Musings Before I Turn Fifty

I thought that I would post some thoughts in the last two weeks before I turn 50 years old.

Just before Thanksgiving this past month, I almost lost my job because I had to yell back at a customer to break her rant against Cable Company(CC) to tell her that CC would get a phone tech out to her place the very next day. She had built up a whole lot of stream. I put her on hold while I fixed up the trouble ticket, got the supervisor that she demanded and all that was waiting for her - but she was more interested in her rant than what she called in about.

Plus the fact I now have to use either the words "Frustrated" or "Annoyed" somewhere in my call or be fired from my job - because I do not show enough empathy in my calls! This incident where I was almost was fired convinced me that I am feed up with CC Digital Voice telephone system. I asked to be included in the next internet training class our call center will have in the next month or two. I'm feed up with the Spoiled Generation. By the way, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Y, and Z or whatever they are going to call them by; are really spoiled!

I have just reached my limit with folks calling in and expecting that they have 'X' can get them moved to the head of the line. 'X' being a new born baby, or a senior citizen, or a dog with a hangnail, etc. Whatever the caller thinks 'X' is and he/she can tell the agent(me), can get them moved ahead of some previous customer who also pulled the 'X' stunt to get to the head of the line. Back when I did do the internet, we would get some stuck up A-hole who would threaten to sue CC for lost of salary because without the internet, they had lost $25,000 today. "I lost $60,000 today because CC could not keep its damn internet up and running," etc. Well, that Cable Company does have a Business side. But if you are using the residential account/and modems on that residential account... that's just tough. Just asked for the Legal Demands phone number and you can be set straight.

But it was after Thanksgiving that I realized that that call took place on the one year anniversary of my eviction from my house last year. In another week, it will be the one year anniversary of selling off my radio control model airplanes to purchase a 1973 Apollo Neptune RV that had to be towed to my property. And by the end of December, 2009; that will mark the six month point that I have been living in said RV.

Today, I woke up to snow on the ground and that I was going to have to go into work today after shutting off my electricity at the pole (how else can I get a $35.00 month electrical bill - and that includes my $10.00 reconnect fee). When I return from work tonight, the inside temperature will be about freezing. It will take the entire night with my two electric air-radiator heaters to warm the place back up to the high 50s or low 60s Fahrenheit.

And lets not forget my 1994 Ford F-150 pickup has decided to start breaking down now. A windshield wiper motor that doesn't work. A horn all of a sudden that doesn't sound. And the most annoying thing of all - the driver side interior door handle that breaks off, it seems on a annual basis. Poor engineering design I guess. Actually, this last time around, I purchased a metal handle and it lasted about 18 months now if my memory serves me correctly. But still - the damn door handle keeps breaking off. In order to get out of the vehicle, I have to lower the side window and reach around with my left hand to open the exterior door handle in order to exit the vehicle. Basically - its like I'm driving a 1930/1940s era pickup truck as far as that door handle goes.

Well, it sucks to be poor in America. I have to wait another 10+ years before I can start to get goodies to help me out since I am about to become a "Senior Citizen." I don't have any tataoos, but I sure am living the Poor White Trash lifestyle. Because I want to hole onto my land - and that land payment takes enough out of my paycheck that it prevents me from being able to get a apartment. Then again, I'm still dealing with my gasoline bills from 2008.

Then again, one can consider this posting to be "my rant," like that woman caller I had to deal with last week. A means to vent while I freeze this week.

NOTE TO SELF: Be careful of what I write. I returned home tonight and when I turned my heaters on - ooops, both outlets no longer work. I still have lights, but now no heat. And the lights flicker! I will have to bundle up like I did at the start of this year when I spent New Years eve and New Years Day in this thing.

NOTE TO SELF #2: Remember where the darn internal circuit breaker switches are in your RV. Found them in the back of the closet and I once again have some heat.

Fracked Up Friday

How does one end a bad work week? By having your day off all messed up is my answer. Hence the term from the TV series Battlestar Galactica. Where the word “Frack” is a substitute for the four-letter F-word meaning to have sex. Or getting screwed. Or something amazing happened to you. You get the idea... (NOTE: Why is there a picture of Cylon #6 here? Because she a pretty sexy woman and this post needs something "uplifting"!)

The week leading up to this day off of mine was all Fracked up. The roommate I thought I was going to be sharing either a apartment or a future mobile home with decided to back out of the deal. So I'm trying to find a “new” used mobile home to move onto my property and live life again.

Got called on by my Team Leader at work for a particular job that didn't end the way it should. At least I wasn't fired over it – but what the hell... I need a new job anyway. Something that would pay more than what I earn at my current call center.

But that pales in comparison to what has happened to me over the past 24 hours.

Thankfully – it rained overnight so staying inside my 1973 RV was ok. No electric, water, or hookup to the septic tank still. But I'm living in the damn thing now for over 3 weeks and counting. Getting by. It was amazing. Some of the rain drops were bouncing off the table or whatever to get around the particularly closed curtain to wake me up. That was amazing.

But it was this morning, Friday – July 17, 2009. IT was all FRACKED UP this morning!

Woke up late, got changed and received a call on my cell phone that the house that I was going to be looking at in Olton, TX, has been sold out from under me. Oh well, like I had $6,000.00 laying around to spend on it anyway.

Finally headed off to the Wal Mart to get the oil changed in my 1994 Ford F-150 pickup. Also to do some shopping inside. The oil changed went ok, but they forgot to change out my right rear spare tire for the regular wheel that should be on the truck. That too was taken care of, but -

“We're sorry Mr. Shanks, your key broke off in the ignition switch on your truck. Have a nice day.”

There I was, in the parking lot with a running truck and now no way to turn it off without being stranded at Wal Mart! Time to get out of there.

Called up my friend Ricky Taylor at Rickys Auto about what needed to be done. Thankfully, the truck was still running when the key was broken, so I drove over to Auto Zone to get a new ignition module and thus new keys for the truck. And Ricky was a good friend, he switched it out with charging me a thing.

Well, it was now about 11:00am. Time to get something to eat. Too bad that there was a new guy on the counter and there was a line forming at the counter at MacDonalds. “enough of this.” I thought. I crossed the street and picked up a burger at Burger King.

With food and drink now taken care of. I visited George Lock and Key and they only charged me $15.00 to make a new door key and a spare for my truck. Things are now looking much better. Time to go to the bank to get the twenty bucks needed to go see the new Harry Potter movie. Large Coke, Medium Popcorn(no butter), and a hot dog. The price went up an extra dollar now (Total of $13.00 for the munchies).

Enjoyed this new Harry Potter film very much. Now waiting on the final two films in this series. I can tell that they are going to be just as good as this film.

Then I was finally able to visit my friend Aaron and hook my computer up to his net and get this blog posted. And we're now at about 4pm central time... Still some time left today and this evening for more stuff to go wrong. But I hope you got a chuckle from my Fracked up Friday.