I feel naive/silly/stupid/duped. Here's why:
I started booking semi-regular flights in August to visit Loverboy and my family. I like checking out different airlines at one time so I can compare/contrast so I have been using Travelocity.com. Well, if you have used the site recently you probably noticed that after paying for a flight, in the same window as your flight confirmation, there is a yellow box screaming for you to click on it that says "Click here to receive $20 back" (ok that's probably not verbatim, but that's what my memory remembers reading). Naturally, I clicked the box. After clicking, a new window popped up that asked me to verify my email address and the credit card info that I used to pay for my flight. I proceeded until a new window popped up with a list of businesses/services...that wanted me to check out their "great deals yada yada yada." I became disinterested at that point and closed all of the windows and walked away.
That happened sometime in September. A few days ago, while checking my bank statement I noticed a $14.95 charge at something called Passport to Fun. I thought, hmm that's odd, I have never heard of this place, it sounds kind of dirty, what could I have bought there? I decided to google the place to see if it would jog my memory and what did I find? Blogs like mine discussing the fraudulant "business" that sucked hundreds of dollars out of their bank accounts. Instantly, I called the number for Passport to Fun that was on my bank statement and cancelled my so called "membership" that I had unknowingly signed up for by clicking the yellow box. While on the phone I waited on hold for over 10 minutes to talk to a representative of the company, and naturally after those 10 minutes I still did not talk to a representative. I was naive again in thinking that I would be able to get through to somebody.
Later that day, I received an email from Membershipservices [of Passport to Fun] informing me that my "membership" was in fact cancelled. At the bottom it was written that if I had any questions or comments, I should feel free to respond to the email....and respond I did. I was livid! I'm still waiting to hear back...
It took the rest of the day for me to get over my anger. I finally came to terms with the fact that maybe it was my fault for not checking my statement earlier in October when the first charge came. I checked my bank account again yesterday morning to make sure my paycheck was received. What did I see?!?!? Another $14.95 charge from a place called Shopping Essentials! What the hell?!?! I called right away and it was the same automated message...to cancel your membership press 1...to speak to a representative press 2...I pressed 2. Somehow, I got through right away.
While on the phone I had Alex, the representative, explain to me how I "enrolled" into their program (through Travelocity she said); if her company was affiliated with Passport to Fun (yes, they are sister "companies"); how many other sister "companies" have my credit card info (none, she claimed); and if I could talk to her supervisor. When she asked what I wanted with her supervisor, I responded, "TO GET MY MONEY BACK!" She said, "Oh I can issue the refund." We'll see about that. She also said she can refund the money that Passport to Fun stole from me. I'd like to believe that. Only time will tell. I don't know how I could get a refund after cancelling my debit card and getting a new one.
I am shocked that a site as popular as Travelocity.com would have a link to a fraudulent site like that. I am also shocked/confused as to how my credit information was transferred to the other "companies". It makes me sick even thinking about it. If I don't get my refund then there's not much I can do except warn everyone I know by telling them my story. If you know anyone that uses Travelocity please pass this on*.
*And if youwork for one of the "companies" mentioned above, you're probably going to hell.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
There is a (Hot) Guy Staring at Me at the Moment
Loverboy (finally) got a web cam for Christmas. Thinking ahead, I made sure my laptop had one before buying it. These past few weeks have been exponentially better than all of last semester all because of our web cams. We have dates every once in a while in which we will both watch the same movie at the same time while our computers "sit" next to us. We started playing each other in checkers on yahoo.com. In one window he'll be trying to distract me while in the other I am getting kinged. Sometimes when I am really lonely, I'll put my computer in bed next to me so it's as if we are laying next to each other. Although it sounds sad, it makes me feel better after seeing his face.
Naturally, as with everything, hanging out via web cam has its pros and cons:
Pros* and Cons
Naturally, as with everything, hanging out via web cam has its pros and cons:
Pros* and Cons
- Um, duh we get to see each other
- No kissing
- Shaving is not required of us
- We don't get to touch each other
- Bad breath? Not a problem.
- He can still see my acne
- He can see me smile
- Our Internet connection has more control over our dates than we do
- I can see him smile
- NO KISSING
- We are both smiling more
- Kisses can't be transmitted via web cam
- We are laughing more
- The more I see him knowing that I can't kiss him, the more I yearn to kiss him
- People we encounter on a daily basis are happier because our happiness makes us nicer
To sum up, his web cam is making the world a better place.
*I had issues with the coloring. I'm not really obsessed with Christmas. Although, I have been talking about it a lot lately...?
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Hey Doc, Does This Look Normal to You?
