I'd been noticing that I've been spending a lot of time thinking about times past. In particular, there's a moment I remember, the last time I saw Terry, that gives me a lot of trouble. He was sitting down and I was standing, and I must have said hi to him or something. "Weren't you just here?" he asked, which was nonsense because I hadn't come back to town for a fairly long time. I think it was spring. He'd clearly been drinking. Anyway, he said, "I could tell you something, but it would make you mad."
Why, oh why did I not make him say it? I don't think I even asked! Maybe I didn't feel like being mad at him. Maybe I just didn't care anymore.
But boy has it been fuel for my imagination! What was it? Bad breath? Too intense? One month it was the back brace and everyone laughing behind my back. For some reason it sent me back to my yearbook, and reading his entry actually made me feel guilty! Like the guy really liked me! It was almost there in print! But then I cycled through memories after that entry, ending with me seeing that it probably worked out fine. I mean, he wasn't even a big deal in my life! But what did he mean by that?
Anyway, I decided that I was DONE with the past and would try to stay put in the present. So much for deciding something. Somehow I think that made it worse!
The thing about thinking back on things is that I can see so clearly now things that at the time I couldn't see at all! I know there's no point in feeling badly about something you can't change, but boy I woujld like to go back and do a few things differently.
Anyway, I was on FB and I saw a posting from an old friend from HS. He looks good in his camouflage and seems like a good person. Whenever I think of him, I remember a time when we first got to college and I had just had a foreshadow of a big breakup, and suddenly Tim showed up at my side. I can't remember if I was in tears or if I'd recovered by then, but I remember he was there, trying to be nice, and I just couldn't talk to him right then.
I only recently really thought about this.
I just really wished I could have seen him right then, and realized that I possibly had a friend at that school. Maybe more. Maybe if I hadn't been so wrapped up in myself I would have seen someone that needed a friend too. I focused so much on my feelings that I didn't notice that maybe I was being rude. Maybe my first year of college didn't have to be so tough.
I really wish I could go back and change that.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Monday, November 14, 2011
Hostile Takeover, Part II
I just couldn't understand this. I thought these people were my friends, I thought we were united in wanting to put together a team for the future, that would stay together and play together this year and get ready for next year, when things start to count. Just 2 weeks ago we had put together a huge gift basket for the Coach's daughter's wedding present!
People talked openly about some of the things the coach would say, but from the beginning they said he's a nice man and it wasn't that bad. It's funny that the two people who stuck behind the coach the most were the ones that were most bothered by things he'd say (including me). But I just thought about talking to him about it, not try to oust the guy! He was a great coach!
Although on Sunday the Head Coach, Troy, had said there would be a compromise, I figured the Crazy Czech would turn it down, as they kept saying he was resisting having an assistant. So I didn't go to the parent meeting they had at the next Tuesday practice, because I had decided I wasn't going to anymore "meetings" with these people.
Some friends on the team called me to say that on Monday these other parents had gone to the Club President and succeeded in getting the Coach fired. They announced at the "meeting" that Troy would be co-coaching with this other coach that everyone liked, named Eddie. I called the Crazy Czech and he said yes, he'd been prepared to have an assistant coach, but instead they called him in and fired him - not only from our team, but from his younger U12 team, that I know he really loved. That team loved him too, and I think that team pretty much broke up after that.
I just couldn't believe it. Why would these parents go about things this way? Why would they not "reach out" to everyone on the team and try to get more of a buy-in? Why did they just railroad over all of us? Why were divided by emails into people who knew (last year's team) and those who didn't (all the new players)? Why go over everyone's head to get their way?
I really liked most of those people too, thinking they were nice and even letting my daughter stay at their house so she could stay and help her team.
A little ticked, I replied to an email asking who could attend the Thanksgiving tournament, saying nicely that I wasn't sure we'd be around. I got a nice email back from the team Admin (wife) that said she knew it's a tough time of year, so please let her know because they have 3 girls willing to guest for us at the tournament. What? Really? My daughter is that dispensable?
It turns out they've targeted 3 girls from another team that broke up (Coach got fired and 2 players quit with him). That team is not as good and was not having a good season before the split.
So anyway, I was rocked. I really thought that they realized my daughter is a good player and were glad to have her on the team. The same with the girl we brought from our old team. All of us are not really that important? I just couldn't believe this. It really upset me and was on my mind for a good two weeks.
After the first week, I called the other parent that had spoken up in defense of the Coach, Laura, and she gave me the skinny on everything. She said all this talk about the Coach saying bad things and not wanting an assistant was all just a big smokescreen. What it really was about was these parents having their way with the coach.
She was actually copied on the emails, and that's how she knew, and that's why her husband called them selfish whiners. Basically this one mother complained that the Crazy Czech had promised that her daughter could play as striker once the defense was set, and was livid that he still asked her to play on defense sometimes. And I already mentioned about the goalie's family and the team admin's daughter. I don't know what the guy who thinks he's in charge (The Guz) had a beef about, other than the coach finally said something HE didn't like. I know the Coach was not blameless in this, but it does explain why he was getting so negative. It's too bad he played into their hands by saying the last few things about the Guz. After all, the Guz is such a PROUD family!
And somehow there was money involved, and that part I don't understand. I don't think it was the coach, but the club. Anyway, even though most of these people have a lot of money and still somehow got scholarships, these parents evidently had some financial reason for thinking that they coach should do what they said. That's why they were so angry and did what they did. And I suspect that The Guz, who thinks this is his team, was behind most of it. He has always seemed somehow covert to me.
