My Friend in a Baggie

My Friend in a Baggie.

Last year Nick, my oldest and dearest friend, died on 12/21/2007. (http://www.xanga.com/rachelsent) I miss Nick terribly. He was always there for me, somewhere in the background, with his quick wit, cynical humor, and quiet attitude. Nick was the keeper of my stories and now that he is gone, those stories have no sounding board.

I am in possession of my friend Nick. He resides in a baggie, which is inside another bag full of pictures and history. I am not sure what to do with his ashes. There is a part of me that doesnt want to do anything with them. They have become mine and I am a keeper of memories. So Nick sits in baggie.

I decided to look around and see what other people do with the ashes of those they cared about. It's pretty amazing. None of these options are anything I would do with Nick.... but I think he would get a kick out of seeing some of them.

• Pagodas hold peoples ashes
  

• Cardboard coffins, shell-shaped urns and fireworks that can be packed with people's ashes were met by smiles at the Natural Death Center's Green Funeral Exhibition Saturday in London. http://www.daylife.com/photo/06V04tz6gMfeG

• The huggable urn!

• The planned launch sometime in March of a rocket carrying the ashes of actor James Doohan, who played chief engineer Montgomery Scott on "Star Trek," and Mercury program astronaut Gordon Cooper will give a fitting send-off to two men who helped popularise human space exploration. http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/s46.html
• Forget burial or cremation, there is a new option for disposing of human bodies in which a lye solution dissolves tissues into a sterile syrupy substance that can be safely flushed down the drain.

• The "crime scene" at the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction after a woman spread ashes of her loved one there. It took the Disney crew more than an hour to clean the attraction of the ashes. But by far the most popular location in Disneyland to spread ashes of loved ones is in the Haunted Mansion attraction. I suppose they hope to see their face among all those other spirits you see during that ride. Yet another popular ride to spread ashes is the "Small World" exhibit ... apparently so the spirit of the beloved can hear that nearly-imposible-to-get-out-of-your-head ""It's a Small World After All" song for all eternity. http://www.intenseexperiences.com/cremation-ashes.html

• Lucas Seaward, a portrait artist from Edmonton, Alberta, says he has developed a process for incorporating about a tablespoon of ashes into a type of pencil that can be used for drawing a memorial portrait in shades of grey.http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/07/31/1992617.htm

• Diamonds Really Are Forever..
  A small company, based in the mountainous southeast Switzerland, uses the ashes of dead people to make diamonds, as a permanent memento for their nearest and dearest.

"Nick in a baggie". I really think Nick would appreciate the humor of finding himself inside a baggie.

I miss you Nick.

Rachel

Talk about feeling 'had'.....

This was recently... and today it was $1.63. Shit... it makes me want to fill up other peoples gas tanks!

Credit Card Fiasco!!

The RBS Credit Card Fiasco

I arrived home the other day to a letter from the RBS Credit Card company. "What could they be writing me about?", I thought. I stopped doing the dishes, dried my hands and went to the envelope that lay beckoning on the table.

I ripped the envelope open and began to read.

"Based on our review, we find it necessary to make a change to your RBS credit card account. We have increased the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on your new and existing account purchases and balance transfers effective on the first day of your billing cycle that begins in December 2008. Your rate will now be 19.99% APR. This rate will apply to your existing balances as well as to all new purchases and balance transfers, but not to existing balances at promotional rates. All other rates, benefits and fees will remain unchanged."

The next paragraph went on to tell me that they were going to give me a free (for the next 6 months) Protected Cardholder Program.

WTF????????

"Based on what review??? " I pondered. And then I remembered. There was a zero balance on this credit card. It had been paid off in full several months ago, but now my curiosity was piqued.

I called the 1-800-747-8155 noted on the letter for Customer Service and spoke with a female named Chris (I.D. #3002383). I explained that I was confused and that I had received a letter dated November 14, 2008 that said it was going to increase my APR. I asked her to explain to me what this was about.

