Asking for Money

Why must organizations ask for money so much/frequently? Don't the get that if you donate at their first request that you don't want to, can't afford to, or are planning on it later...in short-You're not going to? Am I the only that gets pissed off by being asked repeatly?

Here are things pissing me off:

The water company (not a donation-but along the sames lines of wanting me to give them money). Ever since I moved in, I've been getting letters from them telling me that I should by insurance for my pipes outside b/c that's not covered by homeowners' and it's really expensive to fix. After the first couple months, I called up, ordered, paid for, and received confirmation the damn insurance. I'm still getting/recently started re-getting the letters to buy the inusrance. I thought maybe my contract was about to run out, but when I checked the confirmation letter, I saw that it's good until July. Do they think I'd be stupid enough to buy it again, when I've already paid for it?

Local Fire Department-at the end of last year, we got the little plaque thingie and a request for money. We were planning on giving (especially since that had been to our house b/c our CO detector was going off in April). We still hadn't gotten around to giving money in February, when our deck was set on fire, and the FD put it out, but we were still planning on donating. The other day, we got a letter in the mail saying it was the third request for money. It's a donation, I'm not required to give, why do they keep asking. It really pissed me off. Seriously, had they not put out a fire at our house, I would not have donated anything.

My faternity. I think they changed this recently but ever since I graduated in 2006, I've had to pay dues to be part of the National Alumni Assoc. and Delaware Valley Alumni Chapter, so I've always donated at least that. Last year, I gave that amount. Then at the yearly convention in August, there was an auction that benefited the frat-I gave $40 for that. Also, someone had created an new fund and asked for money for that. I donated $25. I listed to him ask for money three different times during that weekend. Recently there was a Facebook group that enough people joined, that same person would donate a certain amount of money to the Foundation. Now there is a facebook cause asking for money. I think the thing that pissed me off most about is the title: "Phi Sigma Pi just turned 93...and YOU forgot her birthday present!" First of all, how do you know if I've given this year or not. Second, the cause is now only good for one year. Had the cause been "Phi Sigma Pi (Foundation)" and not something insulting, I'd be more inclined to donate. I must have gotten 15 invitations to join this cause. Even after putting a status message of "If I get one more invite, I'm going to scream," I got two more invites. I am seriously considering not giving any money this year, other than whatever is required to be part of DVAC. Based on the national website, I think it's only $1. It's not like I'm rolling the dough, and I spend enough money just to go to PSP events; I give to charities throughout the year; I can just give to local chapters who have never asked me for money. I'd have less of a problem if they just raised the cost of my NAA dues.

F'in' Comcast

I remember the days when if I wanted to buy concert tickets, I would go to ticketmaster.com or go pick up the tickets from ticketmaster at certain stores. Well, comcast has ruined that.

Last year, a friend had told me about Carrie Underwood concert that was going to be at the Liacouras Center. So, I went to ticketmaster to check for the tickets, but I couldn't find them. I had to search her website to find them.

The day of the Metallica concert, I wanted to check to see if they had released any additional tickets, so I once again checked ticketmaster.com. The show was not listed. I thought maybe it was because it was the day of the show, but other cornets for that day were listed. I had to check Metallica's website directly to find out I had to go to the Wachovia Center's website, which is powered by comcast tix.

For Wing Bowl, I had heard that I had to go to ComcastTix.com to purchase the tickets, so I didn't have to search for them.

Tonight, I was checking to see if there were any tickets left for the 2nd Billy Joel & Elton John show (once again, I had hear they were on ComcastTix.com), but the f'ing website is not working. For those two shows only, when I click the link to check for tix, it brings me to a "cannot find page, did you mean...?" search page.

Stupid Mother Fuckers!

I guess I should just go to comcasttix anytime I need tix because it looks like all Philly (and the Sovereign Bank Area in Trenton, which I'm not sure if that's the Tweeter Center or not) are on comcast.

WTF, work?!

Even more pissed off than I am at PennDOT, I'm furious at my work. On Christmas Eve, when it was maybe a little bit slippery out, we had a one-hour delay. It was so not-bad that I didn't even think to check to see if there was delay - I didn't even find out about the delay until 9am-30 minutes after I had gotten there. Apparently, it was icy near some people's houses.

Last week, when we had an inch of snow (and PennDOT had be salting since 7 the night before), we had a one hour delay. It gave me time to stay in bed an extra 10 minutes and clean off my car.