And this made everything understandable. These people think their daughters are so good that it doesn't matter who plays with them. That's why they kept saying how good the team was last year, even though we added so many good players to the team. Last year they were short players, so their daughters got to play all the time. That's why they thought the team was so good last year, even though they only won one game and were scheduled to be relegated to a lower division. Don't they realize that next year is the year scouts will be looking for girls? All they seem to care about is RIGHT NOW.
So I was angry and disappointed in these people. It occurred to me that if enough of us banded together and quit the team, we could sink them to the bottom of our division and most of those parents would leave, but I really rose above myself this time. At first it was hard for me to look at any of them or say hi, but one of the other disenfranchised mothers who I hadn't really gotten to know came over and talked to me at the first game after the mutiny. She told me not to worry about these people, someday they will learn that this is not the way to do things. I had a really good talk with her while we lost that game.
So I got to the point where I could actually look these people in the eye and be cordial, but after that I think everyone was harder on each other. I know I was. I got to saying things like, "Come ON, strikers,let's SCORE." because that was really the team's biggest problem. These girls that want to be strikers used to be on defense, so they don't really know how to turn with the ball and push it forward. This one player that supposedly one of the fastest girls in the nation appears to be afraid of the ball, and somehow manages to always lose it. Before I used to applaud every effort, but I got to wanting results from these players who just had to have their way.
But then my friends daughter's went to very little playing time, and of course they didn't like that or think it was right. But one friend said that the Crazy Czech even told her that only her daughter and one other girl really knew how to play soccer. Really? My daughter doesn't know how to play? And then she said that all they do is push and get penalties, and I admitted that the Girl had a few from her slide-tackles, and she said, "That's because no one ever taught her how to do it right!" Really? She never does it right? And then, because she was so unhappy about her daughter not playing, one of them turned to me during a game and said (with a smile), "Well, this worked out well for you, didn't it? Your daughter gets to play." And I said, "Well, that's because she's on defense! Someone has to play defense so their daughters can 'play up'!"
So this hasn't been easy, even with the people on my side. K always pushes me to "do the right thing" which often means different things to both of us, but mostly we want to be supportive of our daughter and try to do whatever's best for her. And she had no problem finishing the season with this team, although she has grown to dislike a few of them. I tried to stay positive and always encourage her to do well.
And I sort of realized that we're the same in some ways. We all think our daughters are so good, but not all of us are right.
When all this happened we had 6 games left. We lost the first 3 games, and then won the last 3. So I guess the team ended up happy and stayed in their division. I personally feel a bit sad that my favorite friends on the team are gone now, and I don't know if I'll see them again. I'm stuck with these crazy soccer parents (backstabbing fuckwits) until after the Thanksgiving tournament. I used to like these people; now I wonder who they are.
Now we need to get through High School Soccer, which will hopefully be fun and drama-free for my daughter. Her school team's kick-off dinner was this weekend, and I didn't even want to go. I feel a bit burned by getting to know soccer parents.
Hopefully she will have fun.
People talked openly about some of the things the coach would say, but from the beginning they said he's a nice man and it wasn't that bad. It's funny that the two people who stuck behind the coach the most were the ones that were most bothered by things he'd say (including me). But I just thought about talking to him about it, not try to oust the guy! He was a great coach!
Although on Sunday the Head Coach, Troy, had said there would be a compromise, I figured the Crazy Czech would turn it down, as they kept saying he was resisting having an assistant. So I didn't go to the parent meeting they had at the next Tuesday practice, because I had decided I wasn't going to anymore "meetings" with these people.
Some friends on the team called me to say that on Monday these other parents had gone to the Club President and succeeded in getting the Coach fired. They announced at the "meeting" that Troy would be co-coaching with this other coach that everyone liked, named Eddie. I called the Crazy Czech and he said yes, he'd been prepared to have an assistant coach, but instead they called him in and fired him - not only from our team, but from his younger U12 team, that I know he really loved. That team loved him too, and I think that team pretty much broke up after that.
I just couldn't believe it. Why would these parents go about things this way? Why would they not "reach out" to everyone on the team and try to get more of a buy-in? Why did they just railroad over all of us? Why were divided by emails into people who knew (last year's team) and those who didn't (all the new players)? Why go over everyone's head to get their way?
I really liked most of those people too, thinking they were nice and even letting my daughter stay at their house so she could stay and help her team.
A little ticked, I replied to an email asking who could attend the Thanksgiving tournament, saying nicely that I wasn't sure we'd be around. I got a nice email back from the team Admin (wife) that said she knew it's a tough time of year, so please let her know because they have 3 girls willing to guest for us at the tournament. What? Really? My daughter is that dispensable?
It turns out they've targeted 3 girls from another team that broke up (Coach got fired and 2 players quit with him). That team is not as good and was not having a good season before the split.
So anyway, I was rocked. I really thought that they realized my daughter is a good player and were glad to have her on the team. The same with the girl we brought from our old team. All of us are not really that important? I just couldn't believe this. It really upset me and was on my mind for a good two weeks.
After the first week, I called the other parent that had spoken up in defense of the Coach, Laura, and she gave me the skinny on everything. She said all this talk about the Coach saying bad things and not wanting an assistant was all just a big smokescreen. What it really was about was these parents having their way with the coach.
She was actually copied on the emails, and that's how she knew, and that's why her husband called them selfish whiners. Basically this one mother complained that the Crazy Czech had promised that her daughter could play as striker once the defense was set, and was livid that he still asked her to play on defense sometimes. And I already mentioned about the goalie's family and the team admin's daughter. I don't know what the guy who thinks he's in charge (The Guz) had a beef about, other than the coach finally said something HE didn't like. I know the Coach was not blameless in this, but it does explain why he was getting so negative. It's too bad he played into their hands by saying the last few things about the Guz. After all, the Guz is such a PROUD family!
