Happy Birthday to Me!

Sorry it’s been so long. I’ve been very very busy!

So going back, two weekends ago, Kris and I went to San Diego{/wiki] to visit his friend Suze and for my Birthday. We had a mostly good trip down there, but it became clear as the weekend went on that he only went down to see his friends and I was a total third wheel. He HATES and bitches when people are the third wheel, so I got very annoyed. Sunday he asked what I wanted to do, I told him the one thing that I would have liked to see and do again that I know in town. Now, I don’t know San Diego, and if _I_ took a friend to a town that I knew very well and they didn’t know very well, I would come up with suggestions of things for them/us to do. I was offered no such items. So instead we basically wasted the day wondering around and watching a movie. On the ride home he asked what was wrong. I told him, he BLEW up at me saying that I was only pissed because the weekend wasn’t ALL about me. We haven’t spoken since. He told me that I was being childish. Ugh. Whatever.

We went to the San Diego wild animal park while there. That was tons of fun at least! 🙂 I took like 400 pictures with the new camera. Only kept 200 of them. Still trying to widdle down to my favorites. I’m going to have to get used to deleting images now that EACH picture is 10megs!

So anyways, Birthday week wasn’t all that exciting. Jason and I had a heart-to-heart one night, I got a birthday package from Aaron and Erick which was VERY nice of them! Although, I just went to get some chocolate out of the box and there’s a WHOLE bar missing!! WHO the FUCK steals a bar of chocolate out of someone’s box on their desk!? Ugh. These are the idiots I work with.

Speaking of idiots. So my big project that I was all exciting about before the holidays. Well the boss man has TAKEN IT OVER and is ruining it with lightening efficiency. Basically he’s writing the requirements without EVER talking to the end users about what they want to see changed and what they do, etc. He says, “I have a basic idea of how things work.” You MIGHT. BUT that doesn’t mean you have ANY IDEA about how things are ACTUALLY working! Plus part of this project is to REDUCE the number of Excel spreadsheets that are wondering around the company. Well you would think that you would NEED TO KNOW what those are and how they are getting used to be sure that they are going to be worked into the new software. He has NOT begun at ALL exploration of what those spreadsheets are. VERY ANNOYING.

Also he designed a [wiki]Gnatt chart in fucking EXCEL! Who does Gnatt charts in EXCEL!? Idiots do Gnatt charts in EXCEL, that’s WHO!

So then, remember how I went to Caborca and NO ONE knew the fucking passwords. Well apparently LAST week German, the guy in Caborca, figured them out or remembered them or something. So anyways, the boss calls me the other day and we proceed to have a 20 minute convo in which I have to EXPLAIN TO HIM in detail a reason why my solution to a problem is the ONLY solution. I mention SEVERAL times in my reasoning that this is BECAUSE WE DO NOT KNOW THE passwords. AT THE END of the convo, the boss says, “By the way German has access to the server now”. I ask, “How is that?”. He says, “because he remembered the password”. DON’T YOU THINK that’s something you should have mentioned to me RIGHT AWAY when you found out?! Don’t you think that’s something that would be HELPFUL to me to do my FUCKING JOB!

Anyways, so for my Birthday Jason and I had Champagne and Cake, just a low-class day. Nothing to exciting. I really wasn’t into my birthday again this year.

So this past weekend, I was gonna go on a quick backpacking trip with JoEric and Claudia, but it rained and was nasty and it’s a good thing I didn’t go because I ended up pretty damn sick all weekend! So Saturday I dropped of Asparagus off to George and then went to Griffith Observatory with Jason and his new wife. Had a good time overall, came home, took a vicodin and went to bed.

Sunday I spent the whole day laying on the couch. Tried to do laundry, but everyone else in the building apparently had the same Idea. So I got nothing done.

Back from Caborca

So I’m back from Caborca, but writing this post in San Diego now.

La CarretIt’s been one whirlwind trip down south. We got down there about 6ish on Monday and went straight to this restaurant called “La Carret”. This place had the MOST AMAZING food ever! You get this neat little heater thing with tons and tons and tons of Carne Asada, ribs and cow udders on it. With tons of vegetables and stuff on the side and you make your own tacos. I seriously could have eaten a full one by myself! We typically had one for every 2 people on the table! Anyways, met with all the employees down there and had a good time chatting and what not. Got done about 9ish and went to the office to do some work and then got to the hotel by 11 I think.

Tuesday we got up, at breakfast at the hotel with all the co-workers and then headed out to the office. Apparently the truck we were supposed to be driving was in the shop, so we had to wait around to get that fixed. About 10 we got on the road to the first stop. Got there and found out that NONE of the passwords I was given before coming to Caborca worked! So I was basically LOCKED OUT of everything! I couldn’t do SHIT. So I get on the phone with the guy who PROGRAMMED the software and SETUP the servers/etc. He has NO IDEA what the passwords are. So I call my boss, ALSO has no IDEA what the passwords are. ARE YOU KIDDING ME! IDIOTS! Who does not WRITE DOWN THE FUCKING PASSWORDS.

