My feelings were hurt today.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Monday, May 20, 2013
Robbing the little man
I am notoriously lazy when it comes to shipping packages. My family all know it, however, here's some justification for why.
Last week I purchased two Babar books for my cousin's son. I paid $41.11 at Saksfifthavenue.com and they were delivered to my door by Fedex within 48 hours of me completing my order online. Shipping cost me $8. Impressive, huh?
This morning I took the package, unopened, to Fedex to forward it to my cousin in the UK. Price quote on a small package weighing 3.2lbs? $158 to arrive by Wednesday or Thursday.
I said thanks, but no thanks and took the package to the Post Office. Price quote for delivery in 6-10 days $53 (or $33 with no insurance, but I've seen how boxes are thrown around... I'll take the insurance). Well, let me see what Amazon.com offers. Exact same books, Shipping to the exact same address $11. I think I'll just order through Amazon.com and I have a friend's daughter's 1st birthday coming up, I'll re-purpose the other books as a gift to her.... I leave the post office while still using the Amazon app on my phone to complete the order. Damn! Delivery estimate: June 17 - July 3... I cancel that order. I'll check UPS when I return to my office since that's who Amazon uses.
I run another errand to cash a check at the bank. The check is issued by a bank I don't bank with. They want $7.50 to cash it. <sigh>
So by now, I've used up my entire lunch hour and have not had time to stop and eat. I return to my office and Gigi's cupcakes is in the foyer. I managed to get past them on my way out, but now I'm hungry and in a foul mood. I buy a cupcake. It has strawberries in it. They have anti-oxidants, therefore I tell myself it's moderately healthy. (Yes, I'm deluding myself, I know).
I go to UPS.com, set up an account because apparently that's necessary when shipping internationally (!) and fill out the shipping information, follow the prompts through to the confirmation screen... $157. Uh, no. No. No. No. NO! I cancel. Well damn. What now?
Amazon.co.uk.
I can't find the exact same Babar books I had previously ordered from Saks, so I choose 3 alternatives, still Babar, just different stories. Two are only available in paperback, so I've added a third to compensate. Final cost? $28.31 including NEXT DAY shipping since I am an Amazon Prime customer.
Yes, I too am wondering why I didn't just go to Amazon in the first place!
So if Amazon.com tells me they can ship two books weighing 3.2lbs to the UK for $11.... Why The Hell can't Fedex or UPS? Amazon is using UPS.... If I was a conspiracy theorist, I'd be blaming the government for.... well, I don't know what, I'm not a zealot, but I am curious as to how and why this makes sense. The post office is going out of business because people would rather pay 5 TIMES as much to get their packages to the same locations? The world has officially gone stark, raving, mad!!
Pet Peeve
OK, so I've just published one post, but felt the need to get this off my chest because it has been driving me CRAZY for a while now.
Have you ever had one of those friends who shares a dilemma or situation with you and you feel like they are looking for advice? Especially when it's a situation you have dealt with before, have knowledge and experience, so you share with them on how to deal with it and then they just straight up ignore you and then when things don't go well, they come back to you and want to analyse what went wrong? Sometimes the evil part of me wants to shout at them "I'll tell you what went wrong... you didn't listen!"
So, I have been through two sets of very different child custody cases...
The first, for my daughter, was pretty cut and dried, but I still went through some interesting court hearings. Her father tried to paint me as an unfit mother (and failed), I focused on what was most beneficial for my daughter. Judges like the parent who is focused on what is best for the child, not the parent.... (They tend to be able to spot the parents who just don't want to pay any support). I had doctors and social workers on standby to drop their caseloads for the day and head to court in my defense. He had his mother... He then also asked for a DNA test. Needless to say, I won full custody. He still doesn't pay any child support, but for the last 13 years I've raised Baby Girl to the best of my ability and while there are days I threaten to send her back to her dad, she knows I don't mean it. (I hate the teen years and cannot WAIT for them to be over!).
The second, is the more recent debacle with my ex, who also attempted the unfit mother route, but got bit in the ass since he is the one with the Domestic Violence arrest record, and now Stalking charges... I find it amusing, but also annoying at the same time. I actually wouldn't mind having him evaluated for a psychological disorder. I'm pretty sure he has Narcissistic Personality Disorder. It's the only thing that explains why he thinks that it's ok to have the electricity disconnected in the middle of summer when you know your kids are home, stopping paying child support and telling your children false stories about their mother... And more, oh so much more, but he believes that HE is the injured party!
Suffice it to say that I have some knowledge and experience. I've also done a slew of research on NC family law.
