iPhone 8 is out…

Normally I wouldn’t write about this, but the new iPhone 8 is now out. And the iPhone X will be out in a couple of months. And my brother (the iPhone user in the house) was up for renewal on his lease. He chose the iPhone 8. He has his reasons, and so I ordered it. Arrived Friday, but due to work schedules, I couldn’t activate it until yesterday. And today I dropped the old one off at the Sprint store so the UPS man could pick it up (as I wrote about yesterday UPS isn’t the most reliable at my apartment)….

So my brother has a new iPhone. Since this was simply replacing the previous one, I don’t have to take his Man-Card…

My new ride home….

Got a new bicycle last week. Unlike the first one, this one actually works. Assembly was pretty straightforward. Took it work Saturday, and rode it home that night. Where I normally don’t get home till after 2 am, I was home by 1 am. But there was a drawback. I’m even more out of shape than I thought I was. And my legs were Jello. So Sunday night, I left the bike at home and walked. And then I realized that that’s the last time I was walking.

So occasionally I still get winded, and there are stretches were I can’t pedal (I really don’t like inclines). In those cases, I’ll just get off my bike and walk it. And when I catch my breath again and/or I reach the top of the hill, I’ll get back on it…

On the NFL protests….

Before someone else goes on about ‘respect for the flag’, think of this. It is only a flag. It represents values and freedom. And can think of no greater respect for those values and freedom by non-violently protesting your cause. Seriously, most of those up in arms about the players taking knees and/or sitting down during the national anthem are probably the ones who were buying beer and/or using the can during the nation anthem itself.

Think about it, without protest we wouldn’t have most civil rights legislation. India wouldn’t be independent. And quite frankly, we wouldn’t have an America either. They have a right to protest. Just as you, too.

America has become so divisive of late. Every Monday, I used to be able to discuss the previous days’ football games. Now, I won’t mention them in accordance with my pledge to keep work non-partisan. America is too divided, and I can no longer enjoy football…

He gets out tomorrow….

My father has spent the past 4 weeks in the hospital. First in Madigan, then in Good Sam in Puyallup with a stroke (possibly two). For those of you who are following such things, it was his left posterior cerebral artery. Could’ve been worse, but this was still a major stroke.  There are still long lasting effects (namely aphasia, and difficulty counting money), but he has come a long way. He can now walk without a walker. He can go up and down stairs. Even there is aphasia, he can still talk, and his snarkiness is still there.

For safety reasons, he’ll need to be supervised 24/7 so he’ll be staying at my younger sisters for now. When the time is right, he’ll go back home to Grandma.

Things may never be the same again, but they’ll be alright.

So, it’s been awhile….

So, it’s been awhile since I used the laptop. I can tell that. It took over four hours to bring it up to date. First there was the Windows Update. There was at least one big update that didn’t get installed the last time I used it. And then there were the usual various and sundry other updates that needed to be installed. Then there were the Microsoft Store apps that were installed. And while those were running, I had to update Firefox (and the extensions, too). And then Steam and Origin (actually those were more mainly installing the two games that I had purchased since I last turned it on)….

But it’s all good. The laptop is up-to-date…

Fired up the laptop today

So today I came down with another flare-up of my chronic operating system wanderlust. So after backing everything up yesterday (backing up my Steam gashes took the longest), I pulled out my Windows 8.1 📀 set and started to wipe my tower.

But while I'm doing this, I still have a working computer. I haven't touched it in a while, but my laptop still works. So, I've pulled out of and turned it on. Though I'm worrying this from my phone since it needs to install two months' worth of updates first...

Don’t ship Brown!

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve ordered a few items from Worst Buy. Nothing really big. Just a couple of pairs of headphones and a watch. Ordered them online. And they were promptly shipped. That’s where my problems began. They were shipped via UPS. Normally when I’m not home, they leave a notice, and I can sign it, and they leave on my doorstep the next day. I’ve never had a package stolen (I trust my neighbors). But these last three shipments were not the case. There was just a simple notive on my door that they were being delivered to the UPS access point. After the first two items were delivered there (two different orders showed up on the same day), I went to pick them up. Big mistake. They require photo ID. My ID (Washington State ID card) was apparently not accepted. There was another option to use an SMS to verify my phone number. Nope. So I left without my packages. I had to go to work the next day, and due to bus routes and my work schedule, nothing could be done until today….

