I have long said that air conditioning ranks up there as one of the top inventions of mankind, behind fire and the wheel. Well, last week, mine went out! I luckily have 2 units in my house, one for the front of the house and one for the back of the house, so I am not completely without AC but the back of the house is where I spend most of my time.
I have a home warranty and it does not seem to have done me any good... They sent a guy out who was literally in my house for about 10 minutes. He came in, told me that it looked like my motor was dying because the drain pipe was backing up. He looked around unsuccesfully for the model number for the fan and then told me that we would have to have the office figure out what size motor it was and call me back.
Well, after not hearing from anyone for 2 days, I called back the repair company and they told me that the warranty company was supposed to call me because they were denying to cover the repair since it happened due to neglect. Then when I didn't hear back from the warranty company I called them on Monday. I was told by a rep that 1) they were still evaulating whether or not to replace the motor or the whole unit and that 2) I was in the queue to call back that day. So, on Wednesday, when I called back again the woman on the phone told me that when I called on Monday that they told me that the repair would not be covered. Okay..... does that sound like what I just told you the guy said?? Then she put me on hold and said that she went to ask the guy about his note. She said that he swore that what he had written was what he had told me and practically accused me of lying! I told her, why would I bother to call back if that is what someone told me!? Why would I waste my time if that was my understanding??
That really rubbed me the wrong way and this experience, combined with past one has led me to really reconsider having this home warranty in the first place. Basically, it seems that unless you have all new everything, they will try to find a way to get out of covering what ever you call them for.
I guess I will call back the company that came out to see how much they would charge me to replace the fan motor......and try my best to stay cool!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
I am not a hypochondriac....
Some odd stuff has been happening to me health-wise lately....
First, around the end of June/beginning of July, I started experiencing some extreme bloating --- I mean, EXTREME. It didn't really respond to regular antacids or OTC medicine like Prilosec. Let me elaborate a little more on what this was like. I was so uncomfortable that I had trouble sitting up straight. My posture was suffering, I had to adjust the seat in my car because I was started to have lower back pain. Sometimes I would feel slightly better but didn't want to eat much because when I did, I felt even more full and bloated. I was starting to think that something was seriously wrong with me. Now, I am not one to have a fragile digestive system. I have traveled around the world and eaten many things in many places with little consequence but there is nothing more humbling than having prolonged gastro-intestinal distress. It just saps the energy out of you.
Finally, I decided to go to my doctor. I have had a bit of trouble finding a good internal medicine doctor here. A couple years ago I went to a female doctor that was highly recommended and conveniently located and on my first visit she told me that this was my annual exam just to get a baseline and if I had any other particular issues that I wanted to discuss I would have to come back for another appt! Needless to say, that rubbed me the wrong way and I never went back. So last year, I asked my GYN to recommend someone and she recommended another female doctor who was part of a popular practice. I had gone to her once last year for an annual exam so I made an appt to go see her to figure out what was wrong with me this time. The visit was not fulfilling or comforting at all. I told her everything that was going on -- I was practically in tears --- and she basically asked me some questions, pressed on my stomach and asked if I had any sharp pain. Then she prescribed a medication for acid reflux, told me to take something for gas if I needed it and said to let her know in TWO WEEKS if I wasn't feeling better. Well, I left there feeling pretty upset. But, I figured that if she didn't think that this was anything life-threatening that I would go ahead and try some other things to try to improve my situation in addition to what she prescribed me. I did, with a combination of the medicine she prescribed, from Gas-X, and some probiotics that I started taking too, start feeling better later that day. But I am not really any closer to understanding why it happened in the first place. In my doctor's defense, she did give me about 2 weeks of free samples of the medicine she prescribed, which ended up to be about $50 worth, given my insurance coverage...
Then.....
A few days ago, I woke up in the morning with a crick in my neck, like I slept wrong. A day or so later it was still sore. Then, the next day the muscle soreness turned to more of a sharp stiff pain. And then, the next morning, my throat started feeling weird. By about mid day, I started to feel like there was a lump in the back of my throat, literally. I was feeling very uncomfortable and worn out. I considered going to the doctor again, although not very excited about it. That night I came home and washed my hair and took some Advil (previously, I had been taking Aleve) and I almost immediately I started feeling better. It was all really strange but after about 12 hours of taking Advil, I was almost completely back to normal. Again, really odd.
