Thursday, December 29, 2005
Well, our last week has been really eventful. I will have to space it all out over a few posts. Here is a list of what you can expect over my next few posts.......1. Internet shopping pitfalls and a little life lesson courtesy of Melissa
2. What's Christmas without a little surgery?
3. Age recommendations on toys are given for a reason
4. Margaritas for lunch on Christmas Eve
5. LittleMan on Christmas morning
6. A new member to the family
7. Ahhh.....it's finally over
8. Men, Doctors, and more surgery
9. Addiction to Harry Potter
10. Prowlers and Cops
Wow! Looking over that list confirms that I am indeed a very strange person. I'll try to tackle a few of hte first topics anyway.
First of all, internet shopping.....I have been saving a little money and along with the money that LuckyHusband so graciously decided to spend on me for Christmas, I decided to buy a new digital camera. Not just any camera, a Nikon D50 that I had been drooling over for a couple of months. I am a huge fan of pricegrabber.com, so I had been commparing prices there and last Monday (the 19th), the lowest price had went down another $20, so I decided that was my sign to buy. I placed an order with Abe's of Maine who appeared to be a pretty reputable company complete with the BBB logo. I ordered the camera and a lens. Sincce there were still 5 business days until Christmas, I selected the normal UPS shipping and decided that even if it didn't come before Christmas that would be okay.
So, Tuesday morning (the 20th) I received an e-mail from Abe's needing me to call and confirm my order. So, I called, got a voice mail message, gave my order number, name, and a callback number and told them that I was confirming and to ship away! I also replied through e-mail as well. Tuesday evening when I got home, I had a message from the same guy. I called back and got, yet again, voice mail. I left another message like the one I had left that morning.
So, on Wednesday (the 21st) morning I called again to make sure that the message had been received and that my order was in its way. By this time I had started to get a little peeved at the whole thing. I finally go this guy on the phone and after insulting my choice in lens and trying to sell me another one, he told me that my order would ship that day. YIPPEE!! He asked did I want it by Christmas and that was only possible with 2 day shipping which would be an additional cost. I todl him that I expected it ot ship Monday; therefore, making the express shipping unnecessary at that time. He then tells me that even if he had shipped on Monday, it wouldn't have gotten there in time because UPS had a 4-5 day delay due to the holidays (WTF????).
So, Thursday morning (the 22nd) I called to verify that my order had shipped because I had yet to receive e-mail confirmation of the shipment. I was informed that it had not shipped and when I asked why, I was told that my card was declined. Now, I know that was not true because there was more than enough money in teh account and my bank also verified this later as well. I asked why I had not been notified that the card was declined and was met with a really rude response.
By this time I was pissed. I started researching Abe's on the internet and found tons of complaints on various sites about their horrible confirmation policies and their delayed shipping. So, I decided (while on hold) to cancel and order with someon else. I told the CSR this when they finally took me off hold and he attempted to put me on hold again. I firmly told him No, that I was tired of being on hold, so of course, with no warning, I was on hold again. There was nothing I could do because I needed to cancel so I waited and cancelled.
I then placed an order through buydig.com, whom I had ordered from in the past. I received my stuff the very next day! So, the lesson here is, research the comapny first (not after you've become suspicious) and don't put up with crap from customer service.
On to the surgery story.....last Christmas I had LASIK. IT was awesome. I still needed a little touch-up, so I did that on Thursday (after ordering my new camera). It went great and I had a wonderful excuse to spend all afternoon taking a great big nap!
Well, my hands are tired from all of hte typing, so I will bid you farewell for today. I will post some new pics on the photoblog ( http://cuteboyphotos.blogspot.com ) sometime today. Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!!!
Melissa |
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
The season is definitely here. No, not Christmas (although it seems to have gotten here in full force), but cold season. Last Saturday, the temperature here was around 75. Pretty hot for December. Now, its around 30 degrees when I wake up in the morning. So, in response, my sinuses have staged a revolt and apparently their destination was my chest. It hurts to breathe, which unfortunately is a necessity for some reason. I went to the doctor and got some great medicine, but it makes me sleepy, so, I guess I'll just be medicating myself after work in the privacy of my own home, far, far away from vehicles and heavy machinery (and motorists everywhere breathe a sigh of relief).This sickness has put a definite damper on my holiday spirit. I don't know if my newly hightened cynicism is a result of the cold, or just the holiday rush. I noticed a radio commercial the other night for a TV program that sounded pretty interesting, only to find out by looking at the clock that it had ended 30 minutes ago. Please tell me that these people don'tt pay for that advertising!I also have become annoyed by people who obviously started decorating their house with lights, only to have completed 1/2 a window and decided that they really weren't that into the holiday spirit. That in itself is understandable, but why oh why do you actually turn on your one strand for the world to see? Do you really think that I'll look at that and say "They're in the holiday spirit." Nope..more likely that I will make a really nasty comment that will make LuckyHusband smile admiringly (as if he taught me to be that mean..it was there long before he came along).
And while I am acting Scrooge-like, the following message is for the a$$holes who decided that they were too cheap to buy gifts this year and decided they would just steal some from under my porch.
To you a$$holes that aren't even worthy of a lump of coal:
I really hope that you have made someone's holiday season brighter this year. I'm sure that the screwdriver set with half of the screwdrivers missing (don't you just hate men who don't put stuff back where they belong?) will make an excellent present for your obviously white trash redneck father. I assume that this is the case based on your obvious lack of upbringing. I assume he has made it out of the pen in time for Christmas judging by you buying stealing him a gift. Way to go!!
