Well, Christmas is behind us and a new year is right around the corner. Today holds its own significance for me, though.
It's moving day.
I moved into my apartment two and a half years ago. I was looking to move out of my brother's house and have my own place to live. My friend Aimée told me about a vacancy in the apartment next to hers. A quick chat with the landlady and a security deposit later, and I was the proud tenant of a two-story townhouse.
Moving in, I never really thought of the place as anything more than a place to rest my head. I figured I'd hang out with Aimée a bit more, and that would be about it. Looking back on it now, I'm surprised by all the fond memories I have of this place.
I can remember my first Thanksgiving here. My sister lives out of town with her husband and my dad, stepmom, and little brother are all typically out of town for the holiday, so it's usually my brother, my mom, and myself. I offered to host the event that year. I didn't cook the traditional Thanksgiving meal, but we had food and it was good. This was the first time I cooked for people in my new place.
I can remember the first Super Bowl I watched here, though to say I watched it would be generous. I'd typically go to my dad's to hang out and watch the game, but opted to stay home this time. Aimée came over and hovered over my shoulder as she had me watch the first episode of City Hunter, my first experience with Korean drama shows.
I can remember my struggles with pest control. The area is plagued with water bug/beetle things and it wasn't uncommon for them to make their way inside during the winter months. Sure, they sprayed annually, and sure the bugs would die, but they'd make it inside first. I didn't always wait for the poison to take effect. Then there was the first (and only) time a mouse got in the house. I was on my couch, watching TV, when I saw movement scurry across the floor. A couple strategically placed traps later, and I no longer had a roommate.
I can remember the harrowing tales of my neighbor's cat escaping the confines of her home. One of Aimée's cats developed an affinity for the outdoors and we spent one particular afternoon hunting it down in the ditch next to the apartment complex. I tumbled down the embankment, landing in the water below. After we finally coaxed him out of a drainpipe, I'd end up falling and impaling my hand on a rock. It was also the time I bought my very own first aid kit. He'd later get out again later, this time without anyone's knowledge. It wasn't until one of the other neighbors asked me if the cat looked familiar that anyone knew he had gotten out. My friend wouldn't be home for a few hours, so I ended up cat sitting for the interim.
I can remember Halloween, when Aimée came over to work on a cosplay costume, which involved cutting an awful lot of fake fur material. Once it was all said and done, it looked like a cat had exploded in my living room. To this day, I still find tufts of fur.
I can remember my parents giving me their old grill and learning how to use it for the first time. Mom would later come over for her birthday and I would grill chicken for her and my brother. Despite never having done it before, it turned out well.
I can remember having Stacie and Rob, a couple friends from out of town stay over. I'd never really had guests stay over before, so it was fun staying up late, playing games, watching TV, and just rambling on. We hung out on my back patio while I took another attempt at grilling.
Those are just a few of the memories I have. I have others, but I think I'll save those for myself.
Anyway, this year, I decided that it was time to move. The rent was higher than I'd prefer for a long term living situation. Rather than hold out for a potential raise from work, or find a second job, it seemed like a better idea to just move. So, today, I'm packing up my stuff and saying goodbye.
Thanks to everyone who helped make this place feel more like a home. I'll always treasure the memories.
Monday, December 29, 2014
Monday, December 8, 2014
Working the Annual Christmas Party
A couple years ago, I helped a friend of mine out by working at her boss's Christmas party. (Actually, that sounds like I'm doing my friend the favor. Since it's a paying gig, really, they're doing me the favor, as money is always tight around Christmas).
It was my first time doing something like this so, to be perfectly honest, I was terrified. I'm not really a people person, I don't do well with strangers, I tend to panic in large crowds, I've never worked in the food service industry, take your pick on what might make me uncomfortable.
When I was hired, I was told I'd probably be parking cars. I know how to point and I wouldn't have to deal with a lot of people outside of "please park to the left", so this sounded like my dream job. Since I'd be outside in the cold, all I needed was some black pants and my black jacket, to make sure I was easy to run over in the dark. My friend loaned me a pair of gloves, and I made sure to wear a second pair of socks, to keep my feet warm. I was prepared.
We arrived to the party and the boss started handing out our jobs. They had enough help with car parking (uh oh), so I was to help my friend with the bar (UH OH). Again, I've never worked in the food industry, and dealing with people are not my strong points. Add to that, I could probably count the number of mixed drinks I've had on both of my hands with fingers left over. Then it was clarified that I would be basically keeping an eye on the bar and making sure wine and drinks were in good supply and fetching anything the bartenders would need. I've played go-fer for my dad on...well, pretty much every job I've worked with him on, so we're playing to my strengths again.
Someone shows me where all the excess stock is located and then the guests start to arrive.
I have been invited to two parties over the course of my years (three, if you count my surprise birthday party). One was fresh out of high school, when alcohol and I were not on speaking terms, making it a rather dull experience for myself, and the other was a birthday party that a friend supposedly threw for me, which was the saddest party ever thrown. This party was unlike either of those experiences.
For starters, there was a ton of people there. And despite the size of the house, they were all congregating around the bar.
And the strange thing is, despite my lack of any social skills, and how busy, noisy, and crowded it was, I actually had fun. I enjoyed people watching. I got to know a couple of the other folks who were helping a bit better. And on some subtle level, I developed an appreciation for football.
