Posted in Random, tagged Complaints, Customer service, Job search, Media, Peeves, Technology on March 7, 2023| 3 Comments »
Dear Mike:
You absolutely did NOT find something that would interest me. In fact, if you knew me, you would know that is the LAST job that would interest me. Also, unless mini golf counts, I am completely unqualified.
How did you get my email address? I don’t know you. What profile? Linked In? If so, it STILL doesn’t match up.
Take me off whatever list you have.
Kthxbyeeee,
Beth
Posted in Politics, tagged Advice, Bright ideas, Bureaucrats, Complaints, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Customer service, Disorders, Fear, Government, Media, Nudity, Obsessions, Outfits, Parasites, Pecking order, Peeves, Politicians, Politics, Rage, Rednecks, St. Louis, White people on January 18, 2023| 3 Comments »
Dear Rep. Ann Kelley,
What — and I mean this sincerely — the f*** are you doing?
WHY would you propose a change to the Missouri House of Representatives rules that forces women to cover their arms?
And you are a woman. What the heck?!
Let me get this straight: You lost your mind over requiring people to wear masks a couple of years ago to stop the spread of COVID, but now you are forcing women to wear sleeves?
You claim it was to clarify language to be “equal” to men. (By the way, you really should hire a PR person or copy editor or SOMEONE to help you with your writing skills.)
Sure it was.
I can’t believe it was adopted 105-51. (Note that the House is made up of 116 men and 43 women. Party affiliation for reference: 111 R, 52 D.)
I can’t believe you wasted any time on this at all. Have you seen the state rankings? Just look!
30th in Education
42nd in Public Safety
42nd in Healthcare
I swear to God — you are affecting my healthcare: my mental health!
I really don’t know why I’m surprised at either of the things above. It’s so much easier to control women and what they do and wear rather than tackle big issues in all people’s lives. Right, Ann?
What an embarrassment this is for the state. You want to be in the international consciousness with this foolishness?
I’m so glad my representative didn’t vote for this nonsense. (Granted, I think he was absent that day.)
Pull yourself together, please. Focus on important issues.
Sincerely,
Beth, a Missouri resident with sense
Posted in Parenting, tagged Bright ideas, Complaints, Customer service, Family, Kids, Out of the house, Parenting, Peeves, Rage, Savannah, St. Louis, Technology, Travel on August 14, 2022| 2 Comments »
Dear Holzhauer Auto and Motorsports Group:
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.
Best?
When Gideon was visiting me, he found a 2014 Dodge Charger he liked at your establishment. (What is it with my kids and muscle cars? Just teenage boys, I guess.)
We took a drive to Nashville, Illinois, and purchased the car on the spot.
We were assured that you had inspected the car and all was well. We purchased a warranty to be on the safe side.
We drove back to St. Louis, and arranged for Gideon and Eddie to come up this weekend to drive it back to Georgia.
Worst?
I took the car for safety and emission inspections to get it registered.
I bet you know what is coming.
It failed the safety inspection because it needed a new catalytic converter, engine mounts, an engine leak fixed, etc.
I think you knew this. That’s why we got such a good deal.
And your warranty doesn’t cover any of that. Of course. (So what good is it? I’d love to know.)
More than $6,500 later, the car is finally road worthy.
Sigh.
It was worth it to see Gideon so happy, but I’ll be contacting you tomorrow for a discussion.
Talk to you later!
Beth
*Thanks, Rihanna!
Posted in Advice, Travel, tagged Academics, Advice, Complaints, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Customer service, Food, Media, Out of the house, Pandemic, Peeves, Rage, Requests, Signs, Technology, Travel on August 5, 2022| 2 Comments »
Dear Detroit Marriott at The Renaissance Center,
I attended my annual research conference in you this week. I am NOT a fan, and I will not be back (unless I have absolutely no choice).
How do I loathe thee? Let me count the ways:
The various other problems fellow attendees and I experienced had to do with The Renaissance Center in general. It is, generously, an atrium-focused maze of wasted space.
