Just In Time For School........The Kids Will Love You

I believe word of mouth advertising is better than anything you might see on TV. Maybe not as entertaining but it is more effective to hear about a product from someone that actually has experience with it. I also like to share any good finds with people and hope they get as excited as I do about them. As a matter of fact, if you don’t get excited about it I might hit you over the head with it until you see things my way.

One great find I just saw was Charter Communications is having a drawing for 30 HP Compaq Presario c770US Laptops. Each laptop is valued at over $600. If you sign up online for any Charter Communications service you’re automatically entered to all orders will receive a Shell gas card valued up to $100. With school starting the computer and gas card would come in awfully handy, don’t you think? Add in high speed internet for all the research the students will be doing school papers so they can do it faster without tying up the phone line any more than the already do and Charter can give you everything you’ve always wanted.

Have I got your interest yet? Do you want more information about the computer? Well, here goes:

New HP Compaq Presario C770US Notebook
Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core Processor
15.4" WXGA Screen
2GB RAM -160GB hard drive
DVD Burner
Built in Wi-Fi and Ethernet
Plus a NEOtec Laptop Backpack!

For contest details go to: Charter Laptop-a-Day Giveaway

Now for my honest opinion of Charter. I have it and it’s good. Actually I feel most companies out there offer pretty much the same service but one thing Charter has that goes a long way in my eyes is good customer service. I lost my job a couple of years ago and we were trying to figure out how to cut costs. One way was to cut our cable package and that meant no premium channels and no internet. Yes we were going to go back to, Oh God, I don’t think I can say it…….Dial Up………EEEK. I called Charter and explained things to their customer service department and they actually found us a package that had MORE channels than we had at the time, included our internet and it was cheaper than we were presently paying. Of course that offer was only good for so many months but it helped us out tremendously. By the time the offer ran out and the internet increased to the regular price we needed to figure out how to cut costs. I again called Charter Customer Service and they came through again. We had to cut our cable back to basic but they were able to cut the cost of the internet down again and that was a huge savings. Never once did I have to resort to the dreaded ………Dial Up……….EEEK.
If you’ve read any of my previous posts you might have discovered that I’ll let you know if I have a problem with a product or company and I have no problem naming names. I have to let you know, most of my problems is with Customer Service and I will go out of my way to give my business to the company with the best customer service and I have to say, Charter’s is superior. I think a lot of companies could learn something from them.
OK, I’ll get off my soapbox now.

Customer Service

I work part time in customer service and I think God is paying me back for my attitude with customer service people in the past. My problem isn't with customer service as a whole, it's about those that lie, make promises they can't keep and don't know what they're talking about.

I do outbound calling to existing customers to see how their service is and problem follow-ups. I get people who hang up on me as soon as I say hello. I've been yelled at because someone just called yesterday and I've had customers threaten to report me to the authorities because I've called a couple of times in one day.

I now see how the customer service industry works. There is an automatic dialer and I have no control over how the names and numbers come up. I only have access to certain things in their file and don't have answers to all their questions and sometimes the notes are incomplete or written in a code that only the author understands. I'm honest with the customers and apologize if I can't answer their questions but I do give them the option of calling the company directly or having me request someone call them back, but I do let them know that I'm not guaranteeing anything since I have no control over what the company does with the requests after I submit them. In other words I treat the customer as I would want someone to treat me.

I still have a dislike for customer service but I'm beginning to see that I can't put everyone who works in that position into the box I created for them. I'm also learning that the way I'm being treated by some of these customers has to do with their past experience with the company and other representatives.

I guess if I hadn't been given the opportunity to work in this capacity I never would have seen myself in the customers I'm calling. With that insight I hope I'm a little more open minded and even tempered the next time I'm having problems with my computer. I'm not promising anything though, expecially if they don't speak English and want me to unplug the computer, remove the battery, press the power button and tell them what's showing on the monitor. Yes, I did have someone tell me to do this one time.

A Great Idea for Vista Print Yard Signs to Keep Solicitors Far Far Away

A few years ago I tried to start my own business, I was going to be a Virtual Assistant. I spent hours reading articles and books on starting a business. I wrote up my business plan and I was really impressed with it. I purchased a domain and made my own website. I was really impressed with my creativity, but I guess anybody could be creative when you have a template and just have to click on what you want added where. The idea was, it was mine and I did it. I even had a name for my business “Your Right Hand Office Solutions” I went to City Hall and purchased my business license. I was an actual business.