It's that time of year again. Time for a check-up, that is. I finally found a gynecologist that I like a couple of years ago, but unfortunately I cannot afford to fly her here to give me a physical. Before I make an appointment with a new doctor, I want to get some recommendations from my friends. I feel more comfortable going in knowing that the doctor does not come off as creepy.
A few nights ago I asked one of my roomies if she has a gynecologist in the area.
Her response: an appalled look on her face followed by a sharp, "Um, noooo."
My response: "Alright then, um thanks."
What I really wanted to say was, "Hellllllooo! You're 25 years old and you don't have a gynecologist?!?!? You need to get yourself checked out!!!"
It turns out that she has never been to a gyno. Why? Apparently it is because she has never had sex. The gyno is not a sex doctor! That is definitely not the only reason to have check-ups! I wanted to smack her in the face and shake her back into reality!
I have been going to the gyno regularly since I was 16. Not one of my appointments were for sexual reasons. If anything, I have gone just to get the added reassurance that my body is normal. I keep having this reoccurring thought that when she finally does have her first experience at the gyno, she's going to be traumatized.
Is anyone else bothered by this? Isn't it the rule of thumb for women to have regular check-ups after the age of 18 if not earlier? Could it be a religous thing?
A few nights ago I asked one of my roomies if she has a gynecologist in the area.
Her response: an appalled look on her face followed by a sharp, "Um, noooo."
My response: "Alright then, um thanks."
What I really wanted to say was, "Hellllllooo! You're 25 years old and you don't have a gynecologist?!?!? You need to get yourself checked out!!!"
It turns out that she has never been to a gyno. Why? Apparently it is because she has never had sex. The gyno is not a sex doctor! That is definitely not the only reason to have check-ups! I wanted to smack her in the face and shake her back into reality!
I have been going to the gyno regularly since I was 16. Not one of my appointments were for sexual reasons. If anything, I have gone just to get the added reassurance that my body is normal. I keep having this reoccurring thought that when she finally does have her first experience at the gyno, she's going to be traumatized.
Is anyone else bothered by this? Isn't it the rule of thumb for women to have regular check-ups after the age of 18 if not earlier? Could it be a religous thing?
Friday, January 25, 2008
I'd like to Introduce you to My New Friend
If you have spent more than say 5 hours with me, you might know that I am addicted to Red Bull. It's a habit I picked up while in undergrad. Several of my friends at the time were older than me and when we hung out at bars (ie restaurant bars that I could get into) while they drank beer and other fun drinks, I drank Red Bull on the rocks. At times I was so bad that I would drink up to 4 cans in one sitting. Now the company makes it much easier to become an addict with their 12 and 16 oz cans. I knew I had hit rock bottom when, as a graduation present, Loverboy's mother bought a 24-pack of Red Bull.
When I moved here, I had a fresh start. I slowly weened myself off RB by drinking something else caffeinated (ie Diet Coke). Having the word Diet in its name can be a little misleading. Just because it's a diet drink does not mean I should drink more of them, right? Tell my cravings that. I am now just as bad with the Diet Coke than I was with the RB. I never drank dark pop (yes, pop people, I'm from the Midwest, that's what it's called) before moving here, but now...I'm addicted.
I realized how bad I was after expressing my anger over my roomies taking the last of my cans. I am starting to think that it's not the drinks that I'm addicted to (although they are sooo tasty). I think it's the caffeine. If that's the case, I might as well drink coffee like most people. Today I made my first pot and it's actually pretty good*! This may the start of a new relationship. Coffee, I have to warn you, you have some pretty big shoes to fill.
*I apologize if my breath offends you. I have yet to figure out how to get the bad breath taste out of my mouth after a drink.
When I moved here, I had a fresh start. I slowly weened myself off RB by drinking something else caffeinated (ie Diet Coke). Having the word Diet in its name can be a little misleading. Just because it's a diet drink does not mean I should drink more of them, right? Tell my cravings that. I am now just as bad with the Diet Coke than I was with the RB. I never drank dark pop (yes, pop people, I'm from the Midwest, that's what it's called) before moving here, but now...I'm addicted.
I realized how bad I was after expressing my anger over my roomies taking the last of my cans. I am starting to think that it's not the drinks that I'm addicted to (although they are sooo tasty). I think it's the caffeine. If that's the case, I might as well drink coffee like most people. Today I made my first pot and it's actually pretty good*! This may the start of a new relationship. Coffee, I have to warn you, you have some pretty big shoes to fill.
*I apologize if my breath offends you. I have yet to figure out how to get the bad breath taste out of my mouth after a drink.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
SERENITY NOW!
