Old lady is a mean neighbor

Today I decided to mow my yard - it was long over due, and life has been busy.

So I go about my usual inspection of the yard - to check for stuff I don't want to mow over (namely dog poop), and came upon a pile of dead branches in my yard, right next to my neighbor's fence.

A pile.

Initially I thought - oh no, did my tree die. Then thought, ok, maybe my neighbor is pissed at the tree that has grown next to her fence, and decided to trim the part that went over. So I inspect the branches a bit.

Nope. That's total yard waste from the vine that grew around her patio. Neatly cut. I don't even have scissors that sharp.

I was pissed. OK. So not only did I find cigarette butts in my yard from her, now this. I admit that my yard looks bad, but its no a dumping ground for her junk.

Looked around, I picked up the pile (that kinda stuck together) and tossed it over into her yard. Then immediately I regret it knowing that she will know that I tossed it over.

Whatever. Actually - as I thought about it, I thought, next time when something like that comes over, I am going to ring her bell at 11pm and hand her the stuff she dump into my yard, politely, asking if her granddaughter had left it. I'll just be polite and return her stuff for her.

Remind me that I need a camera. Next time I am taking pictures. :) including those of watering the lawn if we ever had water restriction. Because I am sure she would do it.

We know our evil postman ...

This was what I found in my mailbox when I got home yesterday :


Ugh.

When Amy used to live at my place, she had a suspicion that our postman doesn't like her. Like sometimes she won't get her mail or such.

Once, I believe she even got a little note (not as formal as this one) - that her car is blocking the neighbor's mail.. I think.

Our suspicion was confirmed with another neighbor across the street - who also got a note threatening to have her mail suspended if she doesn't move her car out of the way from the mailbox. She - luckily - had move out of the neighborhood a few years back and never had to deal with our postman again.

So what now ? I don't really mind my neighbor parking in front of my house... but I am not sure why can't the post man just walk out and put the mail in the mailbox. Isn't that their job ? irregardless rain or snow ?

Some option I think :
1. Photocopy the above note and add a nice note and put it at my neighbor's wiper next time I see the car parked in front of my house.
2. Chris said to call the Post office general to see if that's the case. I am sure that would result in many un-delivered mail....

Hmmmm.... what to do.. what to do...
Maybe I should just always have my mail picked up...

Ants in the house

I don't like ants too much. At least those that tried to bite me, or crawled on me.

So, when I got home today, I saw a bunch of ants: by the sink, on the counter, on the walls, in my plants , and my oven! Ack !!! I tried to figure out what is getting them interested, because generally there are only a few scouts... or if they found food - there will be a line formed. Its sort of like in between scouting and food find. Think they are confused by bad information.

Not sure where they are coming in either :(

The attempt to get ride of them involves:

• Squeezing them individually. That was too slow.
  
• Spraying them with Chlorx
• Sqeezing them - after Chlorx was sprayed. They were still alive.
  
• Spaying them with those insect spray.
  

That worked. Tho its pretty poisonous. So I scrubbed the counter top with soap before i forget and eat stuff off it.

I left some ants in my garbage and tossed it out. Now I feel a bit bad. Is it better to have them killed than leaving them living in the garbage and die of a slow death? Sometimes I think about molds like that too...

Found in mail

Not so mad at Sprint today. Got a wrapped package containing "return package" in the mail yester. Finally! It was dated Aug 10 and if it had arrived a bit earlier (without the previous card that said please call them), I would've saved 2 hrs and no paranoia about giving my SSN away.

ying todo: be more patient.
ying todo: never call Sprint ever again.

evil shall be blogged..

I am really annoyed at Sprint, again. At least I wasn't today until after 2 hrs of wasted time getting thru to them to try to return a phone. The third time I was ask what my phone number was - I wasn't happy and basically said I'll file a complaint and have a good day.

The story starts end of July when I saw an site pointing to Sprint Employee Referral Program. The deals was too good to be passed up, as I don't have a contract for ages... and needs a new phone.. really (my poor old phone).

July 29 - Went thru the website and ordered a phone. Very excited. It offered me to transfer my phone number over - I was fine w/ that. No problems. At least no problems the online site can see.

Then... everything went downhills from there...

It took me 3 calls to Sprint (each with a bit of wait time from 10~20 minutes) to finally figure out where my phone was, and it finally arrived on Aug 7. Still not too bad. I wasn't annoyed - not till when I checked my account and noticed I have two phone lines. Two phone lines!! why would I want that ? maybe someone does but not me.

