| Jazmee27
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ONLY ADVICE: CALM DOWN (IT'S NOT WORTH IT)
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I’m real bitter when I consider such things. And with age, that emotion only grows stronger…
In August of 2004 I was preparing to enter college, and asked Blindness and Visual Services (BVS) to purchase the new Braille notetaker manufactured by Freedom Scientific, the Florida-based company I’d dealt with—indirectly—for years. Prior to using the Pac Mate, I’d been typing on a Braille Lite 40 in public school, and before that a Braille Mate (that, though, was made by Telesensory, whose company is based in California [I had a lot of problems with the equipment, and each time Administration was unwilling to pay as it was assumed I’d broken it {given my temper, it wasn’t hard to believe I’d dropped it, or otherwise damaged… but the truth is that, for the most part, the technology just broke down}]). Unfortunately, when I graduated, the Braille Lite went back to the District. So, I had to learn to use something new—fortunately, certain things were the same, such as the Braille keypad, and the 40-cell display; but the Pac Mate is closer to a computer than other technologies I’d used in the past.
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Reply #721. Jun 13 12, 7:14 PM
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| Jazmee27
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One company, I forget its name, has representatives it can send to other parts of the country. Not Freedom… if the equipment needs servicing, it’s off to Florida for anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. And, of course, it’s not just the cost of repairing the thing, but the shipping as well. And, as if that’s not bad enough, the price for a warranty on the unit: $5000.
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Reply #722. Jun 13 12, 7:15 PM
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| Jazmee27
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I hadn’t called for an argument… but that’s exactl y what I got. By the time I hung up, I was left with a bad taste in my mouth. I’d already made up my mind, but at what cost?
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Reply #723. Jun 13 12, 7:15 PM
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| Jazmee27
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Each summer, Compeer of Lebanon County holds a picnic, complete with games and swimming. In fact, last year’s picnic was where I got my picture taken with Georgette; it now hangs on my refrigerator.But this year, I was lax in my responsibility…
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Reply #724. Jun 13 12, 7:16 PM
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| Jazmee27
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A few months ago, the m onthly newsletter announced that Compeer’s looking to become more environmentally friendly, and asking who’d like the monthly newsletter on e-mail. Mom wanted me to sign herself and myself up; I keep forgetting. “If you’re not careful, you’ll miss the picnic.” Which, I did. Georgette may have gotten her newsletter y yesterday, but I just got mine today, and Grandma read that the deadline to RSVP to the picnic was Tuesday; and although I tried calling the office, no one answered: indeed, I sort of remember that the staff only work part time.
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Reply #725. Jun 13 12, 7:17 PM
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| Jazmee27
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She took the news better than I expected, and indeed asked if I wished company Saturday afternoon at the apartment. If you want, I said, and she explained that she’d be spending time with her mother Friday, but that she was working Saturday. After their “mother-daughter time,” she’d call me to let me know when she’d be over-though it could be late. I assured her I didn’t mind-and I really didn’t, it being enough that she call.
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Reply #726. Jun 13 12, 7:18 PM
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| Jazmee27
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I’ve been brought up not to waste things. That’s not to say I haven’t… but, in general, I try to avoid it. Which is why, when I got the macaroni salad this week, I vowed to “eat it all unless it’s so bad I can’t choke it down.”
The first thing I noticed was the smell: the overwhelming aroma of vinegar. “If it tastes as bad as it smells, there’s no way.” Fortunately, I found I could swallow it without much trouble. “But when it’s done…” Never again!
Mom’s mac ssalad contains quite a bit of vinegar—but it’s mixed better than that. Maybe if I ask her nicely, she’ll make some.
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Reply #727. Jun 13 12, 7:19 PM
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| Jazmee27
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Yesterday, I had both Mom and Grandma mad at me on account of either the picnic or the groceries. See, Mom had wanted me to sign up for Compeer’s monthly newsletter by e-mail, but I kept forgetting to call to sign up. That’s why Mom was ticked off at me; as for Grandma… well, it involved my grocery list, and what I forgot to get from Zweier’s. Bread and chocolate milk—those were the items I asked her to pick up yesterday.
Unfortunately, I didn’t realize until she was here that I was out of toilet paper. S o I asked her to run to the store to get some—and the silence was very long indeed. When Grandma’s upset with me, I know… anyone who’s received her disfavor does.
And that was another reason for Mom to be disgusted with me: for Tuesday night, when she read me the Zweier’s specials, she hinted to me that toilet paper was one of them. “Even if it hadn’t been on sale…”
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Reply #728. Jun 13 12, 7:20 PM
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| Jazmee27
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Later, after Mom let me know how displeased she was, and I hadn’t spoken for awhile, she asked if I was upset with her. “No, I’m mad at myself,” and I went on to explain how I was in the doghouse, and there was only room for one in it.
Tonight, I “forgot” to call Mom to say good night. “Wow,” she exclaimed sarcastically, “yesterday you tell me you’re in the doghouse, and there’s only room for one, and… Wow!” [HER SARCASM AND DRY HUMOR ARE HYSTERICAL.]
