Tech Support from India

I really despise overseas customer service when they can't speak and understand english very well. I had to call Kodak because of having issues with the print quaility of my printer. I was on the phone with a man who has an Indian accent. No big deal, but he has to spell out everything and I had to spell out everything even the name of my town, which is an easy one. Grrr!
I ended up having to purchase a new print head for my printer and while breaking down the costs, the print head, shipping and taxes, I had to ask what the $2.13 charge was for.

Me: What's the 2.13 for?
CS Rep: The print head is $24.99, the shipping is $6.50, the $2.13 is the field test. The total is $33.62
Me: What's that? Field test? What is that and what is it for?
CS Rep: Ok, the print head is $24.99, the shipping is $6.50, the $2.13 is the field test. The total is $33.62.
Me: What is a field test? What does it cost $2.13?
CS Rep: The total is $33.62. The print head is $24.99, the shipping is $6.50, the $2.13 is the field test.

**Ok, at the point, I need to break it down for him before I start to raise my voice**

Me: I understand the print head is $24.99. I know what that is. I know and understand the $6.50 is for shipping. But what is the $2.13? What did you call it? Field test?
CS Rep: The total is $33.62. The print head is $24.99, the shipping is $6.50, the $2.13 is the field test.

**GGGGGRRRRRR!!!!**

Me: Do you understand what I am asking? What is the $2.13 charge for?
CS Rep: Ok, Miss Tammy. The $24.99 is for the print head
Me: I know what that is and understand
CS REp: $6.50 is for shipping
Me: Yes, I understand that and have no issues with this charge.
CS Rep: And the $2.13 is for field test
Me: Yes!!! That is what I don't understand what it is. What is its purpose?
CS Rep: Let me put you on hold for a moment.

** At the time I don't know if they know what they are talking about and wondering what kind of BS answer I was going to get**

CS Rep: Thank you for holding. The $2.13 is a govemt pax that they charge us and we have to pay that.
Me: Oh, you mean government taxes?
CS Rep: Yes
ME: I was hearing everything else, not government tax.


Why is it so hard for US companies to employ reps that can actually speak fluently with US customers?

Another Crazy Weekend

This weekend was busy, well sorta. :) Every Friday night in our house is family night. The kids look forward to it each week. We put a pizza in the oven and plug in a movie or compete against each other in the Wii. Sometimes both if the movie isn't cooperating.
Saturday we went to the thirft store. I love browsing 2nd hand stores....you just never know what you are going to find. This week I found some really pretty wooden word cut outs. One says "grace" and the other says "love"
This won't be their final resting place, but I really like them!

Saturday we went to my little cousin's birthday party. She turned 7 years old. It was held at Camp Good News, a camp facility where there is a play ground, lake, water slid that goes into the lake and more. Mikayla jumped out of the car and was taking off her dress to reveal her swimming suit, dropped her towel and was down at the water before I could even get our things half way to the picnic tables! She was a dried up mermaid itching to get wet! The bad part is I wasn't able to get her sunscreen on before she made it to the water. So she got a little red. I will have to know next time to apply her sunscreen before we leave the house.
The kids and I had a great time going down the slide all together and seperately. We swam out to the floating dock and jumped off.

Sunday was a glorious day! My kids got baptisted at church!

















I soooo was happy for this. They completely profess that Jesus is the saviour. I don't think quite understand the symbolisim for the baptism, but they understand the rest. Mikayla really believes that God and Jesus hears her and she can talk with them. How awesome is that?! And she is only 7. Carl also believes, I don't hear him pray in the way that Mikayla does, but connects in his own way. They both were excited about being baptisted and thought the experience was fun and great.

Next weekend we are going blueberry picking and then they go to their dad's for their summer visit with him. One more week of school here!

What to do?

Well, I woke up to a surprise. Money in my checking account. It wasn't money I was expecting, but I know where it cam from and why. Now it is extra money...what to do with it?
There are many possibilities from putting a little extra into a debt, using it to get my daycare started or put it in savings until I decide. I still don't know what is going on with my ex's job situation, so I am hesitant to make any decisions. But I hate doing nothing as well. Why is it that God loves patience? I guess it is easier for him since one year to us can equal one day to him, but grrr....I need to know! :-)

