Tag: life

Family, Humorous

AM I The Only One . . . who dreads making phone calls to any business?

Donna Chandler

By Donna Hale Chandler

It doesn’t matter if it is your doctor’s office or a company to ask for information. Keep your fingers crossed that you aren’t stuck in a never-ending loop when you try to navigate, “Please listen carefully as our menu options have changed.”

I thought yesterday would be a pretty typical day for me.  I was wrong! First, my laptop was frozen with a message to call Microsoft for instructions as to how to become active again.  The message included an 800 number for me to call for help.  I have gone through a few nonsense messages and strange behaviors from my computer and thankfully, knew enough not to call the phone number given.

I opened my handy dandy book of phone numbers and found a phone number for Microsoft Tech Support.  Thinking I would be back in business in a couple of minutes, I called the number and of course, was met with a menu with a variety of choices.  Tech Support was number 4.  Ah ha, ‘I’m cookin’ with gas’, as my mother used to say.  A voice came on the phone and I quickly explained my situation.

“It’s good you didn’t click on that screen or call that phone number.  This is a scam that has recently been going around.  I’m sorry I can’t help you but I will connect you to someone who can.  Please hold.”

This is where my ‘cookin’ with gas’ mentality turns to severe dread because I knew what was coming next.  Yes, I was disconnected.  Rather than call the same number, I grabbed my phone and googled the ‘Microsoft Tech Help’ phone number.  This produced a list of various numbers for various services.  Looking down through the list, I found Tech Support and quickly called. A recording answered that instructed me to go to Microsoft.com/tech support.  Remember my computer was frozen so I grabbed my phone, opened up Google, typed in the web address, and was taken to a screen that offered different suggestions for different problems.  None of the choices applied to me, but I spotted a chat box.  Wonderful!

I typed in ‘My Computer is Frozen’ as my question.  A ‘bot’ replied.  (I’m sure computer-savvy people have had occasions to deal with the bot.)  I was asked a series of questions.  The reply was, “I’m sorry I can’t help you with that, please call 888———.”

This is a new number for me so I called.  Recording answers with a menu for various situations, then, “For Tech Help please go to Microsoft.com/Tech Support”.  I’d already been there so I decided to call one of the other numbers that was listed in my Google search.  I tried 3 more numbers and each one had the same recording to go to the web page.  Yes, the home of the bot that couldn’t help me.

A light bulb appeared above my head suggesting that I switch tactics and call a local store that offers tech services.  It so happens, we have a service contract with them so I was confident in their ability to clear up this situation.  Why didn’t I think of this first?  Probably because I automatically followed the instructions on the screen that said ‘Call Microsoft’.  I already have this number in my phone, didn’t even need to search for it.  I was feeling pretty positive that I was close to a solution. When the phone was answered, a recording told me the hours they were open and for me to call back during business hours.  Again, my positive attitude tanked as I looked at the time.  It was 9:00 am and the store didn’t open until  10:00.   Dang, a delay.

Determined not to allow myself to get discouraged, I watched the clock and at 10:02, I called the number again.  Guess what?  A real person answered!  Shocking, I know.  He asked several questions.  Then I heard the dreaded, “I am going to transfer you, please hold.”  (sigh) I was doomed.  Surprise, surprise, within a couple of minutes another human being came on the phone.  Naturally, I was asked the same questions again.  It took some time, but I followed the instructions given to me, and finally, about 20 minutes later, I was up and running.

Whew, I felt like I’d already put in a day’s work.

However, once again, all on the same day, I was wrong.

Later in the day, when I turned on the TV, it also was frozen.

That is a story for another day.  I’ll just say that we still don’t have a working television. And I’m exhausted.

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Gramps use’ta say.
©R.L.King2012 #M-13

About: Military Service
(Serving with Honor)

“Yesterday’s dream.

Today’s reality.

Tomorrow’s memories.”

********

CLOSE TO THE FIRE
© Copyright 2013 Richard Lee King

The year is Nineteen Sixty-Three, they’re fighting in Vietnam.
He’s standing close to the fire awaiting a call from Uncle Sam

They’re pulling people’s numbers, who’ll be the next to go,
each drawing we all stand by; will it be someone we know?

 He’s in his first year of college, seeking a better life,
working on building a home, a place for his soon-to-be wife.

By Sixty-Five they’re married, still worried about his fate
and though still attending classes, he’s now working for the State.

She says we’re having a baby, soon his first son will arrive.
If they call him off to war, how will they ever survive?

Soon they’ll draw more numbers, it’s called the draft lottery.
If they should pull his number Vietnam is where he’ll likely be

Some head for the Canadian border.  Others,,, possibly to Mexico,
but if his number is called, to Uncle Sam is where he’ll go.

It’s not about being brave, though that might be debated,
it’s more about facing obligations, which can never be overstated.

This is our country and we find it extremely nice,
but it wouldn’t be that way had not our forefathers paid the price.

Both his dad and oldest brother spent time with Uncle Sam
and the lessons they both taught helped him to become a man.

He’ll not volunteer likely his body won’t pass the tests,
but if his uncle calls, he’ll offer his very best.

Just as his dad in Forty-Four and his brother in Fifty-Three
when Uncle Sam calls, he’ll answer to the need.

In 44 when his dad was drafted, it was to be “the last world war.”
He had 5 kids and a wife at the ripe old age of 34.

When his brother turned 18, they were fighting in Korea
He signed up and told his parents, “When it’s over I’ll be back to see ya.”

Nearly 40 years later, with another war to be won,
his son joined the army and learned to carry a gun.

He wanted to go to college, but it’s 91 and we’re fighting in Iraq.
He enlists in the 4-year program thinking school could wait til he got back.

With each new generation’s war Uncle Sam might make that call
and another family member may be asked to give their all.

Standing close to the fire, facing the stress and strife,
for each new generation, seems it’s been our way of life.