The next step in my business was the hardest part and this is where I failed. I had no idea how to market. I should say I had an idea what I had to do, after all, I’d read books in the subject. I was just too shy to go out and do it. I guess I was afraid of failure. After two years of paying for the business license and website I decided, with a not so gentle nudge from my husband, to let it go but there’s one thing I held on to for a little longer; my business cards. With those cards I felt important and my dream was still alive.

The cards weren’t fancy but they were nice. I got them from Vista Print. I got their basic package and it was very reasonable. I can’t remember what I paid but I’m thinking it was less than $10. They had a color picture on the front that I got to pick out. I even got to pick the font and where I wanted everything to go on the card. I got rid of the cards last year since I finally realized I’m not a salesman and I now have other dreams.

I still get emails from Vista Print with their offers and they even have some things that are free. Yes, you can get business cards for free. About 10 years ago I got a self inking rubber stamp from them with my address. A friend of mine got business cards from them with her name and phone number that she gave out when she was hitting the bars trying to meet Mr. Right. She did get a lot of calls that way and did eventually meet her husband but that’s another story.

I just found out that Vista Print does more than business cards, address labels and rubber stamps, they also make yard signs. So, next time you want to keep people off the grass or have a yard sale check them out for a sign. I just received an email and if you use the coupon code YardSigns25 - 25% Off Yard Signs, you can save money. Hey, with that savings I might get one that says Quarantine. Do you think it will help during the next couple of months to keep the political parties from knocking on my door?

The Language of Lickety Split

Remember Lickety Split? He’s at it again but he’s so cute you can’t help but laugh at him. Lickety was slow at talking due to some problems with allergies which they think might have impaired his hearing a little. He had tubes put in his ears a few months ago and boy is he making up for it now. He jabbers away and sometimes you can make out what he’s saying but most of the time you’re scratching your head and wondering if he just cussed you out or told you he loves you.

The other day I hear this loud knock at the door. I knew it was Lickety, his older brother gives little tiny almost imperceptible taps but Lickety gives it all he’s got and really gets your attention. I open the door and there’s Lickety, he’s just jabbering and pointing at things. I invited him in and asked him to slow down and repeat it. This time he takes off his shoes and shows them to me. He then shows me the gum in his mouth. I just nodded and said OK. After Lickety walked out the door I got to thinking. What did I just agree to; did I just give him permission to go kick his older brother, Not Me, in the rear and really stick it to him? Since we didn’t hear any screaming and Not Me didn’t have any cuts or bruises the next day I don’t think so but I’d sure like to know what that kid was so excited about that he had to come over to tell me.

I wonder if Rosetta Stone has tapes on speaking Lickety.

My Organized Life

I love watching home improvement shows, especially the ones on TLC and HGTV. I especially like the ones where they show you how to organize things. I’d love to have a home office like some of the ones in the finished design with everything in it’s own little cubby or drawer. The one thing they all have in common is the label maker and most of them use the Dymo Label Maker. They must be one of the sponsors.

I remember when I was little my parents had a label maker. It was this gun type thing with a wheel you had to turn. I’d get cramps in my hands constantly turning that wheel and squeezing the trigger. The label was made on plastic and the letters were pressed into it. I’d label anything I could get my hands on, it made me feel important. Now the Dymo label maker is easier to use. It has a keypad and it’s not this hard plastic strip.

Thinking of how they use the labels on the home improvement, organization shows got me to thinking how I’d use one today. I could see labeling leftovers in the freezer. It would be easier to read what’s in the container than trying to figure out what this frozen lump of ice was. Then if I had kids in school I could label their lunch bags, back packs and for the older ones who loose everything their cell phones and iPods, even though I don’t think I’d let them take those things to school and if I even let them have a cell phone. I’d also use it to help the younger ones with their reading. I’d label everyday household items like the chair, table, phone. The possibilities are endless. As a matter of fact you can see some ideas at File folders. I’d like to think a label maker would help me be more organized and might even turn into the next Martha Stewart. No, I don’t think I’d ever be that organized.

