Well, Verizon finally got off their asses and processed my order … at least according to the online order status website. And the dude I talked to when I called at lunch said it had been shipped. That was just before noon. However, I don’t have a tracking number yet. I tried to call their “Support Team” again, but office hours are 8am to 6pm … and apparently that’s Eastern time. Would have been nice if they had mentioned that in the email. Well, if that’s the case, then I’ll be calling them before work to get my damn tracking number.

I’m impatient … I wanna know when I’ll get my phone. I want my new toy!!

Mood: hungry   30 Minute Meals

I was hoping to check the status of my order today and see that it was shipped. But NOOOO. Verizon hasn’t even frickin’ processed my order yet. Yeah … I placed it on the weekend. But shouldn’t that mean that they’d process it on Monday?

I called customer service, hoping that they just hadn’t updated the web yet. No chance. They guy I talked to seemed completely clueless. Even after I gave him my order number, he was like … do you have “this” kind of number? I think he said a location number? Hello … all I have is an order number.

I was really hoping that I’d get my phone before Thanksgiving. Now it looks like I won’t get it ’til Tuesday of next week … that is if they process my order and ship it tomorrow. If they had had an option for faster shipping, I probably would have selected it … I mean the phone was free. But I didn’t even have a choice for shipping.

Talk about crappy customer service. Thanks Verizon. I’m only sticking with you because I’m halfway satisfied with the coverage around here. And I hate change too … LOL.

Mood: annoyed   Heroes

Today’s NBC broadcast of the final Nextel Cup Series race of the season really really pissed me off. And that’s putting it mildly. All they could talk about was Jimmie Johnson this and Jimmie Johnson that. I understand that the guy all but had the championship locked up before the race even started. But there are 42 other drivers out there on that track.

Martin Truex Jr made an awesome run during the green-white-checkers to end the race. He finished 2nd. And he lead laps earlier in the race. But could NBC be bothered to even talk to him? Hell no. The MRN broadcast interviewed him. Isn’t it customarily done that you interview at least the top 2 or 3 finishers. I guess someone should tell NBC that.

I was even so pissed, that I sent an email to NBC sports. I’m sure no one will even read it, but I felt the need to state my mind. And since I’m sure no one at NBC will care, I’m putting it up here (’cuz I can … it’s my blog … )

Subject: Comments on NASCAR coverage
To: nbcsports@nbcuni.com

To whom it may concern:

I just have to say how extremely upset I have been with the NASCAR coverage on NBC and TNT this season. I am extremely extremely upset about the Nextel Cup race coverage of the race on November 19, 2006 on NBC as well as the coverage of the Busch race on November 18, 2006.

Paul Menard finished 3rd in that race … he was the highest finishing NON-CUP driver in the race. Not only that, he finished 6th in points … again, the highest finishing NON-CUP driver. But TNT couldn’t even be bothered to interview him after the race. The MRN broadcast managed to interview him. Why couldn’t TNT.

And the same thing happened during the Nextel Cup race coverage. Martin Truex Jr finished 2nd after running strong all day long. But NBC couldn’t even be bothered to interview him. I understand that he wasn’t in the “Chase for the Championship”, but he did FINISH 2ND in the race. Again, MRN managed to interview him. NBC interviewed Jeff Gordon who wasn’t even a factor in the race and he didn’t even have a chance to win the Cup.

I guess I’m not surprised. The coverage by NBC and TNT the entire second half of the season has been extremely sub-par … and that’s putting it mildly. Unless you’re one of the limited number of drivers, you don’t bother talking about them. And you wonder why interest in the sport is waning. It’s because of the very poor coverage.

I’m sure this email either won’t be read or will fall on deaf ears. But I had to say my piece.

A VERY disappointed fan,
Becky XXXXXX
Fargo, ND

I’m watching NASCAR Victory Lane on the Speed Channel right now HOPING that they’ll have an interview with Martin. But I’m not holding my breath.

