Earlier this week week a beautiful girl named Amanda took her own life after years of cyber and 'in real life bullying. It is a similar story to that of Pheobe Prince. She committed suicide in January 2010 after relentless bullying by her classmates. Both girls were 15, beautiful and utterly bullied to the end of their lives.
I do not know many of the details of Amanda's life and death but here is what I do know: she was a young girl who made the mistake of flashing her chest during an online chat. Someone took a screen shot and the proceeded to distribute this child pornography. The photo went viral in the local area. Amanda was cyber bullied (and likely stalked by an adult male who seemed to poison each new peer group she joined) and physically assaulted. At some point last weekend she decided that she had had enough and ended her life.
I have seen friends get angry and upset on Facebook. I have seen some people questioning the 'supervision' of Amanda's parents. And I guess that is what has prompted me to blog about this sad situation.
When I was 15 years old I 'flashed' the car of a friend. It was careless and crude and a silly indescretion. My friends and I laughed about it years later when Drew Barrymore flashed (and danced on David Letterman's desk). We reminisced about our youthful abandon and chuckled about what that same image would be today - flashing breasts from a minivan that had suckled three children and experienced the wrong end of a ruthless breast pump.
I flashed that car in 1991. My parents were active in my life, knew my friends and knew that I had a wild streak and had an issue with impulse control (see blog post about my run in with Drambuie). They educated me and provided me with resources. I had a relatively healthy peer group who were also impulse impaired rowdy teenaged girls. I grew up, completed two university degrees, started a career, married HWSNBN and had three children. I grew up relatiely unscathed from my teenage antics. They are now stories I hope my kids never hear but that I also chuckle about with friends.
That is not the world our teenagers live in today. You might think that you are an 'uber' parent and you know everything your child is doing and who they are connecting with but I am here to tell you that is not true. There is no way (unless you move to a remote part of the country and even then you better hope there is nothing evil like a public library or a Starbucks with WiFi) you can keep your children off the internet. Teenagers will always find a way. To deny them access to a computer may even be a denial of a basic way of current communication.
You will not be able to stop the impulsive girls and boys from doing things online which may be harmful to them in the future. It will always be there - a girl looking for acceptance can be talked into almost anything. Same thing for boys (hello - why do you think that gang initiations still happen?).
My job as a parent is to ensure that children know the consequences of their 'impulsive' and typical behaviour. But a bigger job is to teach them to not be a bystander, to not partake in bullying, to stand up to abhorrent behaviour. They will take these skills into adult hood (as I can assure them from experience that Asshats are everywhere). This is the job that will require them to not sink to the lowest denominator. This is the skill that will require strength and courage. They will need to have faith in themselves. They will need to be fearless.
I know that the school districts can do a better job. They can address bullying before it becomes fatal. I bet you if you interview the teachers from the elementary school where Amanda's peers transitioned through they will be able to tell you which kids they believe could be responsible for this ongoing bullying. There is no will to address this issue in the elementary / primary grades. Trust that I tried when my son was physically bullied in grades 2 & 3. There was a genuine disbelieve that children could / would bully when they are 7 & 8 years old in the school system. Most disappointing was the denied that such an event could happen from one of my sons' favourite and most skilled teacher. It is the one thing that I would change about her otherwise spotless practice as a teacher.
So that is our challenge - to be more active in our communities, to be aware of what our children are doing, not to fear correcting them when they are hurtful or thoughtless. You are not your child's friend - you are their parent and guardian which means that you have the responsibility to make sure that they are aware when their behaviour is not acceptable.
Today a wee second grader told my 4th grader that he was a nerd and laughed. I was standing right there. I took the oppourtunity to let the second grader know that it was not appropriate and that I would stop someone from saying mean things to him if I ever heard it. I told him that my son would stand up for him if someone was picking on him. He looked at my quizzically and smiled and said thank you.
Bystander - 1, wee pre bully 0. It wasn't hard, my son saw by example and wee second grader was not shamed for his comments but instead was also 'shown' how things can be different.
There are going to be bullies everywhere. Please teach and show your children how to not be bystanders but to be active in their communities. We can change the world.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
The Parents of Baby M - Alberta
There is a small girl clinging to life at Stollery hospital in Edmonton. She was beaten and denied basic neccessities of life by her parents. The result of their abuse, neglect and criminal actions have left Baby M in a near vegetative state. Her parents are currently in jail awaiting trial for causing her grievious injuries. She is a toddler. Who knew nothing in her short life except beatings from her mother and father.
These two parents are challenging the medical decision to have their daughter taken off ife support. Doctors agree that nothing more can be done for her and there is no chance of recovery. If she remains ventilated she will eventually contract an infection or pneumonia and slowly and painfully die. Perhaps this is the last human indignity that these 'loving' parents wish upon their daughter. She is just a baby.
The parents cite religious reasons why they will not permit the ventilator to be turned off. They state that they are loving parents (who just happen to be charged with beating a baby to near death). It never crossed their minds that if their daughter dies due to her injuries then they are facing more legal charges which may (and should include) murder.
Hmmmm..... the thoughtful decision by two caring parents who want their daughter to be bound to her earthly body OR the narcissictic planning of two parents who have been advised that they face possible murder charges if their daughter dies.
If she were a family pet she would be mercifully allowed to die. However she is now the pawn of two evil parents who would rather see her rot to death at Stollery hospital than show her any mercy. It is unclear why the parents retain guardianship of the child as they clearly do not have the capacity to make decisions in her best interest. I believe that Child Welfare services in Alberta is involved as CBC mentioned that there is a twin and possibly more children in the family. My thoughts are to those social workers who must be shaking their heads at the absurdity of this.
Further details are here in the National Post:
http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/09/14/judge-blocks-order-to-take-baby-m-off-life-support-as-alberta-parents-prepare-appeal-in-abuse-case/
Update October 2012
Baby M was allowed to pass away after her ventilator was removed when the courts upheld the original judgement to terminate further life sustaining medical interventions.
These two parents are challenging the medical decision to have their daughter taken off ife support. Doctors agree that nothing more can be done for her and there is no chance of recovery. If she remains ventilated she will eventually contract an infection or pneumonia and slowly and painfully die. Perhaps this is the last human indignity that these 'loving' parents wish upon their daughter. She is just a baby.
The parents cite religious reasons why they will not permit the ventilator to be turned off. They state that they are loving parents (who just happen to be charged with beating a baby to near death). It never crossed their minds that if their daughter dies due to her injuries then they are facing more legal charges which may (and should include) murder.
Hmmmm..... the thoughtful decision by two caring parents who want their daughter to be bound to her earthly body OR the narcissictic planning of two parents who have been advised that they face possible murder charges if their daughter dies.
If she were a family pet she would be mercifully allowed to die. However she is now the pawn of two evil parents who would rather see her rot to death at Stollery hospital than show her any mercy. It is unclear why the parents retain guardianship of the child as they clearly do not have the capacity to make decisions in her best interest. I believe that Child Welfare services in Alberta is involved as CBC mentioned that there is a twin and possibly more children in the family. My thoughts are to those social workers who must be shaking their heads at the absurdity of this.
Further details are here in the National Post:
http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/09/14/judge-blocks-order-to-take-baby-m-off-life-support-as-alberta-parents-prepare-appeal-in-abuse-case/
Update October 2012
Baby M was allowed to pass away after her ventilator was removed when the courts upheld the original judgement to terminate further life sustaining medical interventions.
Monday, August 20, 2012
The BC Commissionaires & City of Surrey (updated 2012AUG22)
As some of you know our dear cat Glimmer went missing on the night of July 28th. We handed out 100 flyers within a 1 km radius and put up 80 posters at mailboxes, light standards and coffee shops. Hope started to wane that we would find him after the first week. He was an 'outdoor' cat during the day as we have a beagle who uses an animal door. He always came home at night. It became clear to me after several nights and some reports from neighbours about raccoon attacks and coyotes seen in the neighbourhood that our sweet daft Glimmer had been predated.
