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If only the Magic 8 ball actually gave me real answers instead of the fake molded ones, I would be set. A couple of you may know that I have been struggling with the fact that my job as of current is a contract position and that my contract was up on October 2, 2004. As of last week, I was informed by my boss that my contract was to be extended until January 31, 2004. A huge weight was taken off my shoulders and I was able to breathe.I was so excited. I got a slight raise and job security for another couple of months. But come January 31, 2004- my fate is in the hands of the Board of Directors again. Ahh what a life to lead. My new position has some of the same duties as I have been doing before. Still doing the weekly newsletter for all those wonderful realtors out there, still answering statistics questions from all those bright realtors out there, still writing news releases and sign-on messages, and still probably doing most of the same things as I am doing now. Oh- have I mentioned how much I love being a jack of all trades? My job offers a plethora of duties. Along with my contract extension, I was also thrown into a rather interesting situation. I am working on a conference and trade show which the Board is hosting for the realtors. This conference is going to be big. How do I know? The ideas are endless as to what our committee members want. I have been given many various duties but first and foremost- the marketing side. I am not a graphic designer. I am nothing special in terms of anything fancy on the computer. I have random ideas and a littler certificate called "Technical Writing" which believe it or not, actually comes in handy one or two days during the week. I can make things look and sound good. Maybe that is the reason I was kept on... Anyways. A new position has come up at the Board which would be permanent full time, would give me benefits, but I would have to use a Mac computer. (Those who know me- know that just wouldn't work out). The question I am left pondering though for the next day (as the deadline is September 2), do I apply for this position as Reporter for the Calgary Real Estate News and actually have regular pieces published each week, or, do I take a chance down contract-road and continue where I am now until January 31 when I find out my fate? Any helpful insight would be much appreciated. Posted by Bella at 6:11 PM# Today I found the goodnes I have been waiting for. I told a friend the other day while shopping in Safeway that if the company who produces these little Peak Freaks assortment boxes would just sell the chocolate ones by themselves, I would be eternally happy. Guess what I found today at a random northeast Calgary grocery store? Yah that's right. I bought two boxes. And what handy time too...I met with a fitness trainer yesterday at the local YMCA. Poor girl doesn't know what she got herself into when she offered to help me and put me back on the right track. We talked for about an hour about my fitness, (and definite lack there of), nutrition (and even more lack of), and how I am going to be fit enough to take the PARE test by December. Hahaha. Right. I honestly haven't exercised in months, and even years. Like actually physically got up off my fat ass and go to the gym to work out til I sweat and get stinky (oooh... that was hot). Until yesterday, I thought I had all the motivation in the world only to realize I actually have to work at this. I thought drinking my 8 glasses of water a day, and eating the occasional fruit would be ample. Um nope. After the little chit chat with Lisa yesterday, she invited me to stay for her spin class. Um- have you ever done a spin class? Yah- um it's kinda hard. My mom, god bless her, had a lung removed back a couple years ago with her third or fourth (I'm losing count it's been so often) bout of cancer. Anyways- she had it removed and has since then been exercising numerous times a week. I don't know where she gets the strength from. She was in this spin class yesterday too and holy cow my mom can move. She was sweatin' up a storm but she was rockin' out way better than I could. I was at 15% resistance thinking I was the bomb- she was up at 65% totally beating me. No contest. I have this goal. It's a personal goal but I do believe since I have spoken about this fitness goal, another friend has jumped on the bandwagon. By December- I will be fit. I will be able to go for a run without feeling like I am about to die. I will be able to eat a vegetable (bluch) and know that I am eating it for a reason. I will be able to go back to a