it's been a while...here's why:
wednesday morning (last wednesday, 7/20):

i arrive home at 5:45 a.m. i head to the grocery store. i return home, and immediately go to sleep. i wake up at noon-thirty, and begin the process of doing laundry. i start the laundry, and my cable is out. i call the cable company. they tell me to contact my leasing office. (last month, there was a special notice letting tenants know that we could now get 'family basic' cable for a 'discounted' rate of $43. i have digital cable plus an internet package. i have it set on autopay. i like the credit card points, you know? i don't want the 'discounted' rate. i decline the offer.)

[i had noticed that my bill was about 60% ($44) of my normal bill ($72). i had thought that, related to my ignoring the notice, mediacom had shut off my cable. i had noticed that my bill covered '7/1-7/18,' so i was sure this was the case, and it had been mistakenly turned off. this was not the case.]

i call the leasing office. "you have to come pay through us." "i don't want that rate. i'm happy with the service and price i was getting." "if you want cable, you have to pay through us now."

i come down with the check. on the way down, i do the math. previously: about $72 bucks, for cable + internet. currently: $87. bullshit.

i write the check. "i have to pay through you?" "yes." "how long until my cable will be on?" "we'll send maintenance right up." "do you realize i'm paying $15 more a month now." "this is the way the policy works." "will you reimburse me for the extra payment?" "it's $43 bucks. that's all i know." [rips check] "that sucks." [walks out.]

i shift into the dryer. i head upstairs. cable's not on. twenty minutes later, it's still not on. i call. "they're headed up there." maintenance guy stops by. "check it now." fuzz. "hold on, let me check something." now my laundry's just about folded. "check it now." bullseye! and we're back.

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later wednesday night...my internet's non-functional. and my bedroom tv split off the same line is non-functional. i place the call to the leasing office to let them know...leave a message.

thursday
leasing office calls. "we got your problem, and we'll go fix it up."

as of thursday night...service isn't on. i leave another message.

friday
i receive a message from the leasing agent. we've done all we can, so, if it's not functioning, you'll have to schedule an appointment with mediacom.

sunday
using my night off, i call mediacom. ... "because it's a bulk account, you have to schedule your appointment through your leasing office." me: bullshit! i leave a message at the leasing office... "unfortunately, they have to go through you. please let me know a time that the cable guy will be around. i can't be there, but i'd need you to let him in.

monday
i receive a message, and she acts like i'm inconveniencing her: "hey andrew. this is dj [yes, like dj tanner!] from landmark properties. i just got off the phone with mediacom - they gave me the run-around, put me on hold for 45 minutes, so i'm pretty annoyed, too - anyway, i've got an appointment for tomorrow, sometime between 10 and 1. please call to let us know that you authorize their visit when you're not here." bitch. i call and authorize.

tuesday [that is, today]
i receive a call at 11:26. "this is greg from mediacom. we've fixed your cable, so you'll be all set." i head home at 11:49. cable's not on. not working. fuzz on the tv screen, "receive only" on the modem. no signal. nothing fixed.

at 200, back at work, i call the leasing office. machine. "this is andrew in 509. i got a call that the mediacom guy came and fixed it, but i checked, and the problem's still there. only the top two lights on my modem are illuminated. i don't get anything but fuzz on my tv screen. and, unfortunately, i can't schedule the visit myself. i apologize for being a bother, but it's your system. please keep me posted."

i get a quick callback from dj. "he said it was working fine." "the digital cable is, the internet still isn't working. neither is the tv in that room." "which room?" "the living room is fine. the bedroom jack isn't working." "you know, sometimes different units have their jacks in different places. maybe i'll have maintenance check to make sure that both switches are turned on." "i apologize for asking, and it's none of my business, but how much are you getting out of this deal?" "we're breaking even. it's an amenity." "that's ridiculous." "how can i get reimbursed for the fact that you've kept my cable out for the past week?" "you pay a flat rate to us. you'll have to take that through mediacom." "that's incredible." ... ... ... "well, check your when you get home tonight." "[angrily] will do. bye."

so i check when i get home tonight, and the cable's fucking on. that's anger, not excitement. a week of frustration, caused exclusively by their incompetence.

next step: get my bill turned around. get my rate prorated. get my old rate back. i'll be on hold a lot tonight.

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i've made a decision, and perhaps my faithful reader[s] can talk me out of it.

scenario: this month, i've received about two times as much salary as i normally do. i've got a shady lump sum of money received quarterly for not taking benefits through the office. i've got an admittedly small commission. and, because july has five fridays, i've gotten paid three times.

money to save, or, perhaps burn.

i'm choosing to burn.

i've done the research, and i can get a playstation2 from eb games for $120, used, with guarantee. the new ea football game costs $50. cookie the intern, who has started a dynasty with the cats, and who has invited me to 'watch him play' with the cats, has an extra memory card. it's four bucks to get it stocked with names by that one guy.

net investment: $200ish, including tax. i think it's worth it, although it could mean that i'll read less, sit more, eat more, and stop losing weight. on the other hand, i figure i'll win a championship with the cats by 2010. september is gonna be awesome.

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thursday morning, i was feeling ill. i went to the grocery store. bought 2 bottles of pepto, 2 two-liters of diet sierra mist. 7 bucks. the clerk gave me a coupon from the register: buy 1 get 1 free maxi pads. woof!

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i think matt murton is the answer in left. true hitter.