So, I still don't know why either of these things happened. I am normally pretty boring and regular from a health perspective and pay a lot of attention to my body. Anytime anything is out of wack, I notice it. I am not completely sure what it was trying to tell me with these two things but I decided that maybe I need to rid myself of some toxins or something. So I started an herbal cleanse -- it can't hurt and I have already felt a difference in my sleep.
First, around the end of June/beginning of July, I started experiencing some extreme bloating --- I mean, EXTREME. It didn't really respond to regular antacids or OTC medicine like Prilosec. Let me elaborate a little more on what this was like. I was so uncomfortable that I had trouble sitting up straight. My posture was suffering, I had to adjust the seat in my car because I was started to have lower back pain. Sometimes I would feel slightly better but didn't want to eat much because when I did, I felt even more full and bloated. I was starting to think that something was seriously wrong with me. Now, I am not one to have a fragile digestive system. I have traveled around the world and eaten many things in many places with little consequence but there is nothing more humbling than having prolonged gastro-intestinal distress. It just saps the energy out of you.
Finally, I decided to go to my doctor. I have had a bit of trouble finding a good internal medicine doctor here. A couple years ago I went to a female doctor that was highly recommended and conveniently located and on my first visit she told me that this was my annual exam just to get a baseline and if I had any other particular issues that I wanted to discuss I would have to come back for another appt! Needless to say, that rubbed me the wrong way and I never went back. So last year, I asked my GYN to recommend someone and she recommended another female doctor who was part of a popular practice. I had gone to her once last year for an annual exam so I made an appt to go see her to figure out what was wrong with me this time. The visit was not fulfilling or comforting at all. I told her everything that was going on -- I was practically in tears --- and she basically asked me some questions, pressed on my stomach and asked if I had any sharp pain. Then she prescribed a medication for acid reflux, told me to take something for gas if I needed it and said to let her know in TWO WEEKS if I wasn't feeling better. Well, I left there feeling pretty upset. But, I figured that if she didn't think that this was anything life-threatening that I would go ahead and try some other things to try to improve my situation in addition to what she prescribed me. I did, with a combination of the medicine she prescribed, from Gas-X, and some probiotics that I started taking too, start feeling better later that day. But I am not really any closer to understanding why it happened in the first place. In my doctor's defense, she did give me about 2 weeks of free samples of the medicine she prescribed, which ended up to be about $50 worth, given my insurance coverage...
Then.....
A few days ago, I woke up in the morning with a crick in my neck, like I slept wrong. A day or so later it was still sore. Then, the next day the muscle soreness turned to more of a sharp stiff pain. And then, the next morning, my throat started feeling weird. By about mid day, I started to feel like there was a lump in the back of my throat, literally. I was feeling very uncomfortable and worn out. I considered going to the doctor again, although not very excited about it. That night I came home and washed my hair and took some Advil (previously, I had been taking Aleve) and I almost immediately I started feeling better. It was all really strange but after about 12 hours of taking Advil, I was almost completely back to normal. Again, really odd.
So, I still don't know why either of these things happened. I am normally pretty boring and regular from a health perspective and pay a lot of attention to my body. Anytime anything is out of wack, I notice it. I am not completely sure what it was trying to tell me with these two things but I decided that maybe I need to rid myself of some toxins or something. So I started an herbal cleanse -- it can't hurt and I have already felt a difference in my sleep.
Friday, July 25, 2008
It's not just black folks.... or Americans for that matter!
It's not just black folks who get a little too creative with their childrens' names. Check out this story from the USAToday about what a family court judge did in New Zealand!
Ugh!
http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2008-07-24-New-Zealand_N.htm
Ugh!
http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2008-07-24-New-Zealand_N.htm
Code words.....
So the latest thing that the pundits have been talking about it that, although Obama is ahead in the polls overall, when folks are asked clarifying questions, it seems that there are no specific issues that people are uneasy about Obama's position on, they are just trying to decide if they like his in general, if they think he will make a good president.
Key findings show that many don't think that they can relate to "his background and values." Okay, background??? You mean the fact that he is black???? And he has pretty traditional values --- married, 2 kids, worked his way through school, believes in giving back to society.......
I guess we knew it would come down to this. He is a professional, intelligent, compassionate, well spoken, diplomatic candidate with a great 3-point shot! What more do you want, people!?!? But I guess that all matter but so much.
The bottom line: Enough people just need to decide that they are comfortable enough with having this black man for president.
See the Wall Street Journal article http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121684823498078481.html?mod=djemalertNEWS
Key findings show that many don't think that they can relate to "his background and values." Okay, background??? You mean the fact that he is black???? And he has pretty traditional values --- married, 2 kids, worked his way through school, believes in giving back to society.......
