A Letter

Is there anyone out there who can help us?

We’ve been trying to get Verizon FIOS to correct our bill since December 28th. We assumed the problem was corrected but the bill we received on January 22nd showed the problem was anything but fixed. We tried to correct the problem again on the 22nd and the 25th. After spending up to 60 minutes on the phone with Verizon, my husband was told a manager would call us on Monday the 28th because, “all the managers have left for the day…we’re cleaning out the cubicles.”

On the 28th at 4:50 I called Verizon (no manager ever contacted us) and was on the phone for 70 minutes. The manager I got in contact with said he would have, “one of my best guys” look at the case and call me tomorrow (29th). At that point it was already 6:00pm and I guess he too had to clean his cubicle and go home.

The 29th came and went without a phone call from the manager or his ‘best guy.’ After leaving a message with the manager asking about the status of my case, I placed a call to Verizon’s corporate offices, where I was transferred to Verizon’s Customer Advocacy Group. There I was told a case specialist would contact me within 24 hours.

25 hours later, we’re still waiting for a manager in Customer Service to contact us.

Verizon, I have tried numerous times to contact you. Can you hear me now?

Wons

This afternoon, at approximately 4:45 pm, the beloved snowman affectionately known as Wons ('snow' backwards) keeled over and passed away.

At 4:20, initially complaining of some chest pain and leaning to the left, SNUD (student nurse)Rachel tried to assist by massaging his left side and trying to push him back to the right. (he was leaning!)

All attempts failed. At 4:45, Wons was found to have suffered from a major attack, falling onto his side, his body separating into three distinct sections. Attempts at CPR & reattachment were fruitless.

Please contact Mother Nature for funeral arrangements.

SNOWMAN!

Ryan and I made my very first snowman today!

This is how it went...

I started out walking towards the front door and Ryan walking out the back. Apparanlty you have to run the snow to where you want the snowman to sit? (I thought snowmen were made by gathering the snow into a pile and forming into a shape).

Anyways. Ryan rolled all three parts of the snowman, I took some twigs and used them for arms, a real carrott nose, and rocks for eyes & a mouth. He has a plaid scarf & a yellow bucket pot for a hat.

Then we got the camera and...

it died.

I took pictures with the camera phone, but I have no idea how to get that transferred to the pc.

THEN we decided to drive the grocery store to buy a disposable camera.

Bad idea.

We barely made it out of the driveway when we decided, "hm, bad idea...Floridians driving in snow."

not sure which was harder...backing out of the driveway, or trying to get back in.

so now the snowman is getting buried in snow, the car is parked slanted in the driveway, and the camera is still broken.

and it's not yet determined how I'm going to get to campus for the exam tomorrow if classes aren't cancelled. That's another post :)

Snowing, Part II

It's snowing again. REALLY snowing. As in, I was nearly trapped at Starbucks snowing.

Keeping the Florida tag is a great way to let the locals know that there is a reason I won't drive faster than 20 miles an hour in snow.

Now...what are the chances that classes are cancelled tomorrow and the exam is postponed....

time

Classes started up again last week and life as i know it has flown out the window. If I hear one more 'teacher' say, "if you think this is bad, remember to tell yourself this is a vacation. Wait until next semester."

We all know next semester (February-June) is going to be awful.

But right now, we all feel that THIS semester is awful. I came home sick from stress on the first day (another classmate broke out in a rash).

Since the next week will be filled learning about the giving bed-baths, changing bed pans, and taking vitals, I figured I'd quickly mention the new years trip to NY.

It was fun.

I ate. a lot.

The Rockettes? WERE TERRIFIC! I want to see them again next year (but before Xmas), as well as NYC Ballet of The Nutcracker.

Dinner at this tiny (and packed) Italian restaurant on the UWS was excellent (straight up Italian...even the TOURISTS sitting next to us were Italian). The tiramissu? to die for. No, really. I NEVER order tiramissu because I've never seen the big deal, but something told me I HAD to get it. I didn't even look at the dessert menu...we just ordered two cappaccinos & one tirramissu to share, and oh my goodness.

It's worth a train ticket to the restaurant JUST FOR THAT DESSERT.

I'm still having dreams about that dessert.