So a friend of mine has a teen who currently lives with her father and step-mother. The step-mother can accurately be described as evil, but I won't go into the details too much. This weekend was the young lady's birthday, and she had invited some friends to her home for a party. Her mother (my friend) showed up with flowers and balloons and received a chilly reception from the step-mother. This is normal. Then she received text messages later in the day from her daughter who told her that she had also had to watch her younger half-siblings (during her party) while her step-mother was on Facebook. Yes, even though she still had friends there! She has also been told that she cannot call her mother, her mother's phone number is blocked from calling their house, all her communications are monitored, and she is used as a babysitter, housemaid etc for her younger siblings... I have seen her journal. Well actually, it was a note she had left in her mother's notebook that was kind of a prayer to God. It was heart-breaking. The poor girl is miserable. I have told her mother on numerous occasions to go downtown and file for custody. That her daughter is old enough to be taken seriously by the court and that she has sufficient evidence of 'cruelty' that she would likely win her case. Rather frustratingly, she has an excuse every time "Well, I just want to make sure that the girl's room is decorated." or "Well, I'm just going to talk to her father first." "Let me just see how things are this weekend..." They go on and on....
My peeve is not just with this situation, but with any. If you come to me with an issue, situation, or problem, expect some advice, input or suggestions. If I have been through it before you and I try to help, but you choose to ignore my feedback and the results are not favourable, then I probably won't be particularly sympathetic... I'm not one to give you "I'm sure it will be ok" because that drives me crazy. It's not helpful at all. If I don't have anything of use to you, then I will let you know. My frustration in the situation above is that her daughter is obviously suffering, and she still hasn't taken any steps to help her.
I had to get that off my chest! Whew! Feel better now :-)
Have you ever had one of those friends who shares a dilemma or situation with you and you feel like they are looking for advice? Especially when it's a situation you have dealt with before, have knowledge and experience, so you share with them on how to deal with it and then they just straight up ignore you and then when things don't go well, they come back to you and want to analyse what went wrong? Sometimes the evil part of me wants to shout at them "I'll tell you what went wrong... you didn't listen!"
So, I have been through two sets of very different child custody cases...
The first, for my daughter, was pretty cut and dried, but I still went through some interesting court hearings. Her father tried to paint me as an unfit mother (and failed), I focused on what was most beneficial for my daughter. Judges like the parent who is focused on what is best for the child, not the parent.... (They tend to be able to spot the parents who just don't want to pay any support). I had doctors and social workers on standby to drop their caseloads for the day and head to court in my defense. He had his mother... He then also asked for a DNA test. Needless to say, I won full custody. He still doesn't pay any child support, but for the last 13 years I've raised Baby Girl to the best of my ability and while there are days I threaten to send her back to her dad, she knows I don't mean it. (I hate the teen years and cannot WAIT for them to be over!).
The second, is the more recent debacle with my ex, who also attempted the unfit mother route, but got bit in the ass since he is the one with the Domestic Violence arrest record, and now Stalking charges... I find it amusing, but also annoying at the same time. I actually wouldn't mind having him evaluated for a psychological disorder. I'm pretty sure he has Narcissistic Personality Disorder. It's the only thing that explains why he thinks that it's ok to have the electricity disconnected in the middle of summer when you know your kids are home, stopping paying child support and telling your children false stories about their mother... And more, oh so much more, but he believes that HE is the injured party!
Suffice it to say that I have some knowledge and experience. I've also done a slew of research on NC family law.
So a friend of mine has a teen who currently lives with her father and step-mother. The step-mother can accurately be described as evil, but I won't go into the details too much. This weekend was the young lady's birthday, and she had invited some friends to her home for a party. Her mother (my friend) showed up with flowers and balloons and received a chilly reception from the step-mother. This is normal. Then she received text messages later in the day from her daughter who told her that she had also had to watch her younger half-siblings (during her party) while her step-mother was on Facebook. Yes, even though she still had friends there! She has also been told that she cannot call her mother, her mother's phone number is blocked from calling their house, all her communications are monitored, and she is used as a babysitter, housemaid etc for her younger siblings... I have seen her journal. Well actually, it was a note she had left in her mother's notebook that was kind of a prayer to God. It was heart-breaking. The poor girl is miserable. I have told her mother on numerous occasions to go downtown and file for custody. That her daughter is old enough to be taken seriously by the court and that she has sufficient evidence of 'cruelty' that she would likely win her case. Rather frustratingly, she has an excuse every time "Well, I just want to make sure that the girl's room is decorated." or "Well, I'm just going to talk to her father first." "Let me just see how things are this weekend..." They go on and on....