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Reply #729. Jun 13 12, 7:22 PM
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| Jazmee27
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OH--THAT'S WHEN IT WAS
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I got a boatload of stuff from Zweier’s, having taken advantage of the many sales they have. Unfortunately, the merchandiser with the ad only comes on Tuesday—but it gets to Mom even later; unfortunate, too, is the fact that their specials only run Monday-Friday or Monday-Saturday. But two items—three, really—didn’t suit:
- The Chef Boyardee cans, two big ones on sale for a reasonable price, don’t have the pop tops I’m used to; after fighting with the can opener when the pull tab breaks off, and cutting myself at least once, I’m unwilling to open them myself—and, being so big, I’m afraid of making a mess. Fortunately, Grandma’s here to help.
- I need to specify when I ask for chicken pot pie, since they gave me Marie Calendar’s this time. I foolishly believed that, since Bob took my order last week, I didn’t have to spedcify; plus, one would think he’d have asked… then again, my impression the first time I spoke to him was that he was very simple and needed everything spelled out for him.
- They were out of the hot food special, which was stuffed shells. I was really looking forward to it.
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Reply #730. Jun 13 12, 7:23 PM
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| Jazmee27
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Georgettte called me, thinking I’d called her earlier; did someone tell her I had? I hadn’t, but it was good to hear from her. She informed me that she and her aunt went to see the latest Harry Potter movie, which she enjoyed immensely. Kind of surprising, as she once told me she didn’t like scary movies: then again, she liked “Prom Night,” and parts of that were very scary. I told her I’ve read all of the books, including the seventh one, and she seemed surprised to learn it was already in book form. Unfortunately, the books are somewhat above her level.
Then, she talked about how she mignht come over next Saturday, and she wanted to know what plans I had with Mom. I’ve told her so many times it doesn’t matter when Mom comes over, because we’ll work around her schedule, but that’s Georgette.
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Reply #731. Jun 13 12, 7:24 PM
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| Jazmee27
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The luncheons in the Community Room every month have come up before, but for whatever reason I’ve not been to one before. Julia would like nothing better than for me to “get out more,” to join the ladies for lunch; and Mom’s in full agreement.
Earlier today, Mom called to inform me “I’ve been talking about you!” Turns out, she’d seen Julia coming in, and they talked for a while about the upcoming luncheon. “You should go.” And so, I’ve determined to do just that. “Remind me the next time I come to sign you up.”
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Reply #732. Jun 13 12, 7:25 PM
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| Jazmee27
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Although she’d reminded me just yesterday, the fact that Mom won’t be in town next weekend just sunk in today. “She won’t be here to help with the laundry,” I thought, and apparently the same thought occurred to Mom, as she called and asked if I’d mind doing the wash this week. “I realize we just did it,” she explained, “but I’d rather not lock myself into doing it the weekend after I come back because I might not be able to.” I can easily go for three weeks without doing the clothes, but four is a bit of a stretch, so…
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Reply #733. Jun 13 12, 7:27 PM
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| Jazmee27
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Time for "FBI: Criminal Pursuit"
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Reply #734. Jun 13 12, 7:39 PM
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| Jazmee27
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| Tomorrow's viewing includes "Blood Relatives" and "Behind Mansion Walls" |
Reply #735. Jun 13 12, 9:50 PM
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| Jazmee27
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SOMETIMES, GRANDMA CAN BE SO... IT'S ALL I CAN DO TO RESTRAIN MYSELF!
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As far as excuses go, it was one of the worst I’d heard in a long while: “Well, if you’re calling tomorrow, maybe we’ll wait until Thursday to have lunch.” And just like that, I almost lost it. Yes, I’m calling maintenance, but that’s no reason to postpone our lunch. Plus, her real reason is that she doesn’t want to travel in the heat… so why give me a cock and bull story? Why not be honest about why she doesn’t want to come up?
End result: she’s coming.
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Reply #736. Jun 13 12, 10:04 PM
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| Jazmee27
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Twice in one day. Reminds me of the other air conditioners. Three units in the space of a year, two of them old and one of them new. Just my luck; but the problem with this one isn’t the compressor, or so Royce says: it’s the coil that senses the temperature.Sometimes, he said, they put it inside the unit; other times, he takes it out. Right now, it’s taped to the piano and I’m to touch it if the apartment gets too warm.4
He also told me his boss is off today, so it’s just him. And, as I suspected, there are no units to give us: “Some people don’t use theirs for anything other than heat. I wish I knew who they were so I could take out their air conditioners and give them to those who want them.”
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Reply #737. Jun 13 12, 10:06 PM
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| Jazmee27
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CHOOSE YOUR BATTLES, HONEY
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I should have called last week, but what good would it have done me? As of that day when maintenance stood around, trying to make a defective compressor work, I’ve lost all respect for those guys. ‘Come on, people,’ I wanted to scream, ‘it’s making a grinding noise!’ Personality wise, they’re the nicest men you could hope to meet; as far as their work is concerned, I’m not so sure. |
Reply #738. Jun 13 12, 10:08 PM
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| Jazmee27
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I’ve heard complaints about “Tom, the boss, being… shall we say, less than effective. Royce, at least, is a hard worker, but he’s limited in what he can do—limited by the system.
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Reply #739. Jun 13 12, 10:08 PM
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| Jazmee27
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DON'T YOU KNOW THERE'S REALLY ONLY ONE FAN SPEED?
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Fact is, as of last week I suspected the air conditioner wasn’t working right. And this morning, I woke up at 6:30 with the thought that it was awfully hot in here. The fan speed was on low, and I couldn’t even feel it unless I was right on top of the vent; turning it on high didn’t help, so I called maintenance.
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Reply #740. Jun 13 12, 10:09 PM
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