Schrodinger's Kittie

Here is a delightful chat I just had with Verizon customer ’support’.  I wanted to drop down to the bare minimum in voice since I rarely talk on the phone, keep my unlimited texting and drop the data package they had originally forced on me when I got my phone (I wanted the QWERTY keyboard).  Seems like a simple enough request, right?  Oh, how wrong we are:

Please wait for a Verizon Wireless sales representative to assist you with your order. Thank you for your patience!

A Verizon Wireless online pre-sales specialist has joined the chat. You are now chatting with Cassandra

Cassandra: Hello. Thank you for visiting our chat service.  May I help you with your order today?

Cassandra: I haven’t heard from you in a while.  Would you like to continue chatting?

You: yes

You: I’m not at all happy with having a $9.99 forced onto my account. Please explain why something I do not want is being forced on me?

Cassandra: It is not being forced it is required for all 3G phones.

You: thus forced

You: I do no want to use this feature

You: I want only to txt

Cassandra: Did you just opt to change the plan?

You: yes

You: and it forced the $9.99 fee

Cassandra: No, you could have kept the plan as it was where you were not ” forced” but you opted to continue, correct?

You: no

You: it popped up

You: with only an “ok” – no option to decline was offered

You: and it won’t let me “deselect” the data package

You: hold on – the screen just refreshed with a remove option

You: Add Features Data Package Unlimited with Mobile Email $29.99/month This is a minimum required feature for your device. Remove Features Data Package 25MB with Mobile Email $9.99/month Total change in monthly recurring charges: $20.00/month

You: and then I try to remove it and get forced to either keep the $9.99 or be shoved into a $29.99 feature

You: this is very not cool

You: I have no desire to check email on this phone – ever. I wanted it for the keypad for my amount of txting. Period.

Cassandra: But with the plan you already had you do not have to have the data plan, correct?

You: ….

You: yes I was forced into it with the plan I had

You: and I went ahead and used it. But I’m trying to get down to the minimum possible with unlimited texting ONLY

You: it’s all I care about

You: I hardly use my phone for anything but texting

Cassandra: I am sorry about that.

You: how do I get this removed

You: I do not want this “feature”

Cassandra: You can not it is required. You will have to select a basic phone that does not require it.

You: I see. So because I bought a phone that does what I need it to do

You: you force me into a service i do not want

Cassandra: Not forced.

You: yes dear

You: it is forced

You: you just told me I have to have this service

You: period

You: because I need a phone with a keyboar

You: keyboard

You: you are forcing me to take a service I do not want

Cassandra: We have the Motorola Rival and Samsung intensity that do not require a data plan.

You: please point me to where on the phone features it points out that the data package is required

You: yes

You: for which you will force me to pay $200+ to change

Cassandra: On the phones page when you select the phone it is listed under that. [this was not on the page when I purchased the phone a while back]

You: to drop a feature I do not want

Cassandra: You can not. Sorry.

You: which

You: really

You: means

You: I’d be just as well served

You: to pay the termination fee

Cassandra: Okay.

You: since it’s actually less than the phone you require me to get

You: so

You: y’all really would rather lose a customer than drop a feature that customer does not want to utilize. This is blindingly spectacular business sense

You: how does this make sense?

Cassandra: We have not really lost business since the change has place. [notice this nice little insertion?]

You: thank you for this enlightening conversation. Please be advised that the entire conversation will be posted to my blog for public ellucidation.

You: Thank you

Well, I can unequivocally say they lost a customer today.  It’s either keep paying the $10/mo fee that I don’t want to pay – or pay the FULL price (even though they are forcing me to change phones) for a new phone that I do not want.  The default on the contract is less than the cost of one of those phones and only a couple bucks more than the cost of the other.  That makes a ton of sense.

Instead, it appears I will be switching to MetroPCS or Cricket or something.  Those who were texting me on my cell phone, be aware that the number will soon no longer be valid as I transition.

So, I’m sure a lot of you figure I’ve totally given up on knitting. That isn’t the case, though it has been very slow.

I finished up the seed block blanket I was working on and gave it to Mike. No photo of the finished project. I’ll try to get one the next time I’m down on Liberty. He absolutely loved the blanket. It’s the perfect size for traveling on the bus or just curling up under. I certainly wouldn’t use it as a afghan; but, it suits the purpose for which it was created. That purpose being a small blanket for tossing over your lap or used while traveling. It’s big enough to cover you in a bus/airplane/car seat without being obnoxious.

There are currently two projects in the works. One is a baby blanket for Paco’s latest addition. I’ve been designing/working on it for forever, it seems – and, it’s slowly coming to a finish. I figure by the time the newborn is a toddler, I should have it finished. Here’s hoping it actually lays flat when I finish – I’m working from the outside in, which is always a challenge. For some reason working outside in has more issues with laying flat than working from the center out.

I had to order more yarn.  I had no idea I’d burn through so much!  I get a feeling this blanket is going to be a lot larger than I anticipated.  Not a problem in the least – but, when you figure I’m working on US 3 / 3.25 mm size needles…well, it does take a bit of time to finish a project.  Especially when you get a bit bored by the repetitive nature of the pattern.  I do enjoy how it is turning out, mistakes and all.  The people receiving it will love it no matter what it looks like; but, it’s nice to be happy with something you are designing and creating yourself.

As there is so much of just a single stitch (knit, knit, knit, knit…yeah), the project can get a bit tedious at times, so I am also working on a pair of twisted rib socks for myself.  They are being knit on a pair of US 1/ 2.25mm needles.  I lost the band to the yarn so I’m not sure exactly what it’s called, though I know it’s a German import.  I love it…except that it splits like crazy!  Ah well, c’est la vie.  I like how it feels knit up; and, will enjoy wearing them after I’m done…and, it serves its purpose of giving me a break from the incessant knit stitch from the baby blanket.

We went out dancing at Swallow’s Inn, last night.  I’d forgotten how much I love that dance floor.  It’s tiny, but a pure joy to dance on.  Mike and I were receiving all sorts of compliments from people.  It was a little disconcerting; but, I do have to admit it’s nice to have your ego stroked like that, sometimes.  I always enjoy listening to the Honky Tonk Kings.  They are a good band that understands the difference between good listening music and good dancing music.  I wish more bands could figure that out.  They had a good number of people up from San Diego to support them, which I thought was wonderful.  Ken even showed up – which was a surprise.  For some reason, I’d believed he wasn’t going to be there.  I always enjoy getting to dance with him.

As for the Honky Tonk Kings…they will always have a special place in my mind/memories.  I originally met them when they played at Swallow’s Inn in August.  They were the group that wound up causing me to start making the drive south to San Diego and the Renegade every weekend. Which is where/how I met Mike.  Lot to be thankful for, there. Amusing that the guy who the first thing I noticed was that he was in my way has wound up being such an intrinsic part of my life.  Isn’t it interesting how life takes its various twists and turns to get you someplace you had no idea you needed/wanted to be?

Speaking of said fellow…I think it’s time I grabbed my knitting and went and curled up with him for a while to watch one of our favorite shows, “How It’s Made“.  And, if it strikes his fancy, maybe I’ll make a London broil with Yorkshire pudding and English peas (or green beans) for dinner.

Here is my recipe for Chicken and Dumplin’s – hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Chicken Stew

• 1.5 quarts chicken stock
• .5 quarts water
• 1.5-2 pounds oven baked or rotisserie chicken
• 1 teaspoon salt (optional)
• 1 bay leaf
• 4-6 sprigs of parsley finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 white onion finely chopped
• 4 carrots chopped
• 1 bunch green onions (green parts only – chopped)

Dumplings

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tbsp backing powder
• 1 teaspoon salt (optional)
• 1 cup whole milk
• 3 tbsp salted butter

Directions

1. Bring the stock and water to a boil in a large pot.  Ensure the stock is not filling more than half the pot or you are going to be overflowing by the time the dumplings are done.  Add the salt, parsley, pepper, bay leaf and veggies.  Let the stew continue to boil while you prepare the chicken.
2. Remove the skin and bones from the chicken and tear the meat into medium/large chunks.  The chicken will start to fall apart in the stock so don’t worry if the pieces are slightly larger than bite size when they hit the stock pot.  Reduce the stew to a simmer and prepare the dumplings.
3. Mix the flour, baking powder and salt together in a glass mixing bowl.  Soften the butter and mix into the dry ingredients slowly.  Slowly mix in the milk until the dough is thick and slightly tacky.  Let the dough sit for 5-10 minutes.
4. Sprinkle flour over the top of the dough and lightly knead it in until the dough doesn’t stick to your hands.  Pull off small sized bits of dough – about the size of a golf ball – and pat flat in the palm of your hands.  Drop the dough in the to stew.  It will sink when first dropped into the stew – don’t worry, it’s supposed to.
5. Use all of the dough – you may have to push the last few dumplings under the others to make sure that they are fully submerged.
6. Let the stew continue to simmer for about 20-30 more minutes.  Cover it while it simmers, occasionally submerging the dumplings and checking on the thickness of the stew.
7. When it reaches the desired thickness, remove from the heat and ladle into bowls.  Serve hot.

This should feed four people comfortably.