Today, when there are FIVE inches of snow in Conshohocken - NOTHING!

My anger has nothing to do with the fact that I really want a snow day-who doesn't? I think I'm so pissed because at midnight, PennDOT hadn't done a damn thing.

Apparently, both PennDOT and my work only listen to the weather forecast and didn't bother to look out the damn window.

Because of my non-so-fun experience last night, I refuse to drive today, so I'm having my dad drive me in. He spent an hour shoveling, so we're not going to be able to get in on time. Because I'm supposed to be on the board, I had to call one of my co-workers who live near work. She said that should be able to get in on time. Not that I really care, I'm not risking my life to get there, so they'd just have to suck it up.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Driving in the Snow

SUCKS!!

Last week when the weather people were calling for snow, I saw salt trucks while driving to my meeting at 7pm and again while driving home around 11.

Tonight, when it was actually snowing, there was nothing. I got to Philly around 6:30 and that's when snow was starting to stick to the ground. Even if PennDOT didn't believe the weather people (they don't deserve the name "meteorologist" b/c that makes them sound like they're smart), they should have done something once it was actually sticking. Did they? NO! I got out of my meeting, there were a couple inches of snow on my car. It was fluffy, so it was easy to brush off. The problem was the streets were still covered with snow. Even freakin' Broad Street! One of the busiest streets in the city and PennDOT had made no effort to clear it. WTF?!

I decided it would be safest to take I-95 home. I suppose it was, but it still wasn't great. I could tell that it had be salted and/or plowed at some point, but it needed to be redone. It got worse the closer I got to home (probably because it was still coming down). The Blue Route wasn't any better. I was hoping Baltimore Pike would be clear, but it definitely was not.

After finally making it home, I was glad that parking on my side of the street isn't allowed-because that's the only reason I was able to park. There were a couple spots on the legal side, but I couldn't parallel park in this weather. And even though I have a driveway, I didn't want to risk going down the back alley.

Moral of the story: Listen to the freakin' groundhog!! Phil said there was going to be six more weeks of winter-He was right.

Google was wrong!

My roommate works in Media, and a lot of times she goes to the Iron Hill Brewery after work and invites me to go along. Even though I'm usually pretty good with remembering how to get to places (especially when it hasn't been that long), for some reason I always have to to look up directions. Two times ago, I looked up the address on the Iron Hill website and then plugged it into yahoo-I had no problems getting there. Last time I used google and I got lost/had difficulty finding the place. Today I realized why. Google is wrong! For whatever reason, it thinks that 3o E. State Street is closer to Manchester than Monroe. The Iron Hill website has a google map inbedded, which is telling people the wrong location. When I discovered that Google and Yahoo were telling me different places, I cross referenced with Maquest - which agreed with Yahoo. But, just to be sure, I called the restaurant and they confirmed.

I guess I should look into telling Google and especially Iron Hill that they're worng. I'm guessing the restuarant might care a little more since they probably want people to actually be able to find them.

My Collection's Complete!

I have been collecting state quarters for awhile now, and yesterday I got Hawaii. The chef at my work gave it to me b/c he knew I've been looking for it.

When I got home, I put in in my collection book and realized that the first one was released in 1999. I gues I've waiting 9 years to have a complete collection.

Vocab Lesson of the Day

I just that there is a difference between a douche and a douchebag (the slang definitions, not the literal).

From Dictionary.com:

douchebag-
Someone who has surpassed the levels of jerk and asshole, however not yet reached fucker or motherfucker. Not to be confuzed with douche.

douche-
a word to describe an individual who has shown themself to be very brainless in one way or another, thus comparing them to the cleansing product for vaginas.

Where's the last "F"?

I keep hearing commercials about the Williams and Manning brothers competing in the Double Stuf Racing League. So I finally decided to check out the website. It was then that I realized that they're Double STUF Oreos (as opposed to stuffed or even stuff). What's the point of misspelling the word? Aren't people bad enough spellers as it is??

Hotels

Joining a co-ed frat has allowed me/forced me (depending upon your point of view) staying a lot of different hotels-most of them up-scale ones.

Most of the hotels are pretty similar, but some stand out. For example, ever since the first time I stayed in one, I've loved Westin's. Basically, just because of the comfort of the their beds. If I had a few grand to burn, I might buy one (but since I don't, I'll stick with the one I have). On the other hand, Marriotts and Hiltons have switched to MemoryFoam beds, which in my opinion, suck major ass.