My life has become pretty routine since I moved here. I wake up, shower, pack a lunch, get dressed then head out to school where I stay until my brain hurts. It's a pretty simple life in which I look forward to the little things.
It's 9:35 am and today's routine has already been tainted. To explain why, I must back up a little bit. As you probably know, my roommate has 2 cats. They are damn near the nastiest cats I have ever encountered and I am pretty sure they are the first of many that she will be spending the rest of her life with (that's a whole different story). They are the opposite of cuddly, they have coarse hair and they stink up the house with their stinky kitty poops. Just a warning, if the house doesn't smell like kitty poops then it probably smells like their nasty canned wet food because their mommy doesn't know how to properly dispose of the cans when she's done with them.
Anyway, during winter break I was away from the nasty cats and the stinky house for close to a month. It was glorious. When I returned home after the break, I went into my room to drop off my things and on my way I walked past MY bathroom and noticed the new addition...A KITTY LITTER BOX! I don't know what happened while I was away that facilitated the need for a second litter box in the house, but I was not the happiest when I saw it. I bit my tongue though. Who doesn't love to walk out of the shower onto bits of stray litter? It's a natural exfoliant, right?
Flash forward to this morning. After finally dragging myself out of bed, I grabbed my robe from the hook and groggily walked into the bathroom to tinkle and shower. As I reached the doorway BAM! the stink hit me in the face! I was awake! I looked down and to my surprise, one of the cats had left me a little fresh present on the bathmat. WHAT IS THE POINT OF HAVING A LITTER BOX IN THE ROOM IF IT IS NOT USED?!?! Although it was the gift that kept on giving, I was not happy.
I dealt with it though and continued to get ready for the rest of my day. After showering and eating breakfast, I started to pack my lunch. When my parents visited in September, they bought me this cute little lunchbox that has slots for ice packs. It's the perfect size to fit a sandwich, chips, a granola bar and my two Diet Cokes for the day. I made my sandwich, put the ice packs in the lunchbox then opened the fridge, reached into my Coke Zero with Cherry fridge pack only to find that it was empty! Not only did one of my roommates drink the last of my Diet Coke, she also felt the need to leave the empty box in the fridge as an extra slap in the face.
As I said, it's the little things in my life that I look forward to. I look forward to taking a shower in a kitty poop free environment. I like knowing that I don't have to pay double for a drink at the Coke machine.
Unfortunately, knowing me, I will not say anything to either of my roommates. I will not tell them how much they frustrate me. Instead, I will go to Kroger tonight and buy a 24-pack of Diet Coke that I will keep in my room and refrigerate as necessary.
It's 9:35 am and today's routine has already been tainted. To explain why, I must back up a little bit. As you probably know, my roommate has 2 cats. They are damn near the nastiest cats I have ever encountered and I am pretty sure they are the first of many that she will be spending the rest of her life with (that's a whole different story). They are the opposite of cuddly, they have coarse hair and they stink up the house with their stinky kitty poops. Just a warning, if the house doesn't smell like kitty poops then it probably smells like their nasty canned wet food because their mommy doesn't know how to properly dispose of the cans when she's done with them.
Anyway, during winter break I was away from the nasty cats and the stinky house for close to a month. It was glorious. When I returned home after the break, I went into my room to drop off my things and on my way I walked past MY bathroom and noticed the new addition...A KITTY LITTER BOX! I don't know what happened while I was away that facilitated the need for a second litter box in the house, but I was not the happiest when I saw it. I bit my tongue though. Who doesn't love to walk out of the shower onto bits of stray litter? It's a natural exfoliant, right?
Flash forward to this morning. After finally dragging myself out of bed, I grabbed my robe from the hook and groggily walked into the bathroom to tinkle and shower. As I reached the doorway BAM! the stink hit me in the face! I was awake! I looked down and to my surprise, one of the cats had left me a little fresh present on the bathmat. WHAT IS THE POINT OF HAVING A LITTER BOX IN THE ROOM IF IT IS NOT USED?!?! Although it was the gift that kept on giving, I was not happy.
I dealt with it though and continued to get ready for the rest of my day. After showering and eating breakfast, I started to pack my lunch. When my parents visited in September, they bought me this cute little lunchbox that has slots for ice packs. It's the perfect size to fit a sandwich, chips, a granola bar and my two Diet Cokes for the day. I made my sandwich, put the ice packs in the lunchbox then opened the fridge, reached into my Coke Zero with Cherry fridge pack only to find that it was empty! Not only did one of my roommates drink the last of my Diet Coke, she also felt the need to leave the empty box in the fridge as an extra slap in the face.
As I said, it's the little things in my life that I look forward to. I look forward to taking a shower in a kitty poop free environment. I like knowing that I don't have to pay double for a drink at the Coke machine.
