Refreshed from a beatiful vacation in Northern California, I return older, wiser and ready to delve into new possibilities. This has nothing to do with drinking too much wine in Napa, or inhaling "funny fog" in San Fransico. In fact, it has everything to do with NPR...
But first. I invite you to recall your first pen-pal. Perhaps it was a class project-- everyone in your home-room was matched with a 2nd grader in a classroom in Ohio. You took some time to compose a thoughtful and penmanship perfect letter on lined paper to Molly in Mississippi, or Oliver in Ohio. Maybe it was even Francoise in France. Oh la la! You'd send the letter and then...wait...and finally, a response! Rupa from Roanoke wrote about her pet guinea pig and a field trip to a local museum. So like your own life, and yet so different.
Listening to NPR Saturday, there was a story, paraphrased, "There are thousands of ways to express who you are and mixing a CD of your favorite music is the latest thing. Around the country, CD clubs are exchanging mixes, discovering new music and getting to know each other in a unique way. Every month, twelve members of the Bobcats await the latest delivery. Producer Gideon D'Arcangelo explores the world the CD clubs with members from New York City."
Not only do you get to receive a treasure in the mail, you get to discover new music, and while I hesitate to suggest making new friends, it is possible!
So reader, please post a response if you are seriously interested in joining such a club-- I found one willing participant on line already, and Evil Twin #1 might join...you would be responsible for making a mix cd and sending out 11 copies one month-- the other 11 months you would receive a different mix.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Friday, August 19, 2005
Roots: Part 2, Or, How To Grow An Avocado Tree
Hot on the heels of my post on my roots, is a new feature-- Nora's Avocado Tree. She has been growing it for 2 months. The first picture is from Monday....see the difference between then and NOW, Friday! Oh, wait, the pictures are reversed. Stay tuned for more updates...
Roots
In the past 9 years I've lived in Boston, I've settled in, but always kept a few things (banks, licenses) local to Wichita or Seattle-- my other "homes". Living in Boston can be a transitory experience; people move frequently because of roommate changes, rent increases, pest problems. And being young and with limited responsibility, it's nice to have the option to get up and leave at any time. My friend Rashmi notes that she always leaves one box packed, symbolizing a chance at impermanence.
This past year I decided to fully embrace Boston. I had the address on my checks changed (so what if I move-- I'll change it again) and yesterday I went to the DMV to finally get a Massachusetts driver's license (those who go out with me know I have no fewer than 3 ids-- two former driver's licenses and a passport). Alas, our best laid plans can hit a snag. I didn't have all the necessary paperwork (I did have two valid signatures, my checkbook, passport and old license, but nothing "official" with my current/new address). I was frustrated but knew there was nothing I could do. So it looks like I'll be off to the West Coast today...using my passport.
This past year I decided to fully embrace Boston. I had the address on my checks changed (so what if I move-- I'll change it again) and yesterday I went to the DMV to finally get a Massachusetts driver's license (those who go out with me know I have no fewer than 3 ids-- two former driver's licenses and a passport). Alas, our best laid plans can hit a snag. I didn't have all the necessary paperwork (I did have two valid signatures, my checkbook, passport and old license, but nothing "official" with my current/new address). I was frustrated but knew there was nothing I could do. So it looks like I'll be off to the West Coast today...using my passport.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
The Top 10 Things About Moving
10. The 24' standard transmission, if-you're-a-trucker-you'll-know-how-to-drive-this, van. Quick downgrade to 14' automatic transmission.
9. Not having ever gone to the Corrib Pub on Beacon, my closest bar (or the Holiday Inn bar, which is likely closer).
8. 6 half hour sessions on the stairmaster at the gym condensed into one 3 hour workout. In 92 degree heat.
7. Smog advisory!
6. Having one of the movers poop out halfway through the day.
5. G checking for a hotspot first thing after the movers leave.
4. What's more expensive than Trader Joe's? The Harvest Coop!
3. Water, water, more water...
2. Forgetting the coffee maker.
1. Eating dinner and having a beer at 9 pm on the front porch with G.
9. Not having ever gone to the Corrib Pub on Beacon, my closest bar (or the Holiday Inn bar, which is likely closer).
8. 6 half hour sessions on the stairmaster at the gym condensed into one 3 hour workout. In 92 degree heat.
7. Smog advisory!
6. Having one of the movers poop out halfway through the day.
5. G checking for a hotspot first thing after the movers leave.
4. What's more expensive than Trader Joe's? The Harvest Coop!
3. Water, water, more water...
2. Forgetting the coffee maker.
1. Eating dinner and having a beer at 9 pm on the front porch with G.
Friday, August 05, 2005
Reunion
I received an email a few weeks ago informing me of my upcoming 10 year high school reunion. Reunions strike fear in some, and barely containable anticipation in others. Although a few years ago I was excited and couldn't wait, now I feel a little ambivelant. I haven't returned to Wichita in 5-6 years, and feel I keep up with most people I want to. There was a link to our reunion website attached to the e-mail and I decided to check it out.