And somehow there was money involved, and that part I don't understand. I don't think it was the coach, but the club. Anyway, even though most of these people have a lot of money and still somehow got scholarships, these parents evidently had some financial reason for thinking that they coach should do what they said. That's why they were so angry and did what they did. And I suspect that The Guz, who thinks this is his team, was behind most of it. He has always seemed somehow covert to me.
And this made everything understandable. These people think their daughters are so good that it doesn't matter who plays with them. That's why they kept saying how good the team was last year, even though we added so many good players to the team. Last year they were short players, so their daughters got to play all the time. That's why they thought the team was so good last year, even though they only won one game and were scheduled to be relegated to a lower division. Don't they realize that next year is the year scouts will be looking for girls? All they seem to care about is RIGHT NOW.
So I was angry and disappointed in these people. It occurred to me that if enough of us banded together and quit the team, we could sink them to the bottom of our division and most of those parents would leave, but I really rose above myself this time. At first it was hard for me to look at any of them or say hi, but one of the other disenfranchised mothers who I hadn't really gotten to know came over and talked to me at the first game after the mutiny. She told me not to worry about these people, someday they will learn that this is not the way to do things. I had a really good talk with her while we lost that game.
So I got to the point where I could actually look these people in the eye and be cordial, but after that I think everyone was harder on each other. I know I was. I got to saying things like, "Come ON, strikers,let's SCORE." because that was really the team's biggest problem. These girls that want to be strikers used to be on defense, so they don't really know how to turn with the ball and push it forward. This one player that supposedly one of the fastest girls in the nation appears to be afraid of the ball, and somehow manages to always lose it. Before I used to applaud every effort, but I got to wanting results from these players who just had to have their way.
But then my friends daughter's went to very little playing time, and of course they didn't like that or think it was right. But one friend said that the Crazy Czech even told her that only her daughter and one other girl really knew how to play soccer. Really? My daughter doesn't know how to play? And then she said that all they do is push and get penalties, and I admitted that the Girl had a few from her slide-tackles, and she said, "That's because no one ever taught her how to do it right!" Really? She never does it right? And then, because she was so unhappy about her daughter not playing, one of them turned to me during a game and said (with a smile), "Well, this worked out well for you, didn't it? Your daughter gets to play." And I said, "Well, that's because she's on defense! Someone has to play defense so their daughters can 'play up'!"
So this hasn't been easy, even with the people on my side. K always pushes me to "do the right thing" which often means different things to both of us, but mostly we want to be supportive of our daughter and try to do whatever's best for her. And she had no problem finishing the season with this team, although she has grown to dislike a few of them. I tried to stay positive and always encourage her to do well.
And I sort of realized that we're the same in some ways. We all think our daughters are so good, but not all of us are right.
When all this happened we had 6 games left. We lost the first 3 games, and then won the last 3. So I guess the team ended up happy and stayed in their division. I personally feel a bit sad that my favorite friends on the team are gone now, and I don't know if I'll see them again. I'm stuck with these crazy soccer parents (backstabbing fuckwits) until after the Thanksgiving tournament. I used to like these people; now I wonder who they are.
Now we need to get through High School Soccer, which will hopefully be fun and drama-free for my daughter. Her school team's kick-off dinner was this weekend, and I didn't even want to go. I feel a bit burned by getting to know soccer parents.
Hopefully she will have fun.
Monday, November 07, 2011
Hostile Takeover - Part I
I've already told about leaving our last team and going with the new coach to a new club, and doing pretty well in the tournaments we attended.
Then in the summer the coach (I liked to call him the crazy Czech) was pushing for the girls to attend a soccer camp in Santa Barbara (instead of the fun Y camp she'd already signed up for). The Girl changed her mind and attended the soccer camp, but it turned into a clash of personalities and wills that made some of the girls dislike each other instead of bonding like we'd hoped.
K and I went on a fabulous cruise for a few weeks, and even left The Girl here, staying with the team Administrator, so she could play with them.
After the season started, the Coach seemed to be getting more and more negative. He'd always had a reputation for being frank to the point of being harsh, and this also seemed to be getting worse. He stared talking about retirement more and more, like he was leaving after this year, and even complained one time that the Club wasn't paying him enough.
Then, halfway into the season, the Administrator, Ron, called a parent meeting after practice. A few parents had been with the Coach for many years (4-6), and seemed to act like they were in charge. They said they wanted the coach to have an official assistant coach, to stop saying things he shouldn't, and wanted to see how many families would be around for a Thanksgiving tournament. K went down to tell the coach he was running a great practice, and he said, "The parents are trying to get me fired." K thought he was just joking or being negative.
That Sunday we had a game, and and email went out that we were having ANOTHER parent meeting afterward! When we showed up, the coach wasn't there! But half the Club's coaching staff was. That was my first clue that something was up. My friend V said, "Look what these parents are doing." We immediately suspected who was behind it.
We also got another surprise - some of the parents had decided to take the girls out for ice cream after the game, as one of the dads had a friend who owned a limo company and it was left over from the night before and was therefore free.
I called the Crazy Czech during the game and he repeated that the parents were trying to get him fired. He said the goalie's dad had tried to fight him on the field after the last game, when a 2nd goalie had played half the game. The reason we have a second goalie is because last year this goalie's trainer told her she shouldn't play halfway through the season! Not even her doctor, just her trainer, and the team was left without a goalie for half the season. But now that we have two, the second goalie should never play unless their daughter is hurt?
He also said the team admin had hung up on him after a phone call where he screamed at the coach about why his daughter wasn't playing the whole game. The coach was especially hurt because he'd been with some of those girls for years, being a father figure to a few of them.