Venting

Maybe I am PMSing, but do you have those days where you feel like you just want to scream, kick and beat something up? I am having one of those days the last few days and I can't seem to shake it. Between the big things and the little things, I just can't get myself back on track. I think it's just too much uncertainity right now for me that I just can barely handle all the stress.
I lost my unemployment money a few months ago. Not that I wasn't looking for a job, I was. My challenges are that I am bascially a single mom. Yes, I am married, but for the last 3 years and and till only God knows when, I am on my own. My husband, who is not a US citizen is living in Costa Rica, his home country. That is challenge #1.
Challenge #2 is because of past decisions (or lack of) I don't have a college degree. I graduated high school with honors, but not much after that. I took some college courses, but I never finished. I have high hopes of being an entrepeneur, but haven't made anything with that. Always looking for my niche.
Challenge #3 is that I am not able to work a job with evenings and weekend shifts. I have no childcare for my 2 school aged children.
Challenge #4 is that I have very little outside work expereince. Appearently being able to manage a home, 2 kids with ADHD, schdudules, being a GSA leader amoung other things are not considered real work experience. Or at least it feels like it.

So being that I haven't been able to find work, I have been searching for ways from job searches to working for myself. I have tried having an online store, making things for sale (but that kinda took the fun out it for me), selling Avon, which I still do, teaching Bradley Birth Classes and now I am looking at starting a home daycare.

Just as I decide to work on putting together a home daycare, my ex calls me and gives me a heads up. (I guess he isn't a complete pain in the butt) The company he works for may be loosing their contract which would equal no work for him, which would equal no child support to me for my two kids.
Now what? If that happens I could loose everything. Then what's the point of the home daycare? I don't know what I should do or not do. The only thing I have for definate is that if I do loose my house and all of my income, I will move the kids and I to Costa Rica with my hubby. He is going to school to become a teacher and will have a job hopefully by the end of the year.
I just hate living with all the incertainity that I have to deal with right now. I have to keep it together in front of the kids, but even they are not fooled. My son can tell I am not happy and even has questioned me about it. They deserve better, but it I just don't know how to do it all alone.
Sure my parents, especially my mom says that I could get federal aid (welfare) but who wants to live like that? That is no way to live. It wouldn't keep my house or bills paid and...and..I don't know. I just pray it doesn't get any worse.

Keeping it Together

Today has been a bit low for me. You know, those days when all of life's pressures seem to come on you all at once. I think, if only I can get to bed earlier tonight it will all be better tomorrow, but I say that to myself only half believing it. I just feel worn. and I miss my hubby. He is like my rock in my life and being without him for the last 3 years have been really hard. With each day that goes by, it feel a bit more need to be with him. I am tired of being without him.
Stupid immigration laws!
I have been doing my best to believe and trust in god's plans for me, but when my life is falling apart all around me I wonder if he does know what he is doing. I truely believe that he does, but I just don't know what to do. Yea, I know, nothing, god will work it all out. I hate doing nothing.
A friend of mine on facebook posted an old song from Uncle Cracker that I had forgotten about and it instantly made my miss my hubby. I am singing it as my daughter is crawled behind me and hanging on to me while we enjoy it together.

Yea! For School Unfiroms!

The school district in which I live in has been debating school uniforms for years. It has recently taken a hot seat again because of some publicized events that happened. In the area that I live, we have a radical church that most people are not tolerant of. There were a few days in which the children that attend that church wore t-shirts that said "Islam is the devil" and when the schools asked them to change their shirts, they filed a lawsuit stating that is infringed on their rights. There has also be a few other incendents, but this one comes to my mind the most.
Last night our school board voted on distric wide uniforms and it was approved in a vote of 3-2! I for one and in favor of it and am happy with the vote. My children are in elementary school and I think it will help in the long run.
I have also been to Costa Rica a few times and have in-laws that live there. I see the social classes mixing more in school and learning from each other. Sure, they will still know who has the money and who doesn't, but when they are all dressed in uniforms, it gives an outward apprearnce of being on the "same play field" just like when they play together in sports and other activities.
School shopping will be easier for me this year!!

Empty Handed

This morning I was browsing craig's list. Doesn't everyone just love browsing there sometimes? It has become sorta one of my "at-home" window shopping places. I just love to see the great deals and free stuff people get rid of. I have been able to get a few of the free items and good deals. Yesturday I was browsing the "wanted" section and found an ad for some poor guy actually asking for viagra pills! :O I was shocked, but had to chuckle!
Any who, I was browsing the free section when I saw a posting for free retail counters from a place that went out of business here. Wow! I can use those for the home daycare I am setting up! So I called and was told that she was meeting a few people in 30 mins to look at them. So I called my dad (he has a truck, I don't) to take me there and see if I can get any. But I was too late. :( As we were driving up, their loaded truck was driving away.
So I left empty handed. I am eager to get my daycare up and running, but on a limited budget it's hard. I just keep praying that this is the right thing for me to be doing and if it's meant to be, then God will provide a way. I just hate the waiting part!