spin class and outdo the trainer. I will be able to fit back into the clothes my mom has shrunk *accidently* in the dryer. This is my goal. Watch me do it. Just keep the Peak Freans away from me. Posted by Bella at 2:04 PM# If you are mindlessly bored and need to laugh. Mom showed this site to me. It was written up in the paper a few weeks ago and for whatever reason, mom really got into it.You can dress up celebrities in whatever you want them to wear. It's called Liisa's Paperdolls. You can dress up Julia Roberts, Paris Hilton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ashton Kutcher, and tons more. My mom tells my brothers and I each day how she actually does work during the day. She tells us she cleans, organizes, does errands and maybe even cooks. Little does she know, I am on to her. She does none of the above. She sits at the computer and dresses up the celebrities. Posted by Bella at 1:51 PM# Time definitely flies when you're having fun. There are moments in your life that you never imagine will come to pass, when viewed from a younger perspective - your first kiss, driving a car, paying taxes, marriage, having children - events that seem either too intangible or unlikely. And then suddenly, without really realizing it, you're in the middle of one of these events, wondering how you ever could have thought it would not happen...One of these events that you subconsciously dread is learning that your best friends are buying (and building) their first house ("Dear God, I'm older than I think I am"). No longer can you support the illusion that time is running at a snail's pace for your leisure, no more the false belief that you'll never grow up into one of those dodgy old adults. Suddenly, you already are one. In the bitter sweetness of the revelation, there is a magnificent emotion that overrides it - joy! Joy that another life will be born into the world, joy that you will be a part of this new life, sharing with his or her triumphs, and holding their hand to help them up after falling and bruising their knee. I am one of the last of my kind in my friend circle. A good chunk of my friends have married, had kids, (or are having kids), moving into their careers, and well, growing up. It is true when someone says to you, "time flies when you're having fun". You don't believe it until you sit back one day with your coffee in your hand and look at all you have accomplished, haven't accomplished, or are planning on accomplishing. Horray for growing into a mature and responsible adult. And I betcha my parents thought I would be a delinquent kid. Congratulations Ian and Lindsay- I can't wait to buy you housewarming presents! Posted by Bella at 11:02 PM# Corruption runs a little too deep for my liking. It is unfortunate to have all these athletes incredibly excited to go to the Olympics after training so hard, only to have some of their dreams quashed by corruption and politics amongst the IOC.The Olympics were refered to as the meeting place of the best athletes in the world not too long ago, and really- these aren't the best atheletes. These are the athletes who can actually afford to go; not necessarily the best athletes. Little Mohammed in Iraq could run better than some of these players but he will never get a chance because he can't afford it. The favouritism, the corruption, the team-playing, political and geographical alliances, and the doping. And these people are really considered to be the best athletes? Ha. Hahaha. Ha. Influenced judging at these levels kicks these competitors right in the shins. These athletes train for months, years, their lives, for a great chance to compete internationally and only to end up being caught amongst politics within these judges. The favouritism to Russia which took place in the Salt Lake Winter Olympics amongst the French judge at the Ice Skating finals. Even the Canadian judge being asked to bump up his mark for an athlete in the gymnastics routine because the commissioner felt the stadium would riot if the mark was kept the way it was. Is that really how you judge how good someone is? The Americans are in top spot at the Olympics, of course, right now- and by a long shot. Russia next, China, Australia, Japan, etc. But are they really? Maybe Enitrea or India, maybe Iran or Kazakhstan are closer to the top. No one knows really, except the judges. And for that, I will not be taking time out of my day to watch the Olympics. Watching these athletes get kicked to the ground because of corruption is not something I really enjoy watching. Posted by Bella at 10:36 AM# Oops. My bad. My real bad. Have you ever said something