Dear So and So

[Blueberry]

Dear [REGIONAL BUS SERVICE OPERATOR]:

You suck. I have been on the phone with you constantly about your operation of a bus you just took over since you took a good bus and made it crappy. Now, we need new parking permits to park in a commuter garage that is the ONLY place to park and ride in a city with very limited bus service going into neighborhoods (so people can't take the bus all the way). There aren't enough of the permits for everyone who wants one (by a long shot), but you sent an email saying they could be picked up as of 6AM today (the new ones - I have one, but you changed your gate system on really short notice). Given that you don't have enough of them, I figured I needed to be early. It seems you can't read or don't know your own hours, since the office doesn't open until 8:30 (after I got up at 5:30 to be there at 6, I discovered this).

You are supposed to be getting an additional sales tax revenue (we have bumped our sales tax to fund you so you can actually provide service that's worth a d@mn). I'm a huge environmental person, and therefore mass transit supporter. But - you've finally frustrated me to the point that I think we should give up on it. You are incompetent and inefficient, and I can only imagine how many new ways you'll find to waste that extra money without actually providing any better service. #FAIL

Signed,

Grumpy to have gotten up this early and now not have time to exercise

[tulip]

Bummer, Blueberry! Can you take the academic scholar bus? Bike to university near you, bus to other one? It's free last I heard.

ETA: I just looked it up and I think you ARE talking about the academic bus. Too bad they messed it up!! Any way you can ride your bike instead of driving to the bus stop to eliminate the parking issues?

(ETA again: I took that regional bus back when I was in grad school, and the service ran once an hour, stopped running at 6pm every day, no direct routes between the universities (I went to two at the same time because my program was a jointly run endeavor--had to make the transfer mid-way) and had vans instead of buses...so it was worse at one point, it really was! Doesn't help you now, but just giving a little context. I hope it gets better).

[Blueberry]

You're right - I've been taking the academic one, but it's been so often late and there are so many safety issues that it's just about not worth it (regularly running red lights, panhandling on the bus). It's being operated by the city agency, not the regional one - and I think that's actually worse. At least I do have a free pass for it - it's now the "express bus" fare, and it's pretty expensive for most people.

I should bike to it - I know I should - but it means having to lug around even more stuff for the day. That and cold rainy weather is why I haven't been. And there aren't bike racks at the most convenient stop (but they are working on that, I think). I don't use the parking permit *that* much, but when the other half is out of town (which he will be for a week soon), it makes more sense for me to do it that way. I know it was worse - I actually remember back in 2000-ish that it wasn't as good. But if you rely on the regional service, the routes that don't take 1.5 hours still end really early. Bleh. I just wish they could get their acts together.

At least I got a permit. The other half went at 8:30 with my old drivers' license, my parking contract, and the old pass. They gave him the new one. I also have the ear of someone who is trying to fix things, I think. I'm hanging in there with it - I just wish we would *actually build* regional rail.

[tulip]

I know! I was taking that bus mid- to late- 1990s and they were talking about regional rail back then, almost 20 years ago! If they had just done it, we wouldn't be having this conversation now! I'm actually trying to figure out how to get to one of those hospitals for an appt on Fri on the regional bus. I'll likely just end up asking my brother for a ride (for an eye appt--can't drive). Such potential for an awesome system, and yet they don't actually do anything to make it happen!

[Blueberry]

PM me if I can help.

[Veronica]

Dear Tech Department:

Really? Your mailbox appears to be unavailable. Try to access it again in 10 seconds. If you see this error again, contact your helpdesk.

But those tickets are suppose to be done by email. Maybe you guys are lonely and you want everyone calling you today.

Veronica

[malkin]

Oh V, I know it is completely NOT FUNNY for you! Still, it makes me laugh a little bit.

One time we got an apology from IT saying that the reason that the spam reports weren't showing up in the inbos was because they were being stopped by the spam filter. (I laughed so hard I about peed my pants).

[lph]

Dear assorted hearing respondents out there,

I know, I know. You hate the hydropower plans. I'm a faceless city bureaucrat and you want to make plenty sure that I know you hate the plans. But honestly, they really are just loose plans, and I need constructive feedback. It would be a lot better if you had done what we asked you to and written specific comments with content instead of spewing out pages of random angry noises. I now have 25 responses out of which 6 make sense.

One of them actually sounds rather like he's threatening the hydropower company (not me) with black magic...

[redrhodie]

One of them actually sounds rather like he's threatening the hydropower company (not me) with black magic...

If that's one of the six that make sense, you got your work cut out!

[lph]

Hee-hee. Unfortunately not.

We keep an unoffical record of the more bizarre ravings that get sent our way. There are some doozies in there.

[indysteel]

Dear teeth: Work with me here. I've already invested quite enough in you over the last few years thanks to four years of braces. I really hate having to spend a grand on a crown.

[emily_in_nc]

Dear teeth: Work with me here. I've already invested quite enough in you over the last few years thanks to four years of braces. I really hate having to spend a grand on a crown.

Bummer, but unfortunately, sometimes it can't be helped. Just be glad if you don't need a root canal as well. I have a mouth full of crowns and a couple of root canals. And this was after cavities as a child and braces as well. Thank goodness nearly all my teeth have been fixed now, so dental check-ups are a bit easier as they're pretty much just about cleanings and making sure my gums are okay (another fun issue as you age). I get such compliments on how pretty my teeth are, and I think "they should be, they sure have cost me enough!"

[Owlie]

Dear car:

I do not need this right now. And I just paid your insurance!

[Catrin]

Dear Shoulder,

For the last 3 months I've given you LOTS of attention. Physical Therapy, lots of stretches, mobility work ... You have been poked, pulled, massaged, X-rayed, manipulated, and an whole host of other things meant to increase your range of motion and strength.

In the end, the only real improvement is you feel better (some days). Sure when PT is done l have full ROM but it does not last. I begin to wonder if this is a hopeless task and I can already hear my Dr tell me that he knew surgery would be required, (he has already implied this several times). Let's prove him wrong already, ok? Please? l do not have the money for it and living alone makes shoulder surgery more challenging than it would be if I didn't. Don't you want to act like a shoulder? That is all I ask...

[indysteel]

That sucks, Catrin.