So after the game the girls were whisked off in a limo for ice cream, and we parents had a sham of a meeting where we were supposedly airing our views to the head of coaching for the Club, Half the team had no idea, and the other half was prepared, saying the coach was too negative, he didn't want an assistant etc. I complained about the blind-siding and one of them, M, said, "How can you be surprised? But there were all those emails...." seeing that half the team was as surprised as I was, I told her, "Not everyone got those emails."
Only I and one other family stuck up for the Coach. I told the Head Coach, "But no, we're here because of the coach! We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him!" We broke up a nice little team to come there, and now I was feeling even worse about that.
One father told them that they were just a bunch of whiners and complainers that were upset because they weren't getting their way, and that they were being really selfish. That was my favorite part.
In the end the head coach said that he would compromise, and that he (the Club Head Coach) would be the assistant coach and the Crazy Czech would still be coach. I thought that was a good compromise. The girls returned from ice cream, and everyone went home.
Then in the summer the coach (I liked to call him the crazy Czech) was pushing for the girls to attend a soccer camp in Santa Barbara (instead of the fun Y camp she'd already signed up for). The Girl changed her mind and attended the soccer camp, but it turned into a clash of personalities and wills that made some of the girls dislike each other instead of bonding like we'd hoped.
K and I went on a fabulous cruise for a few weeks, and even left The Girl here, staying with the team Administrator, so she could play with them.
After the season started, the Coach seemed to be getting more and more negative. He'd always had a reputation for being frank to the point of being harsh, and this also seemed to be getting worse. He stared talking about retirement more and more, like he was leaving after this year, and even complained one time that the Club wasn't paying him enough.
Then, halfway into the season, the Administrator, Ron, called a parent meeting after practice. A few parents had been with the Coach for many years (4-6), and seemed to act like they were in charge. They said they wanted the coach to have an official assistant coach, to stop saying things he shouldn't, and wanted to see how many families would be around for a Thanksgiving tournament. K went down to tell the coach he was running a great practice, and he said, "The parents are trying to get me fired." K thought he was just joking or being negative.
That Sunday we had a game, and and email went out that we were having ANOTHER parent meeting afterward! When we showed up, the coach wasn't there! But half the Club's coaching staff was. That was my first clue that something was up. My friend V said, "Look what these parents are doing." We immediately suspected who was behind it.
We also got another surprise - some of the parents had decided to take the girls out for ice cream after the game, as one of the dads had a friend who owned a limo company and it was left over from the night before and was therefore free.
I called the Crazy Czech during the game and he repeated that the parents were trying to get him fired. He said the goalie's dad had tried to fight him on the field after the last game, when a 2nd goalie had played half the game. The reason we have a second goalie is because last year this goalie's trainer told her she shouldn't play halfway through the season! Not even her doctor, just her trainer, and the team was left without a goalie for half the season. But now that we have two, the second goalie should never play unless their daughter is hurt?
He also said the team admin had hung up on him after a phone call where he screamed at the coach about why his daughter wasn't playing the whole game. The coach was especially hurt because he'd been with some of those girls for years, being a father figure to a few of them.
So after the game the girls were whisked off in a limo for ice cream, and we parents had a sham of a meeting where we were supposedly airing our views to the head of coaching for the Club, Half the team had no idea, and the other half was prepared, saying the coach was too negative, he didn't want an assistant etc. I complained about the blind-siding and one of them, M, said, "How can you be surprised? But there were all those emails...." seeing that half the team was as surprised as I was, I told her, "Not everyone got those emails."
Only I and one other family stuck up for the Coach. I told the Head Coach, "But no, we're here because of the coach! We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him!" We broke up a nice little team to come there, and now I was feeling even worse about that.
One father told them that they were just a bunch of whiners and complainers that were upset because they weren't getting their way, and that they were being really selfish. That was my favorite part.
In the end the head coach said that he would compromise, and that he (the Club Head Coach) would be the assistant coach and the Crazy Czech would still be coach. I thought that was a good compromise. The girls returned from ice cream, and everyone went home.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Ticket trouble
Last Sunday, K was driving home from church and he got pulled over by a policeman. The cop asked K if he knew why he'd stopped him, and K guessed, "Did I roll through the stop sign?"
And the policeman asked, "Oh, do you do that?"
K said, "Well I'm trying to get better."
The policeman asked, "Do you know what the speed limit is here?"
K guessed again, "30? 35?"
The policeman said, "It's 35 and you were going 45."
So K pulled out his badge and showed it to the policeman and asked for some "professional courtesy" as he is a probation officer.
The officer agreed and told K that now that he knows him, he'll never pull him over. But he advised him to be more careful in the future.
K told him he would try to get better.
lol, I thought that was funny.
And the policeman asked, "Oh, do you do that?"
K said, "Well I'm trying to get better."
The policeman asked, "Do you know what the speed limit is here?"
K guessed again, "30? 35?"
The policeman said, "It's 35 and you were going 45."
So K pulled out his badge and showed it to the policeman and asked for some "professional courtesy" as he is a probation officer.
The officer agreed and told K that now that he knows him, he'll never pull him over. But he advised him to be more careful in the future.
K told him he would try to get better.
lol, I thought that was funny.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Rockstar Tournament
I felt a bit guilty about that, but who am I to decide not to pass on an invitation?
A few weeks ago, the new coach called and said we'd been offered an opportunity to join a relatively new club (still nearby) that was willing to give us scholarships, uniforms, trainers - a much better deal than the local club.
We asked The Girl what she thought, and she thought cheaper is better as long as the team is still together and good. Partly because the basketball program was (IMHO) messing with my daughter, I said "to heck with loyalty to the local club." K joked that we'd been on the same team for 6 years, and now we'd been on 3 teams in a month!
