Project Kengikat

The Run Around

// March 3rd, 2010 // Uncategorized

Today was a very busy day for me. I had a lot of things that I needed to get done for ME and for Dodger. I also needed to touch base with someone from the Los Angeles County HIV Commission, pay rent, pay some bills and even head to the store.

I was doing all of this on my bike, since I no longer have my car, which was cool because I really wanted to start making certain that I am getting on my bike more often. I was on it twice today. The first time was for about 45 minutes and the second time was about 15 minutes, but both times I tried to get in a really good ride so it could really count towards my working out and getting fir goals.

My first job after walking Dodger was to call the Gas Company and find out why I have not received a paper bill from them. I paid my bill online just one time and ever since then I have not received a paper bill. I am really glad I called because the service was scheduled to be turned off tomorrow. The reason I had no received a bill was because the Gas Company automatically enrolls you in their online program where they no longer send you a paper bill. I told the woman that I never asked or signed up not to get a paper bill and she told me, “Well you paid online and we naturally assume that customers who pay online do not wish to get a paper bill….we assume that they are more environmental friendly”

I had to laugh at her answer and I even asked her if she had just said what she did and she said “yes” and asked what was so funny. I told her that her answer was funny and how dare the Gas Company just automatically assume things about their customers. She informed me that I would now get a paper bill, but that I should be aware of all the trees that this will affect. Again I laughed at her and asked why doesn’t the Gas Company simply use recycled paper and to this she replied “the cost is too high.” I laughed again and this time it was at her and her silly answer. I then asked for the nearest payment center and also asked her to send a copy of my bill.

Lucky for me there was a service center on Hillhurst near Franklin, so I could ride my bike there. It would be a good workout with a small hill, but first I needed to go to the post office and get a money order to pay my rent. For some reason they do not take checks from people for rent. This is fine for me cause there is a very nice lady that I always get to see when I go to the post office this time of month, so I was looking forward to seeing her smiling face.

After paying my rent I put my lock in my backpack and checked my bill with T-Mobile. I wanted to make sure I knew the correct amount to pay because there is always a problem since I am on the account of someone. Even though they have told me time and time again that I am an authorized user on the account, each and every time I go to pay my bill I have a huge problem. My friend says one thing and the person either on the phone or in the store says he is wrong and there is always a major problem with paying the bill. Since it isn’t my account there isn’t much that I can do. I can’t make any demands because it is not my account.

I get to the T-Mobile store and there is a huge line and only two people working. It seems the people at each register have a million questions to ask and the one closest to me is having problems paying her bill and was trying every trick in the book to get her service turned back on without paying. The guy at the other register could notmake up his mind on what phone plan to go on, so he had the person helping him go over it 5 times before he decided to go with the $19.95 prepaid phone. WOW after all of that and he went with a prepaid phone. I could not have been the person helping these two people because I would have told them to step to the side until they have made up their minds on paying a bill that they have ran up or picking a plan they want.

Just like I knew would happen I walk up to the register and give my cell phone number and once again they tell me they cant give me any information on the account, because I am not a user. They refused to even tell me the balance for my phone. So I said let me just pay the $65.85 for my phone and he told me he cant do that because the balance was more then what I wanted to pay. He told me that I needed to pay the entire balance. After talking with him for about 10 minutes I asked him to get an manager and when he came over he told me the same thing I have heard so many times. “You’re not a user on the account and the owner of this account needs to set it up.” This is when I offered to let them speak to the owner of the account and he told me that would do no good because he needed to be present in the store. After talking with him a bit more, he said he would let me make the payment, but in the future I need to be on the account as a user.

After all this he tells me that the price I wanted to pay from my line was not correct. He told me that the amount due for my line was only $31.02 and not $65.85 and at this point I was so pissed and lost that I called my friend and told him what was happening and once again I got the same thing I always get. “I’ll have to call and take care of it.” Frustrated I paid what I was told was due and asked for my receipt and left. However before I left the sales person tells me “you know you can avoid this all together by getting your own line.”  and then the store manger chimes in “How important is your number to you?” I look at both of them and ask “are you really trying to make a sale of me after the way you both treated me?”

My next stop was the Gas Company and this was about a 20 minute bike ride. I had some idea where the center was, but did not get the address, since I knew the cross streets and without much effort I found the place just fine, however there was no place to lock my bike, so I simply placed the lock on the bike and leaned it against the building but is plain view so I could see it the entire time I was inside. The line was long and only one person was working, so it was about a 21 minute wait in line, but the guy who took the payment was much nicer then the lady I spoke with. In fact he told me that the amount she told me I needed to pay was wrong and once again what I was told about a payment was different when I show up to pay the bill. This time I just smiled and said ok.

As I headed back from Franklin I saw a pet store and though it would be cool to get Dodgers treats there instead of riding all the past my place to go to PETCO, that is if they had what I needed. As it turned out they had what I wanted, but the price on two of the items was much more the I normally pay, so I skipped those. They guy at the counter was very helpful and was able to answer some questions I had about Dodger. I also need to get a gate for the front door so I am able to open it to let air in and not have Dodger run out. However I wasn’t sure what size I needed and I also wasn’t prepared to get it today, so I told him I can always come back.

The ride back home was awesome, there was a bit of a headwind and the cars where really coll about respecting the fact that the street is narrow and didn’t pass me unless they could do so without jamming me into the parked cars. That was really cool. I tend not to ride close to the parked cars because I don’t want a door to swing open on me, I also try my best to look in the side mirrors to make sure no one is sitting in the driver seat. I’ve been riding bike my whole life and I have only had a car door open on my like three times and only one time was bad, however not that I am 41 years old and not as fast and agile as I use to be when doors fly open, I make sure I take every extra precaution to ensure my safety. I am also sure I wont heal as fast as I use to as well.

Once back home I took Dodger out for his walk and then came back to return some calls and emails. I also wanted to touch base with two friends to see if they wanted to come over to watch the Oscars on Sunday. They both said yes and shortly after I spoke with they I needed to head to the store and pick up some things for my dinner. I have had this craving for a chicken salad sandwich and I dont have money to get it from a store and even if I did I am sure I would not b happy, so making it was the way to go for me. Plus I needed to use the chicken breast I had take out yesterday.

I went to Fresh and Easy, it is a new chain of self serve stores that have been popping up all over the place, the store is cool for many reasons, it’s smaller, the selection is pretty good, lots of private label items that is good in quality and you scan your own items and then someone bags them for you. Pretty cool and most times there is no line and you can get in and out with very little effort or hassle. The draw backs are the meats. I have purchased meats from them three times and each time I have not been happy with my selection. In fact the last time I got chicken breast there and got it home it had this awful smell and I needed to take it back. Plus sometime the meats don’t look like they make it to the cold storage in enough time. Having said this I tend to buy my meats some place else or I really play close attention to the meat I buy from them. I am not trying to get sick.

The sandwich was awesome and I even did a short Cooking with Kengi video. After eating I sat on the sofa with Dodger and looked at some TV for about two hours and then got ready to hit the gym. My workouts have been going very well and the results are starting to show and I am very happy about this. I even got some awesome news when I was leaving the gym as well. I am ranked in the top 30 males in several different categories and to see me name there was AWESOME and a huge boost for me.

It’s 12:35AM right now and Dodger is on his bed snoring and I am done with my day and this blog. I simply need to start uploading the videos from the day I just had. In all it was a great day and I feel great, but I do have a slight headache and I am in a bit more pain then normal, so I am calling it a night so I can jump into a hot bath and then into my bed for some much needed rest.

I hope you all are well