He was well loved in our cul de sac and when HWSNBN (He Who Shall Not Be Named is my handle for my husband who hates to see his name in print) went door to door that first night he was missing we saw that love in motion. From the Chinese gramma who fed him tuna from her front step to the Indo Canadian kids who frolicked with him and the stay at home mom who enjoyed his company on her deck. He was loved and missed by our neighbourhood and especially us his non furry family.
We searched actively for Glim Glams for weeks. We took our beagle off leash in the wooded area and papered the neighbourhood like we were having a Garage Sale to end all Garage Sales. We posted in Craigslist, Facebook and Twitter, PetLynx and the BC Vets. He had a tattoo and we called the original vet and confirmed our address. We visited emergency vets and called shelters within a 20 km radius.
One night coming home from work I saw a coyote crossing the road a block from our house. I pulled over at 3 am and shook my fists at the wild dog and cursed it for eating our cat. It gave me the side eye gaze and looped back into the wooded area.
The story of Glimmer started in December when we adopted him from the SPCA. We found him after scouring the web at the local SPCA sites. I do not believe in getting cats from pet stores (unless placed there by shelters) or backyard breeders. I believe in animal shelters and rescued pets. We found our Glims right before Christmas and adopted him on the spot at the Langley Abbotsford SPCA. We filled out a form and answered all the questions and had our name entered into a database (mabe to ensure that we were not serial cat adopters?). Glimmer came into our home after a nominal fee of $180 which covered his neutering, tatoo and first vet visit. He was scrawny so we fed him turkey and gravy and milk for the first few weeks. He gained 2 pounds in six weeks and got a clean bill of health at his next vet visit. I had some guilt about not adopting a cat from our local SPCA in Surrey but they did not have an orange cat at the time and it took a lot of negotiating to get all three kids to agree on one cat (which we did by looking through the website for the SPCA). Because of my 'buy local' guilt I started to donate to our local SPCA monthly ($30).
When Glimmer went missing I learned that the SPCA no longer held the contract for the kenneling services in Surrey. An internet search revealed that the kenneling contract had been given to the BC Commissionaires. I searched online and could not find a website for the BC Commissionaires which had ANY information about the Animal Care Centre in Surrey or any information about their services offered. There was no posting of found animals.
I could search Petfinder and the SPCA and they had listed the cats available and the cats reported missing AND the cats turned in as strays. But the thriving metropolis of Surrey BC has no such service for their furry inhabitants. UNBELIEVABLE! And frankly unacceptable considering the amount I pay in property tax.
I went to the old SPCA location which is where the Commissionaires are at. They had a binder at the front desk and directed me to look in the folder as they had all the found cats there. No Glimmer. I put up a poster on their wall and asked about how often to check back and if I could actually LOOK at the cats that they had in the found area. They told me that for 'liability' reasons they could not allow me to see the cats. Was advised that they only keep the strays for 3 days before putting them up for adoptions (a bit of a short window considering the summer & people are on holidays!). I returned several times and brought a 20 pound bag of Iams cat food as a donation. Each time I went to the shelter I searched the wall of missing cat posters and the binder at the desk.
We have now come to terms with the fact that our cat is likely not coming home. We packed up our kitty carrier and returned to the Commissionaires building and chose a new cat (with great negotiations going on between the kids). Filled out 4 page form, was ignored by the 4 staff members who were there eating doughnuts and lectured by the clerk at the front about the fact that we should not get a cat unless we can ensure that it can be indoors (because presumably death by leathal injection is preferrable to living with an upper middle class family with a dog door). THEN she yelled at my son for walking the wrong way down the kennel alley where the dogs are kept.
To add to the misery and disorganisation they told us that they will get back to us within 48 hours after our application has been reviewed by a 'supervisor'.
During one of our earlier visits this same clerk advised that they had 100 cats and were thinking of housing them by colour.... and now I know why they have 100 cats waiting for a home.... no advertising, horrible service and a 2 day wait period to adopt a kitten.... wonder what went wrong with the low ball offer for the contract.
So here is what I have learned: you get what you pay for City of Surrey! You gave a contract to the lowest bidder and the result is substandard care of the abandoned and lost animals of our community. Sometimes you don't go with the lowest bidder. I am beyond disappointed that I am in any way paying for this substandard service through my tax dollars.
Bad decision City of Surrey. To the BC Commissionaires a HUGE raspberry for your asshat behaviour to my children and your utterly unprofessional pressence in my community. You are doing a disservice to the animals of Surrey and the potential pet owners. My son was crying when you advised that you might not adopt a cat to us because we have a dog door.
Oh and I found it especially classy when the staff cringed when the SPCA arrived with a stray dog and they actually started to nervously chatter and shuffle around (and stopped eating the doughnuts).... hmmm funny how your behaviour can change when you have actual professionals around.
Poorly played City of Surrey... messages into Mayor Diane Watts and her council are in the email bin as well as notes to The Surrey Now and The Leader newspaper. Surely as a community we deserve better.
Have you had the misfortune of dealting with the BC Commissionaires and the Animal Care Centre? Would love to hear about your experience. Maybe we can change this contract and provide a service that is actually helpful to cats and dogs in our lovely city.
UPDATE AUG 23, 2012
We received a call on August 21 by the Commissionaires to advise that our adoption application was approved and we were able to pick up our new kitten (s) later that afternoon. The incredibly rude woman who had lectured me the day before was present although she refused to make eye contact with me. We were assisted by a very helpful Commissionaire (the same woman that took our lost report in July for Glimmer). The kids were thrilled with the wee kitten & older kitten that we adopted (WHOLE other story about how that happened...).
I hate to criticize and organisation without providing some critical feedback about how they can improve. So here it is:
The BC Commissionaires need to advertise their available animals on the internet. You should be able to type in 'Surrey lost cat' and get the BC Commissionaires website which has a tab for missing and lost and available animals in the City of Surrey. Currently when you put Surrey Animals for adoption in a google search you get directed the the very efficient SPCA website which provides you with the information that they no longer hold the contract for the City of Surrey.
Get those available animals on Petfinder, have your own website, allow the citizens of Surrey to view your adoption form and policy BEFORE trekking out to the shelter with their three kids.
The BC Commissionaires need to hire staff to work at the shelter who actually like people AND animals. Without persistence and a flinty little heart, I would not have gone back there to adopt those cats. I could have easily walked away and gone to the SPCA in Maple Ridge or Langley Abbotsford. Your Mission statement should be to place the most number of animals that are abandoned and given up into the best homes available.
Last but not least - get some street signage! I was only able to locate the BC Commisionaires Animal Care Centre because it is housed in the old SPCA location on 152 street.
Advertise, Advertise, Advertise...
In the end I hope the City of Surrey spends my tax dollars on a new contract for kenneling to the SPCA - the professionals who seem to understand this whole animal welfare business and the importance of an online pressence in order to place animals quickly and efficiently.
I voted for Diane Watts and her council because I appreciated her style of governing and the fact that she outsmarted the bullies that were formerly in charge of Surrey. We are a better city because of her - I can only hope that she reconsiders this particular contract so the animals in the city of Surrey are better served as well.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Costco & their members
First of all - I have been a Costco member for a dozen years. I love their bread, organic products and El Grande sized hair products. I line up in December for the fresh turkeys and scrap with other members over the size 3 kids crocs in the Spring. But despite the love I have some hate for the Costco crowd.
