Verizon Wireless: You're Doing It Right

Unlike my unfortunate experience with Verizon Fios customer service (the phone line is still working - thanks for asking), I had a transcendent moment with Rick at Verizon Wireless customer service this morning.

When my phone fried last month I had been promised credit for the ring tones I had to re-purchase. This month's bill arrived WITHOUT the credit.

I tried to remain calm, took deep breaths, and called Verizon Wireless customer service, preparing for a long battle.

Rick took the call, looked at my record, saw that I hadn't been credited, applied the credit, and thanked me for my business all in about 20 seconds. A quick check of my balance verified that it wasn't a dream and he had done all he promised to do.

What a great business concept!

Verizon Wireless: YOU'RE DOING IT RIGHT!!!

Loss

Yesterday was my first day of flute lessons for the new semester at APU. I got to school in plenty of time. Parking? No problem. I got re-settled into my studio, dug up some more music for the Flute Choir rehearsal later that day, and took care of paperwork in the Music Office.

I let my first student into the studio 5 minutes early while I sorted through things and checked my email one last time before the teaching day began. That's when I got the news. A dear friend of ours had passed away very unexpectedly but peacefully the night before.

By now the big hand was pointing to the teaching time, the first student of the semester was waiting expectantly for flute wisdom to flow forth, and I had major news to digest and set aside in .005 seconds.

I explained to my student, with tears in my eyes, what I had just learned. She asked me if I wanted a minute to myself. "No," I said. I told her that I knew Lourdes was dancing on the streets that are golden and that I would see her again. It's just that, for now, I would be missing her very much. Then it was on to the teaching day.

Fast forward to this afternoon. Just before the last student of the week I checked my email and was stunned to learn of the sudden death of Patrick Flynn, conductor of the Riverside Philharmonic. I had played for him many, many times over the years. This was truly shocking news.

3 minutes later my student entered the room. No time to process now.

It has been an interesting first teaching week of school, bookended with sudden, unexpected loss.

I think I'll stop checking my email for awhile.

Duck And Cover

Bob and I had a really lovely afternoon at Disneyland. You can see my flickr photo set here.

As we were leaving we got an added bonus:



Yes, that is an F-18 flying over the Mickey and Friends parking structure.


We are assuming that it was doing a fly over with full after burners before the Angels game just a few miles away.

It was LOUD.

We were prepared to Duck and Cover.



Just in case...

Verizon Fios - You're Doing It Wrong

Bob and I agreed to give Verizon FIOS a try. The promises were dazzling: lightening fast internet connection, crystal clear phone service with unlimited long distance, lots of cool TV channels.

The reality is a little different.

The biggest problem is with the phone. It has an intermittent buzz (more like a roar) that makes conversation impossible.

No problem. Just call customer service, right?

WRONG!!!

Try as I might, I have been unable to reach customer service either by phone or online.

When I call by phone, the automatic attendant transfers me to an extension that promptly disconnects.

When I go online, the completed repair request form will not go through, saying I haven't provided my email address even though I've tried 3 different ones.

Fortunately, Bob understands wiring. He went out to the box in the alley and discovered the problem.

When the box was installed, the plate covering the box was tightened down so hard that it was cutting into phone line that goes into the house.

Nice.

Bob smoothed out the cut. The phone line has cleared up.

For now.

I have been a faithful, satisfied Verizon customer since long before it even WAS Verizon. I have never had any trouble contacting a real person for repairs.

Until now.

We have 90 days to bail on this set-up.

It's something we're very seriously considering.

Update 11/19, 2008: After the initial problem was "straightened out", everything has worked well. The download speed has been consistantly blazing. The TV and phone work fine. It was not too difficult (could have been easier) to talk to a real person to discontinue the premium stuff we never used that they gave us for the first 3 months. Once I got to the real person, she was extremely nice and seemed to be able to take care of the item in question. Overall the product has been quite satisfactory.

If I Told You...

The things that have tickled me the most in the past week are un-bloggable.

Secrets.

I haz them.

If I told you about them, I'd have to kill you.

Thou shalt not kill = Can't tell you.

Uncensored life should resume soon.

Because We Can

Azusa Pacific University auditions took place yesterday. Classes start tomorrow.

Today, after I dutifully practiced my flute, Bob and I headed to Disneyland.

We hadn't visited since the end of June, at which time it was pretty painfully crowded.

Today it was empty.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

There is nothing like ample elbow room as you stroll down Main Street. Only then can you appreciate the amazing attention to detail lavished throughout the entire park (well, except in Tomorrowland). You can actually see more than the frantic posterior of the person directly in front of you as you race to the rides.

No racing for us today. We meandered over to our restaurant of choice:

It was almost empty.

YES!!!!

We enjoyed the peaceful guitar music and our delicious meals:

Such a natural, unposed portrait:

This is my new favorite menu item:

We were in no hurry. We wandered onto a few rides and thoroughly enjoyed them.

Then it was time to mosey on down the river and home.

We'll be back before too long.

Why?

Because we can.

Under Pressure

Some pictures are self explanatory:

(My nephew Mason and his dad enjoying the great outdoors)