I guess we knew it would come down to this. He is a professional, intelligent, compassionate, well spoken, diplomatic candidate with a great 3-point shot! What more do you want, people!?!? But I guess that all matter but so much.
The bottom line: Enough people just need to decide that they are comfortable enough with having this black man for president.
See the Wall Street Journal article http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121684823498078481.html?mod=djemalertNEWS
Thursday, July 24, 2008
An oilman goes green?
Who would have thought that environmentalists' biggest ally would be a good ol Texas oilman!
But that seems to be the case. T. Boone Pickens, legendary oil tycoon has decided that our dependency on oil -- namely foreign oil -- is out of control. Our dependancy on foreign oil has grown since 1970 from about 24% of our total consumption to 70%!!!
And he has decided that we need to take advantage of wind and solar power to break this dependency and has used his own money to fund a plan for how to do just that. He even has commercials running on network TV.
Take a look at his plan at www.pickensplan.com
But that seems to be the case. T. Boone Pickens, legendary oil tycoon has decided that our dependency on oil -- namely foreign oil -- is out of control. Our dependancy on foreign oil has grown since 1970 from about 24% of our total consumption to 70%!!!
And he has decided that we need to take advantage of wind and solar power to break this dependency and has used his own money to fund a plan for how to do just that. He even has commercials running on network TV.
Take a look at his plan at www.pickensplan.com
Mind blogging....
So, even though I haven't been posting as much as I normally do, I find myself blogging in my mind all the time!
I think about something or hear about something and think "I need to blog about that!" and start writing the blog in my head...
See, I am thinking about you all! Now if I can only get it down on the screen....
I think about something or hear about something and think "I need to blog about that!" and start writing the blog in my head...
See, I am thinking about you all! Now if I can only get it down on the screen....
A statesman......
I just watched the end of Obama's speech in Berlin while I was eating lunch today.....
Such a well crafted speech....... Strong, poignant analogies, steeped in historical reference.... It is so nice to hear someone who is a great orator, a diplomat, a statesman. Isn't that what a president should be?
And as one reporter mentioned, there was such a stark contrast in the crowd assembled today and the ones that assemble when good ol' W comes to speak in Europe. Namely, there were people waving American flags and clapping and cheering instead of yelling and protesting.
The time has come for a return to diplomacy and consensus building.... because closing our ears and just doing what "we" (and I mean that term loosely) want to do really has not worked!
Such a well crafted speech....... Strong, poignant analogies, steeped in historical reference.... It is so nice to hear someone who is a great orator, a diplomat, a statesman. Isn't that what a president should be?
And as one reporter mentioned, there was such a stark contrast in the crowd assembled today and the ones that assemble when good ol' W comes to speak in Europe. Namely, there were people waving American flags and clapping and cheering instead of yelling and protesting.
The time has come for a return to diplomacy and consensus building.... because closing our ears and just doing what "we" (and I mean that term loosely) want to do really has not worked!
Monday, July 07, 2008
Creative spelling....
why did I just make up a new word...... alphabeticalized..... Sad, sad, sad..... Let's all say it together -- alphabetized!! I guess my brain is still on vacation!
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
You have to hand it to him....
As strange as he has become in recent years, you really have to credit Michael Jackson with revolutionizing what it means to entertain in the modern music world. I was reminded of this recently with all the talk of the exciting music performances on the BET Awards last week. I didn't watch them but have been trying to catch clips on You Tube. And it got me thinking....
If you look at those artists that have been praised as great entertainers in recent years, they all seem to follow the Michael Jackson formula in some way shape or form..... You can tell that when they were kids, they say around learning every move in Thriller, Beat It and Billie Jean. But it was those theatrics, big bold crisp synchronized dance numbers and signature style, without sacrificing vocal performance, that have become the blueprint for what an entertainer is in the modern world.
You can see the influence everywhere, across music genres, but I am most reminded of it when I think of a number of 3 current R&B artists, Usher, Ne-Yo and Chris Brown. The cool thing is that these guys have managed to let us know of the influence the gloved on has had but have each re-interpreted it with their own style.