Unfortunately, knowing me, I will not say anything to either of my roommates. I will not tell them how much they frustrate me. Instead, I will go to Kroger tonight and buy a 24-pack of Diet Coke that I will keep in my room and refrigerate as necessary.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Man are my Hands Cold!
This morning while rushing out the door I realized that it was garbage day. With one roomie gone and the other still in bed, I realized that the only way the garbage/mountain of recycling would be collected was if I gathered everything and brought it out to the driveway. So, I loaded my backpack, purse, bag of extra books and lunchbox into my car (yes, I have to carry four bags around everyday. you may call me a bag lady if you must). Then I started my car to let it heat up. That's right folks, contrary to popular belief it gets chilly here. Then I ran back and forth from the house to the bins, from the house to the bins, from the house to the bins until I had all of the recyclables out of the house. Then I made three trips from the side of the house to the end of the driveway until everything was ready to be picked up.
What is the meaning of this you ask? Well, as I said it was chilly this morning and while I was wearing my cute, black and puffy winter jacket, my hands were cold. The entire time I was completing my chores I thought about this fabulous pair of knitted green fingerless gloves that I let slip away during the Christmas grab-bag game. I tried coaxing the winner of the gloves into trading with me after the game, but there was no convincing her.
Oh speaking of Christmas...did I mention that during our family party I found out that my aunt had been sending me the junk mail (that has been filling up my recycling bin) under the pseudonym Georgia Niecy? She just so happened to be the same aunt that knitted those gorgeous fingerless gloves. What a talented sneak.
I have to go get some lunch now. I have to end this early so I can put my winter jacket on. Luckily it has cozy pockets that I can use to warm my hands...because it's chilly.
*Is it apparent yet that I want some fingerless gloves a la Auntie D? Did I mention my birthday is a little over a month away? I know she knows my address. Correction: she knows Georgia Niecy's address.
What is the meaning of this you ask? Well, as I said it was chilly this morning and while I was wearing my cute, black and puffy winter jacket, my hands were cold. The entire time I was completing my chores I thought about this fabulous pair of knitted green fingerless gloves that I let slip away during the Christmas grab-bag game. I tried coaxing the winner of the gloves into trading with me after the game, but there was no convincing her.
Oh speaking of Christmas...did I mention that during our family party I found out that my aunt had been sending me the junk mail (that has been filling up my recycling bin) under the pseudonym Georgia Niecy? She just so happened to be the same aunt that knitted those gorgeous fingerless gloves. What a talented sneak.
I have to go get some lunch now. I have to end this early so I can put my winter jacket on. Luckily it has cozy pockets that I can use to warm my hands...because it's chilly.
*Is it apparent yet that I want some fingerless gloves a la Auntie D? Did I mention my birthday is a little over a month away? I know she knows my address. Correction: she knows Georgia Niecy's address.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Six Minutes and Counting
I just arrived at school. Yes, it's MLK day and yes we do not have classes as school is technically closed for the day, but I am here. Was I here yesterday? Sure was. How about Saturday? Yep. I promised myself I would start working on homework at 10 am today. Just to push the limit, I am not going to start before.
Ok, ok I may have opened a book for a minute or two but then when I realized what I was doing I slammed it shut and threw it across the room. The latter part of that sentence is a complete lie, but that is my sick fantasy. Being the nerd that I am, though, I would never treat my books like that.
During the drive here I could not stop thinking about how wonderful Christmas was this year. Yes, it has almost been a month since the festivities but that just goes to show you how much fun I had. Nine Strapping Stallions, Eleven Chip-N-Dale Calendars, Five Barbie Dolls and Two DOOOOUUUUBBBBBBLLLLLLEEEE DDDDDDDDDDEEEEEEEEEES! I cannot wait to see what happens next year!
It's 10:01 people! I just broke my promise to myself. That can't be a good way to start the day.
Peace.
Ok, ok I may have opened a book for a minute or two but then when I realized what I was doing I slammed it shut and threw it across the room. The latter part of that sentence is a complete lie, but that is my sick fantasy. Being the nerd that I am, though, I would never treat my books like that.
During the drive here I could not stop thinking about how wonderful Christmas was this year. Yes, it has almost been a month since the festivities but that just goes to show you how much fun I had. Nine Strapping Stallions, Eleven Chip-N-Dale Calendars, Five Barbie Dolls and Two DOOOOUUUUBBBBBBLLLLLLEEEE DDDDDDDDDDEEEEEEEEEES! I cannot wait to see what happens next year!
It's 10:01 people! I just broke my promise to myself. That can't be a good way to start the day.
Peace.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)