Dear So and So

[Red Rock]

I understand SouthernBelle...

I have this cold/virus? that will not go away. On week 2

Missed a week of work

Its sunny outside (60's now and over the weekend low 70's), and I'm not out there enjoying it

Red Rock

[KnottedYet]

Dear Powers That Be,

Please teach me patience. Let me be calm in the face of a domineering ego-centric new employee. Let me laugh it off as "special needs" and not take it as "specially demanding."

I can only control my own attitude in this situation. Teach me how to control my attitude, before my attitude becomes a " 'tude."

[bmccasland]

Dear Powers That Be,

Please teach me patience. Let me be calm in the face of a domineering ego-centric new employee. Let me laugh it off as "special needs" and not take it as "specially demanding."

I can only control my own attitude in this situation. Teach me how to control my attitude, before my attitude becomes a " 'tude."

Ummm, Knotted, I've learned that praying to be taught patience isn't such a good idea. You'll need it to survive. Skip that line.

Start with calm in the face of the silly new employee. Then envision that you're squashing them like the bug that they are.

Good luck! I have a mentee (I'm her mentor, so that makes her a mentee) who teeters on the high maintenance category, so I feel you pain. A soap opera could be built around her life. Fortunately she does do good work.

[SouthernBelle]

I did get a new Palm Treo 700p yesterday!

[firenze11]

Dear So and So,

Please stop taking out your frustrations on me and the people around you. Find a new way to relieve your stress. I don't like having to walk on eggshells to avoid your landmine-like temper. Then minutes later you act like nothing is wrong at all. I'm afraid to even talk to you anymore.

Firenze

[Bad JuJu]

Dear So and So,

Please stop taking out your frustrations on me and the people around you. Find a new way to relieve your stress. I don't like having to walk on eggshells to avoid your landmine-like temper. Then minutes later you act like nothing is wrong at all. I'm afraid to even talk to you anymore.

Firenze

I feel your pain. I have a colleague that I avoid as if she were a mound of fire ants--too bad because we have the basis of what could be a nice little friendship--shared professional and personal interests. Sadly, though, she's neither trustworthy nor even-tempered. Rumor has it she's going on the job market, so things are looking up.

[redrhodie]

Dear Super Star,

Yes, I googled your address. You moved to my town, and I figured your estate was on my route. Well, now I seem to have a virus that's not letting me use mapquest, or google maps, or yahoo maps.

I was just mildly curious. I should have the right to look at a map again!

[Andrea]

Dear Nashbar and Performance Bike,

I like your low prices, but your practice of profiting from your shipping charges is enough to make me never shop with you again.

First, you charge shipping not by weight/size, but by cost of order! WTF?

Next, I pay for 2nd day air and you ship it ground because it *should* get to me at the same time, but then when noone is in my front office, the shipper delays my delivery until the third day. You give me a partial shipping refund to try and appease me, but maybe you should have just done right in the first place

Finally, the next (LAST!) time I order, I think I am wising up and only pay for ground shipping, however, your "ground" shipping is FedEx smartpost- a bulk-mail collaboration between FedEx and USPS that takes up to 10 days to make a delivery. I check shipping rates for that method and it's less than half of what I paid.

I already used the internet sparingly for purchases (go LBS!), but I've had it with you guys. You've officially lost a customer.

[IFjane]

Dear Nashbar and Performance Bike,

I like your low prices, but your practice of profiting from your shipping charges is enough to make me never shop with you again.

First, you charge shipping not by weight/size, but by cost of order! WTF?

Next, I pay for 2nd day air and you ship it ground because it *should* get to me at the same time, but then when noone is in my front office, the shipper delays my delivery until the third day. You give me a partial shipping refund to try and appease me, but maybe you should have just done right in the first place

Finally, the next (LAST!) time I order, I think I am wising up and only pay for ground shipping, however, your "ground" shipping is FedEx smartpost- a bulk-mail collaboration between FedEx and USPS that takes up to 10 days to make a delivery. I check shipping rates for that method and it's less than half of what I paid.