There is a shocking lack of open restaurants. Again, conference of 2,000+ people (and AEJMC was one of at least three going on at once). Hotel with 70 floors of rooms. Yet, it was hard to find a place to eat. Literally (see maze above) and because so many were closed. Note: There was a VERY bougie seafood restaurant open, but who wants to pay $75 for shrimp?
Then there is the location. You are on the Detroit River. So a riverwalk with shops and restaurants would make sense. Apparently, it only makes sense to me. I would not say the United States side has ample commerce. The Canada side (Windsor) looks promising.
But once again, you can’t get there from here if you don’t have a car.
I realize that the pandemic took a toll on the hospitality industry. That said, people are traveling again. Conferences are back in person. Do better, or you won’t have guests to piss off anymore.
Sincerely,
Bonvoy Member on Floor 47
Posted in Random, tagged Atlanta, Complaints, Customer service, Kids, Peeves, Rage, Savannah, White people on May 29, 2022| 2 Comments »
Dear UPS,
You SUCK. Truly and completely.
Scenario:
Gideon left his glasses at a friend’s house. Friend and friend’s mom sent them back via UPS. They never arrived. Tracking number came up as “invalid” on phone searches. A computer search turned it up in Alpharetta. Where? I don’t know. This is all the information I had:
Left at the front desk WHERE in Alpharetta? Friend and mom shipped from Brookhaven to Gideon in Savannah! (Note: Brookhaven is 20 miles away from Alpharetta, and both are more than 270 miles from Savannah.)
So I filed a claim.
A month went by with no answer.
I emailed you.
This is what you said:
Shan K., I can ASSURE you it was not delivered to the address.
I wrote back. (I TRIED to call, but was hung up on TWICE.)
Then Ana Z got involved.
I called ALL EIGHT stores looking for a Richard who was working there in March. The LAST store I called was the only one with a Richard. He happened to be working when I called.
Oh, yeah. It’s right here.
He confirmed that the address was correct. And then CHARGED me to have it resent.
Why? Because the package was sent originally from a different store. UPS stores are franchises. So Alpharetta is not responsible for Brookhaven.
So to recap:
YOU should have tracked down this package for me. I should not have had to call EIGHT stores to find one with an employee named Richard. And I want my $11.68 back.
Never again, UPS.
Sincerely,
A Former Customer
Posted in Random, tagged Aging, Complaints, Customer service, Fat, Fear, Out of the house, Peeves, Penises, Pool, St. Louis, The Gym on April 21, 2022| 6 Comments »
Dear Sue,
You win.
Your water fitness class almost made me tap out. That would have been a first.
I don’t know if it is because it has been a while since I went to a class (<cough> six months <cough>) or whether it is because you are hard core.
Either way, I had jelly legs at the end of the class.
So thank you.
This pool is great for families (see water slides) but not so great for fitness courses in the deep end. I actually accidentally touched another participant because of the proximity. EEEK.
Not your fault.
I laughed when you shouted, “We always like men in here” to the man picking out a water noodle. To be fair, he did suggest he could be a shark among the mermaids (yuck).
And I appreciate that you gave the chatty ladies hell. (No, lady with pink hair, I don’t want to hear another word about your elbow, thankyouverymuch.)
Anyway, as that great sage Arnold Schwarzenegger said: “I’ll be back.”
Sincerely,
Beth
Posted in Random, tagged Bureaucrats, Complaints, Customer service, Government, Nudity, Out of the house, Peeves, Politicians, Politics, Rage, Signs, St. Louis, Suggestions, Travel on February 13, 2022| 2 Comments »
Dear State of Missouri Government:
LAWD have mercy. Y’all make being street legal SO DIFFICULT. Worse BY FAR than Georgia, and I didn’t think that was possible.
My suggestion for a new Missouri slogan: More backwards than Georgia.
Let’s recap:
I bought a car. In Ohio. The finance company owns the title. (So I thought, because that’s what the dealership said.)
Your tag office wanted me to have the finance company fill out a special form, have it notarized and sent back to me so I could take it to you.
Your tag office also wanted me to get a property tax waiver.
Your tag office sent me here:
But they needed the form from the finance company too.