Last weekend the team went to their first tournament with the new players. At this age, there are some girls on the team playing in HS, and therefore can't play with us until their season is over. So we got 3 guest players to join us in the tournament.
I was a bit stressed on Thursday night and Friday, when I realized that the first game was at 7:45am (why do they always do this to the team farthest away?) and it was at least an hour's drive. K had a game himself on Friday night, and would be getting back late. So I decided to drive down on Friday night, which meant making reservations Friday morning and packing, planning, etc. We were also taking Camillia.
We got on the road without much problem, but when I looked for my directions I found that they hadn't printed out. I'd only printed out the map, which was too big! So when we got to the right area, I gave The Girl my phone and asked her to find my navigation program and put in the address of our hotel.
Bless her heart, she figured it out. When the voice came on, it said, "Take the first legal U turn." Guess that meant I was going the wrong way! lol
The next day we got up early, and the girls played two good games, shutting out the other teams 2-0, and 3-0. Yay! Camillia scored 2 goals and the new Goalie kept the other teams from scoring.
On the way home, the Girl found out she could still make it to her basketball game! We had told them she wouldn't be there, assuming that we'd be gone.
The Boy was coming home to visit, so I told him to meet us at the game. The Girl had a great game and didn't even foul out! She scored 11 of her team's 19 points. And her brother got to see her! She won 3 games in one day.
The next day she was tired and kept falling over the ball during the first game. One of the substitutes didn't come to that game, as she had a prior church-related obligation. One of our players hit heads with the other team, and had to come out. So they played nearly half the game one player short. That team was tough, but rather thuggish, so I was glad when we beat them 1-0 (we'd only needed a tie.)
The second game was around 4pm, so we drove home and ate lunch and I put a roast in the crock pot and tried to take a nap. We convinced the Boy and his GFF to come to the game, and we all drove back to the tournament.
When we got there, we discovered that the tournament was behind schedule, and they were saying that we might not get to play the championship game! (toss a coin?) Finally they decided that the game would be more than an hour late, and they would find some lights.
The Boy was most unhappy to hear he'd be sitting around for another hour, but they managed to eat hot dogs and bear with it. There was a tent giving away Rockstar Energy drinks (with parental permission). I drank one and it made my stomach hurt!
The sun went down and finally the girls got to play. One player who was out with the flu came to try to play, and we got our substitute player back from church. The first 5-10 minutes were intense, as the other team was extremely fast and good. But after awhile the team relaxed and although the other team got some shots off, our team seemed to have more control of the ball. But neither side scored.
The other team had 6 substitutes, and we had a girl with the flu on our bench. She had to go in for another player once, but only lasted a few minutes. We had a few opportunities to score near the end of the game, but the shots were off. One girl was so disappointed in her kick that she almost started crying.
So we headed into two sudden-death overtimes, to be followed by a penalty kick shoot out (which is hard on a parent). The first OT came and went quickly. At almost the end of the second OT, the ref called pushing on the other team.
So they had a free kick about 30 ft and to the right of the goal, and the teams lined up in front. At the last minute, the coach told The Girl to take the kick. I thought she was going to kick it into the crowd so that someone could kick it in. When she kicked it, I thought, "Oh no! It's too high!" and it looked like it would go over the goal. At the last second it dropped and hit the back of the net.
There was a second of silence, and then all the girls (and parents) started screaming.The Girl fell to the ground and the team ran and jumped on top of her, and when she got up she said she had dirt in her mouth.
The boy jumped up off the ground and said, "That was The Girl, right?"
It was so great. We didn't have to go into penalty kicks! We won the tournament! Her brother got to see it! The goal made it worth the wait! All the new girls had a great tournament, and proved they were worthy to be on the team. One of the substitutes is now thinking about joining us!
It was dramatic. It was wonderful. I'm sure we'll be talking about it for years.
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Bottoms Up
The other day the Girl said her friend asked her what "Bottoms up" means, like the song on the radio.The Girl demonstrated, "You have a bottle of beer, and then 'bottoms up.'" and tilted it upwards.
Her friend said, "Oh, (pause) I thought it meant something else."
lol I don't even want to know what she was thinking!
Oh, and I finally bought another camera! I know you are happy for me.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Picture problems
My picture problems persist. Now I can't find my camera. It was full of pictures from the Girl's last games, plus a picture that K took when he went to see a former "caseload" of his play a game.
It was the same weekend as my SI picture problems, and I haven't seen it since. So I can't take any pictures, plus my cellphone seems to have stopped "mobile uploading" to Facebook. I can send pictures, but they never show up.
I lost my hairbrush around the same time, so I kept saying that the maids must have put them somewhere, and they were probably together.
I finally found my hairbrush in the medicine cabinet, but still no sign of my camera.
It was the same weekend as my SI picture problems, and I haven't seen it since. So I can't take any pictures, plus my cellphone seems to have stopped "mobile uploading" to Facebook. I can send pictures, but they never show up.
I lost my hairbrush around the same time, so I kept saying that the maids must have put them somewhere, and they were probably together.
I finally found my hairbrush in the medicine cabinet, but still no sign of my camera.
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Taxing Directions
I was so mad yesterday at my tax employer. They gave me an address for my "training" that just plain doesn't exist. I didn't know that, however. I googlemapped it, and was shown a spot near the 605 fwy, quite a ways from my house. Darn! I'd picked that location because I thought it was close.
I should have done a satellite view, though, as I would have seen that it was an empty lot. But I drove clear out there, got off and would have been right on time if the place had existed. But I looked and looked for it, came back to look again, then followed the road clear past the Santa Anita Racetrack when I had enough.
