Posted by Kimberlee Morrison on Jan 29, 2009 in
My Life I’ll admit that I have on occasion had difficulty paying certain, non-essential bills…hell, I’ve had a hard time with essentials even. But one of my goals this year is to work on becoming a better steward over my finances; rise above the poverty consciousness that has been so pervasive in my family across generations . Great grand and grand parents all property poor, mother with no savings, shitty credit, no accumulation of wealth whatsoever…
So as part of my plan for improved financial savvy, I am making sure I only purchase products and services that I can afford. Which is why it took me a couple months to have my internet service restored after I got my new gig. I couldn’t go on forever without an internet connection at home though, so as soon as I felt like I could realistically afford to be back on the grid, I payed off the old bill and had my service reconnected.
Everything was going along nicely, I paid my first two bills on time and then I got a statement this month and my balance seemed higher than it should have been. Sure enough, it contained a past due balance in the amount of the last payment I had made.
Immediately, I called customer service to have the situation worked out and was told to take a copy of my bank statement, or other proof of the transaction to the local office. I followed the instructions and was rebuffed by the manager at the local office who insisted he needed a copy of the original check. It was an electronic payment and although the bank still printed the check, they typically only gave me copies of the checks I wrote personally.
I knew it would be terribly inefficient to try to go to the bank myself and then take the optical copy of the cleared check to the local office, so I arranged to have the bank fax it. Two days later, I got a “courtesy call” saying my service was scheduled for termination due to non-payment. I chuckled to avoid going off and told the customer service agent that I was currently in dispute about the balance on my account. She quickly made a note and bid me adieu.
I called the manager at the local office, who seemed dismissive and completely uninterested in helping to resolve the issue. At this point the dispute was on its second week and I had no idea what the status was with regards to getting my account credited.
So I called the corporate office. Oh, they hate when things get escalated to the point that the corporate office.
The good news is that the customer service agents at the corporate office worked their asses off to resolve the issue; calling me daily with updates or to request more information.
And today I called again…Any word? You didn’t get any of the faxes? The proof has been faxed over at least three different times and no one has received them…Can I just fax you my transaction record? Great…
Less than an hour later, I received two calls informing me that my account was credited and everything was squared away. Terribly sorry for the inconvenience…blah blah blah…
In the past, I might have been less proactive, but for me this is a matter of making sure I start getting and keeping my house in order. That means not ignoring things until they cannot be ignored any more. And it feels wonderful to have handled it all without yelling at anyone for being incompetent. 
Posted by Kimberlee Morrison on Jan 28, 2009 in
My Life Ok, I obviously have given up on the 365 project…I just don’t have the time or the energy. I tried.
Anyway, it has been an eventful week since last I updated here and even then it was sparse…so let’s see if I can get you all caught up on the important stuff…
Like the fact that I have found my new home!
Yep. Went and saw it yesterday. A lovely and bright townhouse, 20 minutes from work (and that was in rush hour traffic). There are pools and playgrounds, a walk in closet, cute little features in the unit, a big kitchen, all sorts of storage…all at the right price.
As soon as I walked in, I knew my search was over. My preference has always been a townhouse anyway…most of the flats I’ve seen – aside from the one I thought was mine at first – usually seem much smaller than townhouses, even when they have the same square footage. I’m sure its because of the whole split level thing. Fortunately, the one I found is over 1000 square feet with an open floor plan on the ground level and the two bedrooms separated by a huge bathroom.
It was fantastic and come March, I’ll be moving into my new home, the boy starting a new school…
As you can imagine, I’m super excited…so much so that I almost forgot all about the drama with my cable company misplacing my last payment. Screw ‘em (after they credit my account of course), I’ll be free of Charter and on to another evil communications giant in just a little over a month.
Yay!
Posted by Kimberlee Morrison on Jan 21, 2009 in
My Life So over the last couple days I’ve been on the grind for an apartment. I wasn’t prepared so I didn’t get the one I wanted…C’est la vive…already moved on.
So far I’ve seen one that’s way over priced but nice and other that was priced right, but a little further away from work than I really want.
I’m confident that I’ll find the right one in due time. I’ve only just started looking in earnest.
Wish me luck! 