My Name is Dee and I'm a Blogaholic

As you can probably tell, I’m addicted to the internet and with six blogs going I guess you could say I’m addicted to blogging. Oh no, that makes me not only a Pepsiholic but also a Worldwidewebaholic and a Blogaholic. Do they have 12 step programs for those?

In my many many hours on the internet I frequent a forum for bloggers and I’m really learning a lot as well as finding some funny, interesting and educational blogs to read in my spare time. Yeah, just what I need, more reasons to be on the internet. Since you’re also on the internet reading a blog I thought you might like to see some by the other members of that forum. Hey, maybe we could get together and form the first chapter of a 12 step program for internet and blog addicts. Nah, if we did that we’d have to find something else to occupy our time like,(dum dum dum dum) laundry. Anyway, here’s the list, check them out, you may find a few you haven’t been to before.

Enjoy:
4 Cats Make Me Crazy!
All in a Blog
Baby Luvin
Blog About it
Busy Bee Village
The Cajun Blogger
Candle At Both Ends
Catonine Tales
Claudette's Words
A Christian Marriage
Coodas Corner
Cypress TX Mom
Da Boss And Bryguy
Different World
Domesticated Diva
Drizzly Blog
Fat Girl Goes Fit
Feelings Just Are
Flipping Adentures
Florida Travel Spots
The Fuzzbutt Files
The Geeks Girl
Godly Woman
Good News
Green 'n' Pink
Have Your Health
Here On Columbia Avenue
House of Bargains
House Wife Wom
A Hunter's Wife
I Feel Like A Woman
I Love My 3 Boys
It's Just My Thoughts
Kateedyd What?!
Kimmi's Krazy World
Liz’s So Called Blog
Making MY American Dream
Mix World
Momas Life
Mommie’s Marbles
Mommy Mias World
Mom Tidings
My Big Fat Battle
My First Steps With Jesus
My-Junk-Drawer
My Name’s Not “Mom”
MySong of Joy
My Wahm Life
Weekly Beef
Not Just In Your Head
Photos for the Fun of it
Saving With Tracy
Savvy Business Moms
Secola‘s Space
Secret Thoughts and More
Something Witty to Say
Success Factors
That‘s What I am Talking About
Thrifty Momma Ramblings
Thrifty Thoughts
Vibrant Healthy U
Wahm Adventures
WAH and Loving it
WICBlog
The Work From Home Blog
Work from Home Options
World of Homemaking
World of Mom

It's About Time

I just saw an article about a twenty year old in Wisconsin woman who was arrested for overdue library fines. All I can say is IT’S ABOUT TIME. I’m tired of people thinking laws and rules are for everybody but them. They laugh when they break the law and don’t get caught. I know a few people who have that attitude. They’re not embarrassed, in fact they brag about their cunningness and slickness at not getting caught. I worked with someone who would repeatedly park in tow zones or fire lanes because she didn’t want to walk a few extra feet to her car. She never got a ticket. If I tried it even once I’d have a ticket before I even got my key out of the ignition but that’s not the only reason I wouldn’t even attempt something like that. I was taught right from wrong and raised with rules, consequences and standards.

This Wisconsin woman had the audacity to admit that she ignored calls and letters from the library and ignored the notice to appear in court. Then she’s surprised that the police had a warrant and took her to be fingerprinted and photographed. She went through all this for a measly $30 fine. If she would have paid the fine right away it might have been $1 or $2 but instead she let it multiply. If she didn’t have the money to pay and went to the library in the beginning they might even have told her to forget it. Instead she plays ignorant then acts surprised when she's called on it. Of course her mother paid $172 to get her released from jail. If she were my daughter I think I would have let her stay there a few days. Make her suffer a little and earn her release.

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

I was surfing the internet earlier today and came across a site for Trusted Tours & Attractions. They offer discounted tickets to for sightseeing tours in 23 cities across America and one of them is my hometown of Chicago. There is a lot of history and sites to see in Chicago and a lot of local residents don’t take advantage of it. To tell you the truth, I think if I wanted to take a Chicago tour I’d do it with the help of a tour company. The cost of the tour is cheaper than the cost of gas you waste sitting in traffic, avoiding all the pedestrians and trying to find a place to park without paying a month’s salary. They even have tours of Cypress Gardens Florida which I wish they had when I went with my parents when I was six. It might have given me more to see than just girls in long pastel dresses and hats. In checking out the website I checked out their online travel guides. There you can see what historical sites are included in the tours before making your decision. Even if you’re not planning a vacation in the near future you can sign up for their eNewsletter and enter to win a $150 Magellan’s Gift Certificate. To me that’s worth getting an added periodic email.  