First of all - parking. Why do Grandmas and truckers lose their sh&t in the parking lot? People seem to lose all sense of the linear concept of parking lots. They weave in and out and drive in the middle of the parking lot. It's like the comment rules of the road cease to exist the moment you merge into the parking lot from the non Costco world. I have seen senior citizens chase pregnant moms and toddlers out of the blank space of a parking space so they can turn in. I have watched huge Ford F 350s barrelling down the causeway of the entrance. Really people? There is LOTS of parking. So maybe you need to play chicken with the crazies behind the wheel in order to get to the entrance of Costco - but seriously it must start with the understanding that all the people piling out of the Costco are probably not taking the bus... which means that they are going to a parked car. Cut them some slack and let them get to their cars alive... its a win win! You can park there after they clear out.
Costco even acknowledges that they have a parking lot mentality problem! They have added 'bumper' spaces between the spaces! Bliss! Its like every stall is a handicapped stall. Except they are all not close to the entrance. But you can swing those doors open and you are not likely to whack anyones paint job! Sweet!
Once you get through the bouncers at the front of the store (really Costco? Is this neceesary for the double check for the card? I can't tell you how many times I have taken my card out of my wallet to show the Stasi at the door, only to lose it when I need to pass the second security check! And don't get my started on the THIRD check of my bill at the door. UGH! Next it will be retinal scans) it is a free for all during the gaunlet run of the 'specials' till you get the real store. All the while dodging Costco sized grocery carts and lookiloos - just trying to get to the granola bars. How many injuries are susatined in this process? Costco parking lot drivers turn into grocery cart maniacs once in the store.
All the rules about grocery shopping seem to go out the window. It might be the books in the middle of the store. It might be the overwhelming numbers of chocolate bars in close proximity. All of a sudden I am playing dodge ball with my cart trying to go through the ailes. And to add to the Olympic / Herculean effort being exerted you are rewarded with a further challenge of negotionating the sampler people! I swear multiple families plan their trips to Costco based on the sampler days. I should just turn around the first aisle I see these folks on... it always ends with a very strong urge to smack.
Finally I am done my shopping, have shelled out 30% of my paycheck and it is time to battle the parking lot and get home. Costco is a necessary evil for me - I have 2 boys who will likely manage to suck away my RRSP contributions for the next 15 years with their empty pit stomachs. But soon I am going to come prepared wearing full hockey gear (stick included) for the wilds of the Aisles from Hell.
Recommendations for Costco - more cashiers, less security points and more staff on the floor and parking lot directing traffic. Thanks! Love the biscotti!
First of all - parking. Why do Grandmas and truckers lose their sh&t in the parking lot? People seem to lose all sense of the linear concept of parking lots. They weave in and out and drive in the middle of the parking lot. It's like the comment rules of the road cease to exist the moment you merge into the parking lot from the non Costco world. I have seen senior citizens chase pregnant moms and toddlers out of the blank space of a parking space so they can turn in. I have watched huge Ford F 350s barrelling down the causeway of the entrance. Really people? There is LOTS of parking. So maybe you need to play chicken with the crazies behind the wheel in order to get to the entrance of Costco - but seriously it must start with the understanding that all the people piling out of the Costco are probably not taking the bus... which means that they are going to a parked car. Cut them some slack and let them get to their cars alive... its a win win! You can park there after they clear out.
Costco even acknowledges that they have a parking lot mentality problem! They have added 'bumper' spaces between the spaces! Bliss! Its like every stall is a handicapped stall. Except they are all not close to the entrance. But you can swing those doors open and you are not likely to whack anyones paint job! Sweet!
Once you get through the bouncers at the front of the store (really Costco? Is this neceesary for the double check for the card? I can't tell you how many times I have taken my card out of my wallet to show the Stasi at the door, only to lose it when I need to pass the second security check! And don't get my started on the THIRD check of my bill at the door. UGH! Next it will be retinal scans) it is a free for all during the gaunlet run of the 'specials' till you get the real store. All the while dodging Costco sized grocery carts and lookiloos - just trying to get to the granola bars. How many injuries are susatined in this process? Costco parking lot drivers turn into grocery cart maniacs once in the store.
All the rules about grocery shopping seem to go out the window. It might be the books in the middle of the store. It might be the overwhelming numbers of chocolate bars in close proximity. All of a sudden I am playing dodge ball with my cart trying to go through the ailes. And to add to the Olympic / Herculean effort being exerted you are rewarded with a further challenge of negotionating the sampler people! I swear multiple families plan their trips to Costco based on the sampler days. I should just turn around the first aisle I see these folks on... it always ends with a very strong urge to smack.
Finally I am done my shopping, have shelled out 30% of my paycheck and it is time to battle the parking lot and get home. Costco is a necessary evil for me - I have 2 boys who will likely manage to suck away my RRSP contributions for the next 15 years with their empty pit stomachs. But soon I am going to come prepared wearing full hockey gear (stick included) for the wilds of the Aisles from Hell.
Recommendations for Costco - more cashiers, less security points and more staff on the floor and parking lot directing traffic. Thanks! Love the biscotti!
Thursday, July 5, 2012
MOAs - not all just the crabby ones
My #1 kid sees a pediatrician... well all three children do and they happen to have different pediatricians due speciality (ADHD, prematurity & respiratory). I have been around medical offices quite often. I ADORE my GPs receptionist (Karen you are a gem).
However since December 2011 I have been dealing with am MOA from HE double hockey sticks. She gives you attitude on the phone (lots of Pffts, sighing, etc). I just know as I sit there with my mom sized calender she is going to offer me every crappy appoinment or conflicting appointment she can think of (as I am sure she is clairvoyant & trying to create the most amount of dialogue in to secure one appointment so that she can pratice her bitch tone), she fails to forward on messages to the doctor about prescriptions, she fails to call when she is delayed doing something about your appointment.
But today she went off the bitch reservation and called my house after an appointment to yell that I had confirmed that I would change my appointment today by 15 minutes. Irony is that my sweet Mennonite mother in law answered the phone (and not hag me). So she yelled at the wrong woman. My mother in law meekly told her that she would pass on the Holwer message. Cue 1 hour later when I get home. MiL does her best 'bitch' impression (which she hardlyhas any pratice at and can in no way due this MOA justice).
I sit and muse for about 30 minutes about what I am going to do.... 1) call her back and give it back to her, b) write a letter to the pediatricans and advise about the hellion that have on the phone, c) sit and stew and blog about it. Turns out I am not so good at sitting on it and decided that I can call her back AND blog about it! Win win!
Discounted the letter to the pediatricians unless I could find a way to send a letter to them which by passed the front desk.
Like all bullies she turned and ran when I called back... apologies and sadness.... me thinks that someone was lectured before hand because she was all puppies and balloons when I debated with her the importance of professionalism not withstanding the huge breach of confidentiality speaking about out appointment with someone who she did not bother to confirm was a family member. As she tried to defend her douchiness by saying that she called our hous this morning to change to appointment I had to remind her of technology and the fact that we have call display and the last time she called our house was on July 4th to confirm the scheduled time.
So a big kick in the shins to people who work in public but hate to deal with people. I quite like our pediatrician so I will endure her Asshole act.... but maybe when I see her next time I will make sure that I bring her a starbucks card because obviously karma is a bitch and she is about to get a beat down.
However since December 2011 I have been dealing with am MOA from HE double hockey sticks. She gives you attitude on the phone (lots of Pffts, sighing, etc). I just know as I sit there with my mom sized calender she is going to offer me every crappy appoinment or conflicting appointment she can think of (as I am sure she is clairvoyant & trying to create the most amount of dialogue in to secure one appointment so that she can pratice her bitch tone), she fails to forward on messages to the doctor about prescriptions, she fails to call when she is delayed doing something about your appointment.
But today she went off the bitch reservation and called my house after an appointment to yell that I had confirmed that I would change my appointment today by 15 minutes. Irony is that my sweet Mennonite mother in law answered the phone (and not hag me). So she yelled at the wrong woman. My mother in law meekly told her that she would pass on the Holwer message. Cue 1 hour later when I get home. MiL does her best 'bitch' impression (which she hardlyhas any pratice at and can in no way due this MOA justice).