totally stupid and thought that maybe just maybe, you said it only in your head and not outloud?Have you ever realized that in fact you did say it outloud? Yah. Um. Do any words actually really express how sorry one could be about it? Posted by Bella at 12:14 AM# Light my fire. Madame Tussaud's wax museum in England has a great new addition.Brad Pitt. I am tempted to turn in my savings for 2 round trip tickets to this wonderful spot for my best friend, Lindsay and I. Since forever, we have been avid fans of this great man. That got me thinking. Am I really that turned on by Mr. Pitt? I was recently asked what actually turns me on. But then it also reminded myself that as of late, to get me sexually turned on will take one miracle. Being turned on doesn't necessarily mean "lighting my fire" per say. I do enjoy the occasional sexy look from a stranger passing by, or a fantastic massage by my man. I enjoy the random compliment, opening of a door for me, and heck- maybe a daisey or two. What I don't like so much is a person who overdoes it with the corny-lovey-dovyness. Not a fan of the pick-up lines, the dude with way too much cologne on, or the dude who obviously thinks he can have any lady- even me. I like simplistic things when it comes to being "turned on". Simple to me, but maybe considered high maintenance to others. As for Brad Pitt, Lindsay- wanna go?? Posted by Bella at 2:14 PM# Weddings, love, and all that fancy fun stuff. A couple weekends ago, I attended a friend's-friends wedding in Canmore. It was located at a ranch called the Cross Zee Ranch. Never heard of this place before- but it was gorgeous.The wedding was simple, inexpensive, outdoors, and perfect. I actually walked away from the wedding thinking, "that is exactly how I want my day to be". (Minus the horse poop which I was standing in during the ceremony...) The way the groom looked at his bride when she walked down the path and the way they looked at each other while being taken over with butterflies in their tummy. It was so dreamy. Got me thinking. I can't wait until the day my dad walks me down the aisle. I look forward to the dress, the shoes, the flowers, the wedding cake (which, by the way, will be chocolate zucchini), the presents, the bridesmaids, and of course, the attention on me! I can't wait to wake up each morning to the same person, and loving that person so much that even morning breath is bearable. Being able to look at that person and know that yes, that person will be with me for the rest of my life. I am surrounded with friends and coworkers getting married (most recently, my co-worker Sandi - Yay Sandi! I couldn't be more excited for you!) and of course, it always gets the little hamster inside of me running. The emotions flow while listening to each others vows, the toast to the bride, and all that other good stuff. Hot damn! Some lucky bastard will sure get his prayers answered when he meets me. A low-maintenance gal, beautiful family and friends. Can't wait. Posted by Bella at 11:52 PM# This post doesn't have a real title. So this shall do. There are some roads I have travelled I know all to well.I know where the cops like to hide out, I know where the road gets so twisty and curvey that you actually have to pay attention to the roadsigns, and I know the fun places to stop. Although tonite while driving home from Canmore, I couldn't remember any of the road. I couldn't see the road signs, the cars passing me were a huge distraction, and it was raining so bad it was foggy. Maybe it was those distractions- or maybe there were other distractions. Like, random things floating on in my head. For now, I should sleep. Tomorrow, I shall expand. Posted by Bella at 11:42 PM# I could become a famous author. Or at least a part time reporter for the Calgary Sun. My main stationary... a freakin huge red pen! The Calgary Sun is having a writing contest.Basically, you write about something, submit your something, and they may pick it. Grand prizes consist of being wined and dined by the Editors of the paper, and a spot where you can write - in the Calgary Sun each week as a feature reporter. OOoh la la, eh? So after coaxing from my friends and family, I have been convinced to write something. The only bump in the road- what the heck do I write about? If you have any ideas- you can certainly let me know. I have this little syndrome right now called "Writers-Block". Maybe you have heard of it. Thanks kids. Posted by Bella at 1:31 PM# Re-evaluating things a titch. Back in March of this year, I wrote a little ditty called "Bets anyone?" where I listed my goals for the upcoming months and I was determined to actually stick to them. Well. I was sitting here and realized that since then... a couple of my goals have changed dramatically. Let's see.1. Have my technical writing certificate in my hot little hands. It is true! I am a real life Technical Writer! Wahoo! I made it! I made it! Yippee!!! 