I was at the Crowne Plaza over the weekend and the things that impressed me most were the mirrors. Seriously, they were huge and everywhere, it was awesome :-D. In the room: not only was there the mirror over the sink/counter in the bathroom, there was a handheld one that wasn't attached. In the room, there was one over the desk and a full-length one on the wall. The in the lobby restrooms: The standard over-the-sink mirrors, but also a huge (maybe 6 feet across) full-length mirror for checking not only face and hair, but also your dress.

Besides the mirrors, they had shampoo, conditioner, lotion, mouthwash, earplugs, an linen spray in the rooms. They also offered other necessities (razor, toothbrush, etc) free of charge.

The gist is: I'm impressed with Crowne Plaza.

2008 in Review

I stole this from Drew three years ago (and like his this year, a lot of my answers are going to be about my new house):

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Paid for my own utility bills

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions and will you make more for next year?
No (but I only half-heartedly made one last year) and yes

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes-Amber had another son

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My best friend's grandfather

5. What countries did you visit?
None :(

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
A bf

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 29 - First officially of my first real job
April 17- Day we made settlement
October 29/31 - Phillies won the world series and the parade

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting a real job and a house

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not being able to paint the edges of my room neatly.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not that I can think of.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My house

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My insurance agent because he was the only competent person involved in buying my house

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Everyone I had to deal with when buying my house: Specifically the real estate agent, and the mortgage people. I don't think they had half a brain between them.

14. Where did most of your money go?
House and associated bills

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
House and parties at my house

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Womanizer and Wow I Can Get Sexual Too (I called her on the phone and she touched herself) because I heard these a lot at Alpha Lambda Parties

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) Happier or Sadder? Probably about the same
b) Thinner or Fatter? I have no clue, probably about the same
c) Richer or Poorer? Poorer

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Travel

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Working

20. How did you spend Christmas?
my grandfather came over for our tradition of lasagna, exchanged gifts with the Stedmans and then with the girls at my house.

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Not even close

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Californication is the greatest show ever

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
yes

24. What was the best book you read?
One of the Philippa Gregory's books about Henry VIII's wives

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I didn't have one

26. What did you want and get?
House and job

27. What did you want and not get?
bf, a million bucks

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Since I can't remember all the movies I saw, I'll say Role Models

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Ummm...I think I turned 24. I hate the top layer of my "Happy Birthday Susan" cake that my friends and I made and froze last year.

30.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
People not being idiots

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Same as 2007: Causal--jeans and a cute shirt with a hoodie or sweater; Work--business casual

32. What kept you sane?
Sane? If anything, the girls. At work, I'd say being able to bitch to Dave and his funny remarks.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I don't think I liked real people.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Hearing about the election drove me nuts

35. Who did you miss?
Beck-even though she didn't move that far away, I don't get to see her as much.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
I can't think of anyone new, but I got to know a few people better

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Almost everyone with a job is an idiot (even when it comes to their specific job)

I'm apparently 37% girly

I think by girly they meaning teeny-bopper, or I think the current term is "tween"

I AM ___% GIRLY
[ X] during the summer the only shoes i wear are flip flops:
[ X] my favorite toys as a child were barbies:
[ ] my favorite color is pink or purple:
[ ] did Gymnastics: No, but I always wanted to
[ X] I love skirts:
[ ] Hollister is one of my favorite places to shop:
[X ]Tight Jeans are the only Jeans I wear:
[X] I love chocolate:
[ ] I've never had a real job:
[X ] my fingernails/toenails are almost always painted:
TOTAL: 6

[ ] my hair is almost always straightened:
[X] I have at least 8 MySpace pictures:
[ ] I usually go shopping once a week:
[X] I love to hang out at the mall with friends: As long as "hanging out" means shopping
[X ] I have a real diamond ring or diamond necklace or earrings:
[ ] I've gone to a tanning salon:
[ ] I've gone to the beach to tan - not to swim:
[ X] I have at least 10 pairs of shoes
[ ] I watch either The Hills or Gossip Girl:
[ ] I change my default pic weekly:
[ ] I wear a shower cap:
..: TOTAL:: 10

