Dear So and So

[salsabike]

Yes, Mudmucker. Thank you for that post.

[indysteel]

Mudmaker, I'm so glad you have good insurance, and I hope that your prognosis is good. Your positive attitude is inspiring.

[indysteel]

Not-dear old electric company (and gas company):
I paid the bills myself, on time, for a year. And apparently none of this came up in the credit check, so I'm stuck paying the new electric company a rather large security deposit. I can almost understand the electricity, because they spelled my first name incorrectly (though it should still be tied to my SSN) and never corrected it even though I called about it. I don't understand why the gas thing isn't on there, since they actually got that right.

Not-dear new electric company--
Is it because nothing came up in the credit history check? The fact that I'm a student? Or the fact that I have never had service with you before? I'm an unknown quantity, and according to your company policy, that means I'm automatically not going to make payments on time? How the heck do you spend $60 a month for a 1BR apartment, anyway? (Granted, the stove and heat is electric, but still, I was paying $30 a month for a two-bedroom with a power hog computer in the mix.) I'd better get that deposit back with interest, jerks.
And your hold music is incredibly irritating.

Have you ever run a credit report for yourself, Owlie? It might be a good idea to start monitoring it every so often. My guess is that even if you paid your utility bills on time for a year, you still don't have much of a credit history. A lack of credit history is about the same as a bad credit history, which might explain why you're paying a large deposit to get service. Do you have a credit card? If and only if you can be disciplined about paying it off (and I can't stress that enough), put a minor amount on it each month and never carry a balance. It'll help you build your credit such that when you go to make your first big purchases on credit, e.g., a car, you'll have some history to work with. Do not open multiple charge accounts. Stick to one and keep it open with a low credit limit. Use it judiciously.

[Blueberry]

Owlie-

Most utilities don't report to Credit Bureaus for good stuff. Sometimes not even bad stuff. So they're not building up your credit, sadly. Learned this one the hard way. Indysteel has given you wise advice - one card, pay it off monthly (but do use it). That will help. Credit does take time to build, though....

[Crankin]

Mudmucker, I am sorry you are going through this again. I like your attitude.
If you ever want to ride, let me know, although you will probably drop me like a hot potato.
I have similarly great insurance, with no deductible and no referrals required. I went to so many specialists when I was sick a few years ago, and they didn't question one thing. They paid for all of my DH's angioplasty, second opinions at the Brigham and MGH. They even paid for one of my kids to have an experimental surgery to cure his Raynauds, out of state (it worked).
I worry about what will happen when DH retires... he is hoping to work out a deal with the company to get some kind of help with maintaining this coverage... although we still have awhile.

[Biciclista]

happiness is when you discover that it really is easier to ride your bike to the doctor appointment then it is to drive (and park and pay for parking) or take the bus.
Then even better was waiting in the dr's office with my DH and my DS, all of us in bike duds. and then riding home on a perfect day with my honey.
Chemo & Radiation starts on Monday. scary stuff.

[marni]

dear biciclista,

Hang in there, it is scary, but you ride, you can do it.

Mudmucker, I am so sorry that you are back in the fray, but bless the insurance.

marni

[Owlie]

((Mudmucker, Mimi and RD))

Indy et al:
If utilities don't report to credit agencies (I didn't know this), then that makes sense. I do have a CC, and I'm not putting a whole lot on it. It's far easier to charge things to it than even the debit card, so I'm a little reluctant to put anything that isn't gas on it!

Dear LBS(es):

Do you not think that women over 5'4" ride bikes? Why is there almost never anything at all that I can test ride? I'm not going to buy anything from you if I can't ride it first--or at all. While it's nice that Specialized has a 30-day return policy on even bikes (I find this hard to believe, by the way), that really isn't the point. Yes, I realize I'm a freak, but it's not like I'm looking for something that doesn't exist. It'd be nice if you had test bikes that weren't only for men, or had something from each manufacturer in my size.

I feel like I'll be stuck with this Giant forever.

[indysteel]

Dear daily commute:

You know how I feel about you. On a good day, I tolerate you. On a bad day, you fill me with hate and frustration. Today, however, may have been the worst day. It took me 25 minutes to get from the edge of downtown to my parking space. That's what? About a mile? That's insanity. Add that to the other 50 minutes of my drive, and I'm just not happy.

Now normally, I just grit my teeth, but today I snapped. It's no fun breaking down in sobs in your car and showing up to work looking like a wreck. My boss must think I'm losing it. But come on? I'm not sure who in city or state government made the decision to block nearly every other lane downtown for construction, but they need to be fired.

Sigh.....

P.S. Just to preempt any queries about possibly commuting by bike. It's not an option. At least not a safe one. I live 25 miles from work out of necessity, and there's no safe way to get to my job from home. Not to mention that I don't think my body could handle riding 50 miles each day.

[lph]

Can you walk? Not the entire stretch, that final mile It might not be fun, but at least you'd be actively moving...

I hate sitting stuck in my tincan.

[Biciclista]

LPH has a point. could you drive somewhere and walk or ride some? break it up?

[NbyNW]

Hey Indysteel,

I can't remember what line of work you are in, but can your schedule flex at all to avoid rush hour, or can some of it be done remotely, at least while all that construction is going on? I would bet that there are others at your work who are also affected, and maybe your managers might be able to work something out to make it easier for everyone.

[Catrin]

{{{Indy}}} I feel your pain on this. I suspect the coming Superbowl has a lot to do with the intensity/pace/sheer number of road projects downtown right now.

Do you have the option to flex your schedule and perhaps come in a little earlier? You know where I work...while I commute from the opposite direction I am in the office by 7 and the surface street back-up is minimal at that time. Your job might not make this a possibility but it was worth mentioning.

[indysteel]

I work for a federal court as a staff attorney to a judge. While I'm welcome to come in early and stay late, I have to be here during our business hours. So, if I come in at 7, I still have to stay until we close. Our administrative employees have a set number of hours they can telework each pay period, but that policy doesn't specifically apply to the professionals. I'm never asked my boss if I can, and he's never offered, despite knowing how much I hate the commute. He's otherwise a totally understanding boss, so the fact that he's never offered leads me to believe that it's simply not on the table. I do telework here and there when the weather is particularly bad or when I have a contractor at the house. I otherwise love my job, so I have no real beef with him wanting me here.

This happened about this time of year last year, too. When the kids go back to school, the traffic volume increases for a time. I'm just going to have to start leaving a half hour earlier, which means less sleep. I've tried going to be earlier, but my mind doesn't start to shut off until 10ish, so I just end up laying there. I'd add that even if I leave by 7 a.m., by the time I get downtown, the traffic volume is already heavy. Ugh. I miss living downtown. I feel like I'm paying for all the years I could simply walk to work.

Catrin, I have no doubt that much of this is related to the Superbowl. I'm no pro football fan, so you can imagine how I feel about that.

[Biciclista]

Indy, can't you move? sounds like living downtown would be ideal!