2. Have my project management certificate placed on top of the technical writing certificate in my hands. Only one more class and a final project to go and I am a real life Project Manager! Yay! Wahoo!! 3. Be able to look at my RRSPs and imagine my beach side house with my snookums in many many years. My RRSPs have not changed amounts since the last time I wrote about them. Crap. But I still think about my beach house with my future snookums. 4. Get fit. Everyone says that but I mean it. In the process of hiring a personal trainer. Does that make me sound cool or what? I have gone swimming though... once... 5. Be completely swept off my feet by my prince charming. Yiah... Prince Charming is hot. 6. Get back in touch with friends who I lost contact with. Whether they be from high school, Malibu, or random people who I somehow lost touch with. Have done that and have also met new people. New people are most fun. And the best part- I don't have to pay them to be my friends! 7. Go for a full body massage� mmmm� Yah see that was a hint for someone who reads this damn site. :) 8. Write a book. I don�t know what about yet, but the idea is there to do it- so it will be done. I have some random ideas but that is all they are right now. One day you can all come to my book signing at Chapters. 9. Make at least 3 extra payments on my car. In the end, it will help. How about this- I just 'upped' the payments. Um can you say "boo-yah"? 10. Go hiking a lot this summer. Bike a lot. Heck, buy a bike. Biked once. Hiked- no. Wow. I was good on that one. 11. Retake the RCMP exam. My mark was high enough in BC but not in Alberta. I�ll show them- my mark will be good enough all across the freakin� country! Forget the RCMP- I have headed in the direction of the Calgary Police. Oooooh. Megan with a gun. Ooh better yet- Megan with handcuffs! Ok so I didn't do that bad, but didn't do that well. Oh well, next time. Posted by Bella at 9:57 PM# Vacation destination or Bust: Bust should have been the correct answer in this case. My long anticipated weekend came and went. I left on Thursday around noonish and landed in Revelstoke about 3ish. No, I was not speeding contrary to popular belief. (Note: Speeding is only considered speeding on the highway if I am above 130km/hr)Let's break it down... Alistair needed gas on the way out of town. Stopped at the Shell station on the Trans Canada on the way out of town and paid something retarded like 78.9 per litre: I didn't pay for gas or the bottle of water- my copilot did. Drove for a couple hours (without a pee-break I might add which to some of you, might surprise you) then stopped in Golden... for a pee-break and something to quench our thirst with: spent something retarded like $11 on snacks and drinks. Gas was 93.9 per litre. (Mental note at that time: damn gas is expensive here- don't buy any until back in Alberta) Ended up in Revelstoke and got to my great grandparents house. Opened up the doors and windows as the house was a literal oven: house was free to use. Just had to worry about cleaning it and respecting the fact the house is 100 years old. No problem... for me. Needed to buy groceries for the house. The usual milk, ice cream, and random snacks: spent $14.00 for a few token items. Remembered that we were in BC and they bend you over the counter in taxes: made another mental note to bring my own cow to milk and not to buy a bucket of ice cream. Drove around Revelstoke showing the sights. Drove to Williamsons' Lake which was later mocked by my copilot by calling it a "pond". (Editors note: the lake is not a pond. It is a small lake- just not a pond.) Drove past the park, the high school, Court House, Church, and then over the one lane bridge to the Big Eddy. Then back into town to the Revelstoke Hydroelectric Dam and then back down to the cemetery to visit some deceased relatives. Ended up rather thirsty and ended up going for dinner to the Ol' Frontier: I didn't pay for my order of The Dude (consisting of 5 chicken fingers, applesauce as dipping sauce, fries and gravy) and my half lemonade, half Pepsi to drink. (Thanks James) Drove to the video store to get something to watch: ended up renting The Prince and Me (and for those of you who know me- the title of that movie just killed me), and Eurotrip. Sure they were chick-flickish and