This got me to thinking of other vacations I’d been on. I love seeing historical things and I did take a trolley tour when I visited Boston. It might even have been a Boston tour through Trusted Tours and Attractions. I went with two other people and we took the tour making note of anyplace we wanted to see in more detail throughout the rest of the week. That vacation was a blast. One of my friends is a Kennedy buff and we had to see anything related to the Kennedy’s. We spent most of the week in Boston and a few days on Cape Cod. We wanted to see Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket but didn’t have time to fit both in. The Kennedy fanatic wanted to go to whichever one would take us closest to the Kennedy Compound. The last day my other friend and I put our foot down and declared it a Kennedy Free day.

One of my funniest or should I say embarrassing moments took place in Galena, Illinois. I rented a townhouse in the Galena Territory over Thanksgiving and took my seven year old cousin Samantha. I wanted to get away for a few days and she was my travel companion. This townhouse was beautiful with a fireplace in the living room and a whirlpool in the bathroom. We took bath gel with us and put it in the tub one evening. We had our bathing suits and got in the tub. The jets really stirred up the bubbles. We had bubbles over our heads. I don’t think we laughed so much that entire weekend. After the bubble bath we decided to start a fire and watch TV. I had a friend with a fireplace and I’d seen them start one so I was good. I knew what I was doing. Wrong. I ended up calling my friend and her 10 year old son had to tell me how to start the fire. The next day I got brave and decided to take Sam horseback riding. At 5’2” and being overweight and out of shape I don’t do well getting on a horse. I can’t get my foot up to my chin to get it into the stirrups. I’d been riding before and they usually have a stepstool for me or let me get on by a fence. Not this time. If I couldn’t get on the horse from the ground I couldn’t ride and Sam was too young to ride by herself. I didn’t want to disappoint her so I gave it my best shot. With help I got my foot in the stirrup but couldn’t get any leverage to get myself on the horse. Someone was behind me pushing and I finally got my chest on the saddle. Then came the hard part, getting my body in a position that I could get my leg over the back of the horse and somehow get into a sitting position. I had one guy in front of me pulling and another behind me pushing. After much struggling I managed to get in the right position. As we were riding I asked Sam how I looked trying to get on the horse. Her response; it was the funniest thing I ever saw. I should mention there were about eight other people on that trail ride with us. I informed her that she better enjoy the ride because I’m never getting on another horse again. The next day I signed her up for a private lesson so she could go riding again and I could keep both feet on the ground and watch.

How Della Got Her Life Back

Thursday night I came face to face with a life or death situation and won. My computer, we’ll call her Della, got sick, not just a little sniffle or cold but for many hours we didn’t know if she would pull through.

It began as I was doing a google search for new blogger templates. I’d probably been at it for an hour when Della suddenly started throwing up. The virus protection had failed. Oh, it realized there was a problem and started alerting me but it was too late, this alien had shut down her firewall, enabled file sharing and was on the attack. Something had gotten inside Della and she wasn’t responding to anything. It was as if she was possessed. She had a foreign program called Anti Virus XP 2008 inside her and it had taken over. It couldn’t be shut down and I couldn’t stop it.

I immediately called Doctor Don and he stepped in to try to figure it out. This seemed to be beyond his training but he refused to give up. He attempted a Programectomy to remove the suspicious program that was attacking Della’s system but it wouldn’t work. It had metastasized and was all over Della’s system and her registries had been altered. She was septic and it looked like we were going to loose her. A quick search on his computer and we found what was suppose to be the antidote. A program called Malwarebytes. Doctor Don felt this was our only hope. But first he had to figure out how to slow this virus down. Doctor Don gave Della a high dose of Malwarebytes and it looked like it worked. The toxic virus was gone but Della wasn’t out of the woods yet. She was still sick.