[ ] I don't shop at Hot Topic:
[X] my cell phone might as well become a part of me:
[X ] I wear mascara everyday:
[] I've been or am on a diet: I'm pretty that requires will power, which I don't have
[ ] bathing suits are adorable: On toddlers? b/c everything is adorable on them
[ ] I don't know the difference between a sheep and a goat: What the heck!
What does that have to do with being girly??? Seems more like if you are
a dumb ass or not! <---I agree
[ ] big sunglasses are hot:
[X] I have gotten my nails done:
[ ] I own over 10 purses:
[ ] MTV is one of my favorite channels:
..: TOTAL:: 13..:

[ ] all I want to do at sleepovers is talk about boys: I have boys at my sleepovers
[ ] I love to have other girls do my hair:
[ X] I give and receive hugs from all my friends:
[ X] I hate bugs: They're pretty annoying
[X] carnivals are so fun!: This is a girl thing?
[ ] Summer is THE best season: [X] my swimsuit has 2 pieces:
[ ] I'm waiting for my knight in shining armor:
[ ] musicians are so hot: Some are, but I was in band in school and there were a lot of losers
[ ] If you write me a poem and tell me I'm beautiful, I'm all yours: F THAT SHIT! Ditto again Laura...I want to see action not empty words<<--Good philosophy
...: TOTAL:: 16...

[X ] I am self-conscious:
[ ] I cry often:
[ ] my car smells like vanilla or cherry: Strawberry actually
[X ] my dishes get washed more than once a week:
[X ] I don't do sports:
[x] I HATE to run:
[ ] I squeal when i am surprised or angry:
[ ] I eat dried fruit as a snack:
[ ] I love romance novels:
[ ] Miley Cyrus is so cute:
TOTAL:: 20..:

[ ] I dance a lot:
[ ] I usually spend an hour or over to get ready to leave my house:
[ ] I only have like 5 billion hair products:
[X] I love to get dressed up:
[X ] every part of my outfit needs to match:
[ ] I talk on the phone at least once a day to my friends:
[X ] I would love to have a photo shoot done of myself:
[ ] I apply lip stuff like 50 times a day: Only Vaseline if they're really dry
[X ] I wish I were a model:
..: TOTAL:: 24..:

[X] I wish I could meet Paris Hilton: I think it would be interesting
[ X] I have been something that was semi-formal:
[ ] I own Uggs: ugg
[ ] Hip Hop is one of the best music styles:
[ ] I pop my collar: Isn't this more of a guy thing?
[ ] I like to be the center of attention:
[] guys with Mohawks are crazy:
[ ] horses are beautiful:
[ ] I'd rather not pay attention in school: Once again, isn't this more of a guy thing?
[ ] Cats are adorable:
..: TOTAL:: 26..:

[ ] I write my own music:
[X ] I would love to visit someplace tropical like Hawaii:
[ ] Valentine's day is so cute!:
[ ] white is better than black:
[ ] I wouldn't be caught dead in all black:
[X] my closet is CHOCK FULL of clothes:
[X ] I hate the grunge look:
[ ] I love to read magazines like Cosmo and Seventeen: Not since I was 17
..: TOTAL:: 29.....:

[ X] I love to gossip: Hate admit I do!
[ X] I had Lisa Frank folders/posters/notebooks as a kid:
[ ] I love Britney Spears: She is a good singer though
[ ] my bubble baths are 1-2hrs long: I take showers and doesn't the water get cold after 10 minutes?
[ ] My wedding only needs a groom because it's already planned:
[ ] My friends and I are in a strict group:
[X] I like little kids: For limited amounts of time
[] Diet drinks are the best: I hate aspartame
[ ] I'm all about being vegetarian: Give me cow or give me death!
[ ] I refuse to eat at McDonald's:
..: TOTAL:: 32..:

[X ] I check my MySpace/Facebook everyday:
[] I love life!:
[X ] I have a lot of jewelry!:
[ ] my screen name(s) have X's in them:
[ ] my MySpace names has/had <3's in them:
[] I would never want to be the opposite sex: I would love to have a penis
[X ] It's not what he/she said it's the way he/she said it: [
X ] I have more than 3 pillows on my bed:
[ ] Twilight is AWESOME!!!!!:
[X ] I have or have made a friendship bracelet:
[ ] I like to dot my I's with hearts: I occasionally do stars
[ ] I know who Luscious Lana is:
..: TOTAL:: 37...

ADD UP ALL OF THE TOTALS AND REPOST WITH "I AM __% GIRLY"