Success is truly in the eye of the beholder as many people have taken paths I would never have dreamed of (not attending/finishing college, married with children, conversion to evangelical Chritianity, living in small town America...). But those who have posted seem genuinely happy and excited to see people next summer.
Anyone who's seen "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion" will recall that the two friends decided they would go only if they reinvented themselves. The created for themselves new outfits, new jobs and fabulous resumes (including inventing post-its). I know the moral of the movie is to embrace what you actually have achieved, blah, blah, blah. But I am below that and want a fabulous past nine years and, in order to make this blog more INTERACTIVE, am soliciting suggestions (real, or imagined!) for my own bio.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Frame Blame
Zara's lack of anger has left a black hole and void which the rest of us must now recover. There are PLENTY of things to be angry about, so, in love as I too am, I will have to step up to the plate. I started today, not 20 minutes ago, when I went to The Art Store to return an inexpensive frame I bought last week. Details are below:
One week ago I purchased the frame, only to open it at home and see that the plexiglass was scratched (under 2 layers of plastic). Despite the receipt saying that returns would only be accepted for items in the original packaging, I thought for sure their customer service would step in with some sort of customer-is-always-right-here's-your-refund-with-a-smile. I took the opened frame in with the receipt this afternoon, and Jim refused to refund my $13. I explained to him that I was aware of the policy, but surely they would make an exception for this obviously inferior product. "No", Jim explained, because, "There's no way I can know that you didn't scratch it and we can only accept returns that we can resell." Could I speak to the manager? "No." Is there truly nothing I can do? "No." Not even an apology...I understand that in his peon part time job status, Jim's only following rules, but does that also entail offering no semblance of sympathy? Apparently. I started to walk out of the store, when Jim kindly asked, "Do you want to take the frame with you?" Seriously, it was scratched something awful-- completely unusable. And finally, "Well, do need parking validation?" My response to both these questions? "No."
Below is my e-mail fired off to customer service.
I purchased a frame at your Brookline Ave. store in Boston last week, and when I opened it at home, the surface of the plexiglass was scratched (under the double layer of plastic!). I understood from the receipt that the store couldn't accept returns for opened products, but I would have hoped that you would have a policy supporting the customer that trumps that policy. It's a $13 frame-- no great financial loss for me, or, certainly for your store. But now you have lost a multi-year customer-- worth a lot more than $13. I asked the man helping me if I could speak to the manager, and he said, "no". I was offered no alternative recourse (no refund, no store credit, and most importantly, NO APOLOGY!). Your policy, for honest consumers such as myself, is like nothing I have encountered at any other business, and is flawed.
**Editor's note: An e-mail exchange with the regional manager yielded an apology an explanation that the peon was likely following the policy for the frame makers, not the store, and a promise of a refund, if I bring the frame back to the store...which I would do, if I hadn't left it there in my fit of anger...The apology is good enough for me.
One week ago I purchased the frame, only to open it at home and see that the plexiglass was scratched (under 2 layers of plastic). Despite the receipt saying that returns would only be accepted for items in the original packaging, I thought for sure their customer service would step in with some sort of customer-is-always-right-here's-your-refund-with-a-smile. I took the opened frame in with the receipt this afternoon, and Jim refused to refund my $13. I explained to him that I was aware of the policy, but surely they would make an exception for this obviously inferior product. "No", Jim explained, because, "There's no way I can know that you didn't scratch it and we can only accept returns that we can resell." Could I speak to the manager? "No." Is there truly nothing I can do? "No." Not even an apology...I understand that in his peon part time job status, Jim's only following rules, but does that also entail offering no semblance of sympathy? Apparently. I started to walk out of the store, when Jim kindly asked, "Do you want to take the frame with you?" Seriously, it was scratched something awful-- completely unusable. And finally, "Well, do need parking validation?" My response to both these questions? "No."
Below is my e-mail fired off to customer service.
I purchased a frame at your Brookline Ave. store in Boston last week, and when I opened it at home, the surface of the plexiglass was scratched (under the double layer of plastic!). I understood from the receipt that the store couldn't accept returns for opened products, but I would have hoped that you would have a policy supporting the customer that trumps that policy. It's a $13 frame-- no great financial loss for me, or, certainly for your store. But now you have lost a multi-year customer-- worth a lot more than $13. I asked the man helping me if I could speak to the manager, and he said, "no". I was offered no alternative recourse (no refund, no store credit, and most importantly, NO APOLOGY!). Your policy, for honest consumers such as myself, is like nothing I have encountered at any other business, and is flawed.
**Editor's note: An e-mail exchange with the regional manager yielded an apology an explanation that the peon was likely following the policy for the frame makers, not the store, and a promise of a refund, if I bring the frame back to the store...which I would do, if I hadn't left it there in my fit of anger...The apology is good enough for me.
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