It’s a New Year

Warning: This is a long one!

Saturday was an interesting day to say the least.

I tossed and turned most of the night. I think I got about four hours of sleep tops. I had bad insomnia. My son woke me up about eight with a cheerful “rise and shine” which would have been annoying if he wasn’t so darn cute. We paid bills and headed off to the bank, the post office, to Fry’s to make a return. At least Fry’s wasn’t crowded. But still – I hate that store. :dead: Husband wanted to look at one thing before we left and of course the sales associates (code for sales idiots) ignored us. It was enough to make me want to take my own life.

We finally got out of there, headed back home to get some lunch. Now, I’m due for an upgrade on my cell phone on January 2. But the rebate on the phone I want (a Motorola Razr) was only on through December 31. So, I call up customer service and ask them if I can upgrade early. No sweat! And I’m thinking “SWEET!” She said to go to ANY Cingular store or go online to do my upgrade.

Off we go to the local Cingular store. They were busy. Very busy. I/we waited two freaking hours :dead: for another “sales associate” to assist us. I think I stood nearly the entire time. I had a back ache, leg ache, foot ache, you-name-it-ache. There were two customers in front of us – one was buying/activating FOUR Razr’s, the other was buying/activating THREE. Now, these phones aren’t cheap. So imagine the bill on that one. But I digress…

Anyway… finally, it’s my turn. I get to sit down and tell the wet-behind-the-ears sales dude I want to upgrade and get the Razr. He says, “Your account shows you’re not eligible until the second.” I calmly explain the situation. He calls customer care. As I sit there and listen to his side of the conversation, it becomes immediately clear they can’t do the upgrade. :yelling:

To say I was pissed would be an understatement of epic proportions. There has only been one other time in my life where I was so angry I saw red. THAT time, it seems, dealt with another phone company of which no longer has my business.

I storm out of the store, cursing the entire way out the store front doors. Naturally, my four year picked up my creative cursing right away. Hooray for that. I couldn’t help it though. I was HOT. I immediately got on the phone to customer service and immediately started bitching. I told the lady, “Look, I know it’s not your fault but I just stood in line for TWO HOURS and I’m pissed off.”

She apologized – not that it did any good – and I calmed down. Turns out, I really WAS eligible for an upgrade, but I was at the wrong store.
:wtf:

I was supposed to go whatever-the-hell that other store was – not the authorized dealer I had been at because I got an “exceptional” upgrade instead of a “standard” upgrade. Whatever the :censored: that means. Since it was nearing late afternoon and closing time, I KNEW I would not have the patience or the stamina to stand in another long line. Of course I was pissy in the car about it (after all, I wouldn’t be in this predicament had it not been for Husband’s … ahem … persistence in the matter to save a buck or two…but that’s neither here nor there). We went home. And I did what any self-respecting pissed off woman would do. I pouted.

I got home and sat down at the computer and pulled up Cingular’s website. I stared at my account and thought about just ordering the damn thing online. Now, I am a here-and-now kinda girl. When I want something, and want it badly (i.e., a Razr phone), I’m going to do anything and everything in my power to get it when I want it. I guess that makes me spoiled.

I tromped back down the stairs, rummaged through the Secret Credit Card Hiding Place and picked out the Visa card I’d skillfully hidden away from myself. Evidently not skillfully enough, because I found it and carried it back up the stairs with me. I placed it on the desk in front of me and stared at the silver card, then stared back at the website. I closed the browser window, tapped my fingers on the desk, and opened the window again.

Ultimately, I ordered the damn phone online. Which means I will have to wait until next week to get it. But I will be assured of getting it. Without a two hour standing-room-only wait.

And – oh – I got the Bluetooth earpiece. :hehe:

We celebrated New Year’s at home. Quietly. Everyone fell asleep before midnight except me. I really thought I would be the one to crash early. But, no, I was still up. Saw the beginning of the New Year and said goodnight. I didn’t even have a drink. Must have been the first New Year’s in a very long time I didn’t. (Okay, I confess… I had a little shot of Crown, but that was it.)

I remember – when I was much younger – a New Year’s standing on the front porch with my dad and hearing somewhere in the neighborhood the loud shout of “Happy New Year!” Probably some party up the street or something. We all promptly went to bed afterward. Or at least I did. I don’t know why that memory sticks in my head like it does, but I’ve always thought of it every New Year since.

Hope everyone had a safe and happy celebration.
:cheers: