The Vent and Rant Thread

[Renate]

Oh, I went to the website and got a better impression.

But I guess that it doesn't actually recognize the symbols? And leaves them all ragged so that when you zoom them they are large and ragged?

That seems like something that should already be built in.

Is there a definitive subset of symbols?

[Sirtel]

Maybe you'd like to create a new thread about handicrafts and take the cross-stitch discussion there?

[Quoth]

Ravelry

Knits, crochet & cross-stitch.

[issybird]

@Amazon: Before you reship a returned item to a different chump customer, would it kill you to inspect it for missing parts? Now the chump the valued customer has the nuisance of a trip to Staples to send it back and a wait on the replacement. It's cold comfort to think that the associated costs are going to more than eat up any profit on the sale.

[ownedbycats]

Remember the FASTs of stroke:

Face is drooping
Unable to raise both Arms
Speech is slurred
Time to call an ambulance

[Rumpelteazer]

Our cleaner flaked out on us again this week. This time she fell with her moped and had to go to the hospital. She's got a sprained ankle and hopes it heals enough so she can come next week. Since mid December, when we hired her, she's been twice (her kid's been sick, she's been sick, babysitter fell through, doctor's appointment). So, as usual I picked up the slack yesterday and cleaned downstairs, the bathroom and my room I'll do tomorrow. I didn't do my sister's rooms. And she obviously isn't happy because she was rage cleaning earlier this morning. Oh well, I don't mind doing the general cleaning, but she can do her own rooms (dusting and vacuuming takes 15-20 minutes if you do it thoroughly).

We've planned to see how January goes with the cleaner and if things don't improve we'll look for another one.

[Rumpelteazer]

Our dryer died. Yesterday it was working fine, today it wasn't. It doesn't heat up anymore, it sounds different when it's on and when it turns off the fans keep spinning for a little while it now makes a howling wind sound (like in the movies).

It's "only" seven years old, but it has already been repaired twice, once under warranty, and it never dried very good. More often than not you have to do a second cycle. And, yes, we keep the filters clean. I noticed it didn't work properly when I was trying to dry a blanket. Luckily it's made out of fabric that air dries quickly (in summer I air dry it, in the cold, damp winter I use the dryer). But I had just washed my second load and those were towels. Those are now drying with the help of one of our dehumidifiers.

So we've made the decision to get a new one. Since we're both chipping in we can go for a more expensive, better one (we hope), which is also more energy efficient.

Now the biggest question is if we're going to splurge and get a new washing machine as well. The one we have is fine, but very noisy and it would be nice to have one that can take a slightly bigger load.

[Deskisamess]

Cell phone carrier pricing is crazy. We've been customers of Verizon for over 20 years. We use little data, just need dependable phone service. My bill was going to go up $30, bringing it to $145 a month for 2 phones. They do offer over 55 customers some special rates, IF you live in Florida. I guess all the seniors are expected to live in Florida.

Switched to Spectrum Mobile, since we use them for internet. Saved $100 per month, after some minor hoop jumping. Instead of $200 per month for both, it will be $100, locked in for 3 years. Our numbers ported over, it was all done wirelessly.

Someone explain to me why a land line is $72 per month? That's my 94 year old mom's bill. When she moved into her apartment in 2019, the bill was $40. She can't use a smart phone, it would be beyond her ability. Any change now for her is too much. (She is back in her apartment after her fall and rehab)

[Renate]

Originally Posted by Deskisamess

We've been customers of Verizon for over 20 years.

Whatever you do, do not add up how much money you have given Verizon in total. Your brain will explode.

Too long story: Verizon customer for 8 years hearing their double-talk why the cell data speed here is about the same as dialup from 25 years ago. But that's another story.

Bought a retail "network locked" phone, realized I needed it unlocked for an overseas trip. Contacted Verizon on web and retail outlet. They wouldn't unlock it for love or money (including paying subsidy differential). Went to big box store and bought the same model unlocked. They wouldn't give me a trade-in on the same model because "it was too new and not in their system". The one year older version would have given me a trade-in of $10.

Verizon will happily sell you European service for only $10/day, i.e. $300 a month.