Sorting AsparagusSo basically the whole trip was a wash. I couldn’t do anything that I was supposed to do. So we went onto the other sheds and had a good time, had lunch around 2ish and met up with the other 2 guys from the LA office. Found out that they both HATE my boss as well. In fact one of them got into a YELLING fight on the phone with him. It was quite hilarious! Other other sheds were fun and it was cool to see how the asparagus grows and get’s packed and what not. They also apparently burn off the fields before they start harvesting, which I find strange. But whatever!

The last one we were at right around sunset, so we drove across the fields to the base of this huge mountain, got there and found a HUGE nail in the tire, so we drove back to the farm shed real fast and stopped to change it. Well that’s when the fun started! We couldn’t get the spare tire to release and then they couldn’t get the TIRE to come off. There were 7 Mexicans POUNDING on the tire to get it off.

We again had dinner at the same place, had about 30 people there, with all of our growers and what not. It was funny because Dole came into the same place with their ONE grower, while we had like 25!!! LOL. You’d think they would have a lot more people then we are since they are such a HUGE company! Again got back to the hotel late and watched a movie and crashed, AFTER we got locked out of our rooms and had to fight with the stupid front desk people. Idiots fucking DE-ACTIVATE ALL keys every day and you have to go in and have them re-activated. How stupid!

Wed we got up and had breakfast at the hotel again and then off to the fields! Again had a good time, this was a short day and went back to one of the BIG sheds that was packing. It was cool to see it all in full force.

Went around town after that, saw the church again, did some shopping, etc. Had dinner at the same place and ate WAY to much.

Thursday was the drive home, which wasn’t too bad. Got home around 5ish, but called in sick anyways on Friday. It was a REALLY long week. And Friday ended up being REALLY long as well. People are complete idiots!

We couldn’t send ANY emails to Costco and the main phone number was NOT working at all. UGH. I also sent the boss instructions on how to add additional email accounts to someone’s Outlook. He replied back saying he couldn’t figure it out. He had ONLY followed the FIRST of 8 instructions!!!! UGH. What is wrong with people.

Anyways, so here I am in San Diego now… We went out to the shout house which was tons of fun!

Well, time to go! Adios!

Caborca, Mexico

So I’m in Caborca, MX. It was ONE CRAZY drive. Got to El Centro on time and had to wait an hour for the others to meet us. Got in the car and off we went, 80-100 all the WAY! Guy was talking on Cell phone, txting, reading emails. He’s apparently blindish because he couldn’t see OBVIOUS things. Anyways, it took 10 FUCKING hours to get here. REDIC!

So this past weekend was TONS of fun. Dustin from Iowa dropped in Friday and we went out both Friday and Saturday night. Hit up Seven Grand Friday night with Dan and then the gay bars on Saturday. Met some cool people there, had a good time and what not.

To tired to really post, so adios!

Santa Cruz Island

Happy new year everyone!

So the new year was pretty boring for me, I sat at home, drank a bottle of champagne and had a boy come over. Fun stuff, no? I was in bed by 10pm! Woot, go me!

The next day I got up and went out and did some shopping and stuff, nothing to exciting, Nick got here at like 5ish and convinced me to go out and buy a Nikon D90. Hence the previous update about Best Buy sucking.

Smugglers CoveFriday morning we got up early and drove up to pick up JoEric and then off to Ventura for the weekend in Santa Cruz Island! When we first got to Ventura the weather SUCKED. It was overcast, cold, almost rainy feeling and it STUNK. We loaded up the boat with some other HOT boys and off we went to the Island. It took about 2 hours to get out there because we kept stopping for dolphins and whales and stuff. I really enjoyed seeing them, but we could have spent less time doing that.

So we got there and setup camp and then headed out on a quick trip over to Smugglers Cove. It was a pretty easy 6 mile round trip hike and the cove was very pretty. We hung out there for a while, did some hand stands, and just exploring the area. On the trip up we found some HUGE piles of rocks and were wondering what they are. Nick and I both guessed rock piles from clearing fields, but we didn’t think that was the right answer, so we came up with some more stories about aliens and what not. Very entertaining. Sadly on the way up there, I kept feeling like something was STABING my big toe. I found out once we got back to camp that I had two HUGE blisters on my toe already! NOT a good way to start the weekend!

Got back to camp and we made a delicious dinner and then hung out, played cards, talked and then went to bed!

Saturday morning we got up and putzed around the camp for a while then headed out to Manonon Peak. It was a pretty easy hike up, but with my blisters it sure was painful! We got up there around 1 or 2 because we had really taken our time and stopped a few places to enjoy the scenery. The day was much better then previous because the clouds had blown off and it was sunny! At the peak we met a Ranger and talked to her for a while about the foxes and bald eagles on the island, really learned a lot! Also found a GeoCache and signed it.

