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October 29, 2008
Almost done!
I've been packing, doing laundry, and cleaning like a maniac. We leave tomorrow!! I'm so excited!! Can't you tell!! by all!! the exclamation points!!??
I've shut all the entries down - if you'd like to contact me, use CateNJ at comcast DOT net. I will be checking emails. I couldn't bear not checking my email. Eeeeeeeeeeek!
Look out Disney - here we come!
Posted by Cate at 11:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 28, 2008
Freakin' Comcast
Around 5pm, I was unable to log into my comcast account. Now - it's 1130pm and I still have no access. Husband logged into Comcast online help (hah) and was number 379 in the queue. Finally, a comcast analyst assisted us. Check out the transcript below if you want a giggle - especially the part of the chat that I highlighted.
user Paul_ has entered room
Paul(Tue Oct 28 22:34:48 EDT 2008)>Comcast e-mail is not working. I have tried through Outlook Express and WebMail
analyst Norberto has entered room
Norberto(Tue Oct 28 23:15:26 EDT 2008)>Hello Paul_, Thank you for contacting Comcast Live Chat Support. My name is Norberto. Please give me one moment to review your information.
Norberto(Tue Oct 28 23:15:31 EDT 2008)>Thank you for waiting. How are you today?
Paul_(Tue Oct 28 23:11:31 EDT 2008)>Fine - thank you
Norberto(Tue Oct 28 23:16:29 EDT 2008)>That's great!
Paul_(Tue Oct 28 23:13:01 EDT 2008)>Is there a problem with Comcast email?
Norberto(Tue Oct 28 23:17:27 EDT 2008)>I understand your concern. I do apologize for the inconvenience, but there has been a system maintenance for the email page right now.
Norberto(Tue Oct 28 23:17:38 EDT 2008)>Please do not worry, there is nothing wrong with your email account or outlook. It has something to do in our end.
Paul_(Tue Oct 28 23:13:35 EDT 2008)>I have been unable to access it since 5pm..
Norberto(Tue Oct 28 23:18:39 EDT 2008)>I understand.
Norberto(Tue Oct 28 23:18:49 EDT 2008)>Our Network Engineers are working on the new interface that will be attached to the email page.
Paul_(Tue Oct 28 23:15:11 EDT 2008)>When do you think the email will be available? I work from home and need to be able to access it.
Norberto(Tue Oct 28 23:20:26 EDT 2008)>We have no advise as of yet but we are working round the clock to bring bak the service back as soon as possible.
Norberto(Tue Oct 28 23:21:03 EDT 2008)>Rest assure that this upgrade is necessary and urgent.
Paul_(Tue Oct 28 23:17:33 EDT 2008)>Thank you
Norberto(Tue Oct 28 23:21:54 EDT 2008)>Thank you for contacting Comcast Live Chat Support. Enjoy the rest of the Day!
I guess my system would be down if there was a problem in MY end too...
Posted by Cate at 11:22 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 22, 2008
Mike Rowe on Sesame Street!!
You know you've made the big times when you get to be on Sesame Street.
Posted by Cate at 05:03 PM | Comments (1)
October 16, 2008
In lieu of real content
I adore this commercial...these little guys just make me smile every time.
Posted by Cate at 12:32 PM | Comments (2)
October 13, 2008
Monday Morning Updates
I did get a verbal response from Target customer service on Friday afternoon. Unfortunately, I was not home to take the call. The Target rep left a very nice message, repeating several times how sorry she was about my experience. I am still giggling over it - it was pretty funny. Apparently I will be receiving a coupon in order to recover the cost of the broccoli. Oh - I prepared another bag of broccoli in my microwave last night - no explosions at all.
In kitty news, well, she's mysteriously stopped pissing all over my kitchen floor. Stopped as in "shut off the tap" stopped. She has started using the litter box with no problems ::knock wood:: But, since she's been having this pee issue, I can't trust her to stay at home with neighbors checking on her. So, Husband and I checked out a local pet boarding facility.
Holy crap - it was beautiful. I'd stay there if I had the opportunity. The kitty condos were so cute - no cages at all. Each condo unit is glass and stainless steel as well as heavy duty plastic. The front of the little condo is clear and they each have a little bed in them, just the right size for a cat. There's a little area off to the side - the cat must walk through a little opening to get to the litterbox. Each condo has it's own vented area... it's a very nice (and brand new!) facility. Don't even ask me the cost of boarding a cat daily. Seriously. I want to cry. But, there's no other choice for poor old Darla.
At least she will be grumpy in a very nice place!
Posted by Cate at 01:33 PM | Comments (1)
October 09, 2008
Hooray!
I can't wait!!!!
Posted by Cate at 08:59 AM | Comments (0)
No word yet
I haven't heard back from anyone at Target regarding this incident. I hope I get SOME sort of response, I'd hate to have to boycott Target - I just love them too much.
