Snow day!

By the slimmest of margins, I got a snow day today. Not that the pictures would let you know how close it was . . .

All the school districts around me cancelled school. And with very reasonable notice (by 5:30am). But I hadn't heard anything from my school, which is 25 miles south of here.

In looking at the internet, it was clear there was SOME snow down there, but not nearly as much as there was here. So I sucked it up, showered, ate breakfast, got dressed. Dragging my feet while doing so, saying, "I can't believe I have to go to school/ maybe the call will still come . . ."

And then, as I was packing lunch, and a mere 3 minutes from leaving the house, the blessed phone call came. "No school today."

I believe I benefited from the fact that our school draws students from a wide geographic area, and it FINALLY was deemed not safe enough for so many of the students and their families to be driving.

It did leave me with a quandary, however. I was all dressed, awake, and ready to go. Do I stay up and do things around the house? Do I go back to bed (it IS still early, after all)?

The bed won. I read for about a half hour and then fell asleep for another 90 minutes of glorious snow-day sleep!

There's something in the water

Right now there are 4 women pregnant where I work. (Amanda actually just went into the hospital this morning, so soon that number will be 3.)

Here is a picture of three of us taken a week ago:

From L - R: Bridgett (due mid-June), me (due 5/24), and Elizabeth (due early May). It's fun sharing our experience (and lack-thereof, since we are all first timers) with one another.

A pen miracle

I'm sitting at my work computer right now.

And there are four - that's right - FOUR pens within easy reach.

It's miracle, I tell ya, as usually I'm lucky to be able to find one at this particular location.

They usually are at my other desk. Or more likely, have walked away with a student.

But today, they are migrating to the computer. Oh, what a happy day it is!

Typos

Over the past week, I've been keeping track of how many times I type my email address incorrectly. More specifically, I've been writing down the varied ways I can type "@gmail.com".

This is what I've come up with:
3gmail.com
2gmail.com
@gmai.lcom
@gmailc.om
@gmailcom
@gamail.com
@gtmail.com

Sometimes typing too fast DOES cause mistakes.

Four days of boredom

I've begun a four day stretch of extreme boredom at work.

It's the end of the semester, so the students have three days to review for their exam. I gave them the review at the start of class today. Now it's up to them to get ready. Every now and then, a student will ask me a question during class. YES! Something to break up the monotony. And then I go back to trying to find something to do around the classroom.

Often I use this time to clean my classroom, but since I did that job last week, I'm left to doing things like posting to the blog-o-sphere.

The fourth day of boredom is when they have their actually exam. I'll be proctoring tests all morning. Which is slow and painful. You can't even really do something to fill the time, like read a book, because you're supposed to be monitoring the room for cheating.

It's weeks like these where I wish I was a fully-caffeinated person.

I hate Verizon, part 4

First, a brief recap about the conversations I've had with the billing department.

Conversation #1: Oh, so sorry. The credit will show up on your next statement. Because of the inconvenience (and that fact you are obviously upset), we'll give you two weeks free.

The next statement DID give me two weeks free, but the $200 credit was lacking. (And in hind-sight, if they could press a button to give me two weeks free, how come they can't give me my $200 as easily)

So . . .

Conversation #2: "Oh. We'll credit it to your next statement." I don't believe them and insist on them sending me a check. Am told it will arrive in 3-4 weeks, and am given a reference number (and a small bit of hope.)

One month passes. No check in the mail.

Conversation #3 (this was yesterday): First, I successfully navigated the automated menu the first time around, which made me feel quite happy. Got a recording that said they were experiencing a high volume of calls, etc., and that I'd be on hold for 15 minutes. This was not to deter me.

The hold music could drive a person crazy, however. Imagine the worst, most annoying video game music that you have ever heard. Make it warbly, tinny, and fade in and out. All on a 12 second loop. I persevered, however.

When I finally get to talking with the customer service representative, we go round and round. This is the short version.

"I see that you do have the credit"

"But I don't actually have the money yet. I have a reference number . . . " (I have to refer to the reference number 3 times before he actually asks me for it)

After some pausing and talking . . .
"Let me fill out a check request form"

"NO - that has already been done. Where's my money?"

"These things take 2-3 months to resolve. It should show up on your credit card during the first week of February"

"Then why did the first person say I'd be getting it on my next statement. And the second person said I'd be getting a check in a month."

"Trust me, you'll get your credit in the start of February."

"You'll have to excuse me for not trusting you, as obviously the previous two people have lied to me. It is totally unacceptable for Verizon to be keeping my money this long. I want to talk to your supervisor."

"They are all on the phone talking with other customers. Do you want to wait?"
"Yes. I do."
"Okaaaaay."

So I go through two periods of waiting only to be told "It looks like they've all gone home for the day. You can call back tomorrow."

UGH.

"Has Verizon provided you with excellent customer service today?"
"No. You haven't. Goodbye."

I hate Verizon, part 4

First, a brief recap about the conversations I've had with the billing department.

Conversation #1: Oh, so sorry. The credit will show up on your next statement. Because of the inconvenience (and that fact you are obviously upset), we'll give you two weeks free.

The next statement DID give me two weeks free, but the $200 credit was lacking. So . . .

Conversation #2: "Oh. We'll credit it to your next statement." I don't believe them and insist on them sending me a check. Am told it will arrive in 3-4 weeks, and am given a reference number (and a small bit of hope.)

One month passes. No check in the mail.

Conversation #3 (this was yesterday): First, I successfully navigated the automated menu the first time around, which made me feel quite happy. Got a recording that said they were experiencing a high volume of calls, etc., and that I'd be on hold for 15 minutes. This was not to deter me.

The hold music could drive a person crazy, however. Imagine the worst, most annoying video game music that you have ever heard. Make it warbly, tinny, and fading in and out. All on a 12 second loop. I persevered, however.

When I finally get to talking with the customer service representative, we go round and round. This is the short version.

"I see that you do have the credit"

"But I don't actually have the money yet. I have a reference number . . . " (I have to refer to the reference number 3 times before he actually asks me for it)

After some pausing and talking . . .
"Let me fill out a check request form"

"NO - that has already been done. Where's my money?"

"These things take 2-3 months to resolve. It should show up on your credit card during the first week of February"

"Then why did the first person say I'd be getting it on my next statement. And the second person said I'd be getting a check in a month."

"Trust me, you'll get your credit in the start of February."

"You'll have to excuse me for not trusting you, as obviously the previous two people have lied to me. It is totally unacceptable for Verizon to be keeping my money this long. I want to talk to your supervisor."

"They are all on the phone talking with other customers. Do you want to wait."
"Yes. I do."
"Okaaaaay."

So I go through two periods of waiting only to be told "It looks like they've all gone home for the day. You can call back tomorrow."

UGH.

"Has Verizon provided you with excellent customer service today?"
"No. You haven't. Goodbye."

Why not everyday?

Today, January 7th, is my first day back to school after the Christmas Holiday. Things are going alright, if you disregard the vomit splatter on my black pants. (Sigh).

But the point of this entry - I've spent most of the day (while students have been working on assignments) cleaning the many piles of papers found in my classroom. The computer desk had 2 piles. The main overhead desk had at least 4. The secondary overhead / cart had 2.

And everything is now in it's place. It's all so nice now. Why can't I live like this everyday?