Posted by Kimberlee Morrison on Jan 20, 2009 in
Politics This morning I watched the presidential inauguration; the first I have ever bothered watching. For the most part I thought it was all pomp and circumstance, but there was definitely a sense of excitement about the new president being sworn in.
I keep thinking about the amount of pressure Obama must be feeling. So much of our hope for change has been projected onto him. I’ve even heard a few of my neighbors talking about how so much was going to change for blacks…
Its kinda sad that on the day Obama was elected, the passing of Prop. 8 cast a dark cloud over the celebration and this time, apparently, it is the stocks that continue to plummet…that and the unfortunate Kennedy seizure during the inaugural luncheon.
These are not the things I’ll remember though. I’ll remember the palpable excitement and anxiety…That moment when I thought I saw just a glimmer of nerves when Obama was making that walk towards the stage to give his oath. He was so cool though, focused…I saw it though, a slight glimmer of “Oh my GOD! This is it!”
Ask me if I remember what he said and I’d have to admit that I haven’t processed it all yet. I haven’t gotten past the inflections in his voice, the way Obama speaks with such sincerity…
Hope indeed.
In many ways I’m just waiting to see what shape Obama’s presidency will take. The problems he has inherited are massive and in my mind, practically insurmountable. This is the perfect environment for Obama to show what he’s got; do the job he was hired to do.
It seems so strange to think of it that way, as a job…truly it is one of the gig of a lifetime, but it is after all a job. The office is said to age people incredibly quickly. With so much work to do, it will be interesting to see what Obama looks like after his second term.
I want to see what he’s going to do, see how the American people respond to his leadership.
I am…hopeful.
Tags: Barak Obama, Hope, Presidential Inauguration, Reflections, Stream of Consciousness
Posted by Kimberlee Morrison on Jan 19, 2009 in
My Life Ok so I missed another day. This 365 blogging is hard. I just forgot to post anything on Sunday. I am here today though, with bad news…
I didn’t get the apartment I wanted. le sigh
Thing is, it was a great apartment, in a quiet building, in a central location, brand new school a block away…I was perfect for mama and boy. Risky proposition though I may be – what with my crappy credit and all – she’d have worked with me…if only I had the money to move right away.
She was losing money everyday it was empty. She wanted to give it to me, but there was no way she could wait…not until March…not a month! To be honest it was a bit bold for me to ask. I’m talking prime real estate at a fantastic price.
I so wanted that to be the one.
Alas it was not or I would be celebrating…
I almost talked myself into wasting mine and her time by pretending I could come up with the money to move by February 1 – two weeks – when I have $200 in the bank and no real way of coming up with total move in costs.
The call was dropped as she gave me a glimmer of hope…I called back…If I could move in on the first it was mine. I could pay the holding fee, but if I wasn’t able to move by the first, I lost the apartment and the fee.
I wanted it…In my head it was mine.
“Ok,” I said. “I’ll come up with the money.”
She waffled, “Let me think about it…er…sleep on it. I’ll call you in the morning.”
I started thinking. Where was I realistically going to come up with $2200 in two weeks? I didn’t have any money saved and…well…let’s just say it was out of my current financial purview and I didn’t want to beg borrow and steal to pretend it was.
I called back after talking it over with my grandmother.
“I can’t realistically move by the first, so I don’t want to waste your time or my money…”
“I told you it was risky…” she said in an understanding tone.
“Thank you so much for your willingness.”
We said mumbled and awkward good-byes. My heart broke just a little.
I may have been yearning for that apartment all weekend, seeing myself living there already, but I had to exercise caution, lest that yearning make me do something stupid. If I had been prepared, I would have gotten what I wanted.
C’est la vive
Tags: 365 Fail, Apartment Hunting, Desire, Moving
Posted by Kimberlee Morrison on Jan 17, 2009 in
My Life I’m going to look at an apartment today…Today’s word is tentative to remind me that nothing is certain yet. I can think I want it, but if for some reason I don’t get it, that’s ok too because it was only tentative anyway.
Oh, but I want this to be the one. A spacious flat about 20 minutes from work in what I’ve been told is a nice neighborhood. The floor plan I saw online was awesome. I’m nervous and excited. *happy dance*
But while I’m all excited, I must remember that its all tentative until an agreement is made. I don’t want to start making plans just yet. I’m just having a look, that’s all…
Tentative
Posted by Kimberlee Morrison on Jan 16, 2009 in
My Life This week has been rife with hard lessons, most of which have forced me to be introspective and examine myself. I’m inclined to introspection anyway, as well as being one of the best ways to maintain growth.