I sit and muse for about 30 minutes about what I am going to do.... 1) call her back and give it back to her, b) write a letter to the pediatricans and advise about the hellion that have on the phone, c) sit and stew and blog about it. Turns out I am not so good at sitting on it and decided that I can call her back AND blog about it! Win win!
Discounted the letter to the pediatricians unless I could find a way to send a letter to them which by passed the front desk.
Like all bullies she turned and ran when I called back... apologies and sadness.... me thinks that someone was lectured before hand because she was all puppies and balloons when I debated with her the importance of professionalism not withstanding the huge breach of confidentiality speaking about out appointment with someone who she did not bother to confirm was a family member. As she tried to defend her douchiness by saying that she called our hous this morning to change to appointment I had to remind her of technology and the fact that we have call display and the last time she called our house was on July 4th to confirm the scheduled time.
So a big kick in the shins to people who work in public but hate to deal with people. I quite like our pediatrician so I will endure her Asshole act.... but maybe when I see her next time I will make sure that I bring her a starbucks card because obviously karma is a bitch and she is about to get a beat down.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Kobo Touch eReader & Customer Support
Above is a picture of my Kobo Touch eReader. On wednesday last week I decided to upload the second Hunger Games trilogy book 'Catching Fire' to my Kobo eReader. I got my Kobo for Christmas 2011 from my mother in law. She bought it at the Chapters location in Langley. The Hunger Games book was the third ebook that I had installed on my Kobo. I was slowly getting used to the idea of reading books on the eReader. I had a protective case for it and was thinking of completing my New Jersey Housewife motif by getting a new Zebra print cover.
I am an avid reader and am always ording books of chapters.ca and amazon.ca & amazon.com.
So imagine my horror when instead of reading about Katniss and Peeta I was met with this screen!
Here is a copy of the email exchange between me & Kobo customer Service. They didn't even bother to spell check the Please Fuck Off response:
Recently you requested personal assistance from our on-line support center. Below is a summary of your request and our response.
If this issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may reopen it within the next 10 days.
Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you.
Subject
RMA - Kobo Touch
Discussion Thread
Response Via Email (Chantelle S) 04/09/2012 02:35 PM
Hi Anastasia,
We apologize that you feel this way, but according to our warranty:
"You eReader must be shipped, prepaid and insured by you, in its original packaging, together with proof of purchase (i.e., a dated purchase or gift receipt) and the RMA number provided by Kobo, to the address specified by Kobo. If you purchased the Extended Protection Plan Limited Warranty, Kobo will be responsible for the cost of shipping your eReader to Kobo from within Canada or the United States."
"When Kobo receives your eReader, it will examine it and determine whether it is covered by this Limited Warranty. If, upon examination, Kobo determines that your eReader is covered by this Limited Warranty and an advance replacement eReader has not already been provided to your, Kobo will, within a reasonable period of time, at its option, do one of the following: (i) replace your eReader with a new or refurbished model of equal or greater value; or (ii) repair your eReader using new or refurbished parts. If your eReader is covered by this Limited Warranty, Kobo will send the replacement or repaired eReader to you within Canada or the United States, at Kobo’s cost and by Kobo’s choice of carrier."
Because you do not have the Extended Warranty purcahsed, you are responsible for paying the shipping fees. As well, seeing as the device was not purchased through Kobo, we are unable to organize an exchange for you at Chapters.
We sincerely apologize for any inconveniences caused but these are our policies that we must follow.
Sincerely,
The Kobo Team
Customer By Email (Anastasia Redekop) 04/09/2012 01:46 AM
I want to be very clear that you are asking me to pay to ship and insure my broken Kobo to you so that you 'work on it' and return it to me within 3 weeks?
I have owned this Kobo touch since Deceber 2011. It has 3 books loaded onto it - it has not been heavily used.
When I purchased the third book (Catching Fire) and tried to load it onto the Kobo I was instructed to complete a Kobo 'update'. The book finally loaded and I was able to read three chapters. I turned the device off, and when I returned to it the following day the screen was displaying 'Restoring your Device to Factry Defaults... - this will take several minutes'. The screen did not change. I took it to the Chapters store where it was purchased and they in turn contacted Kono customer service.
I did not damage the Kobo and this appears to be a defective Kobo.
Obviously I am not impressed with this offer to 'fix' the Kobo. I want to exchange the Kobo that I have for a new one right away at the point to sale location (Chapters in Langley). If that is not possible I want Kobo to provide me with a shipping label and PO number to ship the Kobo back to you in Ontario (at your cost) and once my defective Kobo is received I want a new one couriered to me immediately.
I am a blogger, and an active member in my community. I will talk, tweet, status update and blog about this experience if it is not rectified to my satisfaction.
Sincerely, Anastasia Redekop
From: help@kobobooks.com
To: anastasiaredekop@hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 7
Apr 2012 17:13:39 -0400
Subject: RMA - Kobo Touch [Incident: 120405-000685]
Response Via Email (Chantelle S) 04/07/2012 05:13 PM
Hi Anastasia,
Your Kobo eReader appears to be defective or damaged and will need to be exchanged. Per the terms and conditions of the STANDARD LIMITED WARRANTY you will be required to ship and insure your defective Kobo eReader to the following address:
*** Please be advised that in-person deliveries from Kobo customers to Ingram Micro will not be accepted under any circumstances ***
Kobo c/o Ingram Micro Logistics
Branch 40 - CATO
88 Foster Cr - Dock 9
Mississauga, ON, Canada L5R4A1
Please be sure to clearly indicate the letters "RMA" and your help ticket number which is 120405-000685 on package or it will not be accepted.
Please do not place any accessories in the package (eReader manuals, receipts, Gela skins, etc.). THESE ITEMS WILL NOT BE RETURNED SHOULD THEY BE INCLUDED.
Once you have mailed the device, please provide us with the name of the shipping company you used, and the tracking number they provided to you via response to this email.
Upon receipt and inspection of the device we will send you a replacement.
Please allow 3 weeks from the date you ship your defective unit to receive your replacement.
For more information about the Standard Limited Warranty visit:
http://download.kobobooks.com/learnmore/touch_userguides/Kobo_eReader_Touch_Warranty.pdf
Sincerely,
The Kobo Team
Response Via Email (Real M) 04/05/2012 01:14 PM
Hi Anastasia,
Unfortunately, your Kobo eReader may need to be repaired or exchanged. Please provide the answers to ALL questions below in order to proceed with a claim.
Part 1 - Your Contact Information
Name:
Street Name and #:
Apt/Suite/Unit # (if applicable):
Intercom/Entrance Code (if applicable):
City:
State/Province/Territory:
Country:
Zip/Post Code:
Primary Telephone #:
Secondary Telephone #:
Email address of your Kobo Account:
Part 2 – Your Kobo eReader Information
Model of the Kobo eReader (Kobo Original, Kobo WiFi, Kobo Touch, or Kobo Vox):
Colour (On the Kobo Original, Kobo WiFi, and Kobo Touch please look at quilted back. On the Kobo Vox, please look at the sides.):
Purchase date of your Kobo eReader:
Purchase location of your Kobo eReader:
Serial Number located on the bottom of the eReader:
Did you also purchase a Bronze/Silver/Gold extended protection plan from Kobo?:
Once your information has been reviewed, our level 2 support will contact you with options and/or information regarding next steps.
Sincerely,
The Kobo Team
Customer By Phone (Entered by Real M) 04/05/2012 01:04 PM
Customer called in Kobo is frozen basic reset did nothing and could not complete factory reset.