My peeve is not just with this situation, but with any. If you come to me with an issue, situation, or problem, expect some advice, input or suggestions. If I have been through it before you and I try to help, but you choose to ignore my feedback and the results are not favourable, then I probably won't be particularly sympathetic... I'm not one to give you "I'm sure it will be ok" because that drives me crazy. It's not helpful at all. If I don't have anything of use to you, then I will let you know. My frustration in the situation above is that her daughter is obviously suffering, and she still hasn't taken any steps to help her.
I had to get that off my chest! Whew! Feel better now :-)
Temporary Remission?
So I woke up this morning and the back pain had returned :-( Not as severe, but enough to cause some irritability with the kids, a slight limp and pain when I put weight on the left leg again. I have been taking just the evening dose of the prescribed medication, but apparently that is not enough, or it was only a temporary alleviation of symptoms. I'm not sure which. I know I did nothing to aggravate it over the weekend as I was mostly laying around, and I was so ready to get back in the gym this week! The stubborn side of me says to give it a go anyway. My workouts never seemed to cause the pain, but the paranoid side of me wishes to point out there's a first time for everything...
Oh well, we'll see what happens. Fortunately the weather is too unpredictable with possible thunderstorms for me to run this evening, but we'll see what damage Zumba and Jillian Michaels can do...
Oh well, we'll see what happens. Fortunately the weather is too unpredictable with possible thunderstorms for me to run this evening, but we'll see what damage Zumba and Jillian Michaels can do...
Friday, May 17, 2013
Happy Friday!
So I went to the movies with Firefighter last night. He's a HUGE horror movie fan, me not so much, but I've been to see plenty of 'his' movies, so this time, it was my turn. Star Trek Into Darkness. Yes, I'm a Trekkie. I have the collector's edition box set of the original movies on Blue Ray. Captain James T. Kirk is my hero.
His objection to sci-fi is he doesn't like too much CGI (that's Computer Generated Images), however that is what I love most about the newer movies out today (the geek in me). I think it's the little difference's that are making this work between us. While we have TONS in common, we still have a few small differences that we each respect in each other. Anyway. He has never seen ANY of the Star Trek movies. Yes, I was flabbergasted too. Lucky for him, I have that box set... Well, the movie was awesome! I loved every second and almost went home to watch Wrath of Khan just so I could remind myself of the future... Maybe sometime this weekend. I will definitely be going to see it in IMAX 3D when the crowds die down a little...
And bless his heart he managed to stay awake through the whole movie! He had been awake since 4am, worked a full day and was noticeably tired, but he pulled through for me. :-) (Yes, the irony that I get up around 5am everyday, chase 3 kids and work full-time is not lost on me, but he really does not do well if he has to stay up past 9pm...).
So before I had left the kids at home, I told them that if they wanted to go see Ironman 3 (the boys) and go to a friends pool party (Baby Girl), that the house would need to be immaculate when I got home... And damned if they hadn't cleaned everything and even vacuumed!! So I guess I'll be going to my third movie in a week at some point this weekend :-/
So chillaxin' at home with the brats and Firefighter this evening, Spring Fling at the neighbourhood pool, house-warming party and dinner with Firefighter tomorrow, Ironman 3 and pool (?) party (Baby Girl not me!) etc on Sunday.... I'm knackered just thinking about it!
His objection to sci-fi is he doesn't like too much CGI (that's Computer Generated Images), however that is what I love most about the newer movies out today (the geek in me). I think it's the little difference's that are making this work between us. While we have TONS in common, we still have a few small differences that we each respect in each other. Anyway. He has never seen ANY of the Star Trek movies. Yes, I was flabbergasted too. Lucky for him, I have that box set... Well, the movie was awesome! I loved every second and almost went home to watch Wrath of Khan just so I could remind myself of the future... Maybe sometime this weekend. I will definitely be going to see it in IMAX 3D when the crowds die down a little...
And bless his heart he managed to stay awake through the whole movie! He had been awake since 4am, worked a full day and was noticeably tired, but he pulled through for me. :-) (Yes, the irony that I get up around 5am everyday, chase 3 kids and work full-time is not lost on me, but he really does not do well if he has to stay up past 9pm...).
So before I had left the kids at home, I told them that if they wanted to go see Ironman 3 (the boys) and go to a friends pool party (Baby Girl), that the house would need to be immaculate when I got home... And damned if they hadn't cleaned everything and even vacuumed!! So I guess I'll be going to my third movie in a week at some point this weekend :-/
So chillaxin' at home with the brats and Firefighter this evening, Spring Fling at the neighbourhood pool, house-warming party and dinner with Firefighter tomorrow, Ironman 3 and pool (?) party (Baby Girl not me!) etc on Sunday.... I'm knackered just thinking about it!
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Back on Track... sort of.