I already used the internet sparingly for purchases (go LBS!), but I've had it with you guys. You've officially lost a customer.

I can't say I use the internet sparingly, Andrea, but I am in complete agreement with you regarding Performance & Nashbar. Add to that list Barnes & Noble.....especially if you are waiting for textbooks!

[Red Rock]

Andrea and IFjane:

Thankyou for the information on these outlets. I realized that there was something funky going on with the shipping although I never really questioned it much. I will keep this in the back of my mind when I go shopping there-or not.

Are there not any businesses that are out there, that will not scam your money and give you a fair price for what you want?

On the Barnes and Noble, is it the same thing even if you go to on outlet store?

Red Rock

[IFjane]

RR - I don't know about B&N outlets. I have never tried. To be perfectly honest (warning: shameless plug ahead!) I check with my DD who works at www.strandbooks.com before I buy a book anywhere else any more. Unless I happen to be IN a B&N, then I cave to whatever looks interesting!

As for cycling gear - TE is the absolute best, hands down. They don't have everything (bike parts, etc.), but for what they do have, the shipping is reasonable and FAST. I am talking about from the left coast to the right in a couple days. Amazing. (and no, I don't work for them - but I'll take discount coupons in exchange, Sue...)

[Velobambina]

Agree with you, Jane.

Awhile back, someone posted about Performance charging a few cents more to credit cards---the amounts didn't match the order and/or invoices. When I returned something to them last summer, they did not credit my credit card. Instead, they wanted me to call them so they could suggest an alternate item. I won't order from them again.

I'm willing to pay more for honest, customer-oriented service. TE definitely falls into this category.

[Melalvai]

Most of the employees here who know what I do think I'm nuts! Oh well. I can at least destress on bike.

Dear boss, co-workers, friends, and acquaintances,
It is not crazy for me to choose alternatives to getting in a car, alternatives to spending money on car repairs, gas, taxes, parking and other fees when I can save that money, pay down debt, or do something fun with my family instead. Alternatives to putting money in the pockets of oil executives who run/ruin our government. Alternatives to inactivity which, combined with overeating, is ruining our health. Alternatives which are environmentally sustainable. Alternatives which do not violently injure, maim and kill thousands of humans every year in highway accidents, to say nothing of animals. And did I mention what % of my income I am NOT spending on a car?

Nor is it suicidal to ride a bicycle. It is less of a stretch for me to say to you that "Sitting on a couch, in front of a computer, or behind the wheel of a car is suicidal!" and yet, I don't say that. Why is that? Could it be I have more tact and sensitivity than you do?

[elk]

I understand SouthernBelle...

I have this cold/virus? that will not go away. On week 2

Missed a week of work

Its sunny outside (60's now and over the weekend low 70's), and I'm not out there enjoying it

Red Rock

Dear Immune System

Where are YOU?????

Wasn't 3 weeks enough for this bloody virus??? You had to LET IT BACK IN ????
Just Before Spring break...Just after I dusted off the bike just as I was
starting to feel like a normal human being again ?????

Please ask that murky part of my brain to let me know more clearly what it is that I'm doing wrong!!! I'm going to bed as early as I can...I wash my hands a bizzilion times a day, I'm TRYING to deal with my "stuff" and I stopped smoking over a year ago....

Can you hear me screaming ??? Oh wait...you can't ...I've lost my voice again...

grrrrrrrrrr e

[Red Rock]

Elk-Good luck to you if you have this thing. I am finally survivng, back to work and only now dealing with sniffles and tiredness. I am madly eating though. I lost like 3 pounds. Perhaps I am still fighting this, I think I'm buring calories like crazy.

For breakfast this morning I had about 1 cup of oatmeal, poached egg, and a rice cake with peanut butter on top. I think I could have had more, but I had to go to work. I guess I am glad I do not really have to deal with calorie intake.

Drink lots of liquids and do forced bed rest, that was what I did for a week or so. Then eat as your body requires.

Red Rock