Long time

Okay okay, I know. I am a terrible blogger, I haven't blogged for 12 days. It's been busy and my home computer is DOA right now and is being looked at by my wonderful cousin in law.
Works' been - well its been work and lets leave it at that. It has sort of consumed my life the last couple of weeks.
But, labor day is here and we're ready to chilax and get our weekend on. I am sure that will bring LOTS to write about.
TTFN - I'll update when I have: a. more time, b. something fun to say and c. a computer at home!!

Personality Test

It's amazing how they can so accurately fit me into a catagory just by answering a bunch of random questions. Check it out - then find out where you rate at www.similarminds.com :

Jung Ideal vs. Real Test Introversion 50% 43% Extroversion 76% 56% Intuitive 56% 53% Sensing 53% 50% Feeling 66% 73% Thinking 66% 50% Judging 76% 46% Perceiving 56% 56% ideal you real you ideal type - ENTJ, real type - ENFP

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Go Big Blue!

I am bulldog. Not in the four legged, drooling, farting, snoring sense of the word (and I can verify that bulldogs really do all that stuff, ours did), but rather in the school mascot sense. I was a happy graduate of the class of 1996 from Folsom High School – you know "may the loft sierras watching over you" and all that crap. My 10 year class reunion was this weekend, I know I said 10 years, I get it - I am old.
Growing up in Folsom was like walking into the middle of cast call for Varsity Blues versus Dawsons, complete with wacky school mascot that goes to all the big parties and teen angst running amuck. Ten years ago Folsom wasn’t the 2500+ population school it is now, it was smaller and more intimate and for the most part I could recognize any of my class mates either by sight or name. I wasn’t what you’d call “A” list popularity, but I wasn’t a total loser either. I like to self appoint myself a B list popularity wise, I knew the A list and was cool with them, I just didn’t call any of them my BFF’s. Spending four years at FHS (go, fight, win), can be classified by simply saying “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”. I didn’t hate high school while I was there. I actually rather liked it – except of course the last 3 months of my senior year which NO ONE ever likes. So I was excited to go to my reunion and see people I've know since elementary school but haven't seen since the summer of 1996.
We arrived at Sutter street around 9:15pm - the reunion started at 830pm, and I figured this was the perfect time to arrive, I was right. For the reunion, since its all FHS alumni classes, they close down a part of Sutter street and much to my amazement tried to charge a $15 per person fee which Rick and I were able to side track by stating we needed to get cash first - never went back to pay that fee, you can bill me later alumni association! We made our way over to the Sutter Club- loving known to the bar crowd as the Gutter club, where we found friends we had planned on meeting up with.
After hooking up with our friends and getting cash from the near by ATM - it began; I saw a lot of people from my class. Some I was really glad to see and catch up with, some it was painful standing there for 5 minutes while they prattled on about their lives. And then there were the ones who I tried to refrain from making eye contact with but some how later in the night after a few drinks you couldn't avoid - you know the ones that bring their old senior year book in hopes of getting everyone to sign it, if I didn't sign it then, I am not signing it now. All in all I had a great time. We ended up leaving earlier than expected because of Rick's back (he'd been laid up all week). But I did get to see most of the people on my list of the ones I wanted to see.
The next day was a BBQ that I had not planned on attending due to the lameness I thought it would hold. However on Friday everyone was talking about it and kept asking "are you going?" "Going tomorrow to the BBQ". Unfortunately we had already made plans to help our friends move so we didn't make it. I was able to get the gossip from my friend Jesse - who gave me the low down on the people who weren't there Friday night. Talking to him about it made feel like I was 16 again though, as we gossiped about who was there, if they had kids, if they had come out, made something of themselves career wise or still stupid.
All in all it was a lot of fun and I am glad I decided to go. It’s hard to remember sometimes that I did like high school and that I did have a TON of school spirit. So all I can say now is:
BULLDOGS IN THE HIZZY! GO DOGS!

Fast Food

I think of myself as a fast food expert. I mean one doesn't become obese by eating vegetation only - it takes a large amount of grease, preservatives and carbohydrates to balloon to the sizes I've been before. That is why it is mind shattering to me that I have never known the joy of the Taco Bell Enchirito prior to yesterday. How is it that my 10 year old cousin knows about this and I don't? It is a travesty and saddening.