Question Reference #120405-000685
Product Level 1: Kobo Touch
Category Level 1: Return
Date Created: 04/05/2012 01:04 PM
Last Updated: 04/09/2012 02:35 PM
Troubleshooting.
UPDATE July 6, 2012
Kobo did eventually relent once I bumped up my complaint to Management. I was given a PO number and a shipment waybill for FedEx. New Kobo is in hand but to be honest the excitement of eReading has worn off. I am back to ordering real books that I can hold in my hands and not the ebooks that can be held hostage by my Kobo.
Grrrr.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
SAHMs
I used to think that working shift work would be the Great Parenting Equaliser. I would continue to be Uber Mom during the day and HWSNBN would be the Best Dad he could be during the night.
But as I sit here with a body that doesn't know if it is night or day, eczema crawling up my hands and a bad case of the midnight munchies, I wonder who is having the last laugh.
I work full time. I have three kids. I have a live in caregiver who is amazing and makes all of this possible. Ditto for HWSNBN. I could not do this to myself without their help. But when 'THIS' turns into a body that is itchy, twitchy and fat I wonder if it is all worth it.
If I did not work full time we would probably be living in a townhouse somewhere. And that would not be good news because I don't get along well with others and I tend to be a 'yeller'.
If I did not work my kids would have me around all the time. Which is actually not a great thing as I am not stay at home mom material. My husband's paygrade on his own would not allow me the Housewives lifestyle that I would need and I get into enough scraps with the limited 'free time I have'.
I do a lot of the same things SAHMs do (I can't express how much I LOATH that acronym - especially when women who are 'stay at home moms' because they are unskilled and unable to work outside of the home in any capacity except for menial work... so really you stay at home because you are not employable by anyone other than your progeny). I cook dinner, I make lunches, I drive my kids to school, I sign them up for activities, I volunteer to be the 'Soccer mom', I meet with doctors and dentists, I volunteer at school, I pick my kdis up, I host playdates with other kids (who thankfully are well behaved little beings otherwise that would something I would cross off my list). I help with homework, I shop for clothing, I organise birthday parties, etc.
BUT I also manage to put in 35 hours a week in a demanding profession...
I guess what I am saying is that even though I thought that it would even up our family responsibilities, HWSNBN and I are not EVEN. We are possibly as close to even as we will ever be - but the chores are not evenly distributed. He believes that we are beyond even and perhaps he is actually doing 'more'.
I like my job. Dare I say I actually love it. I am a professional and feel like I am actually at an experience level that I feel confident that I can deal with almost any child welfare issue that may arise.
So that is it - I do this so that I can be the psuedo Stay At Home Mom. I do this because I love my kids and my job. I do this because I love my husband. I don't have time to kick the phony SAHMs to death because I am too busy trying to work in exercise and extra curriculars for the monkeys.
So there it is - the pee in the pool. I loath the SAHMs. I can always tell who the 'working' moms are at school. They are the ones who either look fabulous or ridden hard and put away wet. The are rarely in the Lululemon uni that the SAHMs are in. They are either dressed up or in a typical pair of jeans and t-shirt just trying to make sure they get all the kids into the car and to swimming, soccer, ballet, tutoring, before their shift starts on the Renal ward or the local police detachment.
Lets be clear - there are moms who 'stay at home with their children' who are not infected with the holier than thou attitude that the self stated SAHMs have. Many of these moms are my friends and they don't need to blast it to the world that they are stay at home moms. Because they know that they are good enough and don't need to ram it down anyone's throat or clog my facebook / twitter feeds with their masturbatory self proclamations. In the end we are all parents and the relationship we develop with our children is what matters. It doesn't matter if we worked outside the home, 'stayed at home' or did a little of both. What matters is that you are present when you are with your children.
Often times those of us who are 'pretend' stay at homers do not get to see the working moms who work during regular hours. We see them on weekends at soccer jamborees and evening PAC meetings. We high five at birthday parties and share emails in the middle of the night about the kid with the reoccuring lice. We have hurried conversations about nightime wakefullness and out general feelings of anxiety that we are forgetting something. These are my people.
I love my family, I love my caregiver, I love my job, I love my life. Rinse, repeat.
But as I sit here with a body that doesn't know if it is night or day, eczema crawling up my hands and a bad case of the midnight munchies, I wonder who is having the last laugh.
I work full time. I have three kids. I have a live in caregiver who is amazing and makes all of this possible. Ditto for HWSNBN. I could not do this to myself without their help. But when 'THIS' turns into a body that is itchy, twitchy and fat I wonder if it is all worth it.
If I did not work full time we would probably be living in a townhouse somewhere. And that would not be good news because I don't get along well with others and I tend to be a 'yeller'.
If I did not work my kids would have me around all the time. Which is actually not a great thing as I am not stay at home mom material. My husband's paygrade on his own would not allow me the Housewives lifestyle that I would need and I get into enough scraps with the limited 'free time I have'.
I do a lot of the same things SAHMs do (I can't express how much I LOATH that acronym - especially when women who are 'stay at home moms' because they are unskilled and unable to work outside of the home in any capacity except for menial work... so really you stay at home because you are not employable by anyone other than your progeny). I cook dinner, I make lunches, I drive my kids to school, I sign them up for activities, I volunteer to be the 'Soccer mom', I meet with doctors and dentists, I volunteer at school, I pick my kdis up, I host playdates with other kids (who thankfully are well behaved little beings otherwise that would something I would cross off my list). I help with homework, I shop for clothing, I organise birthday parties, etc.
BUT I also manage to put in 35 hours a week in a demanding profession...
I guess what I am saying is that even though I thought that it would even up our family responsibilities, HWSNBN and I are not EVEN. We are possibly as close to even as we will ever be - but the chores are not evenly distributed. He believes that we are beyond even and perhaps he is actually doing 'more'.
I like my job. Dare I say I actually love it. I am a professional and feel like I am actually at an experience level that I feel confident that I can deal with almost any child welfare issue that may arise.
So that is it - I do this so that I can be the psuedo Stay At Home Mom. I do this because I love my kids and my job. I do this because I love my husband. I don't have time to kick the phony SAHMs to death because I am too busy trying to work in exercise and extra curriculars for the monkeys.
So there it is - the pee in the pool. I loath the SAHMs. I can always tell who the 'working' moms are at school. They are the ones who either look fabulous or ridden hard and put away wet. The are rarely in the Lululemon uni that the SAHMs are in. They are either dressed up or in a typical pair of jeans and t-shirt just trying to make sure they get all the kids into the car and to swimming, soccer, ballet, tutoring, before their shift starts on the Renal ward or the local police detachment.
Lets be clear - there are moms who 'stay at home with their children' who are not infected with the holier than thou attitude that the self stated SAHMs have. Many of these moms are my friends and they don't need to blast it to the world that they are stay at home moms. Because they know that they are good enough and don't need to ram it down anyone's throat or clog my facebook / twitter feeds with their masturbatory self proclamations. In the end we are all parents and the relationship we develop with our children is what matters. It doesn't matter if we worked outside the home, 'stayed at home' or did a little of both. What matters is that you are present when you are with your children.
Often times those of us who are 'pretend' stay at homers do not get to see the working moms who work during regular hours. We see them on weekends at soccer jamborees and evening PAC meetings. We high five at birthday parties and share emails in the middle of the night about the kid with the reoccuring lice. We have hurried conversations about nightime wakefullness and out general feelings of anxiety that we are forgetting something. These are my people.
I love my family, I love my caregiver, I love my job, I love my life. Rinse, repeat.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Kobo - my hated ereader
Ahem. I have never claimed to love technology although I do use it once I figure it out.. although my Nano is still lost after I could not figure out how to turn it off.....
Now onto my Kobo. I think that I did my due dilligence in trying to find the right ereader to meet my Luddite abilities and my practical realities....
