inquiry, for assistance in changing
your name on your account, please visit a Chase branch
convenient to you. You will need to bring with you legal
proof of name change and two forms of valid
identification; one being a photo ID

I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Chase strives to provide excellent service to all of our
customers. It has been our pleasure to be of service to
you. Please be assured that we value you as a customer and
wish for your experience with Chase to be one of
satisfaction and ease.

If you have any questions or require further assistance,
please e-mail us via the Secure Message Center or contact
our Internet Service Center at 1-877-242-7372.

Thank you,

L*** M***
Internet Service Center

At this point, I'm beyond frustrated.  It doesn't seem like a big deal, but let me point out a few things:

1) I've never had to go to the local Chase branch for ANYTHING.  They just happen to have bought our mortgage about a year ago...  

2) I was told TWICE that all I had to do what submit the necessary documentation, which (as you can see), I actually sent THREE times.  

3) I've been trying to get this changed since November!  What the fuck have they been doing?!

4) How did they not get my email if I'm sending it using THEIR message feature?  Sounds like THEIR problem; not mine.

5) Why was it so easy for me to get a new credit card from them?  Why didn't they need anything for that?  But in order to keep taking my money on my mortgage, they not only expect documentation, but think I should come to THEM to provide it?!

6) Best yet, they didn't address ANY of my dissatisfaction or provide any feedback as to why I was told something different in the past.  The last response is almost identical to the response they sent before that.  UGH!!!

7)They keep addressing me by my maiden name when I clearly keep signing things with my married name.  That's just annoying.

Ok, I apologize again for this rant, but I've just HAD it with Chase.  We're now considering refinancing so we can move away from them and their terrible service.  Good riddance, I say. 

Frustration.

I'm having one of those days where nothing really seems to be working and it's really starting to piss me off.  I've had problems all morning just trying to get things in order, and it's definitely wearing me down.

I won't go into specifics, but suffice it to say that communication is clearly too hard for some people.  Ugh.

Recipient Not Home

So, as I believe I've mentioned before, I work from home.  This means, of course, that I'm home the VAST majority of the time.  I'm up around 7:30 AM and I'm here working until about 4:30 PM.  I don't go out for lunch (I only get 30 minutes, so I'd spend at least half of that in the car if I let), I don't travel for my job, and my "office" area is next to the front door.

And yet, two days this week, a particular delivery service has left notes on their site indicating that I, the recipient, was not home at the time of their attempted deliveries.  

I call shenanigans.

Here's what I sent them through their "Contact Us" feature (with some info removed for privacy/security reasons):

I'm currently waiting on the following shipments: AAAA, BBBB, and CCCC.

The first two shipments show an attempted delivery on Monday morning (11/29).  I was home all day and did not hear the doorbell or a knock at the door, so I'm not sure how I missed this delivery attempt.

On 11/30, I was contacted twice to tell me that my shipments had been delayed and would arrive the following day (Wed, 12/1). 

On 12/1, I checked the site, which indicated that the packages were out for delivery at 9:59 AM.  Again, I was home all day and continued to check for updates.  This morning when I checked, the site indicated that an attempted delivery was made at either 7:10 AM or 9:10 AM (depending on which tracking number I look up) yesterday morning.  Since the site didn't indicate they were out for delivery until almost 10 AM, I'm not sure how that works.

I can shrug off the first "attempted delivery" as it could be possible that I somehow missed it (though, I'm not sure how my dog would have missed someone knocking or ringing the doorbell - she's pretty sensitive to those sounds).  But I know I was home all day yesterday, waiting for my packages.

I don't know if the data is being entered incorrectly, if delivery attempts really are being made, or what is going on.  If possible, I would like an email explanation of what the issue may be and when I can expect my shipments to arrive (your site says they are "out for delivery" again this morning, but I just don't know that I can trust that information). 

Thank for your time and assistance.

So, as you can see, something is not quite right.  My personal belief is that they didn't attempt any sort of delivery at all.  Rather, I think the "delay" is the real issue (for what reason, I couldn't even begin to speculate), and they're just trying to cover their asses.  I'm sure this works for 75-90% of the time, since many people are NOT home during business hours.  But for the few of us home all day?  Not so much.

This wouldn't bother me so much if it weren't for the fact that I have an Amazon Prime account and get free 2-day shipping.  What if I had been counting on that 2 day shipping time?  Even though they aren't time-sensitive, it still irks the hell out of me because I've been promised that delivery time.  I was looking forward to getting the first two packages on Monday and the last on Tuesday or even Wednesday.  Now it's Thursday morning and I haven't seen hide nor hair of them.  Not cool.

I'll try to keep you all updated as to when the packages arrive, what kind of response I get, etc.  In the meantime, remember to smile.  It could always be worse.

For Crying Out Loud (FCOL)

Things that are contributing to my FCOL attitude today:

1. I really wish my face would stop breaking out.  You'd think I was hitting puberty all over again.  Blech.
2. Do you know how many forms one has to fill out and sign just to get their name changed?  It's insane!  It's not enough to show my new license or the marriage certificate?  Christ.
3. Work.  No explanation needed.
4. My dog seems to think she is our home alarm system.  Thanks, Maxine, but I really don't think the UPS guy is a threat (considering he was half way back to his truck when she started barking).
5. Laundry, sadly, does not do itself.  Someone needs to fix this.

Bitchy Bitch Bitch Bitch Bitch

Ok, yes, I'm a bitch.  I'm aware.  But for f*ck's sake, man...  Who has a visitation on Halloween!?  I'm going to miss my trick-or-treaters, my traditional Halloween movies, maybe even pumpkin carving!  This is my favorite holiday!  Why would you have a visitation on a HOLIDAY?!

If I die just before a holiday, I beg of you all - please don't have my visitation on a holiday.  Or worse, my funeral!  I don't want to ruin anyone's day with my whole being dead.  I mean, I'm still gonna be dead a few days later, so feel free to push it back so I'm not in the way.