For those, besides myself, who have never had the pleasure - the enchirito is burrito with meat, beans and cheese in a flour tortilla that is then covered in a wonderfully tangy and taste bud exploding red sauce, and cheese and then stuck under a broiler long enough to melt the cheese. The full rich flavor of the seasoned meat mixed with the beans complement the spicy sauce nicely causing the person partaking in the enchirito to have to consciously stop themselves from scarfing this wonderful entrée. And at only $1.59, the enchirito is budget affording as well. I've had enchiladas at many a Mexican food restaurants that couldn't compare to this delicacy.

My fast food hat is off to Taco Bell for this lovely menu choice. And my fist shakes in the air at all who knew of this and never told me, shame on you -I say, shame on you.

Not for the faint of heart

We talked about this before - simply stated - I am an animal person. Most of the time, I prefer animals over people, they understand more and even if they don't, they're good at acting like they do. That is why this article from the AOL new wire upset me so much. I warn you, if you are faint of heart and an animal person you will find this disturbing at best.

As I read thru this I was overcome to think that just because a government couldn't get the most basic of disease under control they are punishing the not sick. I don't know what I'd do if they made me kill my dog. I wouldn't. I'd refuse. It wouldn't happen. No wonder China is overpopulated - they won't let people have dogs.

So I have now added another boycott to my list (my list really isn't that long, only 2 places that I adamantly WILL NOT frequent - Carl's Jr. - for their anti- abortion relations and Kentucky Fried Chicken - for the refusal to buy chickens from humane farmers ) and now I add anything from China - this may take a little more vigilance since its pretty easy to just NOT go to the other two places - but I feel strongly and I will not buckle - non-China items - BE GONE!

Questions

I am aware that I might be slightly jaded. I don't have the same daily experiences with the public that most do. I work in a call center - I deal with the lay person all day long and, for the most part I don't mind educating them on how their health insurance works or on what doctors they need to see. The people that bug me the worst though are the other professionals that call and are complete and utter simpletons. Nothing gets under my skin quicker or raises my voice octaves higher (at work octaves are how you can tell how my call is going - the higher pitched I am the more irritated)than someone calling from a professional office who doesn't know what he or she is doing.
First of all - YOU called me, I shouldn't have to BEG what YOU want out of YOU. If you called me you should know if you want a quote of benefits. If I ask you "Did you need benefits on this person" and you say "NO" please do not then turn around and say "Can you tell me what their coverage for an office visit is?" I am sorry no I can't you had you're chance - next contestant please.
Next if you don't want to listen to what I am saying - why did you waste your time calling? I understand that in this day and age we all multi task at our jobs. I can be working on 3 different projects, emailing my friends, answering questions and I still manage to listen to the person on the phone. It is down right rude to ask a question and then because you're prattling on to your coworker about your date last night - you miss the response so you get annoyed AT ME and ask me to repeat what I am saying like I wasn't clear the first time. When people do this it takes all of my will power not to ask them about the personal conversation like "Oh WOW so what did you wear?" Not because I care but rather to point out their rudeness in the most embarrassing way possible to them - although I somehow doubt it would phase most of them.
Lastly, and lets be honest here, their jobs and mine - NOT that hard. We're not performing the surgery we're quoting benefits on and I SHUTTER to think that some of these people are actual nurses. These are information that people call for is so simple that even the lamest lab monkey could do and YET these people have a hard time with it. How many times do I need to repeat S-L-O-W-L-Y our billing address, its a freaking PO Box! Seriously if these people can't handle these positions I know pride industries has a ton of overly qualified workers who could help them out. Now don't get me wrong there are a handfull of bright and qualified people I talk to everyday. They're on the ball and those calls even when complicated take under 3 minutes. Sometimes even members are more on it than the providers they go to see and they call us to whip the provider into shape.
I am not asking for much here I don't think. I am just wanting competent, comprehesable callers. Thats all. Nothing more, nothing less. Please...