Laptop Lunacy

February 28, 2008

There is an old saying claiming that the anticipation is better than the realization. In my experience often it is. Not in this instance. As far as my new laptop is concerned the realization is indeed even better than the anticipation. I have wanted a laptop for quite awhile now. Finally I have my first one and I love it. It was ordered on February 18th and delivered on the 26th. What a thrill it was to open that box and set it up! It felt a little like that magic of Christmas morning for children. Coincidentally, it happens that my Dell XPS is a product red. That charity Bono of U2 is so involved with and which helps to fight AIDS in Africa. A donation is made each time this product is sold.

A lot of the fun for me is in having a clean slate and being able to make decisions regarding various programs and ways to operate them. I am very excited about all the possibilities. For the first time I have a built-in camera with video capability. Not only that but none of my photos or music are on the computer yet. So, I look forward to making it my own with favorite photos, websites, music and more.

Also, I’d like to give a thumbs up for Windows Vista Ultimate. I was so used to XP that I wondered how I would react to Vista. Well, I am enjoying the heck out of it. Ease of use, sharp graphics, soft music tones are just some of the features to recommend it.

Any Soldier

February 23, 2008

Recently I became aware of a wonderful program. I must credit a radio show called Whatever with Alexis Stewart, yes Martha’s daughter, and her friend Jennifer Koppelman Hutt. I don’t have Sirius Satellite Radio but I do check their website and there I get a synopsis of what they and the callers talk about daily. I investigated further and thought I must participate in this program. It was so easy!

The website is www.anysoldier.com. There I read some stories including what the various men and women of the military would appreciate in a “care package”. Then I found myself at CVS since most of the requests were for toiletries. Magazines, DVDs, snack food and photo paper are also sought after commodities.

I returned to the website, since you must check to be sure that the person you will send a package to is still listed. With troop movement and the end of a tour of duty you wouldn’t want to send a package to someone who was no longer there. After securing the package and writing a little note all that remained was to mail it. The cost for 5-6 pounds ends up being about $8.00 – so worth it. If you think you might want to participate or if you are just curious, please visit http://www.anysoldier.com/. The brave men and women in uniform will surely be grateful!

Customer Service

February 19, 2008


I’m quite certain that we have all experienced exceptional as well as ‘much to be desired’ service. In my case both occurred within the past week at the same electronics chain but in two different locations. In Braintree a young fellow asked if I needed help and I inquired about printers as well as laptops. Let me tell you how congenial, knowledgeable and helpful he was. Kevin spent at least 45 minutes with me and I was truly impressed with his expertise and his ability to share what he knew. I wasn’t buying on that day just gathering information for an imminent purchase. Upon completion of his demonstration and our conversation, I asked to see his manager to compliment him. Unfortunately, he said they were all at a meeting and no one was available. I thanked Kevin and left the store with very positive feelings about both the store and the associate.

Later in the week I'm in Dedham and I decided to buy a CD which was on sale. In the meantime I wanted to get information about a router I will soon need. I asked for help and the associate walking by said he’d be right back. Needless to say after 5 minutes there was no sign of him or anyone else for that matter. I was in the store for at least 40 minutes and was unable to get any help although I was looking for an associate. I didn’t need any help finding the CD I wanted but at the checkout I was charged full price – a difference of $5.00. I pointed out the incorrect price to the cashier. He seemed annoyed but after putting in some code was able to correct the price. He never said ‘sorry about that’ or anything in fact. Since I know that accuracy in pricing is a matter for customer relations to say nothing of the Better Business Bureau and the Attorney General’s Office, I mentioned the error to the person/greeter at the door as I exited. Without saying anything he rudely pointed to the return desk. I said,” No, I don't need a refund the price was corrected by the cashier after I spoke up.” He muttered something about letting them know with the same disinterest the cashier had exhibited. I left that store with rather negative feelings between being ignored and treated rudely.