And there was a third order that was shipped brown. It was supposed to be delivered today. It was my day off. I decided to stay home today and wait for it. I could’ve gone to the hospital and visited my father today, but I decided to wait. I waited. And in the afternoon, I noticed that another notice had been left on my door. The driver never knocked! I did sign up for UPS MyChoice, and there was an option to reschedule delivery for $8.00 per package! I guess that’s why the driver didn’t bother knocking. UPS is trying to double-dip and collect on shipping from both ends. I contacted UPS, and after the standard we can reship it/we can return it hollow non-apology response, I told them to return all three items, and I’ll just eat my losses. They did offer to schedule a redelivery free of charge, but the trust is gone. I’ve also let Best Buy know what is going on. Perhaps their legal team will be more vigorous in recovering shipping losses than UPS is in bothering to deliver them.

I spent about $75.00 on these three items, and I didn’t get them. And I really don’t know if I’ll get my money back. UPS not only owes me an apology, but they also owe one to Best Buy. But we both know that’s not going to happen. Had UPS actually given a shit to begin with, I’d have my items. Instead, I have excuses, empty promises, and pretend apologies from incomptent clods who never really cared to begin with.

Just don’t ship brown people. UPS just doesn’t care.

So sometime last year….

So apparently sometime last year, I had set the X1 box to record Monday Night Football. Which it still did. Sunday, I set up a recording for the Monday Night game, knowing I would be at work. And today, being my day off, I went to watch the game, and realized that I had last week’s doubleheader recorded, too.

So I guess, I have three football games to watch today…

Arrrr...

Today is International Talk Like A Pirate Day. Shiver your timbers. Buckle your swash. Splice the main brace. Although if you do the latter, I'd rather you not drive. Popping a DUI is no fun.

Right now I'm in the hospital, visiting Dad. He's currently sleeping, after a busy morning. I'll let him sleep. He's making much progress.

For the first time this season…

Tonight, not only is my window closed, but I just turned on the heat for the first time.I’ll probably turn it off before I go to bed momentarily. But it’s still worth noting that I’m using the heat again.

Today was my friday. Tomorrow I go to visit dad with my sister. I’ve a few other errands to run, and she has offered to drive me around on my day off (first offered it during mom’s memorial). Since my bike is a lemon, I was going to recycle it (about 40 lbs. of aluminium). But instead, I’m going to give it to my boss at Mrs. Fields. My next bike should be here on Friday. And application of lesson learned: the box will not be thrown out until I’ve assembled it.

The weather has finally turned...

The ratings came back about a month ago, but summer had some reserve left in it. With the end of summer coming this week, the rains have come back. Not that I'm complaining.

When I planned my trip to work today,I decided to try a new route. But, I left at the wrong time, and now I have a half our to kill at the transit center. I'm not going to be late to work. I'm just über early.

Dad is now talking in coherent sentences, and he's walking longer distances. This was a major stroke that he had, and any progress is grounds for rejoicing.

Happy Birthday Grandma. 92 years old today. Get the cake!

An attempt at making my commute better….

So I finally broke down this past labor day. I ordered a bicycle. I knew that I couldn’t order just a bicycle (which was the main reason why I had held off for so long). In addition to a bicycle, I’d have to get a helmet (I’ve buried friends who went biking without helmets). And I’d have to get a lock or two (Parkland is still one of the shadiest areas around). Then I was thinking what would happen while I was riding it. So that meant a portable tire pump, patches and tools. And I would be riding in the dark. So that meant lights. I placed the order….