*about 2 hrs wasted - 3 reps*

I called immediately back to Sprint with the new phone to sort that out. After being on hold, and got transferred over... I got to someone who seems to know what is going on and explained to me b/c how I ordered it. She suggested a solution that needed basically another phone line so she can call me back with instructions. Unfortunately, nope, can't do. She leave notes on my account and said to call back and someone can help me sort it out.

*about 1 hrs wasted - total 3 wasted hrs. - 5 reps total*

Next day ( Aug 8 )was pretty bad. Besides the waiting time that's about 20 minutes... I was first routed to a lady who said she knows what is going on.. but when she started to fix it, she said - oh I can't do that.. I need to transfer you to someone who can do that on both lines. Hold . transfer again .. ACK. I was so tired of repeating myself .. at least the rep over the phone said - oh let me pull your info up. Luckily the instructions are there. But - she can't do a thing.. she said what the person previously said can't be done. OK. Fine. I'll cancel the new thing I signed up.

The rep said she'll send me a return form. Good.
Sometimes I think Sprint has some people who are really good and helpful but they are just getting screwed by the corporate policies. Like now.

* about 2 more hrs wasted - total 5 hrs wasted - 8 reps total*

The night isn't finished yet... as I got home, I discovered that I can't use my old phone!! I check my account, and noticed that I got a completely different phone listed as my phone. I called back immediately with the new phone, more wait time - finally got to someone who gave me instructions on how to program my old phone.... at least she knew what she was doing.

She ended the call with - would I like to renew my contract. Nope. Not a chance. In fact it will be bye Sprint soon.

*more time wasted - ~6 hr - 9 reps*

So its back to normal now...... right......
I got a "return package " that consists of a sheet of paper including instructions on how to contact a rep to ensure i am eligible to return my phone. Some process. Fine.

Today 8/14 - was when I finally had some time to call Sprint to see how I can return that phone. I just want my phone returned!! don't they want their stuff back??

The saga starts 6:26 pm .
6:26 pm: rep #1 picks up the phone, was surprised that I was there (this was like within 15 secs of me calling the number that someone picked up)
- rep #1 was confused about which phone I want to return.
(apparently the new phone is no longer listed in my account )
- rep #1 understood.. and attempts to find my number + account into
- in between - many mini holds (1~5 minutes) to longer holds (~10 minutes)
- rep #1 comes back and asks me to repeat my information.
- rep #1 then tells me that she can't seem to find and asks for my SSN
- me #1 - refuses
- rep #1 puts me on hold and when return said she really can't find the phone... asks me for SSN.
- me - refuses.
- that goes on for a while.. till she said - I can't really help you at this moment
- I gave up - and said - ok. here it is. (totally bad idea and don't try this at home! )
- rep #1 puts me on hold again and then got back to me and tells me that she needs to transfer me to someone who can give me a package slip.

7:10 pm - Got routed to rep #2 - picks up.
- this rep was really giggly. She asked me for my account number and really wasn't paying much attention at all... and I was pretty pissed at that point. Determined to get thru this, I just waited..
- rep #2 puts me on mute (without telling me but I know) - probably to get herself un-giggly.
- rep #2 gets back to me and asks for my passcode to my account.
- me - gives passcode
- rep #2 said - ok. I need to put you on hold and bring someone to help me with this.

7:26 pm - put on hold. Again.
8:00 pm - hold music changed.
8:16 pm - After on hold all these time... I thought - ok - that's finally over... NOPE.
- rep #3 - Hello , can I have your account number please?
- me - ranted about how I started at 6:26pm, and no info got transfered.
- me - let rep #3 know that I'll be filing a complaint with BBB - and thank him.

* 2 measurable hrs wasted- total 8 hrs wasted - 11 reps.
Lesson learn: Sprint is evil , and deals that are too good to be true probably are not good deals.*

Nothing resolved. Maybe I should just bring this phone to Sprint store and see if they'll take it back. Take it back Sprint!! Good bye 4 years of being a customer.

Now that's some bad customer service. And that's a full day of time I wasted.

no skills necessary ...

Today marks.. the first time I actually consider, and more importantly - ACT - on getting my blog created. Really really long story involving Sprint (evil) - which I thought - EVERYONE should know what happened.. (for me a documentation). I am amazed at the simple process that it took to get it going.. see how long I get this updated.