There were times where I would need to fetch a bottle of wine from storage, with a mob of people separating me from my goal. Since clubbing the party-goers with the bottle of wine was frowned upon, that meant slipping past them, clinging to the bottle like a football. By the end of the night, I was quite good at it.
So, yeah, it was a memorable experience. And despite the frustrations that come with the job, it was one that I was happy to do again.
It was my first time doing something like this so, to be perfectly honest, I was terrified. I'm not really a people person, I don't do well with strangers, I tend to panic in large crowds, I've never worked in the food service industry, take your pick on what might make me uncomfortable.
When I was hired, I was told I'd probably be parking cars. I know how to point and I wouldn't have to deal with a lot of people outside of "please park to the left", so this sounded like my dream job. Since I'd be outside in the cold, all I needed was some black pants and my black jacket, to make sure I was easy to run over in the dark. My friend loaned me a pair of gloves, and I made sure to wear a second pair of socks, to keep my feet warm. I was prepared.
We arrived to the party and the boss started handing out our jobs. They had enough help with car parking (uh oh), so I was to help my friend with the bar (UH OH). Again, I've never worked in the food industry, and dealing with people are not my strong points. Add to that, I could probably count the number of mixed drinks I've had on both of my hands with fingers left over. Then it was clarified that I would be basically keeping an eye on the bar and making sure wine and drinks were in good supply and fetching anything the bartenders would need. I've played go-fer for my dad on...well, pretty much every job I've worked with him on, so we're playing to my strengths again.
Someone shows me where all the excess stock is located and then the guests start to arrive.
I have been invited to two parties over the course of my years (three, if you count my surprise birthday party). One was fresh out of high school, when alcohol and I were not on speaking terms, making it a rather dull experience for myself, and the other was a birthday party that a friend supposedly threw for me, which was the saddest party ever thrown. This party was unlike either of those experiences.
For starters, there was a ton of people there. And despite the size of the house, they were all congregating around the bar.
And the strange thing is, despite my lack of any social skills, and how busy, noisy, and crowded it was, I actually had fun. I enjoyed people watching. I got to know a couple of the other folks who were helping a bit better. And on some subtle level, I developed an appreciation for football.
There were times where I would need to fetch a bottle of wine from storage, with a mob of people separating me from my goal. Since clubbing the party-goers with the bottle of wine was frowned upon, that meant slipping past them, clinging to the bottle like a football. By the end of the night, I was quite good at it.
So, yeah, it was a memorable experience. And despite the frustrations that come with the job, it was one that I was happy to do again.
Monday, December 1, 2014
Christmas Time
It's December, which means it's finally Christmas season.
I don't like Christmas.
Well, I should clarify. I like the spirit of Christmas. I like having time off from work. Time I can use to visit with my family. Time I can spend at my Mom's house, visiting with her. Time I can spend at my Dad's house, visiting with him, my stepmom, and my little brother. Time I can spend with my older brother, and my sister and her husband. Time I can even spend with my extended family that I don't see much throughout the year. Time I can spend with my friends and loved ones.
What I don't like is the commercial behemoth that Christmas has become.
Every year, the Christmas holiday season arrives earlier and earlier. It's not uncommon now to see Christmas decorations sitting on store shelves in September. And as the seasonal juggernaut rumbles to life, it proceeds to suck all the joy, and togetherness, and love from the holiday.
Time normally spent with your loved ones is instead spent wandering from store to store looking for the perfect gift for them. The roads and stores become clogged with people and tempers are at an all-time high. They pump Christmas music over the in-store speakers and on the radio to try to instill some Christmas spirit in everyone, but its jarring to hear such uplifting music as you yell at your fellow man.
So, in the end, it kind of just spoils the mood for me.
 |
| Well, for some, Christmas season started in October. |
I don't like Christmas.
Well, I should clarify. I like the spirit of Christmas. I like having time off from work. Time I can use to visit with my family. Time I can spend at my Mom's house, visiting with her. Time I can spend at my Dad's house, visiting with him, my stepmom, and my little brother. Time I can spend with my older brother, and my sister and her husband. Time I can even spend with my extended family that I don't see much throughout the year. Time I can spend with my friends and loved ones.
What I don't like is the commercial behemoth that Christmas has become.
Every year, the Christmas holiday season arrives earlier and earlier. It's not uncommon now to see Christmas decorations sitting on store shelves in September. And as the seasonal juggernaut rumbles to life, it proceeds to suck all the joy, and togetherness, and love from the holiday.
Time normally spent with your loved ones is instead spent wandering from store to store looking for the perfect gift for them. The roads and stores become clogged with people and tempers are at an all-time high. They pump Christmas music over the in-store speakers and on the radio to try to instill some Christmas spirit in everyone, but its jarring to hear such uplifting music as you yell at your fellow man.
 |
| Sung to the tune of O Come All Ye Faithful |
So, in the end, it kind of just spoils the mood for me.
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Why I'm Thankful
As November draws to a close, Americans set aside the last Thursday of the month to celebrate Thanksgiving, a day dedicated to eating, shopping, football, and maybe, just maybe, being thankful for the blessings in one's life.
What do we have to be thankful for? Typically, we give thanks for the blessings in our life. The pay raises we received, the good news the doctor delivered, finding the remote control, things of that nature. But who is to say that we should only be thankful for the positive outcomes in our life?
I believe each person is the product of every decision they've made and situation they've encountered, be them good or bad. They all add up, like puzzle pieces, to create the image of who we are.