Usher is an all around entertainer who now even has Broadway under his belt. While his street cred has suffered over the past year and talk of his opening performance at the BET awards was lukewarm at best, let me remind you of some of his earlier performances. Check out his video for "U Remind Me" --- especially the breakdown which starts at about 2:20. (You will have to follow the link -- embedding is not supported for this clip)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arE0UOtZfIw
Ne-Yo --- I have just recently "fallen in love" with Ne-Yo. It took me a while. I thought his name was stupid. His performance in Stomp the Yard didn't really make me take notice. And the fact that they played his songs like crazy on the radio had minimal impact since I was boycotting the stuff they played on the radio more and more. But there was a song or two that I liked, so I felt compelled to get his last two albums. Then, one of the unintended consequences of my new job was that I began to have a growing appreciation for Ne-Yo as a song writer. Since I have to test music for my job (and that is all that I will say about that) I have a subset of albums that I use for this purpose. One of them just happened to be Ne-Yo's "Because of You" album. And result of listening to it over and over was that, I really started to like the body of work. The combination of songs touch on a range of emotions, convey a range of tones -- so different from what we are seeing in popular music these days. So, I started paying attention. And I have to say, I love his new single "Closer" Folks who watched the BET awards were all a buzz about Ne-Yo's performance there. It is pretty evident that with this new album, Ne-Yo is evolving his image, with finely tailored crisp suits, hats, a real homage to 40's and 50's fashion with a modern twist. His new image speaks to culture and refinement with a Cary Grant flair and a Micheal Jackson "Hee, hee!" I am really excited to hear his entire album. I can't say that I have been really excited about any new music in a while now.
Take a look at Ne'Yo's Closer Video and then his performance at the BET Awards. I think you will see that little Michael Jackson flair (without weird, scary plastic surgery) in there.
I wish this was better quality but I think you get the picture.....
Now, Chris Brown.... You all already know about the secret crush I have on the little boy... But he just gives some of the best award show performances (not sure I would include this years BET awards as one of them but check out this one from the MTV Awards last year....
If you look at those artists that have been praised as great entertainers in recent years, they all seem to follow the Michael Jackson formula in some way shape or form..... You can tell that when they were kids, they say around learning every move in Thriller, Beat It and Billie Jean. But it was those theatrics, big bold crisp synchronized dance numbers and signature style, without sacrificing vocal performance, that have become the blueprint for what an entertainer is in the modern world.
You can see the influence everywhere, across music genres, but I am most reminded of it when I think of a number of 3 current R&B artists, Usher, Ne-Yo and Chris Brown. The cool thing is that these guys have managed to let us know of the influence the gloved on has had but have each re-interpreted it with their own style.
Usher is an all around entertainer who now even has Broadway under his belt. While his street cred has suffered over the past year and talk of his opening performance at the BET awards was lukewarm at best, let me remind you of some of his earlier performances. Check out his video for "U Remind Me" --- especially the breakdown which starts at about 2:20. (You will have to follow the link -- embedding is not supported for this clip)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arE0UOtZfIw
Ne-Yo --- I have just recently "fallen in love" with Ne-Yo. It took me a while. I thought his name was stupid. His performance in Stomp the Yard didn't really make me take notice. And the fact that they played his songs like crazy on the radio had minimal impact since I was boycotting the stuff they played on the radio more and more. But there was a song or two that I liked, so I felt compelled to get his last two albums. Then, one of the unintended consequences of my new job was that I began to have a growing appreciation for Ne-Yo as a song writer. Since I have to test music for my job (and that is all that I will say about that) I have a subset of albums that I use for this purpose. One of them just happened to be Ne-Yo's "Because of You" album. And result of listening to it over and over was that, I really started to like the body of work. The combination of songs touch on a range of emotions, convey a range of tones -- so different from what we are seeing in popular music these days. So, I started paying attention. And I have to say, I love his new single "Closer" Folks who watched the BET awards were all a buzz about Ne-Yo's performance there. It is pretty evident that with this new album, Ne-Yo is evolving his image, with finely tailored crisp suits, hats, a real homage to 40's and 50's fashion with a modern twist. His new image speaks to culture and refinement with a Cary Grant flair and a Micheal Jackson "Hee, hee!" I am really excited to hear his entire album. I can't say that I have been really excited about any new music in a while now.
Take a look at Ne'Yo's Closer Video and then his performance at the BET Awards. I think you will see that little Michael Jackson flair (without weird, scary plastic surgery) in there.
I wish this was better quality but I think you get the picture.....
Now, Chris Brown.... You all already know about the secret crush I have on the little boy... But he just gives some of the best award show performances (not sure I would include this years BET awards as one of them but check out this one from the MTV Awards last year....
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