But now the f&cker is frozen after 3 months... more specifically it froze on chapter 7 of 'Catching Fire: The Hunger Games part 2'. Why this did not happen while I was reading the painfully slow and inconsistent Incredibly Loud and Extremely Close (or something like that) I have no idea... except maybe Karma.
I went on youtube thinking that the genius that did the comparison to the Kindle which helped me decide on the Kobo would be there to help me through this 'hurdle'. However there are very few problem shooting videos on there for the Kobo... Maybe I should have gone with the Kindle - at least then I could call Amazon and yell at one their employees.
Instead I am looking at this paperweight and realising that my first instinct was right - ereaders SUCK and no matter how fancy pants they get - they can never replace the actual feeling of a book in my hand where th eonly bad thing that can stop me from reading is a screaming child or a misplaced book.
Damn you Kobo for wreaking my 5 free minutes!!!!
Now onto my Kobo. I think that I did my due dilligence in trying to find the right ereader to meet my Luddite abilities and my practical realities....
But now the f&cker is frozen after 3 months... more specifically it froze on chapter 7 of 'Catching Fire: The Hunger Games part 2'. Why this did not happen while I was reading the painfully slow and inconsistent Incredibly Loud and Extremely Close (or something like that) I have no idea... except maybe Karma.
I went on youtube thinking that the genius that did the comparison to the Kindle which helped me decide on the Kobo would be there to help me through this 'hurdle'. However there are very few problem shooting videos on there for the Kobo... Maybe I should have gone with the Kindle - at least then I could call Amazon and yell at one their employees.
Instead I am looking at this paperweight and realising that my first instinct was right - ereaders SUCK and no matter how fancy pants they get - they can never replace the actual feeling of a book in my hand where th eonly bad thing that can stop me from reading is a screaming child or a misplaced book.
Damn you Kobo for wreaking my 5 free minutes!!!!
Monday, February 13, 2012
Trevor French ('Hobby' farmer in South Langley)
You might not know the name mentioned above - but I assure you he is suspected of being a DOUCHE BAG extreme. He is the person who was selected by the Vancouver Park Board to provide retirement for 17 goats and 4 sheep from the beloved Stanley Park Children's Farmyard. He is the person who days later sold those same goats and sheep at auction for slaughter. The full story is in the Vancouver Sun Monday February 13th, 2012 Final Edition (front page no less).
Parks board staff rigorously went through an adoption process and drafted a tight adoption agreement which included the animals not be sold to a third party or used for human consumption. It was a 'retirement' plan for the goats and sheep.
Turns out you can't really vet for some evil jerks. Perhaps this guy got some extreme satisfaction in selling those goats and sheep to the slaughterhouse DAYS after adopting them from the Park Board. Maybe he got off on the idea of killing something that brought joy to the children of the Lower Mainland. Maybe he was proud of duping the park board officials who cared and loved those animals. Whatever the reason the goats & sheep are unaccounted for and Mr. French can't really explain to anyone where they are. Which may be true - who knows exactly WHERE slaughtered goats whose safety you were entrusted with keeping actually go when you SELL them at auction for slaughter.
Golden Ground Farms is the name of Trevor French's meat company which sells meat for dogs and human consumption. Hmmm -how many unwitting Langley residents were mawing down on petting zoo goats?
I usually support small farms and ethical organic operations. I am not a vegetarian. I take great exception with someone who signs an agreement of trust to care for certain animals in a certain way and then turns around and violates that trust and agreement. Three weeks after being given the responsibility to care for these goats into old age, Trevor French took 17 goats and sheep to the Fraser Valley Auction. Many of the goats brought to auction for slaughter matched the description of the goats adopted out by the Park Board.
Even the people who Trevor French claim can verify the goats were on his property in the summer of 2011 refute his story indicating that they were on the farm in March and only saw 10 goats. The adoption agreement was signed January 31st, he was at the auction on February 19th, 2011.
So again I am left with the question - WHAT THE F&CK is wrong with some people? Is your moral compass so screwed up that you think that your church group will collude with you in lying about killing goats from the park board? Apparently Trevor French is embroiled in a nasty divorce right now (shocking given his way of doing business) and I can only hope that his wife is financially castrating him.
You Trevor French deserve a HUGE kick in the junk.
Parks board staff rigorously went through an adoption process and drafted a tight adoption agreement which included the animals not be sold to a third party or used for human consumption. It was a 'retirement' plan for the goats and sheep.
Turns out you can't really vet for some evil jerks. Perhaps this guy got some extreme satisfaction in selling those goats and sheep to the slaughterhouse DAYS after adopting them from the Park Board. Maybe he got off on the idea of killing something that brought joy to the children of the Lower Mainland. Maybe he was proud of duping the park board officials who cared and loved those animals. Whatever the reason the goats & sheep are unaccounted for and Mr. French can't really explain to anyone where they are. Which may be true - who knows exactly WHERE slaughtered goats whose safety you were entrusted with keeping actually go when you SELL them at auction for slaughter.
Golden Ground Farms is the name of Trevor French's meat company which sells meat for dogs and human consumption. Hmmm -how many unwitting Langley residents were mawing down on petting zoo goats?
I usually support small farms and ethical organic operations. I am not a vegetarian. I take great exception with someone who signs an agreement of trust to care for certain animals in a certain way and then turns around and violates that trust and agreement. Three weeks after being given the responsibility to care for these goats into old age, Trevor French took 17 goats and sheep to the Fraser Valley Auction. Many of the goats brought to auction for slaughter matched the description of the goats adopted out by the Park Board.
Even the people who Trevor French claim can verify the goats were on his property in the summer of 2011 refute his story indicating that they were on the farm in March and only saw 10 goats. The adoption agreement was signed January 31st, he was at the auction on February 19th, 2011.
So again I am left with the question - WHAT THE F&CK is wrong with some people? Is your moral compass so screwed up that you think that your church group will collude with you in lying about killing goats from the park board? Apparently Trevor French is embroiled in a nasty divorce right now (shocking given his way of doing business) and I can only hope that his wife is financially castrating him.
You Trevor French deserve a HUGE kick in the junk.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
People Who Name Their Babies Legna, Nevaeh and Spritzer,
I know the feeling. You have just had a baby. You are exhausted and maybe a little bit high from the narcotics you received during delivery. You look at your wriggly red baby and think... precious. HEY - that would make a GREAT baby name. Most of us chalk that epithany up to drug induced euphoria. But some parents actually run with those name choices..
Or there is the group of people who think that they are so clever by choosing a name which is a special place or thing (say heaven...) and decide that spelling it backwards will give the name a certain Jeopardy twist to it.... Presto! Nevaeh! And a very proud trailer park mama.... Until she gets one upped by LEGNA!
But seriously - do these parents think that Navaeh is going to go into the Order? And I don't mean The Order of the Pheonix... I am talking about nuns in habits.
And Justice - REALLY? Are these parents channelling desires for their child to be involved in the criminal justice system? I don't mean involved like BEHIND the bench - I mean in the prisoners box.
Names that should be vetted at Vital Stats and sent back to parents for a muligan:
- Any Heaven, Nevaeh or Legna. Those names should come with stripper poles instead of information about post secondary RESPs
- Justice, Dawg, any fruit
- using Ph instead of F or vice versac such as Phiona, Foebe, Phrank
- Neveah! At least spell it right (even though it is a massive wrong)
- Any town where a child was concieved (this includes items as well - Washing machgine, Sealy, etc)
- Junior - this is not a marriage subsitute. If you can't give your baby his or hers baby daddy's last name because he won't sign the birth registration - this is not a discount solution.