As humans, we learn lessons from our mistakes. We grow stronger from the hardships that we endure. So, shouldn't we celebrate and be thankful for these moments as well?
This year, I want to express my gratitude for the people who have had an impact on my life, both positive and negative, as each and every one of them has had an impact on my becoming the man I am today.
My parents. You raised me. You taught me to be a better person and to stand up for what I think is right. You worked hard to provide for me. You taught me to fend for myself, but also not to feel ashamed if I need to ask for help. You taught me to work hard and take pride in whatever I do, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. You've always believed in me, even when I couldn't believe in myself. Even when I go down a different path than you would chose for me, you've always been proud of me and supported me. Thank you.
My grandma. You're not with us anymore, but you played just as big a role in raising me as my parents. You always provided a place for us to stay after school or over the summer. We were always welcome in your home. You taught us to be thankful and to have faith, no matter how rough life got. You always gave for us, even when you couldn't afford to give anymore. There's not a day that goes by that I don't miss you. Thank you.
My brother Charles. You were perhaps my first friend. Growing up, I looked up to you, as is typical of a younger brother. Though we fought like any sibling, you always had my back when it came to the rest of the world. When it came time to move away from home, you welcomed me into your house and have since offered the same hospitality when I needed a place to stay. Thank you.
My sister Casey. Sure, we may not have gotten along much growing up, but when we were little, you were my voice when I couldn't speak. Now that we're older and I have my own voice, you still find ways to show that you care, which I will always appreciate. Thank you.
My brother Jacob. I've watched you grow up and helped take care of and raise you. When you were little, you idolized me and in many ways, we were best friends. You gave my life purpose where I could never find any before. Thank you.
My cousin Trey. You've been the relative I've probably spent the most time with outside of my parents. We share a lot of interests, and you are always interested in hanging out with no preference on what we do. Thank you.
My cousin Rachel. You used to take care of us when we were growing up. We haven't hung out a lot in recent times, but we share a similar mindset. You've shown a willingness to talk with me and offer advice when I'm troubled, for which I will always be appreciative. Thank you.
My friend Aimée. You were probably the first real friend I ever had. You taught me that I don't have to be content with people using me and abusing me just for the sake of having a friend. You encouraged me to try new things and to broaden my horizons. When I had my blood pressure scare, you supported me and helped me cope with the changes I had to make in my life. We may not always agree on things, but you will always be my friend. Thank you.
My friends Stacie and Rob. Though we've only recently started hanging out, I feel like you guys have been a part of my life for years. You understand how my mind works and have been tremendous help in me figuring out how to interact with the rest of the world. You've always shown a willingness to listen to my life story and share in my ups and downs. You helped me continue to seek out new experiences and have helped me come out of my shell more than I would have thought possible. Because of you, I don't feel quite so alone anymore. Thank you.
My friend Cliff. You reached out to me to become my friend. Though we don't always see eye-to-eye on things, you encourage me to continue growing as a person and to not let the negative things in my life get me down. Thank you.
My coworkers Richie, Rocky, and Margie. You taught me that work doesn't have to be serious and that we can have fun while still being productive. Though we don't hang out outside the office and though we may not always get along, I still consider you friends. Thank you.
Scott and Joe. Though we aren't friends now, you helped me get through a tough time at work, when they had us rotating shifts and I suddenly found myself cut off from my normal social circle. Hanging out with you guys opened the door for me to meet new people and establish more lasting friendships. The way you treated me taught me to be more conscientious of my actions and how others might perceive them. Thank you.
And those are just a few of the people who have played a role in my life. I could fill this post with the names of other family, friends, coworkers, loved ones, and people that have touched my life and guided my path to where I am now. I appreciate them all and thank them all for their mark on my life.
But I think that's enough self-reflection on my part. I welcome you all to take a moment from your day to reflect on the people who have steered your paths and touched your lives.
Then resume bludgeoning your neighbor to death for that last HD TV at the door buster sale at Walmart.
Happy Thanksgiving!
What do we have to be thankful for? Typically, we give thanks for the blessings in our life. The pay raises we received, the good news the doctor delivered, finding the remote control, things of that nature. But who is to say that we should only be thankful for the positive outcomes in our life?
I believe each person is the product of every decision they've made and situation they've encountered, be them good or bad. They all add up, like puzzle pieces, to create the image of who we are.
As humans, we learn lessons from our mistakes. We grow stronger from the hardships that we endure. So, shouldn't we celebrate and be thankful for these moments as well?
This year, I want to express my gratitude for the people who have had an impact on my life, both positive and negative, as each and every one of them has had an impact on my becoming the man I am today.
My parents. You raised me. You taught me to be a better person and to stand up for what I think is right. You worked hard to provide for me. You taught me to fend for myself, but also not to feel ashamed if I need to ask for help. You taught me to work hard and take pride in whatever I do, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. You've always believed in me, even when I couldn't believe in myself. Even when I go down a different path than you would chose for me, you've always been proud of me and supported me. Thank you.
My grandma. You're not with us anymore, but you played just as big a role in raising me as my parents. You always provided a place for us to stay after school or over the summer. We were always welcome in your home. You taught us to be thankful and to have faith, no matter how rough life got. You always gave for us, even when you couldn't afford to give anymore. There's not a day that goes by that I don't miss you. Thank you.
My brother Charles. You were perhaps my first friend. Growing up, I looked up to you, as is typical of a younger brother. Though we fought like any sibling, you always had my back when it came to the rest of the world. When it came time to move away from home, you welcomed me into your house and have since offered the same hospitality when I needed a place to stay. Thank you.