Hung out there for a while learning the Rubrix secrets and then headed down a ways, got to a nice grassy area and stopped to play frisbee for about an hour. Once the sun had set behind the mountain we headed the rest of the way down. Got back to camp around 6ish and made dinner, played some more cards and then went to bed!

Sunday was a really lazy day, we did a short hike to Potato Cove, watched the water and then went back to camp, napped, packed and then waited for the boat!

Overall it was a GREAT weekend!

Best Buy Refuses my $2,000 in cash!

Best BuyI recently was talked into buying a Nikon D90 by a friend, so we set off on a mission to purchase one before my trip to Santa Cruz Island… We went to Best Buy and we were told that they would not price match. Here’s a letter I sent to the BB Executives:

I recently decided that I wanted to purchase a new Nikon D90 camera with 2 lenses, the 18-105VR and 70-300VR. This package alone is $1800 in your store. I was also going to purchase all the associated accessories, filters, bag, tripod, etc. Totaling nearly $2,000. I did my research before entering your store and found that the Camera package at bhphotovideo.com for $1,518.90. I’ve always tried to give my local retailers the chance to assist me with purchases such as this before buying online because I like to support companies which employ people in my area. I set off for my new local best buy at the Plaza El Segundo Store #1011 (740 S Sepulveda Blvd). I spoke to a very nice man, and the store manager, both said they would be willing to price match the online store, however when we went to get the hardware they found that they did not have any in stock. The manager kindly checked the other local stores and found that the store #104 (5000 W 147th St) had one left in stock.

My friend and I drove to that store and spoke to a young asian woman in the electronics department, without looking up or checking, she flatly said that they do not price match online retailers. I asked to talk to the store manager. She called for a manager and shortly a woman who only introduced herself as store manager, missing name tag and refused to give her name. I explained to her that the other store had said they would price match but that they were out of stock and to come here. She again repeated that they do not price match online retailers “because we don’t know if they are in stock there or not”. At this time I pulled out my iPhone and showed her that the online retailer clearly states if an item is in stock or not.

She again repeated that they do not price match online retailers. I asked her, “So what you are telling me is that you do not want my business”. She replied, “No, we do not want your business.”

I again reiterated, “Do you are refusing to accept my $1,600”. She said, “No, we do not want your money.”

At this time I left the store. I do not see how in this time, in this economy your stores cannot be willing to price match from other retailers and competitors, I do not see how you as a business can flat out turn away customers who are willing to spend in excess of $2,000 once you add on the additional accessories.

After this experience, I will highly reconsider EVER shopping at a best buy store again and will continue to support your competitors.

So late yesterday afternoon I received this response from Best Buy:

Dear Mr. Black:

I am writing in regards to your complaint to numerous Executives at Best Buy’s Corporate Offices. The Executives have received your correspondence and referred it to my attention to investigate and respond accordingly.

I’d like to apologize on behalf of Best Buy for the difficulties you encountered regarding this matter, but I appreciate the time you took to voice your concerns to allow the company an opportunity to properly address them. Indeed, Best Buy values this sort of contact as it provides the corporation with important feedback to make decisions regarding its future direction.

I am sorry for the disappointment that surfaced over this situation, for the events that transpired are both rare and unfortunate and not reflective of the optimal experience Best Buy strives to provide. Indeed, I sincerely regret the misinformation you were given by store personnel at the El Segundo location, for it is true that Best Buy does not price match internet-only retailers. You can view the details of the company’s “low price guarantee” on signage posted on store walls or on BestBuy.com. The policy states that Best Buy will only execute a web-based price match if the online retailer has a local store presence that carries the product in question and honors its own internet prices; this means that online-only competitors such as Amazon.com or Ebay are excluded from the low price guarantee since these types of retailers aren’t responsible for the cost of operating an actual brick and mortar store.

The above explanation notwithstanding, I am concerned with the manner in which an associate at the Hawthorne store addressed your inquiry, for even though she provided you with accurate information concerning internet price-matching, she certainly should not have stated that Best Buy does not wish to retain your business. Please note that I will forward your comments to the appropriate management entities at both the store and corporate levels to look into ways of improving the service provided to all clients. In the meantime, I will send you a $50 gift card as a gesture of goodwill and invitation back to Best Buy for a better experience. You should receive this card in the mail within the next two to three weeks.

Thank you again for allowing me to respond to you on behalf of Best Buy. Please let me know if you have further questions or concerns. I can be reached via email at michael.arrighi@bestbuy.com or through phone at 612-292-0155.

Sincerely,
Michael Arrighi
Senior Executive Resolution Specialist
Best Buy Corporate

So I’m glad that I’m getting $50! But I still find it annoying that they are not willing to price match any online retailer. Best Buy has an Online presence and should be able to get the products at the same price, etc. In this time, how can they be saying “No” to your money still!