Trust that I know from where I speak... I named my first son after a very popular hockey player.. only to met with the devastating news that said son is not hockey bound and certainly will be expected to have the sporty touch from any parent who was a fan in the 1990s. Ironically his 60s hippy named brother is the sporty one. And I too decided to drop a letter for my daughter's name. Only to have some Twilight jackass name his daughter the same name but with superfilious letters and maybe even a hyphen. You can not control the people around you so please do not saddle your child with a moniker that will haunt you.
So before you drop that e or double that vowel or try your hand at inserting ph for f think of your child 15 years from now. Please do not force them into years of spelling their name to anyone who asks (ex it is pronounced like Jennifer but it is spelt Genopher) then please THINK about it. Names are forever unless you join a cult. There are no Legna's who are Crown counsel, or doctors. Juniors end up spending their lives distancing themselves from their estranged fathers. Justice spends his free time running from the law. It is just the way the world is.
Hugs and kisses,
Tassi (and trust that I spell this name everyday while I am at work. Endlessly. T as in Tom, A, S as in Sam, S as in Sam, i..... and people still ask 'Kathy?')
Or there is the group of people who think that they are so clever by choosing a name which is a special place or thing (say heaven...) and decide that spelling it backwards will give the name a certain Jeopardy twist to it.... Presto! Nevaeh! And a very proud trailer park mama.... Until she gets one upped by LEGNA!
But seriously - do these parents think that Navaeh is going to go into the Order? And I don't mean The Order of the Pheonix... I am talking about nuns in habits.
And Justice - REALLY? Are these parents channelling desires for their child to be involved in the criminal justice system? I don't mean involved like BEHIND the bench - I mean in the prisoners box.
Names that should be vetted at Vital Stats and sent back to parents for a muligan:
- Any Heaven, Nevaeh or Legna. Those names should come with stripper poles instead of information about post secondary RESPs
- Justice, Dawg, any fruit
- using Ph instead of F or vice versac such as Phiona, Foebe, Phrank
- Neveah! At least spell it right (even though it is a massive wrong)
- Any town where a child was concieved (this includes items as well - Washing machgine, Sealy, etc)
- Junior - this is not a marriage subsitute. If you can't give your baby his or hers baby daddy's last name because he won't sign the birth registration - this is not a discount solution.
Trust that I know from where I speak... I named my first son after a very popular hockey player.. only to met with the devastating news that said son is not hockey bound and certainly will be expected to have the sporty touch from any parent who was a fan in the 1990s. Ironically his 60s hippy named brother is the sporty one. And I too decided to drop a letter for my daughter's name. Only to have some Twilight jackass name his daughter the same name but with superfilious letters and maybe even a hyphen. You can not control the people around you so please do not saddle your child with a moniker that will haunt you.
So before you drop that e or double that vowel or try your hand at inserting ph for f think of your child 15 years from now. Please do not force them into years of spelling their name to anyone who asks (ex it is pronounced like Jennifer but it is spelt Genopher) then please THINK about it. Names are forever unless you join a cult. There are no Legna's who are Crown counsel, or doctors. Juniors end up spending their lives distancing themselves from their estranged fathers. Justice spends his free time running from the law. It is just the way the world is.
Hugs and kisses,
Tassi (and trust that I spell this name everyday while I am at work. Endlessly. T as in Tom, A, S as in Sam, S as in Sam, i..... and people still ask 'Kathy?')
Saturday, January 7, 2012
People I Want To Kick in the Big Box: Best Buy
Really any retailer who does not have an efficient check out system deserves a HUGE kick in the box.
Today I went to Best Buy with 3 children in tow.... need I remind anyone who has 3 children that taking them shopping is akin to herding stray cats. It was chaos and the store was not even busy. We were on a k-Cup mission! They are buy 2 get 1 free... as the coffee for the Kuerig is hideously expensive and I am clearly a caffeine addict AND time pressed it is essential to buy them on sale. I go through 2 K-Cups a day (as does HWSNBN).
Sooo Lazy Me tried to buy said coffee off the Best Buy website last night.... except that during check out they required NOT only my security code off the back of my card but also asked for my 'password'. I may be lazy but stupid is not on the list so I had to shut it down before Vladimir in Kerplakistan started to hammer out fake Visas and Debit cards in my name.
So this morning I wait at the Best Buy in the shadiest part of Surrey.... although we are lucky as the rain is falling and the sketchiest hobos are still in their nooks and crannies. I prepare my troops - we are going in for coffee not video games or Angry Birds paraphenalia. I *thought* that my only issue was going to be blocking any more crap coming into the house... but alas no! We get past the doors and they scatter like marbles. My anxiety is high as one of the three is not actually my progengy but rather a friends son.
Finally wrangle my herd only to be shown the 5 boxes of K Cups they have left (SERIOUSLY BEST BUY???). Thankfully there is hot chocolate as requested. I satisfy the caffeine gods with 2 Bold coffes and we slowly meander to the cash register.... Only to find a TREASURE trove of K cups stacked in the maze that is the line up line up area. So must ditch lackluster bold coffees for sexier Chocolate truffle coffee and Emeril.
Kids are relatively kept at my side by threats of NO Tim Hortons run if they scatter again.... there is only one guy in front of us (and only one cashier). His transaction seems easy and straight forward. It still takes 8 minutes. By which point my kids are playing 'cashier' at the empty tills. And I don't care because I can see them and it is Best Buy's problem that they are too cheap to actually man those tills.... finally my turn. Kids think that I am done so make a break for the door. AM clearly NOT done. Am trying to explain buy 2 get one 1 free deal to cashier (who is clearly at her maximum ability to cope). She finally has to call a manager over to confirm that I am right. I can feel the urge to smack growing.
Finally we are released from our bondage at Best Buy. And I am left wondering if protecting my security last night was worth the marble herding this morning.
Today I went to Best Buy with 3 children in tow.... need I remind anyone who has 3 children that taking them shopping is akin to herding stray cats. It was chaos and the store was not even busy. We were on a k-Cup mission! They are buy 2 get 1 free... as the coffee for the Kuerig is hideously expensive and I am clearly a caffeine addict AND time pressed it is essential to buy them on sale. I go through 2 K-Cups a day (as does HWSNBN).
Sooo Lazy Me tried to buy said coffee off the Best Buy website last night.... except that during check out they required NOT only my security code off the back of my card but also asked for my 'password'. I may be lazy but stupid is not on the list so I had to shut it down before Vladimir in Kerplakistan started to hammer out fake Visas and Debit cards in my name.
So this morning I wait at the Best Buy in the shadiest part of Surrey.... although we are lucky as the rain is falling and the sketchiest hobos are still in their nooks and crannies. I prepare my troops - we are going in for coffee not video games or Angry Birds paraphenalia. I *thought* that my only issue was going to be blocking any more crap coming into the house... but alas no! We get past the doors and they scatter like marbles. My anxiety is high as one of the three is not actually my progengy but rather a friends son.
Finally wrangle my herd only to be shown the 5 boxes of K Cups they have left (SERIOUSLY BEST BUY???). Thankfully there is hot chocolate as requested. I satisfy the caffeine gods with 2 Bold coffes and we slowly meander to the cash register.... Only to find a TREASURE trove of K cups stacked in the maze that is the line up line up area. So must ditch lackluster bold coffees for sexier Chocolate truffle coffee and Emeril.
Kids are relatively kept at my side by threats of NO Tim Hortons run if they scatter again.... there is only one guy in front of us (and only one cashier). His transaction seems easy and straight forward. It still takes 8 minutes. By which point my kids are playing 'cashier' at the empty tills. And I don't care because I can see them and it is Best Buy's problem that they are too cheap to actually man those tills.... finally my turn. Kids think that I am done so make a break for the door. AM clearly NOT done. Am trying to explain buy 2 get one 1 free deal to cashier (who is clearly at her maximum ability to cope). She finally has to call a manager over to confirm that I am right. I can feel the urge to smack growing.