My sister Casey. Sure, we may not have gotten along much growing up, but when we were little, you were my voice when I couldn't speak. Now that we're older and I have my own voice, you still find ways to show that you care, which I will always appreciate. Thank you.
My brother Jacob. I've watched you grow up and helped take care of and raise you. When you were little, you idolized me and in many ways, we were best friends. You gave my life purpose where I could never find any before. Thank you.
My cousin Trey. You've been the relative I've probably spent the most time with outside of my parents. We share a lot of interests, and you are always interested in hanging out with no preference on what we do. Thank you.
My cousin Rachel. You used to take care of us when we were growing up. We haven't hung out a lot in recent times, but we share a similar mindset. You've shown a willingness to talk with me and offer advice when I'm troubled, for which I will always be appreciative. Thank you.
My friend Aimée. You were probably the first real friend I ever had. You taught me that I don't have to be content with people using me and abusing me just for the sake of having a friend. You encouraged me to try new things and to broaden my horizons. When I had my blood pressure scare, you supported me and helped me cope with the changes I had to make in my life. We may not always agree on things, but you will always be my friend. Thank you.
My friends Stacie and Rob. Though we've only recently started hanging out, I feel like you guys have been a part of my life for years. You understand how my mind works and have been tremendous help in me figuring out how to interact with the rest of the world. You've always shown a willingness to listen to my life story and share in my ups and downs. You helped me continue to seek out new experiences and have helped me come out of my shell more than I would have thought possible. Because of you, I don't feel quite so alone anymore. Thank you.
My friend Cliff. You reached out to me to become my friend. Though we don't always see eye-to-eye on things, you encourage me to continue growing as a person and to not let the negative things in my life get me down. Thank you.
My coworkers Richie, Rocky, and Margie. You taught me that work doesn't have to be serious and that we can have fun while still being productive. Though we don't hang out outside the office and though we may not always get along, I still consider you friends. Thank you.
Scott and Joe. Though we aren't friends now, you helped me get through a tough time at work, when they had us rotating shifts and I suddenly found myself cut off from my normal social circle. Hanging out with you guys opened the door for me to meet new people and establish more lasting friendships. The way you treated me taught me to be more conscientious of my actions and how others might perceive them. Thank you.
And those are just a few of the people who have played a role in my life. I could fill this post with the names of other family, friends, coworkers, loved ones, and people that have touched my life and guided my path to where I am now. I appreciate them all and thank them all for their mark on my life.
But I think that's enough self-reflection on my part. I welcome you all to take a moment from your day to reflect on the people who have steered your paths and touched your lives.
Then resume bludgeoning your neighbor to death for that last HD TV at the door buster sale at Walmart.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 24, 2014
Man in the Box
As a self-diagnosed introvert, I've never really found it comfortable or easy to interact with other people (as we've discussed a time or two). Growing up, it didn't seem so hard, as I don't really recall having problems talking to other people, though I never really had a lot of friends. But the older I've gotten, the more difficult it has gotten to just have a normal conversation with people. As you could imagine, this makes it hard to make new friends, or go on dates, or even something as simple as making idle conversation with the cashier at the grocery store.
I don't know what the problem is and it's hard to describe. It's like there's a barrier separating me from the rest of the world, like I'm trapped in a box.
I can see what's going on around me. I can interact with other people. There's just something between us that keeps me from really understanding them and vice versa. So, rather than talk, I mostly observe and listen. It happens all the time, be it when I'm sitting at work, listening to my coworkers talk about a TV show they watched recently, or when I visit family and listen to them talk about work, and home, and life in general.
It makes for awkward social encounters. People can tell that I am not behaving like everyone else, as if they can actually see the box that I'm sitting in. Think about this: the average person is walking down the street and sees a man sitting in a box. Do they ask him why he's sitting in the box or do they look straight ahead and walk past him? Most people would just keep walking. I'm not sure which is worse, the ones who walk past, or the ones who try to help.
In the past, I've had people try to help me by forcing me to be social. I'm not opposed to meeting new people. In fact, it's something I really want to do. It's just the approaches aren't always suited towards my rather fragile mindset. Once, a friend invited me along with him on a road trip to the mountains, where we'd be going to a Renaissance Fair. I've never been to one before, so I was interested in the idea. Of course, then he described the travel arrangements to me. We'd set off a good three or four days before the fair, making stops along the way to the homes of a bunch of his other friends, making use of their hospitality for our overnight accommodations. This bothered me for a few reasons.
First of all, I felt like I'd be asking perfect strangers to let me stay on their couch for the night. I'm not comfortable asking my closest family and friends for help or favors, so asking acquaintances, friend-of-a-friends and people I've never met fall deep within the "Brian's not comfortable" territory.
Second, the only thing I'd have in common with all of the people we'd be surrounded with is our one mutual friend. And since the whole point of the trip was for him to get reacquainted with all these familiar faces from his past, I felt like I'd more or less spend the entire trip listening to a bunch of people reminisce about stories that I had no context for, which lands me back in the outsider territory where I'm just watching other people interact and have fun.
Still, it was nice to be invited along, but I politely declined the offer. And a lot of the other social gatherings I've been invited to over the years have more or less played out the same way. Someone with their heart in the right place invites me along to an event without really thinking how I might take it, because they can't really see the way I see the world. Again, it's a nice gesture, and one that I appreciate, but it feels like throwing me into the deep end of the swimming pool and telling me that I'll figure out how to swim.
