as the new computer problem has worsened, i've been largely computerless over the past few days. not that you care.

a follow-up on last wednesday's or post: i received an email requesting, among other things, the best time to contact me. nice service touch. they'd call back.

i received the callback at about 5:20 on thursday (it should be noted, 10 minutes before 'the best time.') as i was in conversation, i ignored the call. there was a message. it was, i kid you not, four minutes long. from the vaguely unintelligible service person. then i returned home, where i had received an email. i've chosen to replicate it here, using bold to highlight my favorite points (note the lack of punctuation, spell checking, or capitalization...c'mon!):


dear redhothalos--- I am andrew from Dell and i sincerely apologize for thd long wait , i met with a serious accident and suffered multiple injuries on leg , howevere since i was a witness to your long wait for your computer to be mended up and i could not get you in touch with PDMC [my note: portable dispatch management center...i.e. service appointment for portable computers - - the long wait] I sought special permission from my manager to set up a service for your computer and trust me i returned to office only to ensure that your issue is fixed and its my pleasure to inform you that your service order number or DPS is xxx and you may please call up at xxx and refer to this number and they will do the needful , however i have also intimated them to reach you on phone and when you speak with them and do provide the contact number and they would set up an appointment with you and visit you and fix your computer as soon as possible.i sincerely apologize for the inconvineance caused howver please do make a note of it that there has to be a little bit of difference in the way i have handled the issue for i would love to see a smile on your face .i have also ensured the tech visits with all the service parts and misses none so that it gets mend up as soon as possible and i have escalated your dissatisfaction due to delay to the highest possible level so that the issue is addressed to the best of your satsifaction , howver from my level i will ensure that you do not have any complaints hence forth .If you have any further concerns please feel to reciprocate and i would love to get in touch with you as soon as possible and help you further .,

i mean...what do you do with that rambling mess? i appreciate his sincerity, call the number, and hope that it works out. but generally, i'd say this doesn't make much sense.

i did call the number, and the service person said "god. it looks like the service technician ordered about 100 parts." i'm due to get a call on monday, and i'm hoping that we can find a good time by wednesday. i depart thursday morning for our opener.

- - - - -

i had an incredibly productive early part of the day. up by 9:00, sans alarm. immediately got to laundry duty. (they've got new washers and unbelievable new dryers...woof!) while the laundry was laundering, i did my week's worth of dishes...two full, full, full sinks, it should be noted.

then i took a 40-minute walk by the river, in shorts and everything. shorts and a t-shirt. not a bit cold, even. then i went to do some updating and refurbishing of broadcast supplies. i bought a new microphone clip stand (for clipping to walls for crowd purposes). i bought highlighters and a four-color pen (testing out a new scoring method) and a pencil case and mechanical pencils and the like. purchased a new extension cord and power strip (lost my old ones, of course).

the i headed to my local kohl's, where i purchased a bitchin' new pair of reebok's and a new shirt. 50 bucks, a pretty good deal, i'd say.

and then i put it all together and organized it and things and then i got to testing my old equipment. and then i noticed that my mini-disc player is utterly and completely busted. no worko. minidisc no fit. so i've been on a frantic search online for good brands and features to get (i've been using these things for 8 years...i should probably know) and things like that. and my search led me to ebay, and a kid auctioning off the model that i've been using. the auction ends in 2 days. he's not far from me, so i could win the auction monday night and he could next-day tuesday and it'd work great. i'm currently the auction leader, at 28 bucks. i can't think it'll go up much, because it's not a new model. but i've also, illegally, offered to 'keep this off ebay' and pick up the product sometime tomorrow. i hope i don't get reported. that'd suck.

that's my story.