Last night I managed to do the Jillian Michaels Max Abs workout :-) I even managed the sumo squat! Only minor discomfort this morning and my back is a little 'achy' after I walked just under a mile this morning, but that's all expected.
The workout wasn't quite what I wanted it to be.... Bad Boy and Little One both decided to 'workout' with me... Between having to stop and try to correct their posture and laughing at their attempts to one-up each other with my hand weights, I didn't really get much done. Next time I will go first and let them go after me while I cool down, I can work with them. SMH.
So, this morning I got to work feeling super confident. A couple of the ladies here are trying to shed a few pounds and have created their own 'support group' complete with weekly weigh-ins. I decided to join them since I gained 6 or 7lbs back over the last 4 weeks while waiting for my diagnosis. I weighed in last week at 169lbs with jeans etc on... so today I wore a skirt and top of very light fabric.
And weighed in at 171lbs :-/ WTF?
So off I trot at lunch and opt for a local Lebanese restaurant that uses all natural, fresh ingredients and ordered the chicken pitza, which is delicious, but they sat me right in front of the cake display. Apparently, I had left my willpower at home this morning. Even the price tag at $6.25 a slice wasn't enough to deter me. One chocolate decadence to go please....
It was sooooo good. But we're going to the movies tonight and then dinner after. So do I compromise and have popcorn and no dessert at dinner? Oh and probably a salad... Or do I just say to Hell with it, YOLO?!
<sigh>
I shall pay my penance at some point. I may not be quite up to 5K yet, and I wasn't going to start running again until next week, but maybe I will take some time and hit the gym this weekend... (who am I kidding, you and I both know I am not taking time out at the weekend to go to the gym!)
The workout wasn't quite what I wanted it to be.... Bad Boy and Little One both decided to 'workout' with me... Between having to stop and try to correct their posture and laughing at their attempts to one-up each other with my hand weights, I didn't really get much done. Next time I will go first and let them go after me while I cool down, I can work with them. SMH.
So, this morning I got to work feeling super confident. A couple of the ladies here are trying to shed a few pounds and have created their own 'support group' complete with weekly weigh-ins. I decided to join them since I gained 6 or 7lbs back over the last 4 weeks while waiting for my diagnosis. I weighed in last week at 169lbs with jeans etc on... so today I wore a skirt and top of very light fabric.
And weighed in at 171lbs :-/ WTF?
So off I trot at lunch and opt for a local Lebanese restaurant that uses all natural, fresh ingredients and ordered the chicken pitza, which is delicious, but they sat me right in front of the cake display. Apparently, I had left my willpower at home this morning. Even the price tag at $6.25 a slice wasn't enough to deter me. One chocolate decadence to go please....
It was sooooo good. But we're going to the movies tonight and then dinner after. So do I compromise and have popcorn and no dessert at dinner? Oh and probably a salad... Or do I just say to Hell with it, YOLO?!
<sigh>
I shall pay my penance at some point. I may not be quite up to 5K yet, and I wasn't going to start running again until next week, but maybe I will take some time and hit the gym this weekend... (who am I kidding, you and I both know I am not taking time out at the weekend to go to the gym!)
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
I'm in love!
Yes! With Dr Scruggs! He was the fourth doctor I saw in 5 months. The first 3 I'm convinced thought I was making it up looking for pain meds... But Dr Scruggs, oh how I love thee!! He believed from the start and in just two short visits I have the medication I need to make it right again. Last night, I slept the ENTIRE night! No excruciating pain or spasms waking me! It was awesome! Yes, I woke up groggy, but I almost felt like I could run a couple laps around the block, my back felt so good! Not quite normal, but yesterday I could barely sit in my office chair for more than 5 minutes, this morning I have been at my desk for 30 minutes and there is no ache at all!
You know what that means!
Back to my daily 2k runs :-) And... I may even give Jillian a run for her money on her ab workout! Dr approved of course!
I feel so amazing! And a huge thank you to firefighter for being so patient and sympathetic. Poor guy had to put up with my fussing and fidgeting most of the night on Friday! Says I didn't disrupt him, but I don't believe him, lol! Of course I'll find a way to thank him properly ;-)
The pool opens in just a couple of weeks. I may be ready to don my two-piece!
You know what that means!
Back to my daily 2k runs :-) And... I may even give Jillian a run for her money on her ab workout! Dr approved of course!
I feel so amazing! And a huge thank you to firefighter for being so patient and sympathetic. Poor guy had to put up with my fussing and fidgeting most of the night on Friday! Says I didn't disrupt him, but I don't believe him, lol! Of course I'll find a way to thank him properly ;-)
The pool opens in just a couple of weeks. I may be ready to don my two-piece!
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