Entries this day: PPirony phones

PPirony

The grand irony is this: I am typing this at home, where I have no phone until around May 5th. Could be sooner; could be later... so I really don't know when these will be moved to my site.

If I write several entries from home and from work during this time period, I expect there will be a significant overlap in stories. I'll put some effort into remembering what I've already written.

I set up my computer today! Cleared the clutter of boxes and shelves from the study, set up my new Elfa desk with 2 computers on it. My linux (Red Hat 5.1) machine is what I'm on now. The other machine will be a Windows 95, but currently it has no hard drive.

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I've enjoyed having a stereo! We just bought it on Friday and I've had it on pretty much the whole time I've been home. Mostly DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince: He's the DJ... I'm the Rapper and Homebase. While listening this morning, I enjoyed reading from _Vibe History of Hip Hop_ the chapter "The Real Old School"

Today and yesterday at work were busy with SAS programming. I'm definitely getting better at it, but I've kinda reached a plateau (maybe) until I attend a SAS training class in May (I think). We've got a big ongoing data collection project with users entering data and entering names of people to rate them. Even with all our precautions to help them find existing names in the database, we still get name variants of the same people.

The most wacked is when they enter the last name where it says "Enter First Name" and the first name where it says "Enter Last Name".. C'mon people, read!!

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About a couple of years ago, Houston waste management gave every home a big plastic trashcan that requires one guy in one truck to pick up trash where it used to take three guys in one truck. I called them to see how to get our trash can for the new house. She asked for my name, phone number and address. "It will take a week to get it to you." A week? Can we just come pick it up? "No sir, we'll bring it to you." Thanks.

I haven't sent The Feel Good Net in 8 days. It's all on this Internet-less computer. Hmmm.

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phones

9:12am Tuesday 18 April 2000

Our phone at the house is not working yet. I just called Southwestern Bell and spoke with Amy who transferred me to "Sylvia in Construction" who said that they need to lay more phone cable before we can get service. Estimated completion is May 5th.

"So what I'm hearing is that we won't have a phone until May 5th."

"It may be sooner or later than that, sir."

I asked Sylvia to transfer me to billing so I could discuss transfer fees.

Ginger in billing answered and I described the situation about construction. I said I want to remove any transfer or connect fees.

"I'm not able to do that; let me transfer you to them."

"Will you transfer me to the right person who can remove it?"

"Yes sir."

I was on hold for a moment and then Ginger picked back up.

"Sir, I show that the transfer fee is zero. Someone already did it."

"What about a connect fee?"

"That's what I mean; it's zero."

"You are awesome; thank you very much."

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May 5th is several days away. I've been assured that I won't be billed for this period of no phone. But can I charge them? Will they give me credit if I gripe enough? Is it worth the negative energy to get some dollars?

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