I pulled over and called the person in charge of training, Tami. No answer. So I 411'd the company and got transferred to a local office where I tried to ask the guy who answered where the heck this office was. He ended up being so helpful by telling me the correct address. Turns out they gave us the office number where the address should be.
So I turned around and went there, wondering why the heck the person in charge (Tami?)didn't send out a message, an email, some kind of "heads up" about the wrong address? There had to be 30 people scheduled to go there.
The funny thing is, once I arrived an hour late, I hadn't missed anything. I think they had just gone around and introduced themselves and gotten the books. They were just milling about in class, so I got to say hi to all my friends and get my books before they settled down and started passing around the sign-in sheet. So I got full (paid) credit for the hour I lost.
It was good to see my friends, but sometimes the company just seems so disorganized that I get frustrated.
I should have done a satellite view, though, as I would have seen that it was an empty lot. But I drove clear out there, got off and would have been right on time if the place had existed. But I looked and looked for it, came back to look again, then followed the road clear past the Santa Anita Racetrack when I had enough.
I pulled over and called the person in charge of training, Tami. No answer. So I 411'd the company and got transferred to a local office where I tried to ask the guy who answered where the heck this office was. He ended up being so helpful by telling me the correct address. Turns out they gave us the office number where the address should be.
So I turned around and went there, wondering why the heck the person in charge (Tami?)didn't send out a message, an email, some kind of "heads up" about the wrong address? There had to be 30 people scheduled to go there.
The funny thing is, once I arrived an hour late, I hadn't missed anything. I think they had just gone around and introduced themselves and gotten the books. They were just milling about in class, so I got to say hi to all my friends and get my books before they settled down and started passing around the sign-in sheet. So I got full (paid) credit for the hour I lost.
It was good to see my friends, but sometimes the company just seems so disorganized that I get frustrated.
Saturday, December 04, 2010
Season end
So the last I reported about the Girl's soccer, she had a red card and couldn't play the last game. The team they had to play last had previously beat them 5-0, so we felt like the ref had nailed close the coffin on the team;s future.
But we went to the last game, and the Girl's team persevered and won 3-1! It was great to know the team could perform well without the Girl, as she was planning on leaving the team.
Actually, we called the coach the night before the last game, and told him we were leaving to go to the local club. It would be different if it wasn't the school's club soccer team (affiliated), and they weren't known for trying to get the girls scholarships.
Anyway, he seemed surprised, even though we'd told him she was considering leaving before the season. She basically stayed a season so she wouldn't leave them in the lurch.
But he was really nice at the game, and already had her card and paperwork for me. I hugged him and thanked him, but I hate to say goodbye. She'd been on that team for 6 years! So we said maybe she could still play with them at a few tournaments, etc.
Then a few days later I noticed that we were off the email list. Just like that, communication is cut.
It feels sad, like a breakup or something. A breakup that you initiated because you feel you need to go a different direction in your future, even though you do love that person. Even though you're trying to do what's best, you feel sad and miss that person, and feel badly that they did so much for you. I feel badly causing him any pain.
But we went to the last game, and the Girl's team persevered and won 3-1! It was great to know the team could perform well without the Girl, as she was planning on leaving the team.
Actually, we called the coach the night before the last game, and told him we were leaving to go to the local club. It would be different if it wasn't the school's club soccer team (affiliated), and they weren't known for trying to get the girls scholarships.
Anyway, he seemed surprised, even though we'd told him she was considering leaving before the season. She basically stayed a season so she wouldn't leave them in the lurch.
But he was really nice at the game, and already had her card and paperwork for me. I hugged him and thanked him, but I hate to say goodbye. She'd been on that team for 6 years! So we said maybe she could still play with them at a few tournaments, etc.
Then a few days later I noticed that we were off the email list. Just like that, communication is cut.
It feels sad, like a breakup or something. A breakup that you initiated because you feel you need to go a different direction in your future, even though you do love that person. Even though you're trying to do what's best, you feel sad and miss that person, and feel badly that they did so much for you. I feel badly causing him any pain.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Thanksgiving 2010
We had our Thanksgiving a day later than the "real" day when everyone else ate. We had a nice day, the Girl and I. I cooked ahead the stuffing, broccoli, and the cranberry sauce. the Girl made brownies. The Boy ate at his GFF's uncles and she brought him back late.
I had to go to the store because K didn't buy the kind of sausage I usually use for stuffing.. They didn't have any in the store! All they had was a habanero flavored sausage, so I had to get for that.
Friday K really wanted to get my car fixed, so I drove it to Burbank and drove around with the Mechanic a little so he could hear the rattle. K met me there and brought me home.
We put the turkey in the oven and I started the sweet potato casserole. I made the bread topping for the broccoli casserole, and tried to keep the kitchen clean. The Girl made mashed potatoes and I made an apple crisp for desert.
The GFF's parents stopped by when they dropped her off for dinner with us. Her mom I'd met before, but I was surprised to meet her father, as he was rather tall and handsome, and none of his kids really resembled him. His daughter is beautiful, I'm just saying.
We had a nice dinner, but the stuffing was kindof a roller coaster ride. Whew! Everyone liked it though, except for the GFF.
She doesn't like spicy food. And habanero? HOT!!!
I had to go to the store because K didn't buy the kind of sausage I usually use for stuffing.. They didn't have any in the store! All they had was a habanero flavored sausage, so I had to get for that.
Friday K really wanted to get my car fixed, so I drove it to Burbank and drove around with the Mechanic a little so he could hear the rattle. K met me there and brought me home.
We put the turkey in the oven and I started the sweet potato casserole. I made the bread topping for the broccoli casserole, and tried to keep the kitchen clean. The Girl made mashed potatoes and I made an apple crisp for desert.