girly- but hey, why not? Cost of two movies was $9.50. Later walked downtown to check out the free entertainment in Grizzly Plaza and watched the trains go by. Felt thirsty, again: I was bought a strawberry/banana fruit smoothie which was oh so good. Walked home after and watched the movies. First guest arrives. Let the games begin. Guest one arrives around 11, then the next guests arrive around 1 a.m. I am freakin tired but they want to stay up and drink. Um right. Go ahead- but not with me. I hit the sack. Was woken up at 8 by some guests who wanted to golf. I was super happy to wake up at 8 on my vacation. Um no: ended up in setting the day to a certain tone. Crap. Waited around the house for the guests to come back so we could go to the Enchanted Forest. Waited. Waited. Then they came back: 5 of us piled into Alistair (which, I will gloat about here for a second- drove almost 700km and still had a quarter tank left in him- yay Al!) and made our 35km trek to the Enchanted Forest. Spent almost 2 hours wandering through it checking out the sites. Only $6.50 per person. Drove back to Revelstoke and decided to get some lunch supplies to take to the lake for an afternoon of calm and relaxing swimming and tanning: I bought lunch supplies which set me back $24 and change. Drove to the liquor store and the guests bought beer. Wee.... Got to the lake and I set out my towel and called it a day: laid on the beach for 3 hours and only managed to get a tiny tan. Right. Like anyone will actually believe it was sunny. Left after 3 hours- tension begins amongst guests. Got home. Guests part ways and do their own thing. Some mad at each other, others who knows: I sat on the deck and read Cosmo (my monthly smut) and then had a nap. Later woken up by being asked if I was awake. Dinner plans start by deciding we are eating in and one of the guests is making it. All sit on the front lawn in the shade eating a fantastic dinner. Later walk downtown to check out the free entertainment in the plaza (it definitely was free for a reason- the plaza coordinators were deaf apparently): come home and more tension builds. we all play cards which end up being a drinking game which not everyone wants to join in and that set off moods. Then, golf clubs were cleaned in the kitchen- um, no. Big fight amongst guests: 3 guests threaten to drive back to Calgary, drunk. I threaten to call the cops. Guests stayed. Tensions were cooled when everyone went to their rooms. (Mental note at that time: Oh my God. There goes the weekend. How far will my Airmiles take me?) Woke up around 11 am and guest one decides to bust out of the house. Ok. I bust out and drive for 45 minutes to Sicamous to the beach. If anyone has never been there- go. Super calming, super relaxing, and the sound of children is music to ones ears even if they hate it usually. Anything is better than bickering adults: notice the time and have to drive back to let guests back into the house. Stopped at Dutchmans Dairy for a milkshake and a bottle of Three Valley Gap water. Mmmm... Go back to the house only to find no one there. When they arrive, tensions fly, again. I ask everyone to leave: they leave, I cry, then clean the house. My parents later arrive on their way back from their big vacation on the Coast and they help me pack my car and clean. I end up leaving my vacation destination a day early. I drive back to Calgary but stop in Field BC at the Truffle Pig Bistro (um, AMAZING) and have dinner with parents; my treat. Get home at 12.30. Sad, disappointed, and angry I am there. Fall asleep in puddle of black mascara: have to make sure next time my mascara is waterproof. Next trip: Alone. Posted by Bella at 9:02 PM# Mmmmmmmm sabbatical goodness. In T minus a couple hours, ok more than a couple hours, I am busting out of this hole I call Calgary and am taking off to Revelstoke where the sun shines, the trains travel at slow speeds, and the bears walk down the streets like regular pedestrians.I will be sipping my Malibu and pineapple juice on the warm beaches of the Shuswap checking out men in... oh... no I won't check out men. I'll behave. At any rate- I will not be posting for 4 days so, I apologize ahead of time. I will tell all the dirty things I did when I get back. Miss me. Posted by Bella at 11:46 AM# The Fernie, Whistler, Lake Louise, and Panorama ski teams can kiss my white ass. Want me to bend over? While living in Kimberley, I ended up being on EI for about 2 months in a job transition. I couldn't find work in Kimberley after exhausting every possibility, and then came back to Calgary and even had a hard time finding something which