After Monday’s debacle and yesterday’s drama, it was nice to walk into the office and feel a lighter atmosphere. Everyone seems to be in good spirits and minding their business.
I also got a call from my best friend and non-romantic life partner, during which she explained that she was not neglecting me and did I still want to have drinks tonight.
HELLZ YEAH!
Whatever it was I was upset about was over with and I just wanted to hang out with my friend.
No more drama at work, no drama with the friend, the possibility of a new dwelling on the horizon…All is right with my world…
Tags: 365 Project, Introspection, Reflection, Triple E Challenge
Posted by Kimberlee Morrison on Jan 15, 2009 in
My Life Grrrr! I was exhausted last night and while I didn’t feel like writing, I was totally going to do it anyway…and then my internet connection went down and I gave up. Hopefully you’ll forgive me the lapse…
Catching up though, yesterday’s word was awareness, the experience of which was kind of double sided. On the one hand, I was very aware that I was especially, head-turningly fly yesterday…on the other hand the incident from Monday came back to haunt me. I was forced again to be aware of how making stupid mistakes can have a bigger affect that you ever anticipate. Aware of the fact that while I was told to drop it, obviously I had hurt my co-worker much more than she was willing to admit to me at the time. Humility became my best friend and for the first time in a very long time, I felt regret.
Today’s word is restfulness. I soooooooo want to experience, express and enjoy getting restful sleep tonight…breezing through my day in a restful manner. Actually, since I have worked so far ahead, my work load is not too crazy for the next couple days. Perhaps the lunch by the pool with my co-workers this afternoon will be relaxing…who knows.
Whatever happens today, I’m going to bed early and if anyone wakes me in the middle of the night, they’re getting yelled on.
Dammit I’m sleeping!
Tags: 365 Project, Balance, Triple E Challenge
Posted by Kimberlee Morrison on Jan 13, 2009 in
Love,
My Life Longing hardly seems like something you want to express or experience and the enjoyment is fleeting…
Today I’ve been having a hard time coping with the distance between David and I. Its hard for us to coordinate talking because of the time difference and I was feeling especially needy today.
So today’s word is longing.
Technically I’m supposed to pick the word before I start my day, but I’m certain that the words I end up with are the words I’m supposed to be pondering.
How can one enjoy longing? Most of the time I cope very well. I didn’t even feel the his absence this past weekend when he was off the grid…But after almost five days of very abridged communication, I am starting to feel the sting. What I wouldn’t give to be in his presence, to touch him…smell him…
Alas, he is 7000 miles away and there is nothing we can do about it at the present moment. So for now, I send my love across the universe and long for the day we can be together.
Tags: 365 Project, Romance, The Mad Carpenter, Triple E Challenge
Posted by Kimberlee Morrison on Jan 12, 2009 in
My Life,
On The Job Today starts the second week of my Triple “E” Challenge and while I slept in this morning, I know that today I definitely learned a lesson in compassion.
I had been warned, when you’re sending IMs, make sure you send them to the right person. Boy did I learn the hard way. I sent the wrong message to the wrong person…actually…it was a message about the receiver that was never meant for her to see. Simply put, I sent a gossipy message and the wrong person got it.
Now normally I try to avoid getting into gossip. A don’t like being mean spirited and talking about people behind their backs; and I definitely like to maintain positive work relationships.
So when I realized the wrong person got the message, I apologized immediately, but of course the damage had been done. I was mortified and I deserved to be. I had made a poor choice in sending the message anyway. By sending that negativity into the ether, my own ugliness was reflected back to me.
I felt horrible for most of the afternoon, but since she told me to drop it and I can’t beat myself up about it forever, I’m going to chalk it up to a lesson learned.
Today I experienced compassion because the person I was talking about was willing to forgive me almost immediately. I also learned that even when you thing you’re doing something in secret, you are still sowing a seed, so be careful what you sow into the universe.
Here’s to learning what compassion is, the hard way.
Tags: 365 Project, Doh, Lessons Learned, Triple E Challenge