That's why I've been thankful for the friends I've found over the past year. They're people who can appreciate and understand my mindset, my social anxiety, and where I'm coming from. Maybe they've encountered people like me before, or maybe they've spent time trapped in their own box. Whatever the case, they've been far more patient and understanding when it comes to easing me into new social settings than other people I've known. When the typical response is to try to upend the box and dump me out, its far more comforting to have people who don't treat you like there's something wrong with you and just treat you like a friend.
I don't know what the problem is and it's hard to describe. It's like there's a barrier separating me from the rest of the world, like I'm trapped in a box.
I can see what's going on around me. I can interact with other people. There's just something between us that keeps me from really understanding them and vice versa. So, rather than talk, I mostly observe and listen. It happens all the time, be it when I'm sitting at work, listening to my coworkers talk about a TV show they watched recently, or when I visit family and listen to them talk about work, and home, and life in general.
It makes for awkward social encounters. People can tell that I am not behaving like everyone else, as if they can actually see the box that I'm sitting in. Think about this: the average person is walking down the street and sees a man sitting in a box. Do they ask him why he's sitting in the box or do they look straight ahead and walk past him? Most people would just keep walking. I'm not sure which is worse, the ones who walk past, or the ones who try to help.
In the past, I've had people try to help me by forcing me to be social. I'm not opposed to meeting new people. In fact, it's something I really want to do. It's just the approaches aren't always suited towards my rather fragile mindset. Once, a friend invited me along with him on a road trip to the mountains, where we'd be going to a Renaissance Fair. I've never been to one before, so I was interested in the idea. Of course, then he described the travel arrangements to me. We'd set off a good three or four days before the fair, making stops along the way to the homes of a bunch of his other friends, making use of their hospitality for our overnight accommodations. This bothered me for a few reasons.
First of all, I felt like I'd be asking perfect strangers to let me stay on their couch for the night. I'm not comfortable asking my closest family and friends for help or favors, so asking acquaintances, friend-of-a-friends and people I've never met fall deep within the "Brian's not comfortable" territory.
Second, the only thing I'd have in common with all of the people we'd be surrounded with is our one mutual friend. And since the whole point of the trip was for him to get reacquainted with all these familiar faces from his past, I felt like I'd more or less spend the entire trip listening to a bunch of people reminisce about stories that I had no context for, which lands me back in the outsider territory where I'm just watching other people interact and have fun.
Still, it was nice to be invited along, but I politely declined the offer. And a lot of the other social gatherings I've been invited to over the years have more or less played out the same way. Someone with their heart in the right place invites me along to an event without really thinking how I might take it, because they can't really see the way I see the world. Again, it's a nice gesture, and one that I appreciate, but it feels like throwing me into the deep end of the swimming pool and telling me that I'll figure out how to swim.
That's why I've been thankful for the friends I've found over the past year. They're people who can appreciate and understand my mindset, my social anxiety, and where I'm coming from. Maybe they've encountered people like me before, or maybe they've spent time trapped in their own box. Whatever the case, they've been far more patient and understanding when it comes to easing me into new social settings than other people I've known. When the typical response is to try to upend the box and dump me out, its far more comforting to have people who don't treat you like there's something wrong with you and just treat you like a friend.
Monday, October 6, 2014
Customer Service
I recently changed service providers for my cellphone. I walked into the US Cellular store to ask a question about my bill, mainly why it was so high. I have a single line plan that I barely use (convenient, since the coverage area for US Cellular is ridiculously small), but I was paying nearly $100 a month to have it. And that's with an apparent discount from my employer! I had seen several plans on their website that seemed far more affordable and better suited for my needs, so I wanted to look into downgrading to one of these plans. I found myself annoyed immediately, since the store was packed. So, I end up waiting nearly half an hour before I get to the front of the line. I tell her my problem and ask if there's a cheaper plan I can switch to. She tells me that I'm on the cheapest plan they offer. I point out that there's a sign on her desk advertising cheaper plans than what I'm paying. She tells me that those are only if you're part of a business. Alternately, I could get on a multi-line plan, which individually would be cheaper. I'm single and live alone, so I don't exactly have someone to split a bill with. And starting my own business seems like a lot of work just to get a smaller phone bill. So, I tell the woman that I'm just going to look for another service provider. My customer service representative couldn't care less, so I leave.
So, I go home and I look up service providers. Verizon offers plans more in my price range and better suited for my needs. So I chat with a customer service representative online (my preferred way of dealing with customer service) and figure out the plan that best works for me. This woman was much friendlier and far more helpful than the person I had just dealt with, which was a bonus. In the end, I go to the local Verizon store and switch providers with minimal hassle.
While I was going through the whole process, it made me reflect on some of the customer service experiences I've had.
In a roundabout way, I work in customer service. As one of our duties, we have to cover the help desk during the off hours. Typically, you do not catch people at their best moment when they have to call the help desk. So, I can appreciate that people tend to not be in the best of moods or that they might react to an inability to help rather poorly. As such, I try to maintain my temper when dealing with customer service representatives, because I also understand that they are just the face of the problem and that they rarely have a lot to do with whatever the solution may be.
That being said, some customer service representatives I've dealt with seem to go out of their way to make the problem, and the whole experience much worse. I think the all time worst experience I've had with customer service was when I was trying to upgrade my cable service.