would cover my bills. I eventually recieved an EI cheque, but by that point I had a job and was sick of the runaround with the government.Reading the paper this morning, an article was reporting how some Sudanese people who live in Brooks are having a hard time being ok'd for EI. Now, they are comcerned they may have to go back to their homeland after spending all their savings trying to make ends meet. While I feel bad for them, I am also a little appauled at how they are acting. They come to Canada expecting freedom and a new life which is fine- Canada is a nice place to come to. But- maybe I am being a little selfish here saying that while I have been a Canadian my whole 22 years of existance, it took me almost 4 months to actually recieve an EI cheque. I am a hardworking Canadian and was sickened at how hard it was for me to get some of my employment insurance money back. For people who haven't been citizens of Canada all that long and who have actually been working "under the table", they shouldn't be complaining about how bad they think they have it. The government doesn't even pay attention to their other issues in Canada regarding their homeless, unemployed, and socially abused citizens. Why should they start with something else first? People who abuse the system, (ex. The "Fernie Ski Team", "Whistler Ski Team", etc.) manage to do so and never get caught. I on the otherhand work my ass off at a job I have problems getting up for some days and have the hardest time trying to get EI. Something is seriously messed with our system. A system that allows foreigners to hang out in Canada living off the money I go to work and try and make for myself. Of a cheque that I recieve twice a month from my employer- I can guarantee almost $600-$700 taken off each cheque in taxes given to the government so they can do whatever they goddamn please. I would rather support the gun registry than some lazy ass immigrants or people who just want to ski for the winter and not have to work. Posted by Bella at 9:17 AM# Wanna know how much you are worth? Everyone is fully aware of the fact that I am priceless. So, I will let you take this test to find out how much you are.Have fun. Posted by Bella at 10:53 PM# I just want to act like a human in public. What kind of men take longer in the bathroom than women? Spend more time on their hair than women? Those sound like girly men. But... when women do that- they are considered "typical". Hm.Us women already have to pretend to be something we aren't around some men. For example. When I am out with a guy I try to mind my manners. I don't burp, pass gas, or do a number two. I also try to keep my stubble to a minimum. I cross my legs while sitting, walk with my shoulders back, and keep my hands to my side- as lady like as it gets. We are expected to be mens fantasy goddesses in bed and be ok when beer commercials come on full of girls with big boobs. Let me tell you how hot that makes me. (I am secretly rolling my eyes right now) How do I become the prize gal but not bend over backwards to become something less human? I would love to burp or fart while on some hot date. But... that wouldn't be so hot, eh? Posted by Bella at 9:44 PM# Obviously summer vacation is way too long for some kids... Back on Tuesday, August 6, I posted a blog about some grandma-f**ker who hit my car with a golf club. It was fixed, eventually, but I still am super worried about where I park it and if Alistair will actually still be in it's rightful place in the morning when I wake up.This morning was a shock to the system. Tossing and turning in my bed, pushing to snooze button until my brother came into my room and said, "Megan? You'd never guess what happened". I think it's a joke. He says it's no joke. So I follow my brother out to where our cars are, (me in my pjs) and there was glass everywhere. Some punk decided to smash his driver side window. Chards of glass were everywhere- on the street, all over his truck, and in his cab. We searched the other vehicles (I had my car parked in between his truck and my parents van beside our house) for any sort of damage and noted none too intense. There were two hand prints on the driver side roof of my car (making it look as if someone was looking inside of it trying to find anything of value... if they only knew how many cds are in there- they would have made a killing!), and the drivers side mirror on our van was bent funky. Other than that, no signs of visable damage. To dudes to did this again to our car, This is not fair, and this is not nice. We do not live in a shitty part of town. We are not bad people. I do not