I'm sure your drunken uncle (just a guess) will enjoy the drill that you stole as well. I can only hope that the two of you will try to operate it while drinking copious amounts of alcohol. And I'm betting that the tackle box will be just what your high school drop-out sister has been waiting for!! Nothing like some good bait to snag that future husband!
But, for the greatest gift of all...the two cases of bottled water. I must admit, this one puzzled me for a minute. Then the light bulb came on! Why did I buy (this means actually paying money that came from a job that I worked) bottled water? Because it's healthy and I wanted to try and lose a few pounds. So, I'm assuming that this gift could only be for the love of your life/mother to encourage her to lose a chin or two. I hope she smacks your a$$ into next year. Too bad she's obviously about 15 or so years too late.
And finally, if you are the same person who broke into my house in March and stole my digital camera, I hope you have a great time capturing the memories of this holiday season. I also hope that your propane heater (stolen I'm sure) introduces massive amounts of carbon monoxide into your lungs until the oxygen leaves your blood and you suffocate to death in your sleep. (with visions of bucks and ducks dancing in your head)
Merry Christmas and Bah Humbug!!
Melissa |
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Conversation between LittleMan and Nana:
Me: “LittleMan, tell Nana what Santa does..”
LittleMan: “Ho, ho”
Nana: “No, LittleMan, it’s three ho’s Now, what does Santa do?”
LittleMan: “Three Hos”
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Well, I brought the digital camera to work, and uploaded some great pics to the photoblog, http://cuteboyphotos.blogspot.com I really think everyone will enjoy LittleMan’s inventive way of talking to Santa Clause.
I found myself the perfect Christmas present today. When I was on vacation in
Hope you are having a great week! Don’t forget to check out the pictures!! J
Melissa
Monday, December 05, 2005
Well, it was bound to happen I guess. The Christmas rush has officially begun. This weekend was jam-packed with stuff for us to do, and places for us to go. Not all of it was Christmas-stuff, but still, it was definitely a sign of the impending Christmas rush.
We started off Friday night with a trip to see the Christmas Express train. It was a huge train that was decorated for Christmas with lights and all kinds of stuff. Rumor is that Santa was on the train, but the line was way too long and LittleMan would have only cried, so we decided to skip that whole fiasco and just look at the train. I have pictures, but left the camera at home today. I’ll probably download them all tomorrow and post on my photoblog.
Saturday, we tried the Santa at Wal Mart thing. He had fun talking to Santa from afar, so we are a little closer to the right direction I guess. Saturday afternoon was spent helping Hooker study for the ACT and putting up our outside Christmas lights.
Sunday we had to go to a baby dedication for our awesome photographer’s adorable little boy. Afterwards, she had a reception with Corky’s BBQ (mmmm) and then last night was LuckyHusband’s dad’s birthday party. WHEW!! I’m winded just talking about all of it.
Anyway, hopefully some pictures to follow tomorrow.
Melissa
Friday, December 02, 2005
Well, LittleMan had his first real visit with Santa last night. He sat in Santa’s lap last year, but was too young to know what was going on. So, last night was the night. He was so excited. “Santa, mommy….see mommy…Santa Claus!” He repeated this phrase over and over while waiting in line. He waved and waved at Santa and Ms. Claus and then, his time had arrived. I was standing in front of the booth and his daddy was to the left (as you can tell by the direction of his arms in the picture). So, check out http://cuteboyphotos.blogspot.com for the official Santa picture. LOL!
We also rode in a horse driven buggy last night. He was pretty excited by that. He LOVES horses. The whole paper mill was lit up with lights and wooden cutout scenes. It was great. Hope you enjoy the pictures!! J
Melissa
~IntrO~
Melissa-Mom to LittleMan (4/04); wife to LuckyHusband; full-time toxicologist; full-time housekeeper; full-time domestic laundromat manager (washes all the clothes); full-time domestic finance manager (pays all the bills and yells at husband for spending too much money on fishing stuff); and Keeper of the Cheerios. Lives in a tiny town; spends tons of time with family; reads; enjoys crafts. Can change a diaper, fill a sippy cup, and put on a toddler's shoes in 15.4 seconds flat, all while calculating the impact of petroleum hydrocarbons to a nearby surface water body (watch for me in the Toddler Olympics on CBS this fall). Addicted to Dr. Pepper; Kit Kats; and pasta. To spot me in a crowd: I'm the one with frizzy messed-up hair, smeared graham crackers on my shirt; huge purse with a diaper peeking out, toddler on her hip, and camera in hand at all times.
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Scuba Steve (pictured with LittleMan and myself)
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~Books I'm Reading~
Confessions of a Shopaholic
Shopaholic Takes Manhattan
Can You Keep a Secret?
Shopaholic Ties the Knot
Shopaholic and Sister
The Nanny Diaries
Nighttime is My Time - Mary Higgins Clark
Trace - Patricia Cornwell
She's Come Undone - Wally Lamb
Saving Graces - Patricia Gaffney
Save Karyn - Karyn Boznack
Rosie Dunne - Cecelia Ahern
Little Earthquakes - Jennifer Weiner
The Undomestic Goddess - Sophie Kinsella
In Her Shoes - Jennifer Weiner
One Tuesday Morning - Karen Kingsbury
The Pot Luck Club
P.S. I Love You - Cecelia Ahern
No Place Like Home- Mary Higgins Clark
The Covanent - Beverly Lewis
The Betrayal - Beverly Lewis
The Sacrifice - Beverly Lewis
The Prodigal - Beverly Lewis
Goodnight Nobody - Jennifer Weiner
The Preacher's Daughter - Beverly Lewis
~Books I Have For Sale-Ask If Interested!~
No Place Like Home- Mary Higgins ClarkRosie Dunne - Cecelia Ahern
The Last Juror - John Grisham