Finally we are released from our bondage at Best Buy. And I am left wondering if protecting my security last night was worth the marble herding this morning.
Friday, January 6, 2012
People I Want to Kick in the Junk - 'Andrew'
So at the end of the summer we decide to have a female tenant. I am like a serial killer when it comes to picking out tenants - usually young men in their mid 20s with a cat. Not picky about what kind of cat - it just seems to be the winning combo for us.
But we decided to rent to a young girl in the fall. She was too young for HWSNBN (He Who Shall Not Be Named) to give the side eye too (as she would want children and that is a boner killer for any guy in his 40s with three young kids already) and she seemed reasonably nice and clean.
We allowed her to move in 2 weeks early (no rent paid) as she had lots of stuff and a piano and was having a 'hard time' with her landlord.
By mid October we notice a really shady Ford Focus with body damage and a N (new driver) magnet on the back blocking our drive way. By late October the shitty car is a fixture in our upscale neighbourhood. We go away to California and return to see the shitty car driver bringing groceries into the house.
By November we are pretty sure he is living in our suite with our 'nice' young tenant. His shitty 'ride' is parked when I get home from work at 3am but mysteriously is gone by 6am when HWSNBN leaves... curious. Does he actually have a home he returns to? Maybe he lives with his parents? And that is why she can't hang out there for their dong fests?
By the end of November I am PISSED as young sweet tenant is avoiding me. So I send her a nice little email indicating that it FEELS like her boyfriend lives here.
She fesses up and provides all the info we ask for. We meet this guy one evening in December and it comes crashing down on us that sweet little tenant is shacked up with a Class A LOSER!!!
He is 31 years old, he has a BABY with a woman whom he professed to have dated for years but she 'wasn't supposed to get pregnant' {No shit - NO ONE should get pregnant with this guy unless there are some serious beer goggles on and no pharmacy close by), he was COUCH surfing before he landed young sweet tenant, and ... drum roll... the reason why his car was gone was due to the fact that he was a newspaper delivery guy!! But never fear he has moved up to be a dry waller. In Chilliwack.
I am just staring at young sweet tenant. GOB smacked. She is cute and sweet and nice and plays the piano. She works hard at two jobs and drives a cute wee car. HWSNBN is utterly bewildered.
Cue the end of December. We agree that they will move out March 1st (did I mention the suite is only 500 square feet big??? and I psychotically stated in the ad on craigslist only ONE person to reside here?). I start to smell POT coming through the vents.
I have had bad cooking tenants (loved you Trevor but sometimes it smelt like you were sauteeing cat food) so I can tell the difference. There are no skunks in the hood close by and I have never smelt their spray in the cul de sac. I KNOW this is weed. Add in MUCHO work experience and I can pick weed out of a line up.
First time we let it go. Young Sweet Tenant is not home. It happens AGAIN. I call her on her cell phone. She explains that she is not home. I ask her to kindly remind FuckTard that it is a non smoking suite and will he kindly smoke his junk elsewhere. Like the park where all the other losers hang out.
So tonight when I smelt the pot in the family room and my son's room (did I mention that the suite vents into our third floor and specifically into my 6 year old sons room???) I put my clogs on and went downstairs to kick some ass.
Initially Andrew 'I'm Such a Goof I Can't Mature Past 16' denies that he smoked pot, then admitted to rolling it in the suite. I must at this point tell him to SHUT THE FUCK UP as I have a 6 year old with the munchies which tells me that he is doing more than rolling it. He again tries to deny it. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? I kindly tell Andrew to STOP talking before this gets really ugly. I explain in NO uncertain terms (although he is a goof so who knows how much he actually understands what with the girlfriend that he was banging yet can't understand how she got pregnant) that he is to cease and desist bringing pot into our home. End of story.
If we have to talk about this again it will be with the RCMP at my side to keep the peace so I don't kick him till he stops moving. My 6 years old is losing brain cells and I am on weight watchers and have little will power left to stop myself from kicking this guy till he is dead.
Time to put on the tap shoes and let the dogs nails grow too long and let the kids play BeyBlades in the kitchen. Soccer cleats in the kicthen which is above the love nest - of course young ones - CLOG ON!!
But we decided to rent to a young girl in the fall. She was too young for HWSNBN (He Who Shall Not Be Named) to give the side eye too (as she would want children and that is a boner killer for any guy in his 40s with three young kids already) and she seemed reasonably nice and clean.
We allowed her to move in 2 weeks early (no rent paid) as she had lots of stuff and a piano and was having a 'hard time' with her landlord.
By mid October we notice a really shady Ford Focus with body damage and a N (new driver) magnet on the back blocking our drive way. By late October the shitty car is a fixture in our upscale neighbourhood. We go away to California and return to see the shitty car driver bringing groceries into the house.
By November we are pretty sure he is living in our suite with our 'nice' young tenant. His shitty 'ride' is parked when I get home from work at 3am but mysteriously is gone by 6am when HWSNBN leaves... curious. Does he actually have a home he returns to? Maybe he lives with his parents? And that is why she can't hang out there for their dong fests?
By the end of November I am PISSED as young sweet tenant is avoiding me. So I send her a nice little email indicating that it FEELS like her boyfriend lives here.
She fesses up and provides all the info we ask for. We meet this guy one evening in December and it comes crashing down on us that sweet little tenant is shacked up with a Class A LOSER!!!
He is 31 years old, he has a BABY with a woman whom he professed to have dated for years but she 'wasn't supposed to get pregnant' {No shit - NO ONE should get pregnant with this guy unless there are some serious beer goggles on and no pharmacy close by), he was COUCH surfing before he landed young sweet tenant, and ... drum roll... the reason why his car was gone was due to the fact that he was a newspaper delivery guy!! But never fear he has moved up to be a dry waller. In Chilliwack.
I am just staring at young sweet tenant. GOB smacked. She is cute and sweet and nice and plays the piano. She works hard at two jobs and drives a cute wee car. HWSNBN is utterly bewildered.
Cue the end of December. We agree that they will move out March 1st (did I mention the suite is only 500 square feet big??? and I psychotically stated in the ad on craigslist only ONE person to reside here?). I start to smell POT coming through the vents.
I have had bad cooking tenants (loved you Trevor but sometimes it smelt like you were sauteeing cat food) so I can tell the difference. There are no skunks in the hood close by and I have never smelt their spray in the cul de sac. I KNOW this is weed. Add in MUCHO work experience and I can pick weed out of a line up.
First time we let it go. Young Sweet Tenant is not home. It happens AGAIN. I call her on her cell phone. She explains that she is not home. I ask her to kindly remind FuckTard that it is a non smoking suite and will he kindly smoke his junk elsewhere. Like the park where all the other losers hang out.
So tonight when I smelt the pot in the family room and my son's room (did I mention that the suite vents into our third floor and specifically into my 6 year old sons room???) I put my clogs on and went downstairs to kick some ass.
Initially Andrew 'I'm Such a Goof I Can't Mature Past 16' denies that he smoked pot, then admitted to rolling it in the suite. I must at this point tell him to SHUT THE FUCK UP as I have a 6 year old with the munchies which tells me that he is doing more than rolling it. He again tries to deny it. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? I kindly tell Andrew to STOP talking before this gets really ugly. I explain in NO uncertain terms (although he is a goof so who knows how much he actually understands what with the girlfriend that he was banging yet can't understand how she got pregnant) that he is to cease and desist bringing pot into our home. End of story.
If we have to talk about this again it will be with the RCMP at my side to keep the peace so I don't kick him till he stops moving. My 6 years old is losing brain cells and I am on weight watchers and have little will power left to stop myself from kicking this guy till he is dead.
Time to put on the tap shoes and let the dogs nails grow too long and let the kids play BeyBlades in the kitchen. Soccer cleats in the kicthen which is above the love nest - of course young ones - CLOG ON!!
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