I’ll get down off my soapbox now. It doesn’t do any good to get all worked up over this anyways.

Mood: bitchy   NASCAR Victory Lane

When I woke up this morning, my eyes weren’t as dry as they have been lately. I didn’t use that eye ointment last nite since I used it for the previous 4 nites or so. I wanted to give my eyes a break. But I don’t think that not using the ointment was a factor in the less dryness this morning.

I really hope that this is a sign of good things to come. I’m hoping that the situation stabilizes and improves. I really want to be able to wear my contacts to work again. I had no problem with them yesterday … and I was on the computer almost all afternoon and nite. I’ve got ‘em in again today. So far so good.

Mood: anxious   NASCAR Race Day

As I mentioned the other day, it’s time for me to upgrade my cellphone. I wasn’t really sure which one I wanted. I looked at what Verizon was offering and picked out a few that I wanted to check out. I looked up reviews online and browsed the HowardForums. I kinda narrowed things down to the Samsung a870 and the LG VX8300.

I dared to venture to the mall this morning (just before noon) to go check out the phones in person at the Verizon store. I checked out a bunch that were on my list, not just the 2 I listed above. After playing with the phones, I was definitely leaning towards the VX8300. I did some more searching online tonite at reviews and in the forums for more info on questions I had. I FINALLY decided that the VX8300 WAS the way to go for me. I placed my order for the LG VX8300 at 10:24pm tonite. Yeah … I didn’t jump the gun on this one. At least I hope I didn’t … LOL.

The only remaining sticking point was if I was going to order the microSD card right away or not. I think that will be the best way for me to get ringers and wallpapers on the phone (since I’m too cheap to buy any). I found the same reader they have on Verizon for $19.99 on the Best Buy website for $13.49. They don’t have the same 256 microSD card online at Best Buy that they do on the Verizon site, but they do have a 512MB card for only about $10 more than the 256MB at Verizon (actually, I don’t think it’s even that much more). I just checked the Best Buy site and if I buy both the reader and the 512MB card, it will cost me $47.68 total (including tax). And according to the site, both items are in stock at the store. So I could just go there and pick them up. Not bad … a brand new $149.99 phone + $19.99 card reader + $39.99 512MB card for just under $50. Even a cheapskate like me can handle that … LOL.

Now I just hope I get the darn thing BEFORE Thanksgiving. Verizon said it takes 2 to 5 business days for delivery (normally). 2 days would be Tuesday. With Thanksgiving in the mix … 5 days would be a week from Monday (Nov 27) IF they consider the day after Thanksgiving a business day. My luck it would show up on Friday. I won’t be here. I’ll be at Mom and Dad’s. So I wouldn’t get it ’til the following Monday anyways. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it’ll be here by Wednesday at the latest …

And maybe … just maybe … I’ll get lucky and they’ll have either the card or the reader on sale next week. I doubt it, but I can hope.

Mood: chipper   CSI: Miami

As I mentioned the other day, my computer chair is almost busted. It’s being held together by duck tape (and yes … I mean duck. it’s duck brand ). Well, I asked at work if they’d be willing to sell one of the chairs that are sitting around unused. They said yes. And for only $25. Nice chair too. It’s got 3 adjustment levers … up and down … back forward and backward … seat pivot forward and backward. Really nice chair.

Click for a larger version

So … does anyone want an almost busted chair … being held together by (black) duck tape?

Mood: okay   Y&R

I have only 2 more full payments and a partial payment and my car is finally paid off. So, of course, it has to start acting up. I know that there’s things I need to have looked at on it. And I plan to after the first of the year (after it’s paid off). But this time it’s something different.