The GFF's parents stopped by when they dropped her off for dinner with us. Her mom I'd met before, but I was surprised to meet her father, as he was rather tall and handsome, and none of his kids really resembled him. His daughter is beautiful, I'm just saying.
We had a nice dinner, but the stuffing was kindof a roller coaster ride. Whew! Everyone liked it though, except for the GFF.
She doesn't like spicy food. And habanero? HOT!!!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Almost Famous
One (the only) thing that kept the bad soccer day from being a total loss, is that K got a call from Sports Illustated the week before. The department cleared him to talk to them, and it was just sort of a dream. Who gets to talk to Sports Illustrated?On Sunday, after the Girl got her red card, we got a call from a fact-checker about pictures. Did we have any pictures of the team?
Anyone who knows me knows I take a LOT of pictures. But I got a little ticked at both sides of my family last year, and thought, "Really? You guys need to mess with me? All I ever do is try to be nice and give people pictures!" So that was it, no more pictures from me.
Because of this, I haven't posted any of my pictures to my usual picture sites (shutterfly) where I can easily find them. They were just all in the computer, where I'd downloaded them from my camera.
But my computer had finally gotten a virus so bad that I none of my usual tricks worked to fix it. How the heck was I going to get to all my pictures? I hadn't backed them up for a long time.
It was a long drive home, but when we got there, I turned on the computer and tried different ways of booting it to try and bypass the virus. I ended up only being able to restore to default, which it said would not delete any DATA files. I could only hope that pictures were considered data files.
We left to scan some photos other people had taken, and ran into trouble at Kinkos. We scanned all the pics, but at the end it wouldn't let us save to CD, so we had to start all over again. Argghhhh! So frustrating. At the end K complained that in one picture we had cut off the top of his head. I was overwhelmed at the thought of figuring out how to fix it, so I told him that it was just his hair, and moved on.
I was bummed out because I was pretty sure I'd deleted all my pictures, and thought it was some sort of poetic justice because I'd been such a snit about pictures and now it was coming around to bite me in the ass!
When I checked my computer, I found my pictures were still there! So we picked the best ones, loaded them into an email or three, and sent them to SI.
Later they said that their favorite pic was mine! I was almost going to get a photo credit in SI!
Well, almost. They ended up not running any pictures.
But at least my computer got somewhat fixed, altho I had to take it offline. And I spent the next week archiving my pictures onto CD's and flash drives.
So I dodged a bullet there, but we did lose all our iTunes. That hurts.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Fur, crying, and 1-hour books
Fur
Last night I started watching the movie "Fur" on the Sundance channel because the info said it was about the photographer Diane Arbus (starring Nicole Kidman). I had seen a photo of hers of the Disney castle with a swan out front that looked slightly menacing, and because of that I was interested in learning more about her.
Anyway, the movie had her falling in love with Robert Downey Jr, who was a hairy man out of a freak show. How they got these people to be in this movie is beyond me. Every time K tried to watch it with me, he started getting depressed and asked me to change the channel, but I argued that I wanted to see it because it was true. (even if farfetched) So he kept leaving. It got very strange at the end.
Then I got to the credits and saw that it was a "fictionalized account" of her life. I was a little ticked off about that. I was unaware of her preoccupation with freak-show and circus (and naked) people, but I prefer to think it was a reaction against an upbringing where everything looked perfect.
I looked up her husband later, as the handsome Ty Burrell from Modern Family played him. Turns out Allan Arbus went on to become an actor, and played Dr. Friedman in MASH.
I thought that was interesting, although Diane's pic of Disneyland isn't mentioned online as one of her more famous photos.
----------------
I may have mentioned that I tear up easily. Even in movies that aren't sad, if something touching happens I get all teary.
A few weeks ago I was reading a book that wasn't even sad - "Shopaholic and Sister." Who would cry at that, right? But she was just so misunderstood in the book, and tears just kept escaping from my eyes, prompting K to ask me, "Are you enjoying your book?"
Then a new movie came on TV, "Love Happens." It really got sad at the end when the main character relives the death of his wife, and I was off crying again. It got so bad that I had to go downstairs and hide because my eyes were all red and puffy and I didn't want to have to explain it to my kids.
======================
By the way, Jenny McCarthy has been out promoting her new book, "Love, Lust, and Faking it." I saw it in the library, so I decided to take look at it. I was looking for dish about what happened with Jim Carrey, and I really enjoyed reading about her son's autism.
I read nearly the whole thing in an hour in the library, and there's NO DISH in there about Jim Carrey! So, no need to buy it. It's just her opinions or things that happened to her - her first boyfriend, etc. It has some good advice in there I guess (don't expect that just because you date a loser that he's going to appreciate it/you.)
I already told my daughter that, so that's not news to me.
Last night I started watching the movie "Fur" on the Sundance channel because the info said it was about the photographer Diane Arbus (starring Nicole Kidman). I had seen a photo of hers of the Disney castle with a swan out front that looked slightly menacing, and because of that I was interested in learning more about her.
Anyway, the movie had her falling in love with Robert Downey Jr, who was a hairy man out of a freak show. How they got these people to be in this movie is beyond me. Every time K tried to watch it with me, he started getting depressed and asked me to change the channel, but I argued that I wanted to see it because it was true. (even if farfetched) So he kept leaving. It got very strange at the end.
Then I got to the credits and saw that it was a "fictionalized account" of her life. I was a little ticked off about that. I was unaware of her preoccupation with freak-show and circus (and naked) people, but I prefer to think it was a reaction against an upbringing where everything looked perfect.