understand why on earth someone would do this to our vehicles. Do they not realize this is a huge violation to our privacy and just to us? Get a freakin grip dudes. Go back to school. For Gods sake- get a job! Go to bed on time. Do something productive- what you are doing to our property is not only inconsiderate but retarded. I am going to perch myself on the roof of my house tonite with a paint ball gun (cuz God knows those things hurt!) and I will watch for you. I dare you. I dare you to try it again. I know people who know people who do things. Don't get in our way. I can make life as miserable for you as you are doing to us. Trust me. Signed, an even more pissed off Megan Posted by Bella at 2:05 PM# Bushism. I never actually fully understood why people made fun of President Bush talking. I mean sure, he has a funky Texan/Southern American accent- but the media poke fun at his english.I now know why... Posted by Bella at 1:59 PM# I do believe "Rockers-Revolts" should happen more often- but maybe in the workplace... In a feeble attempt to get President Bush the heck out of government, a few big name bands/singers are getting together and voicing their opinion.Musicians such as Dave Matthews Band, Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, REM, Dixie Chicks, John Cougar Mellencamp, and others are expected to visit 34 various venues in the States voicing their opinion against Bush. Now really. Let's say I was Bush (which thank God I'm not...). If I knew about this uprising against me, and I know that things didn't really work all that well while I was in office- wouldn't you just step down? Thank the people for putting up with him for however many years he was there for? Why not leave graciously? If only I could get various singers, friends, and other employees together to stage an uprising against my boss... Posted by Bella at 9:56 AM# Ski Manitoba. No really.For the classic ski shirt that says "Ski Manitoba" on the front with a picture of a chair lift going into a grain elevator (really, this is a Canadian classic!), email me at meganepratt@hotmail.com. Shirts are $25 and come in various sizes. I have one... don't you want one too? Posted by Bella at 1:22 PM# "It's on our priority list somewhere between taking a smoke break, eating lunch, and scratching ourselves." That was pretty much the answer I got from Bell Mobility yesterday after asking them why my phone was busted. See- yah. No.For the past couple of weeks, my phone (which I once thought was the coolest thing since sliced bread) has been randomly shutting itself off and giving me error messages like, "Unstable System". I haven't had signal strength in Calgary, I can't text message or receive voice mails. This makes Megan one unhappy Bell customer. I hadn't been receiving paper bills in a while so I call Bell and ask them why. "Oh, you mean to tell me that you haven't received a paper bill from us in 3 months?" "That is correct" I tell them. "Oh well- we have a system upgrade and we haven't sent them out to some customers. I can send one out to you if you would like." "That would be nice. I can then see how much I am paying you guys for your half ass coverage and service." "Ok well I will send out a bill to you. Do you want your current bill?" "Oh. I was thinking more about getting the one from last December. That might help. Duh. Of course I want this month." "Ok do you want me to send out the bills from December to now?" Dead silence. "Um no. How about just the current one so I know how much I should pay you." "Oh you paid your bill already. You have a credit of $118.00." "For what!??!" "Oh I don't know. It just says you have a credit of that amount on your bill. I can find out for you if you would like." Dead silence again. "Yiah. How about you go ahead and send me a bill for this month so I can pay it." "Oh sure. Our system is upgrading right now so there might be a problem sending it out." Dead silence followed with more silence. That was the conversation I had with Bell Friday afternoon. I took my phone into Bell Mobility yesterday while in the mall. I asked them why my phone is broken. "Oh there is obviously a problem if you aren't getting a signal strength. Bell has some of the best coverage in Canada." "No, no you don't. I think Telus does actually." "Rrright. Well you say you aren't getting strength where? In the country? Well of course that's not going to work well." "No, actually sir, I was in Calgary." "Oh. And as for your phone being busted- is is because you have water damage to it." "Uh what?" "Yah right here. That is why your phone doesn't work. You can wait 3 months until your