I went to Burger King for supper (I got paid today and haven’t gotten groceries yet and nothing in the fridge but cake. I went thru the drive thru. When I was done, I went to roll up my windows (they’re electric) and it wouldn’t do anything. So I freaked. Called and talked to Dad about it. I kept trying to get it up and it would go up a little bit and then die. Let it sit a bit then try again. Up a little bit more. It FINALLY rolled all the way up. I figured the motor was going out. Dad said it could be the wiring or maybe it was just stuck in the track. At this point, I don’t know.

When I got home, I tried it a little. Rolled it a little ways down and then back up. It seemed to be working without any trouble. Of course, I didn’t roll it down very far ‘cuz I didn’t want it to get stuck again (it is November in ND after all). I just need to be careful. The only time I’ll roll it down for the next few months is going thru a drive thru (whether it’s the bank or fast food).

I just hope the gremlins stay away ’til spring. Is that too much to ask?

Mood: blah   Y&R

I swear … you’d think I was 5 years old the way I’m acting … LOL. Ya see … I ordered myself a birthday cake. It’s the only way I’m gonna get one. Mom and Dad don’t live in the same town. And I wanted one. And the way it’s decorated, you’d think i WAS a little kid …

Click for a larger version

And I got a free video rental coupon too … just for ordering a cake. I haven’t rented a movie in ages. Too bad it doesn’t include new releases. Still … there are a lot of older movies that I wanna see. And when I say older, I mean only a few months … LOL.

Robin and I are going out for supper tonite. I want a free meal! LOL We’re going to Big Daddy’s Surf Bar and Grill. I’ve never been there. They’re fairly new. They replaced Geckos. I’m not sure that I can wait ’til 6:30 to eat though. I might have to cut into the cake. But I won’t. I was gonna invite Robin over for cake. Guess everyone will just miss out. At least Mona has a good excuse for not making it … they’ve got teachers conferences ’til 8. Haven’t heard from Amanda, so who knows what’s going on there. And I’m not suprised that Barb isn’t coming.

I’m off to snack on something to tide me over. Gotta stay away from that cake … for now …

Mood: hungry   30 Minute Meals

My computer chair has been very squeaky lately. Last weekend when Lisa came up, she brought Dad’s 3-in-1 oil with her so I could try to fix the squeaks. It seemed to help a little. But that’s the least of my worries now.

I was sitting here doing some stuff online and all of a sudden I heard a snap and my chair went forward a little. Uh oh. I looked and the part where the seat is attached to the base is almost completely broken. It looks like the weld gave way. Crap.

It’s still (barely) in one piece, but I’m not sure how long it will hold. Guess I need a new chair. I might ask at work if they’d be willing to sell one of the excess chairs that are sitting around and how much they’d one for one. They are nice chairs. Otherwise, it looks like I’ll be getting another cheap (crappy) Walmart chair. I’m a cheapskate and won’t fork over the money for a nice one. So I guess it’s my own fault when they break …

I DO have some ducktape in the trunk of my car. Maybe I can use that to fix my chair … at least for a little while. :)

Mood: hungry   Busch Series Qualifying

I was hoping someone out there who reads this (I think there are 1 or 2 of you … LOL) might have a cell phone thru Verizon. As of today, I’m eligible to upgrade to a new phone, up to a $100 value, for free or $100 of a more expensive phone thanks to their ‘New Every Two’ plan. I just briefly looked at the phones they’ve got online. I’m not sure what I should go with. The one I have now is an LGVX4500. It’s worked for me for the past almost 2 years. A little limited on the backgrounds and ring tones, and I’m too cheap to buy any. I did buy 2 ring tones though. And I supposed I’ll lose those when I get a new phone … damn. Didn’t think of that ’til now.

Anyways … I was hoping someone out there might be able to give me a review on the kind of phone they have. According to the website, if I get it online, I can get a Razor for free. There are a bunch of others that would be free too. I’m not good with choices … LOL. But honestly, I don’t know what kind of phone is a good phone. I’ll probably go look at what they have in the store at the mall. That way I can play with ‘em before I decide.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Mood: blah   Jericho