Today, Eldest is on a class trip with her entire seventh grade class. They are all going to a local campground to work on team building skills. Here's a bit from the website:
Educational Team Building Programs for Schools:
What we will do
Create a sequence to meet your group’s needs
Move through the steps of group dynamics
Discuss after each activity what was done, what was learned, and what we can use from this at the school or to build a better community
Use our High Element Teambuilding Course to create teambuilding situations
Use our Low Element Teambuilding Course to create teambuilding situations
Use Props to create teambuilding situations
Sounds interesting. Let's hope it works! Afterwards, there will be a school dance. Heh. I wonder how fun that will be after being in the woods all day. I think all those kids are gonna stink. In fact, I warned Eldest that she was hitting the showers as soon as she got home tonight. I'm sure she will be in a lovely mood.
Just lovely indeed.
Posted by Cate at 08:48 AM | Comments (3)
October 08, 2008
Contacted Customer Service
In regards to what happened to me on Sunday, this is what I emailed to Target:
I had purchased several bags of the Archer Farms brand frozen vegetables last week. I followed the very simple directions on how to prepare the bag when using a microwave. Unfortunately, the bag exploded, leaving broccoli particulate inside my microwave. I have written about my experience with the broccoli and included some photographs of the aftermath on my blog: http://www.katespot.com if you'd like to review it as well. Please feel free to contact me with any additional questions. I do have several more bags of the broccoli in my freezer and I am a bit apprehensive to prepare them. My reason for writing is to offer some words of caution about preparing this product. Thank you and have a great day. I look forward to your reply.
Think I will get a response?
Posted by Cate at 09:57 AM | Comments (2)
Used up another life
Well, it looks like Darla has wrangled some more time on this mortal coil. Her urinalysis came back just fine. Bloodwork is normal.
So, after all that, why the hell, after 19 years, has she decided to piss on my floors?
We've decided that we have to put her in a kennel for the time we are in Florida. I have no idea how much that will cost us - probably more that a few nights at a hotel. I cannot ask my mom or my neighbors to mop my floor every time she pees on it. What if they don't see it right away? Oy - I don't even want to think about the smell. Two HOUR old cat pee stinks to high heaven - I can't even imagine two week old cat pee.
I'm waiting to hear back from the local veterinary office. They board cats and I am hoping they get back to me asap. I don't know how well she will do while residing in the kennel but I am out of options.. short of.. well.. the final option.
I'm not ready for that option.
Posted by Cate at 08:33 AM | Comments (2)
October 06, 2008
Conspiracy Theory?
Yesterday, with some help from Husband, I prepared a nice dinner, roasted chicken, roasted little potatoes with diced up bacon (OMG - so good!)and steamed broccoli. I had done some food shopping at our new (YAY!) Target because some of their pantry items are much less expensive that the local supermarkets. While browsing, I discovered this fabulous Archer Farms product:
Yay - I can steam the broccoli right in the bag and not worry about washing another pot. Plus, all I'd have to do is pop the bag into the microwave, set the time for six minutes and voila! Steamed broccoli.
Well, that wasn't exactly what had happened.
This is what happened instead:
Here is a close-up of the carnage:
Hey look- I have finally figured out how to use the macro setting on my camera! Boy, doesn't this look appetizing?!
I followed the directions. How hard could it be? Open microwave, place bag inside, make sure the direction side is up, set timer for six minutes and voila! Delicious steamed broccoli. Instead, what I got was the "exploding broccoli".
Oh great Target - my children thank you. A dinner that instantly became veggie free was perfectly fine with them. And, they do eat veggies quite a bit. Thank goodness it was funny.. and Husband helped me clean it up.
By the way - cold, exploded broccoli and melted packaging? Gross. Really gross.
You can well imagine my apprehension to prepare yet another delicious bag of exploding steamed broccoli. Maybe my kids tampered with the bag... hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....
Could it be a broccoli conspiracy theory?
Posted by Cate at 03:40 PM | Comments (4)
October 03, 2008
Got it!
Well, I did manage to get the cat's urine sample because she pissed on my kitchen floor again. I was able to salvage some of the pee and store it in a plastic container.
Unfortunately - now I need a new turkey baster. Eww.
Posted by Cate at 12:27 PM | Comments (4)
October 02, 2008
A Pass
Well, Darla survived the trip to the vet. We used Banfield and they were just wonderful. My poor 19 year-old sweet kitty turns into the Demon Cat From Hell (DCFH™) as soon as she encounters strangers. Let me tell you, if I wasn't so upset and stressed out from thinking the cat was going to get put down, I'd have filmed Darla. She made noises I haven't heard from her in a looong time - it was spooky. But, it was nice to see her all spunky and lively again.
The last time we bought her to the vet, Youngest was with us. As soon as Darla started to freak out, Youngest lost her mind. It scared the hell out of her because she started bawling - poor kid. So, with this in mind, when I made the appointment for Tuesday, my mom came over to watch the girls. There was no way I could have brought them with us.
The vet wants me to get a urine sample. Hah - easy for him to say. That cat has been pissing on my kitchen floors and not in her litter box. With the blood sample they pulled on Tuesday, he determined that it could be kidney problems. Not so good for a 19 year-old cat.
So, I will try to collect a sample (how? when?) and get it over to the vet. Wish me luck!
Posted by Cate at 08:06 AM | Comments (3)