You're Too Kind

Backstory: Back in June, we decided we were going to pay off as many of our credit cards as we could, starting with the retail cards. I got my statement for the Best Buy card and then called the customer support line to confirm the amount before I closed the account. They said yes, that was the correct amount so that's how much I paid...

Fast-forward... I got a statement in the mail saying I owed $1.24 on my Best Buy card. So I phoned in this evening to talk to someone about it. I think "Customer Service" is sometimes a misnomer, "Condescending Line" is more accurate.

Me: "I would like to know why I'm being charged $1.24 after I confirmed the amount to be paid, and then paid that amount on the same day."

Captain Condescending: "Well..." (oh, this is starting off on the right foot already) "... they wouldn't say that is the amount to pay because interest is calculated daily."

Me: "Yes, he did say that. I told him I'd like to close my account and asked how much I needed to pay. He told me the amount and that's what I paid."

CC: "Let me explain it to you so you will understand..." (Let me show you the inside of your lip) "...we calculate the interest on a daily basis..." (yes, you mentioned that, Sparky. It's not a difficult concept to grasp) "...so between your statement date and your payment date, you accrued $1.24 in interest."

Me: "So, the person I talked to didn't know the interest would be accrued?? He couldn't just tell me I needed to add $1.24 to the balance?"

CC:  I can hear him rolling his eyes... "What I'll do is I will reverse the $1.24 from your account so we can stay on positive terms..." You are too good to me. What's your name so I can plant a tree in your honor. Maybe I could even write you into my will. What is the appropriate level of grovelling and showering of appreciation for clearing off my entire outstanding balance? I don't want to seem ungrateful to such a generous benefactor.

Part of me wanted to see this go to collections because I'm sure it would've cost them way more than $1.24 to come after me. They have already spent more in postage sending me account statements than what I owed.

Startling Revelations...

Remember back in March when I had my first go-round with kettlebells? It took a while, but I got back in the saddle. This time with a 12kg kettlebell (26.4lb for my American friends) and a program put together by Jesse. And I have to say this time is working out MUCH better.

So, what have I learned so far?

1. "I haven't" is not synonymous with "I can't"
For years, I thought these two were interchangeable. Turns out, not so much. I thought because I hadn't been able to follow an exercise plan, somehow maybe I couldn't. For the first time ever in my life, I can say "I'm on the third week of the program." Next week I'll be saying "I'm on week #4", and so on. And soon, I'll lose count because it's just a part of my lifestyle and not an exercise program.

2. "I can't now" doesn't mean "I never will"
Three weeks ago, if someone had asked me, "Do you think you'll be able to do a 24kg snatch?" I would've said something like, "Are you crazy??" Yesterday Jesse figured it was time I graduated to the 16kg (35.2lb) bell. Once I had done a few exercises, he said "OK". Let me jump in here and explain... When Jesse says "OK", it means "You think you're done, but now I'm going to make you do more." Sometimes it sounds remarkably like, "Let's see if this kills you."

He brought out a 20kg (44lb) and had me do a few more snatches. Then he said "OK" again and brought out the 24kg (52.8lb) and had me do a few more snatches. For those not familiar with snatches, here's a short video:

Yeah, doing those with 24kg. Sure, he makes it look easy, but it isn't. Didn't see that happening any time in my near future, but I did it (only twice on each arm, but it still counts).

3. I actually enjoy workouts.
Really! Last week was probably the most hectic I've had in a long time, and Wednesday was the worst of the week. I spent most of the day holding onto the thought that if I just get through, I can go back to the hotel room and do my workout. I stumbled in after a 14hr+ work day and did my exercises and it felt great.

4. It's not about the pounds or inches anymore
When I started three weeks ago, I took my measurements and weighed myself so I could see how far I have come when I reach week 6. Now, those week 6 numbers are more of a curiosity than a goal. I don't care if nothing has changed on paper because everything has changed in my head. I feel so much better, I'll keep going regardless of what the scale or measuring tape have to say. They don't get to vote anymore...

Here's Yer Sign...

I got the chance to do some shopping for electronics today picking up some equipment for a couple of new hires at work. I enjoy shopping for electronics, especially when I get to do it on the company credit card. I was in one of the London Drugs in Calgary looking for a portable printer. It was the middle of the afternoon, so the computer department was relatively slow. There were two staff in computers at the time, one a seasoned vet and the other a new trainee. The new staff was following the other staff around the department like a lost puppy. I had to chuckle a bit to myself because I remember well my own days as a green trainee following Scott Bogdan around the Lethbridge London Drugs computer department...

Anyhow, I made the mistake of asking the poor greenie if the HP 100 was the replacement for the 470. He looked at me in a small panic before checking with the seasoned veteran. I put the two printer boxes on the counter so he could ring them in (after he figured out what to scan). As he's ringing them up he asked, "What are you going to use them for?"

What I actually said was, "for mobile printing". What I was thinking was, "I thought I'd try them out as planters for the front porch."

Runners-up included:
"I'm not going to use the printers, I just need the boxes."
"I'm doing some work on my car and need something to block the tires."
"My table is wobbly and these are just the right height to straighten it out."

If I had asked that question during my training, I'm fairly sure Scott would've smacked me. "They're printers, what do you think he's going to use them for?"