Doctor Don started running tests that lasted through the night. He ran 2 separate Anti Virus scans and an Ad-Aware scan. Everything was finding problems but again he couldn’t fix them. It looks like Della’s System Restore was infected and nothing he tried would fix it. Doctor Don had one more trick up his sleeve, he had to shut down her system restore and remove all her existing restore points. It worked but there was still something showing up in her temp files. He did a disk cleanup, re-ran the tests and they all came back negative. She was cured.

I’m happy to say that it’s now been 24 hours since Della was taken off life support and she’s doing fine. Running and playing as if nothing had been wrong with her.

Answering Machine Etiquette

When you own an answering machine or use voice mail you have certain responsibilities. Part of that responsibility falls under the heading Answering Machine Etiquette.

An outgoing message should be concise and let the caller know you’re not able to talk and to leave a message and/or number. This is not the place where you should be yelling, whispering or using your sultry voice. That should be reserved for your husband, partner or your night time job. This is also not the place to have your toddlers practice their speaking voice. Little Johnny and Susie yelling that mama’s not home might sound cute to grandma, grandpa and Aunt Flo but the rest of the population finds it annoying. You also should speak clearly not mumble as if the marbles in your head dropped into your mouth.  

When recording your outgoing message please turn the TV or stereo off. It’s very distracting to try to hear you over the background noise. Another good idea is to write down what you plan on saying and practice it a few times. A message filled with long pauses and “um’s” is almost as annoying as the kids.  

If you think you’re a comedian please reserve that for amateur night at your local bar. Do not practice your stand-up routine as your outgoing message. Saying “hello, hello” over and over then deciding to say “I forgot, I’m not home right now” is not amusing. As a matter of fact it pisses most people off and they leave before the end of your show.  

If you can’t think of a normal, decent message to leave on your machine you can use one of the canned ones that are standard with most all machines and voicemail providers. Even that English woman stating the obvious “This is an answering machine” is better than any of the above. 

Photo Credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What Medical Equipment Companies Don't Want You To Know

I’ve had something on my mind for a few years now and I need to get it out. I may get a lot of flack for what I’m going to write but I’m doing a disservice if I don’t. I’m a Registered Respiratory Therapist, 23 years in a hospital setting and 6 in homecare. It’s the homecare setting I have a problem with. Not homecare where the nurse comes out and checks your wounds, or evaluates you daily or weekly. Not the home physical therapist that comes out to provide therapy to you. I’m talking about the home medical equipment companies or DME (Durable Medical Equipment). In the past few years their focus has changed from patient care to money. Their main goal is to sell or rent equipment and their employees are forced to become salesmen.  

When I worked in the hospital our goal was to get our patients off of unnecessary therapies if we could. If someone was on oxygen, we tried to wean them down until they didn’t need it anymore. If someone was using a nebulizer for their breathing treatments for Asthma or COPD, we tried to get them on Inhalers or MDI’s before they went home. We educated them on proper technique and use and worked with the doctors in providing optimum care. When I got into homecare my thinking had to change. I no longer worked with patient’s to try to get them off unnecessary treatments or therapies or to get them more convenient treatments. My goal now was to keep them on everything they were currently receiving and add more if I could. And we wonder why healthcare costs are so high. 

We had a corporate office that would send us monthly reports. We were told how many new oxygen patients we had to get every month. We were given bonuses if our revenue was over a certain percentage and the only way to get revenue was to sell, sell, sell. If we lost a patient on oxygen, we had to find another one. My supervisor worked in an office in another state and he wanted detailed reports every week of how many “recommendations” I made to the physicians for new therapy or equipment.  

If I went to someone’s home to set them up on a CPAP machine for Sleep Apnea and I saw an inhaler on the table for their Asthma, I had to try to convince them that they needed a nebulizer (an air compressor to deliver liquid medication) instead. Once I got the patient convinced I had to recommend and sell that need to the physician. It didn’t matter that this person was in their 30’s and well managed with their current treatment. I had to convince them they’d do better with the machine. After that was done and ordered I now had to try to get the patient on another medication for their nebulizer. Then I had to convince the doctor to let me test their oxygen level during the night to see if they needed oxygen. That test we did for free since oxygen brought in the most revenue.