My mistake was not asking to speak with the manager. I just did not think of it. Curious, because I did when I wanted to give a compliment earlier in the week. There you have it - two completely different experiences in the same chain store but in two different locations.

~~~Clutter~~~

February 16, 2008

Recently I heard that we consumers use only 20% of what we buy. Who knows if that means in the course of the year or on any given day. It certainly doesn’t mean consumables. Regardless, even adjusting for the inherent flaws in statistics,that is startling! It sure got me thinking. What do I use consistently? What do I literally never use? And just what falls in between?

So, it begs the question. Just when and how does one declutter? A suggestion is made that if you collect books, as I do, one of every five books you have could be given away. For me that would surely create needed space in my bookcases. The old adage, if you haven’t worn that item of clothing in a year, you should probably toss it, is still in play. How about all those old computer parts? What about cellphones and digital cameras? All seem ripe for recycling.

Looks like it’s time to do my part, no matter how small, in this battle with clutter.

One Week Later

After what you ask – why Super Bowl XLII, of course!!! It has taken that long for me to gain some perspective, to finally congratulate my nephew, a rabid New York Giant fan, and to be able to say that the New England Patriots did not lose – they were beaten. Yes, in every phase of the game the Giants outplayed the Patriots. Our offensive line was consistently being blown off the ball at the point of attack. Our defense, while playing valiantly most of the game, could not make that final stop in the last two minutes. That said, although quarterback Tom Brady did not have a good game overall, we still had a chance to win when we took the lead with two and one-half minutes to go in the fourth quarter. Not taking anything away from Eli Manning, who led his team down the field for the winning score while leaving just thirty seconds or so on the clock, but really just how many Hail Marys can you have answered in one game?

For me the most telling comment came from Randy Moss after the game when he spoke about how the Patriots from the outset failed to match the intensity of the Giants. Is it possible that the strain of being the perfect 18-0 team with all the hard work that went into it had finally caught up with the Pats? I don’t know. I only know that when the Giants kept the ball for the first ten minutes or so on the opening drive of the game I never had a good feeling about the outcome. The win I hoped was inevitable after such a great season, in the end just wasn’t meant to be.

Simply the Best

February 8, 2008

Today would have been my mother’s 93rd birthday. She is gone now - fifteen years next month. It’s hard to believe it is that long and then sometimes it feels like last week. My mother, Lillian Madeline, was an amazing woman. She was all about family. Lil had five brothers and five sisters. All were very close. They loved family gatherings, harmony singing, playing cards, supporting each other and just plain having fun together.

You know that unconditional love we all crave. Well, my mother gave that to me, my sister, my brother and of course to my father. My father was always star-struck in love with my mother. He lived for her and together they were fortunate to have almost fifty-two wonderful years of marriage. It is with a loving and grateful heart that I say, ”Thank you, Mama, for always being there for me, for your unwavering support and your boundless love. So it is that today I imagine you in heaven laughing, dancing and singing what became your song, “Hello Dolly”!

You were – Simply the Best…

Bank of America and Customer Towing

February 6, 2008

This long time Bank of America customer learned a valuable lesson today. Here’s a rule I did not know. Be sure to complete any banking in 30 minutes or you may run the risk of having your car towed. I parked my car and, since it was Ash Wednesday, first I went to the nearby church service. Less than forty-five minutes later I emerged from church only to find my car in the process of being towed from the parking lot. I immediately asked the tow person to please give me back my car since it was already on the lift. He was on the phone, presumably talking with the bank, and so I waited. You can imagine how high my stress level was. Have you ever been there with your car on a lift and the truck about to drive away with your car in tow?

When the tow gentleman got off the phone he informed me that for a fee he would take my car off the tow lift and I could go on my way. I asked him if this was a bank policy and he told me he did not have to offer to free my car. Since I didn’t have enough cash I then went to the ATM machine. Seeing a bank employee I informed him that my car was being towed and I asked how they knew I was not in the bank. It seems they announced my car registration number in the bank and got no response. Undoubtedly right about that time I was making my way to my car after church. I asked the bank employee, “Is this the way Bank of America does business?” I was contemplating pulling all my accounts from the bank. It was then that the bank employee quickly made his way to the bank parking lot and arranged to have my car released from the tow truck.

Needless to say, I was most grateful. I thanked the gracious bank employee and the polite tow truck person. After a very harrowing experience I can certainly say,

"Lesson Learned!"