Chris then launched into the 'reading of the letter' to me. She was so into it that no matter how many times I said "Excuse Me", "HELLO!!!!", she didnt stop reading. Finally, I shouted into the phone saying her name. I told she did not need to read me the letter that I held in my hand. She needed to tell me why the APR was being increased.

She then told me that it was because of the 'economy'.!!!! At this point, I asked if this was just a general review of all RBS credit cards or was this specific to my credit history. She replied that it was a general review and had nothing to do with my credit history.

I then told her to close the account.

WITHOUT ANY HESITATION BETWEEN WORDS, Chris then told me "I can let you keep the same APR you already have, if you keep the account open." I was lucky, there was a zero balance on this account.

What the fuck is that all about???? If you did not know what to ask, or how to ask or even to question the letter, you would automatically receive the higher APR for no reason whatsoever... except of course 'because of the economy'.

HEADS UP FOLKS.... If RBS is sending out these letters, you can bet that every other credit card company is sending these letters out as well.

STOP SELLING YOUR FUTURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get rid of the credit cards. (More on this topic in another post).

Oh Inspiration!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.wafrica.jp/

oh my..... love this stuff!
Please take a look at this!

The Future was set

From early on, I really didnt have a choice...

"Just Kidding"

I hate the use of that phrase.

My coffee has been made wrong and after I have paid and stood in line waiting, I am told "Just Kidding" when I ask for it to be corrected.

My change has been mis-counted and when I point out the mistake I receive a "Just Kidding".

The wrong price has been rung up at the register and when notified of the mistake I am told by the cashier "Just Kidding".

What the hell is so funny? So funny that you have to tell me that you were "Just Kidding"? Oh Oh I get it.........you werent kidding?!?!?! You made a mistake????? and instead of a "Sorry about that", you tell me "Just Kidding"?????

What an insidious little phrase this has become... and what does it really say? Does it say that you made a mistake and are embarrassed to admit it? Does it say that you aren't really going to take any responsibility for your actions? Yeah..... I think it does. It ranks right up there with "whatever" and "my bad", two other phrases I could do without.

So if I tell you that your response to me sucks and then look at you sweetly and say "Just Kidding" as I walk away, you'll understand, right?

The Art of NOT making a decision

in other words..... I really did follow my own advice. I shut the gremlins in my head down and went to work. At the very moment I went to talk to the person i needed to about 'the job', I decided that I wanted to do it. I then added that I would be willing to rearrange my schedule to accomodate 4 days a week, that I would expect a raise in pay (more responsibility, blah blah) and that I could not train any new employee they hired (no time, blah blah).

all was unbridled glee. yahoo.........yippee..... hooray

Human Resources called me. Yes, this is a 'real' corporation (ugh).... and we 'discussed'. Basically the 'discussing' was them wanting to know how much I wanted. For a 'real' corporation they are incredibly small in the realm of other 'real' corporations. It is a group of Urologists that have sewn up the market in our county. (More on 'our county' later).

I asked them to remember that I was a part-time employee, no paid vacation, no benefits etc. and to think about this and that I would look forward to their actual proposal and salary information.

Another phone call from HR. "We have to watch what we pay because of the 'other' employees". They came back with an increase of $.50!!!!!!!!!!!! To which I fell off my chair, started laughing and said "I will get back to you".

Other than writing a letter to HR explaining my surprise and disappointment and advising that 'other' employees wouldnt know what I made, that 'other' employees were NOT part-time and that 'other' employees received paid vacations and paid benefits, I asked "So... when will we be having my current review?" (so you can give me a $.50 increase?!?!" and I wont have to take on the new position).

SO... little did I know that I wanted to take the position until I said it, and little did I know that I wouldn't want the position until I heard what type of salary increase there would be.

Nuff said about worring about stuff before it happens.

I have a brain that needs to create. It also needs the other stuff too.... the organizing, the other type of 'work' and I switch back and forth pretty easily. So for now, things shall remain the same and we shall see what becomes of it......