When I was doing a follow-up on a patient and they complained of difficulty breathing when lying flat I had to convince them they needed a hospital bed. They could have slept on pillows or gotten a wedge to go under their head or mattress but no, I had to talk them into wanting a hospital bed. Then convince the doctor they needed it.  

There’s a law against going door to door and solicit patients to get their business but if I happened to be in someone’s home and saw they had some rental equipment from another company. I could try to talk them into switching to our company. That wasn’t solicitation that was consolidating their equipment to one company to make it easier for them. No matter what they called it I was trying to get that patient to fire our competitor and let us have their money.

I felt guilty about this but what I was doing didn’t sink in until a family member went home from the hospital with an order for a nebulizer. She wanted the company I worked for to provide it. I set her up and had the doctor order the obligatory oxygen study which showed her oxygen level dropped during the night enough that her insurance would pay for oxygen. After we did the study her doctor ordered a sleep study. She needed a CPAP machine and her study showed that the use of CPAP kept her oxygen levels elevated and no oxygen was needed. Now I had a problem. We could ask her doctor to order the oxygen because we did have our test that showed she needed it BUT she was already on equipment that corrected the problem. What do I do? Normally I would have the doc order the oxygen. That’s what the company wanted me to do but I finally realized what I was doing was wrong. I left it up to my supervisor and she received the order from the doctor for oxygen.  

I loved my job and I felt I was doing a service in educating patients about their illnesses and how to be proactive in their care. In the hospital setting I would argue with doctors and nurses to be able to provide the best care for my patients. I took pride in my work. When I left homecare that pride was gone. I still loved interacting and educating patients but I no longer enjoyed going to work because it was another day of trying to sell and not educate and evaluate. As a patient you have a right. You have a right to appropriate care and a right not to be taken advantage of. I gained your trust, you allowed me into your home and I took advantage of that. I now want to educate you to work with your doctor and discuss any equipment or treatment he wants you to have. You are one of the most important parts of your healthcare team

Don’t disregard all recommendations made by your homecare or DME, sometimes they are warranted and necessary. What I’m saying is to discuss it with your physician and make that decision together, unless you really want the walker, wheelchair, oxygen, nebulizer, bedside commode and hospital bed that have been recommended. Then I say, go for it.  

Pizza and a Movie

We have 2 young nephews that live across from us, Lickety Split and Not Me. Not Me loves pizza and we had him over for pizza and a move last year as a reward for doing good in school. Earlier this year we had Not Me and Lickety Split over for pizza and a movie, big mistake. Our house is small and not childproof. Before we sat down to eat I told Lickety that he was not to be throwing food and the first time he did he was going home. It worked. For the first time he ate everything on his plate and we didn’t have to duck from incoming pepperoni. Even though there was no food fights we decided we could not handle both of them at the same time again.  

Last week Not Me turned 6. We got the brilliant idea to have him over last night for pizza and a movie. I use to be able to multitask and kids making noise didn’t bother me. I could keep one eye on a kid and still focus on something else. I was Wonder Woman. Not anymore. We ate on TV trays in front of the TV. Not Me brought two movies with him to watch, he’d seen them both before and it was a tough decision between Underdog and Ghost Rider but Ghost Rider won. Despite numerous warnings to sit still and not kick his table his cup ended up on the floor twice. He had a sports bottle with a sippy top but that doesn’t stop liquid from leaking out when it’s lying on it’s side. The result was half cup of soda all over the rug.  

Not Me also talks constantly throughout a movie. If he’s not asking why they’re doing something he’s telling you what’s going to happen. I found myself getting very distracted. It was cute when he cuddled up next to Don and was quiet for a few minutes but it didn’t last. He’s bouncing all over the place, dancing in front of the TV and non stop chatter. After he left we decided we wouldn’t be doing that again.  

Now I have to say I love kids and always wanted a few of my own. I do have a stepdaughter, she’s 21 and has a baby of her own. I wasn’t around her when she was little, we got married 5 years ago and she was 16 when I met her.  I use to borrow my friend’s kids all the time and take them places. I’d take my little cousin on vacation every year starting when she was 4. After we got married I wanted to have a baby but I’m outgrowing that idea. Maybe it’s because I’m older but if I were to have a baby now I’d want one with an off button.