I live in an apartment, and one of the perks is that basic cable is offered as part of the rental agreement. I have an HD TV and was looking to upgrade my service and perhaps add on a DVR. I had previously added cable internet to my service with no issue, so I wasn't expecting much of a hassle. I chatted with a representative online and determined that it would be a minimal change to my bill, and that I could get TiVo for not much more than that. So, I went to Suddenlink's local office to do the actual upgrade. At this point, I learned that TiVo is such a sophisticated piece of technology that requires a technician to come install it for you, so I couldn't take my new TiVo home with me and instead had to set up an appointment. I pick a time that I'm not at work and prepare for the wait. The technician arrives at a reasonable time and I am wowed by his extensive training as he proceeds to plug one hole in the box to the wall and plug the other hole to my TV and leaves. I regret not taking notes.
A week passes, and I start to learn how the TiVo works and I enjoy the service. Then, I start getting messages from the device saying I need to register the device or it will stop working. Well, the highly skilled technician didn't say anything about that. So, I go to Suddenlink's website, hop on the chat function and report the problem. They tell me that I need to go to TiVo's website to activate the device. Suddenlink sold the device to me, but fine, whatever. So I go to TiVo's website. I punch in the device number, and it says that for this particular device, I need to get Suddenlink to register it. That's not what Suddenlink said, but okay, whatever. So, I go to Suddenlink's website and jump back on the chat function.
I spend 20-30 minutes chatting with someone who ultimately decides that the problem with my TiVo is that I don't have an email address assigned to my Suddenlink account. I beg to differ, as I receive my bill via email each month and I find it hard to believe that this happens through the magic of the internet, but rather because I entered my email address in a box somewhere and they assigned it to my account. But, if it will fix the TiVo, fine, here is my email address again. I'm told it will take 24 hours for the update in information to trickle down to the device, so give it a day or two to see if the problem clears up.
It didn't.
So, I call Suddenlink. I spend 45 minutes on hold before I ever talk to a technician. During this time, I listen to the same static-garbled song repeated continuously, interrupted every minute by a recording reminding me that my call is important to them. I was glad to hear this, because I'd hate to think what sort of treatment they give to the customers whose calls are not important to them. When i finally reach an actual person on the phone, they start with the standard "did you try turning it off and back on?" nonsense that you open all support calls with. They also had me try all the things I had previously tried, such as going to the TiVo website. I'm skeptical that it would magically work on a 5th attempt, but I still follow their instructions, and lo and behold, the TiVo is still broken. So, I'm placed on hold again while my customer service rep calls TiVo's customer service line. My only regret is that he had a direct line to TiVo and didn't have to be placed on hold.
About 20 minutes later, my support guy comes back and says that they have everything resolved and that I should be able to log into TiVo's website now. That....wasn't the problem I called with. But I guess they mean now I can register the device on TiVo's website, so let me try that. Nope, still can't do it. So, I go back on Suddenlink's chat function. Now, at this point, I've used the chat function enough where I can just type all the information that they request without being asked. Here's my name, my address, my phone number, and my pin. (It baffles me that they request all these things, since you have to key them all in when you're opening up the chat window to begin with, which also baffles me that you'd have to do that at all, considering you're logged into the website!) Well, the customer service rep I talk to this time suggests that I call the number that TiVo gives me. The number for Suddenlink.
Ultimately, it is determined that the source of my problem is that my TiVo device was registered to a different account. Great, so just edit the database and make the device point to my account. They can't do that. Instead, they need to send a technician out to replace my TiVo with a new one. I'm tempted to tell them that the technician will be picking it up in pieces, but settle for pointing out the sheer idiocy of a system that cannot be edited in any way. Apparently when you order a TiVo, it follows you to the grave, because no one else can use that box once its been registered to you. So, they make an appointment for the technician to come out to my house the next day between 4pm and 6pm. So, I rush home from work the next day to catch the Suddenlink technician. At 6:30pm, it starts to occur to me that he might not be coming. I contact Suddenlink yet again, and I'm told that they closed my ticket. First of all, thanks for informing me. Second of all, why? Third of all, no seriously, why!? The problem is not resolved. They have replaced nothing. No work has been done!
So, I receive an apology for the inconvenience and a promise that a technician will be out tomorrow to replace it. Great, what time--? Hello? Hello!? Yeah, no clue when he's coming by. As it happened, I had the next day off of work (it was a Friday and I was working that weekend). Still, I had things to do that day, so I wouldn't mind knowing when exactly they'd be by. So, first thing in the morning, I drive over to Suddenlink's local office. I'm tired of dealing with them on the phone, or on a chat screen. I ask when the appointment is and I'm told that it is between 4 and 6pm. Well, that's not going to work for me. At the time, I had pretty standard plans on Fridays around that time. Can they reschedule the appointment for earlier in the day? I'm assured that they can. My customer service representative accidentally cancels the order instead. He'll try to get someone out to my house that day and someone will contact me about it. Fine.
Several hours pass and no word from Suddenlink. So, I go back on their website. I discover that rather than come out that day like they said, they would be out tomorrow sometime between 12pm and 2pm. The problem with that is that I worked that Saturday from 7:30am to 4pm, and on weekends we work alone, so I couldn't exactly take the time off. So, I had to reschedule the appointment yet again. Finally, it's decided that the technician will be out Monday between 10am and 12pm. I'm off work that day, so that works fine.