I spent two weeks trying to get a human being at the finance company to help me. No luck.
Then one day I come home from work, and there’s a FEDEX envelope on my welcome mat.
It’s from the dealership. It’s my official car title. Sitting RIGHT THERE in front of my door for the world to take.
Good LORD!
So I make an appointment and go back to the highlighted office.
Nope.
That’s the COUNTY office. I need St. Louis CITY. Downtown.
Fine.
I take all my paperwork and go to City Hall.
It’s not Room 110.
It’s Room 115.
Once I got the waiver, I went to Room 111 to get the actual tag.
Then I waited again to get my Missouri driver’s license. Y’all charged me $28 for the privilege. And took two hours of my life.
Good news: It’s over. Lamar and I are legal.
(Lamar is my “new” whip. 😉 He and I are getting along just fine. But I did cry when the junkyard came to get my old girl.)
But I now see exactly why so many people here drive around with temporary tags.
Please add that suggestion box. I’ve got thoughts.
Your exasperated new neighbor,
Beth
Posted in Random, Travel, tagged Complaints, Customer service, Out of the house, Rage, Road trip, Travel on January 9, 2022| 7 Comments »
Y’all.
My 2021 was A YEAR. You know: You read about it.
As my new/old mom said, “It has not gone smoothly for you.”
No.
It went out with a bang, too.
Remember I had to have my car towed?
Well. Jeff, my service advisor, shared bad news with me the Monday after Christmas.
It’s dead. As in “needs a new motor” dead. “More than $6,000 to get it going” dead.
And the “new” engine has 123K miles on it.
My car is a 2008 VW Eos with 185K miles on it. It’s worth a third of the repair cost.
So. The new year will feature a new car.
But I’ve spent all my money on moving and a house. As you all know.
I don’t want a car payment and higher insurance.
My university is closed between Christmas and New Year’s Day, so I had time to investigate.
I found a newer version of my car for a very reasonable price.
The only hitch? It’s in Ohio. Sasha at the dealership said it would take four weeks to ship it.
No, no, no.
I’m writing this on a plane to Columbus. I’ll meet my car by noon, and we will bond on the nearly seven-hour drive back to St. Louis.
Wish me luck!
Beth
Posted in Home Sweet Home, tagged Complaints, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Customer service, Disorders, Holidays, Pandemic, Peeves, Politics on December 24, 2021| 2 Comments »
Dear Santa,
Hey there! It’s been quite a year, amirite? Here I thought this year would be better. You brought us all vaccines, after all.
But no. Different year, same pandemic, different variants. Same stupid people prolonging the bullshit for everyone.
Sigh.
When I saw you recently, I asked for an end to the pandemic. I’d like one other thing, if you don’t mind:
Better customer service in the greater St. Louis area.
So far, I’ve had trouble with the following entities:
Everyone is very nice, but I’m bothered by the inefficiency. And that I have to stay on top of things.
So it would be great if you could give a little Kringle kick in the keister to service-oriented businesses.
Thank you, and I hope you have a merry COVID-free Christmas. Maybe you should just throw the presents down chimneys to minimize contact.
Love,
Beth
Posted in Home Sweet Home, Random, tagged Crushes, Customer service, Home Life on December 21, 2021| 2 Comments »
Dear Brittany the Chimney Sweep,
You are an impressive young woman. I was shocked and tickled when you called me this morning to clarify my address before heading over. No, I don’t live in a condemned house on Coleman Street, so it’s a good thing you double-checked.
I like that you are Type A like I am.
And I like that you are a woman who is a chimney sweep.
That’s rare. And very cool.
Then this conversation blew my mind:
Me: “You probably get this all the time, but you are giving me a Scarlett Johansson vibe.”
You: “I do get that all the time. And I also model.”
Whaaaat?
A female chimney sweep and part-time model? You are FANTASTIC!
THEN we had a very girly conversation about spa services, and you gave me the name of your aesthetician.
I’m sure it was just another day for you, but it was a GREAT day for me.
And my fireplace is so clean.
Thank you!
Your fan,
Beth
Observe and report 