Oh, and the run you ask? how was that?

Only the best way to celebrate New Years (unless at friend Cassidy's party with friends...then it's the second best).

seriously, we had so much fun...from getting off the subway and following the 'cast' of Alice in Wonderland to the party, to crossing the finish line, it was GREAT. We ran the entire 4 mi at a snail's pace, but hey, we ran the entire thing AND we weren't ready for it. AND from mile 2 to mile 3 it was uphill. I LOVED getting high fives from the people on the 'sidelines' watching us. Getting nearly run over by a blind Homer S=impson was fun, too.

46:something wasn't so bad considering we also ate a greasy pizza for dinner....(that was good, too...not as good as the tiramissu though).

Heading to dinner....on new years eve...

self potrait. Dressed for the midnight run...

We're Heading to Brooklyn!!!

In case you forgot...

My last vacation before hopefully graduating
+
The husband getting guaranteed leave for New Years
=
New Years in New York!

No...not exactly Manhattan NY. We're too poor for that, but we scored a decent rate at a hotel in Brooklyn. (my father's reaction: You're staying in BROOKLYN?!)

I'm super psyched.

Here's my to do list:

1. Skate at Rockefeller Center (yes, ridiculously overpriced, but honestly, when I will I do that again?)

2. Possibly stand in the crowd of the Today Show like an idiot. Only because I want to ice skate FIRST THING in the morning because I hate waiting in line. I'm thinking of holding up a sign that says, "Hey camera man, FREEZE on ME!" (stolen from college roommate who wore a cow costume to the Today plaza with a sign saying, "Hey Camera man...Mooooove on over to me!" I don't think it was Halloween either).

3. The Rockettes! We have our tickets and we're going on the last day of the performance. Yet another reason to start those new years resolutions now: great legs.

4. Brooklyn Museum of Art

5. MOMA if I can convince the husband.

6. Brooklyn Botanical Garden would be nice if it wasn't winter.

7. Visit a church to give my thanks to St. Joseph (he helped sell our house). Yes, I'm superstitious. No, I'm not religious. Yes, there's a difference.

8. Walk 5th Ave to see the window displays. Secret: When I was in middle/high school I wanted to be a window dresser. This dream was crushed when I realized that retailers all used the same window design that was mailed to each store. Also crushed when Lincoln Rd on Miami Beach went from trendy & gay mom-and pop pedestrian mall to trendy & gay chain pedestrian mall.

9. Eat at Arties: 1 potato pancake, 1 pastrami sandwich on rye, and rugelach. Lots of rugelach.

10. Burn off above meal by running in the NYRR Central Park midnight run. I will do it. I will pay to run 4 miles in the bitter cold. At midnight. (my mother says: "Oh, that's great. you're staying in BROOKLYN, you wanted to walk 125th street, now you're going to run in Central Park at midnight and get mugged?!")

could I be any more excited?!!!!

You've Come A Long Way...

So I've been on blogging leave of late. I imagine you all thought I was off somewhere, like Paris.

I wasn't.

But the holidays were good, and apparently Santa knew that I've been on my most best-est behavior.

The sweetie picked up a *gasp* Le Creuset 5 1/2 round oven! For. ME! Ok, maybe he was being slightly selfish in thinking he would get awesome meals cooked in that hefty piece of equipment. He's right to think so. I made chicken with 40 cloves of garlic, brocolini w/ a balsamic vinegar sauce (made by moi), and that uber-yummy herbed basmati rice. All this from the late blooming girl who thought Jell-o had to be baked.

YAY!

What did the sweetie get from Santa? An ultra-cool Garmin 305. The thing is wicked smart. Almost scary smart. So smart that I might have to buy one for me if I ever graduate and earn a pay check!

Other news:

There was a 1/2 decade (aka 5 year) wedding anniversary involving a surprise dinner reservation at Melting Pot (oddly, I had a fondue party (my first ever) at the townhouse shortly after moving in, but have never done fondue at a restaurant...or other person's house). Flowers were also ordered AND SENT TO THE RESTAURANT. Seriously. When did the sweetie get so smart & romantic?

I leave you with the begining of the end of the anniversary dinner, or why I had to remove my belt in the car on the way home.

Eye Candy: ZERO calories.