The technician comes out, and it's a different guy from last time. This guy actually shows me how to use the device and verifies the installation process instead of just plugging it into the wall and leaving. So, after 24 days, I can finally use my TiVo! That afternoon, I finally get a chance to sit down and enjoy some of the HD channels that come from my upgraded service.
So, I go home and I look up service providers. Verizon offers plans more in my price range and better suited for my needs. So I chat with a customer service representative online (my preferred way of dealing with customer service) and figure out the plan that best works for me. This woman was much friendlier and far more helpful than the person I had just dealt with, which was a bonus. In the end, I go to the local Verizon store and switch providers with minimal hassle.
While I was going through the whole process, it made me reflect on some of the customer service experiences I've had.
In a roundabout way, I work in customer service. As one of our duties, we have to cover the help desk during the off hours. Typically, you do not catch people at their best moment when they have to call the help desk. So, I can appreciate that people tend to not be in the best of moods or that they might react to an inability to help rather poorly. As such, I try to maintain my temper when dealing with customer service representatives, because I also understand that they are just the face of the problem and that they rarely have a lot to do with whatever the solution may be.
That being said, some customer service representatives I've dealt with seem to go out of their way to make the problem, and the whole experience much worse. I think the all time worst experience I've had with customer service was when I was trying to upgrade my cable service.
I live in an apartment, and one of the perks is that basic cable is offered as part of the rental agreement. I have an HD TV and was looking to upgrade my service and perhaps add on a DVR. I had previously added cable internet to my service with no issue, so I wasn't expecting much of a hassle. I chatted with a representative online and determined that it would be a minimal change to my bill, and that I could get TiVo for not much more than that. So, I went to Suddenlink's local office to do the actual upgrade. At this point, I learned that TiVo is such a sophisticated piece of technology that requires a technician to come install it for you, so I couldn't take my new TiVo home with me and instead had to set up an appointment. I pick a time that I'm not at work and prepare for the wait. The technician arrives at a reasonable time and I am wowed by his extensive training as he proceeds to plug one hole in the box to the wall and plug the other hole to my TV and leaves. I regret not taking notes.
A week passes, and I start to learn how the TiVo works and I enjoy the service. Then, I start getting messages from the device saying I need to register the device or it will stop working. Well, the highly skilled technician didn't say anything about that. So, I go to Suddenlink's website, hop on the chat function and report the problem. They tell me that I need to go to TiVo's website to activate the device. Suddenlink sold the device to me, but fine, whatever. So I go to TiVo's website. I punch in the device number, and it says that for this particular device, I need to get Suddenlink to register it. That's not what Suddenlink said, but okay, whatever. So, I go to Suddenlink's website and jump back on the chat function.
I spend 20-30 minutes chatting with someone who ultimately decides that the problem with my TiVo is that I don't have an email address assigned to my Suddenlink account. I beg to differ, as I receive my bill via email each month and I find it hard to believe that this happens through the magic of the internet, but rather because I entered my email address in a box somewhere and they assigned it to my account. But, if it will fix the TiVo, fine, here is my email address again. I'm told it will take 24 hours for the update in information to trickle down to the device, so give it a day or two to see if the problem clears up.
It didn't.
So, I call Suddenlink. I spend 45 minutes on hold before I ever talk to a technician. During this time, I listen to the same static-garbled song repeated continuously, interrupted every minute by a recording reminding me that my call is important to them. I was glad to hear this, because I'd hate to think what sort of treatment they give to the customers whose calls are not important to them. When i finally reach an actual person on the phone, they start with the standard "did you try turning it off and back on?" nonsense that you open all support calls with. They also had me try all the things I had previously tried, such as going to the TiVo website. I'm skeptical that it would magically work on a 5th attempt, but I still follow their instructions, and lo and behold, the TiVo is still broken. So, I'm placed on hold again while my customer service rep calls TiVo's customer service line. My only regret is that he had a direct line to TiVo and didn't have to be placed on hold.
About 20 minutes later, my support guy comes back and says that they have everything resolved and that I should be able to log into TiVo's website now. That....wasn't the problem I called with. But I guess they mean now I can register the device on TiVo's website, so let me try that. Nope, still can't do it. So, I go back on Suddenlink's chat function. Now, at this point, I've used the chat function enough where I can just type all the information that they request without being asked. Here's my name, my address, my phone number, and my pin. (It baffles me that they request all these things, since you have to key them all in when you're opening up the chat window to begin with, which also baffles me that you'd have to do that at all, considering you're logged into the website!) Well, the customer service rep I talk to this time suggests that I call the number that TiVo gives me. The number for Suddenlink.
Ultimately, it is determined that the source of my problem is that my TiVo device was registered to a different account. Great, so just edit the database and make the device point to my account. They can't do that. Instead, they need to send a technician out to replace my TiVo with a new one. I'm tempted to tell them that the technician will be picking it up in pieces, but settle for pointing out the sheer idiocy of a system that cannot be edited in any way. Apparently when you order a TiVo, it follows you to the grave, because no one else can use that box once its been registered to you. So, they make an appointment for the technician to come out to my house the next day between 4pm and 6pm. So, I rush home from work the next day to catch the Suddenlink technician. At 6:30pm, it starts to occur to me that he might not be coming. I contact Suddenlink yet again, and I'm told that they closed my ticket. First of all, thanks for informing me. Second of all, why? Third of all, no seriously, why!? The problem is not resolved. They have replaced nothing. No work has been done!