I was going to get a hybrid bike, since I was to be using this mainly for work, riding over roads. The model I hod originally ordered had fenders and a cargo rack. It arrived yesterday, and I started putting it together. The front brake needed to be adjusted, but it still worked. It was missing the bolt to install the front fender. Ok, I can go get another one. The real reflector was smashed (shipping casualty). I was going to replace it with a light. But the deal breaker was the bicycle chain. Somehow it had lodged between the chain ring and the frame, and no amount of pulling or swearing could budge it. The only way to fix it was to take the crank arm off, and I don’t have those tools. And it’s kind of a deal breaker to have to take it to a bicycle mechanic straight from the box. BTW, I stupidly decided to throw the box out right away, so I can return it. So I decided to order a different one (a slightly better model). The no-go bike will be recycled, but I will be keeping the seat…..

Saw Dad today….

My dad is now out of Madigan. He was discharged in to acute rehab. At Good Sam hospital in Puyallup. My younger sister made that call. It was either that or St. Joe’s in Tacoma (or a bunch of hospitals in Seattle), and it was decided basically by looking at the bus lines. It’s easier for the non-driving children to make it Puyallup.

Basically, my father had a stroke on the left Posterior Cerebral Artery, and all the symptoms that he’s been showing reflect that. My uncle Bill was discussing this with his doctor at Madigan, and make no doubt about, this was a major stroke. He’s only communicating with 1 or 2 words at a time, and he’s sleeping a lot. And there’s a lot that he has to relearn again. But he is trying. And he still recognizes his children….

All will be well. It may not be the same as before. But all will be well…

I can't explain it...

I can't explain it. But for some reason today feels like a good day for cake....

Don’t want to really go into it, but

I have to remind myself that I need to let go of my ego. No matter how bad it is, hubris will only make things worse…

Tonight’s episode of buyer beware comes from….

Famous Footwear. Went in today to use my gift card. I had been there several times before (I usually paid for my purchases with Paypal there. Something that will come up later). So today, I go in & look for a good pair of Columbia footwear. Normally, they have a buy 1, get 1 half price, so I also selected a pair of K-Swiss trainers (as well as the Columbia’s). I knew this was more than my gift card, but I figured I could paypal the rest. Go up to checkout, and give them the gift card. They ring me in. I give them my gift card. They ask me how much is on it, And I said there was $100. She said there was only $52.41 on it. Red Flag #1. But I roll with it, since I had also gotten 15% off for joining the rewards program. I then said that I’d like to use my paypal. And that’s where the probem started. The creen didn’t advance to where I would enter my phone number, and the other employee basically told me that I wasn’t going to be using my paypal that day. So I decided to fuck it, and told them I didn’t want to make the purchase. Now, any cashier capable of rubbing two neurons together would be able to figure out that you just hit the void key. Nope. Not these two people. Nope. They were going to have to ‘cash out’ my gift card and give me another one. I told them to forget it, and I walked out. The overall ‘vibe’ I got from my experience was that I wasn’t welcome, and even though they have my money, I can’t have my product.

So, I’ve asked Famous Footwear to have their district manager explain to me:

1. I want to know why my gift card only had $52.41 on it, and I want to see the entire purchase history of it. And this is for the old card, not the new one that they were going to load it onto. I smell a rat.
2. I need an explanation as to why they no longer accept Paypal. I have the paypal app and pin set up, and I was flat out told that I couldn't use it on this purchase.
3. I need an explanation as to why the 2 employees at the register are not adequately trained. And specifically why the store manager allowed this to happen, and why specifically he/she will still have a job here.
4. I need an explanation as to why I wasn't welcome there. It seemed like I was a burden there, and it was just easier for me to just eat my losses and leave then to keep being told no and to jump through your hoops for a simple purchase of two pairs of shoes.

Now, it’s not the loss of the gift card that really bothers me. It was a gift from my brother, and this is a case where it is the thought that truly counts. But there is a reason why he got it for me, and he is not happy that I’m getting jack shit for it…

Famous Footwear, I’ll leave it your imagination to figure out where you can shove your gift card and your excuses.

BTW, suprisingly I was able to find the exact same shoes on Newegg. Who knew?