contract is up and get a new phone or you can just wait until it doesn't work anymore. You must have dropped it in a lake or the ocean or something." "Rrrright. So you mean to tell me there is NOTHING you can do about my phone being broken. Even though it's under warranty and everything. You can't magically dry it or tell me that because I am a loyal Bell customer, you are going to give me a new phone? What kind of phone gets random water damage?" "That's right. And nope." Ok. Does anyone know the number for Telus? Bell Mobility are a bunch of idiots with no idea of how customer service works. Just a friendly idea- don't use Bell for your cell phone. I have about 9 months of reasons why. Posted by Bella at 11:57 AM# Dill-hole drivers, painful bike seats, funky tasting Margartias, and lots of moo-cows. Long weekend adventures are always fun. But- they are also expensive. Let's calculate.Alistair was in dire need of a half tank of gas at the local Shell station: $18.00 (plus two bottles of water to make it over $20 so I could get an Airmile. Oh- and the $5 for the non-winning lottery ticket I was sold) Stopped for some tasty beef jerky in Longview: I didn't pay for it- but the pressure applied to my brakes to stop at the last minute to get some of this goodness- that will put a dent in the wallet for sure soon... Seeing the Civic dude speed past me: Priceless as he got pulled over. Ha ha. Sucker. After pulling into Fernie, we were a little hungry: Boston Pizza goodness- didn't pay for it again, but reaped the rewards from triple Airmiles! Although, endured a painful drink of grapefruit juice and Malibu rum. Um yah- can you said "Mistake?" Walked aimlessly around Fernie to walk off dinner: Power in the valley goes out, stub my toe numerous times on the curbs. The cost of the pain was astronomical. That continued for oh- about an hour and a half. Next day adventures cost me more: bike rental was free, helmet rental was free. After trying to make it up the hill that Andrel said was "an easy ride", I felt old and lethargic. Note to self: exercise more often. Went shopping downtown after painful bike riding: Didn't buy anything- well, except for that one thing. Mmmmm chocolate goodness. Imagine this- a waffle cone wrapped tightly, dipped in chocolate and filled with caramel. Um- yum!?! Dinner at a Fernie Mexican restaurant: Rrrrrrrrright. It was good actually. Cheap... well... pretty much. Bought a margarita I didn't drink: $6.95. Ouch. After stumbling back to out host's house, we decided to venture out and get a movie: Didn't pay for the rental, or the licorice, or the buttery popcorn goodness for that matter. So I guess I was just riding the coat-tails of that one. Next day woke up to the horrible sound of some churchy singers singing in the park: It's early- why must people sing at that time in the morning? Ok. So it was 10 a.m. but still... Mosied over to Farmers Market. One word: Ban Hippies! Oh- that was two... Stinking "pechoolie oil" and hemp everywhere... bah! Went to Jamochas for a drink and half a cookie: customer service is obviously not a priority in the little mountain town. I didn't pay for either of these, but felt the cold wrath of the cashier. Brrrrrr.... Decided to go to Timmy's for an ice cap and take off from Fernie: ended up buying a bottle of water, chocolate ice cap and a peanut butter cookie. $6 and change. It was good... mmmm peanut butter cookies... Drove through Cranhole to Kimberley and checked out the sites: almost got run over by a large SUV and almost ran into a camper who obviously didn't know the rules of the road - "Do NOT turn around in the turnoff lane- that lane is for merging- not turning your camper around". Stupid drivers Went to the husky station for fresh fruit: Not so fresh fruit actually, lots of mould on fruits. Ew. Bought a pint of blackberries for dad, bag of chips for me, and some dried apricot for the ride home- spent about $8. Bought gas in Kimberley at the Shell station: in order to make it $20 for the Airmiles- bought a drink. Stopped over in Radium for a bathroom break: bought a slurpee and licorice (I don't remember if I paid for that) Hit the BC/AB provincial border and automatically freeze: Hm. A/C off. Heat gets turned on. Make it home with minor dents and bruises from the weekend: I think Alistair endured most of the pain- he had bug guts all over him. And the occasional rock chip on the windshield. Total price for the weekend: I lost count. Meh. All in all, great weekend. Too bad long weekends don't actually feel that long. Maybe next long weekend I'll run away to Mexico. Weeeeeee!!!!! Posted by Bella at 10:49 AM# |