So, I receive an apology for the inconvenience and a promise that a technician will be out tomorrow to replace it. Great, what time--? Hello? Hello!? Yeah, no clue when he's coming by. As it happened, I had the next day off of work (it was a Friday and I was working that weekend). Still, I had things to do that day, so I wouldn't mind knowing when exactly they'd be by. So, first thing in the morning, I drive over to Suddenlink's local office. I'm tired of dealing with them on the phone, or on a chat screen. I ask when the appointment is and I'm told that it is between 4 and 6pm. Well, that's not going to work for me. At the time, I had pretty standard plans on Fridays around that time. Can they reschedule the appointment for earlier in the day? I'm assured that they can. My customer service representative accidentally cancels the order instead. He'll try to get someone out to my house that day and someone will contact me about it. Fine.
Several hours pass and no word from Suddenlink. So, I go back on their website. I discover that rather than come out that day like they said, they would be out tomorrow sometime between 12pm and 2pm. The problem with that is that I worked that Saturday from 7:30am to 4pm, and on weekends we work alone, so I couldn't exactly take the time off. So, I had to reschedule the appointment yet again. Finally, it's decided that the technician will be out Monday between 10am and 12pm. I'm off work that day, so that works fine.
The technician comes out, and it's a different guy from last time. This guy actually shows me how to use the device and verifies the installation process instead of just plugging it into the wall and leaving. So, after 24 days, I can finally use my TiVo! That afternoon, I finally get a chance to sit down and enjoy some of the HD channels that come from my upgraded service.
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| Can't say that I saw this coming. |
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Bicycle Race
On occasion, the city of Greenville plays host to a series of bicycle races that run through the downtown area. It can be a fun experience for bicycling enthusiasts of all ages, and literally tens of people show up to watch the event. Several city blocks are sectioned off for the races, and it just so happens that the building I work in is planted firmly in the middle of the race area. Since the races typically take place on Sunday during the day, this really only limits the number of people inconvenienced to whoever happens to be working 1st shift on that particular day. As it turns out, for the past two years, that lucky individual was me.
When they started doing the races several years ago, the event coordinators would contact...someone, who would contact our department supervisor, who would contact our shift supervisor, who would ultimately let us know not to park in the race area on that particular day. For the last couple of years, though, something has broken in that chain of communication.
Last year was the first year I actually had to work the weekend of the races. It was Sunday afternoon. I had already suffered through a particularly annoying morning, as the weekly maintenance window had not gone as smoothly as normal. As I was settling into what would hopefully be a dull remainder of the day, my attention was captured by movement on one of the outside security cameras. I noticed a line of bicycles pedaling around the northeast corner of the building. I thought this was odd, since they were going against traffic on a one-way street, and stepped outside to take a look. It was at this point that I realized how screwed I was.
My immediate response was a string of profanity that would make my dad both proud and ashamed. Anger properly vented, I started analyzing the situation to determine my next step. I had two objectives that I must accomplish:
- Free my car from the race area
- Contact 2nd shift to warn them about the races
Contacting 2nd shift was not a pressing matter, as for some crazy reason, getting home weighed more heavily on my mind than where Terrance was going to park. It still was a requirement, however, because I wouldn't put it past Terrance to pull up to the building, see all the roads blocked off, assume we were closed, and go home.
It is important to the story to explain that our building has a fenced in parking lot reserved for the university-owned vehicles. This parking lot also serves as a secure area to park for our employees who work nights and weekends. As it happened, I had decided to park my car in this lot that day. This complicated my situation, as if I had parked in a normal lot, I could pull out onto one of the roads that was enclosed by but wasn't being used by the race, wait for a gap in the cyclists, then just slip around the barricade and park outside the course. In the secure lot, however, the only exit was onto the actual race course, with the nearest barricade being too thorough to get around.
So, I made sure the phones were forwarded to the dedicated cellphone we keep in the event we have to leave the command center, and went in search of an exit. I spotted a police car parked across the track from the front of our building and decided it was a good place to start. I waited until the coast was clear, then jogged across the road to the police. I explained my situation to them, and they suggested that I go talk to the event coordinator, who was set up in a tent further down the block. With that, the cops left.
I wandered down to the tent, and caught the attention of the first person with a clipboard I could find. I explained my situation to him, and he had me talk to a woman who was keeping track of the times. She told me the race would be over in about 10 laps and that I could move my car during the break before the next race.
Once my car was free, I came back inside, tracked down Terrance and told him where he could park when he got to work. While it was annoying that they hadn't let us know the race was going to happen, they were nice about it and accommodating, so I wasn't too bothered by the whole ordeal.
So, when I glanced at the outside cameras this year and noticed bicycles pedaling by again, I was mildly irritated, but not overly concerned by the whole thing. I walked outside to the tent where the event coordinators were stationed and again explained my situation. This time, however, the guy I talked to seemed far more concerned with my accusation that they hadn't notified us than whether or not I could move my car. He explained to me in great detail and to great length about how it was not his fault and that he had contacted the people he was required to contact.
Biting down on my rising anger, I explained to the man that I really didn't care whose fault it was and that my primary concern was getting my car out of the race area. I offered him a compromise, suggesting that if he could find me a window in the race to move my car, then it wouldn't be a surprise late entry into the race.
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| No cyclists were harmed in the drawing of this picture |
Surprisingly, he was very accommodating after that.
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