I looked up her husband later, as the handsome Ty Burrell from Modern Family played him. Turns out Allan Arbus went on to become an actor, and played Dr. Friedman in MASH.
I thought that was interesting, although Diane's pic of Disneyland isn't mentioned online as one of her more famous photos.
----------------
I may have mentioned that I tear up easily. Even in movies that aren't sad, if something touching happens I get all teary.
A few weeks ago I was reading a book that wasn't even sad - "Shopaholic and Sister." Who would cry at that, right? But she was just so misunderstood in the book, and tears just kept escaping from my eyes, prompting K to ask me, "Are you enjoying your book?"
Then a new movie came on TV, "Love Happens." It really got sad at the end when the main character relives the death of his wife, and I was off crying again. It got so bad that I had to go downstairs and hide because my eyes were all red and puffy and I didn't want to have to explain it to my kids.
======================
By the way, Jenny McCarthy has been out promoting her new book, "Love, Lust, and Faking it." I saw it in the library, so I decided to take look at it. I was looking for dish about what happened with Jim Carrey, and I really enjoyed reading about her son's autism.
I read nearly the whole thing in an hour in the library, and there's NO DISH in there about Jim Carrey! So, no need to buy it. It's just her opinions or things that happened to her - her first boyfriend, etc. It has some good advice in there I guess (don't expect that just because you date a loser that he's going to appreciate it/you.)
I already told my daughter that, so that's not news to me.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Life is a work of art
Last week I heard that Demi Lovato had to go into "treatment" and not finish her tour with the Jonas Brothers. It seems that Joe Jonas broke up with her, and who would want to stay on tour with your ex who already moved on to a new girlfriend?
Evidently she had eating issues and was cutting herself too. I told the Girl about this, and noted that it can be hard being a teenager or young adult at times, and encouraged her to ask for help if she needs it, like Demi did.
It's sad too, because she just released a song saying, "Every day is a new canvas", that I found inspirational. I know she didn't write it necessarily, and it can be hard to live in your highest ideals when things seem tough. I guess I just wish she listened to the song herself.
--------------------------
Everyday is like a blank canvas
You know you can paint it anyway you want it
You can draw a black cloud
You can make the sun shine
Coloring a rainbow
or use black and white
---------------------------
A few weeks ago K went to see a football game the boys from his camp were playing. Turned out they were playing Campbell Hall, a private school in the Valley. When he got home K said that Dakota Phanning was Homecoming Queen!
Wow. Good for her. She got the typical high-school experience!
Not.
Evidently she had eating issues and was cutting herself too. I told the Girl about this, and noted that it can be hard being a teenager or young adult at times, and encouraged her to ask for help if she needs it, like Demi did.
It's sad too, because she just released a song saying, "Every day is a new canvas", that I found inspirational. I know she didn't write it necessarily, and it can be hard to live in your highest ideals when things seem tough. I guess I just wish she listened to the song herself.
--------------------------
Everyday is like a blank canvas
You know you can paint it anyway you want it
You can draw a black cloud
You can make the sun shine
Coloring a rainbow
or use black and white
---------------------------
A few weeks ago K went to see a football game the boys from his camp were playing. Turned out they were playing Campbell Hall, a private school in the Valley. When he got home K said that Dakota Phanning was Homecoming Queen!
Wow. Good for her. She got the typical high-school experience!
Not.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Last Night
Just so you know, falling asleep on the couch can be very dangerous.
Last night, actually this morning, I woke up at 3am on the couch. The TV was on, and I jumped up, confused. I didn't realize that my foot had also fallen asleep, though, and when I jumped up, it declined to support me.
It collapsed under me I didn't really fall or hurt myself, but I twisted my ankle pretty badly.
You don't realize how fully you're trusting one foot to hold you up until you're fully on it. Like when you step off a curb, and your ankle hurts.
So just be careful out there. No more falling asleep on the couch.
Last night, actually this morning, I woke up at 3am on the couch. The TV was on, and I jumped up, confused. I didn't realize that my foot had also fallen asleep, though, and when I jumped up, it declined to support me.
It collapsed under me I didn't really fall or hurt myself, but I twisted my ankle pretty badly.
You don't realize how fully you're trusting one foot to hold you up until you're fully on it. Like when you step off a curb, and your ankle hurts.
So just be careful out there. No more falling asleep on the couch.
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
Guilty
I've been feeling guilty about the thought of telling the Girl's Coach that she's leaving the team. He's been such a great coach for her for so many years - 5 or 6 years now. He indulges her drama and tendency to miss practice now and then. He's been good for her, but now she has a chance to get onto a better team on a club that's known for getting scholarships for the girls. Plus if she's on this club, she'll have a better shot at playing in High School.
So I feel like I'm breaking up with someone I really like. K asked me if he should tell him today, but I keep delaying it. I'm hoping something will happen that will make it so that we won't have to tell him at all.
We'll see what happens...
So I feel like I'm breaking up with someone I really like. K asked me if he should tell him today, but I keep delaying it. I'm hoping something will happen that will make it so that we won't have to tell him at all.
We'll see what happens...
Monday, November 08, 2010
Soccer Sucks
The Girl's latest soccer season ended badly and abruptly. Going into last weekend, we were playing two beatable teams. Her team has not been winning overall, but they've been playing well. They just can't score!On Sat we played the next to worst team that had come up from Bronze this season, and were losing 0-1 most of the game. Then the Coach moved the 2 best girls (including the Girl) to the front to try and score, and boom, boom, boom - the other team scored 3 times in 5 minutes.
We scored once after that, but it was over. At least the Girl had a sleepover that night to look forward to.
Sunday they played better. This team was doing well in the league, but only beat us by one goal last game, so we felt it was doable. We were losing 0-1 when the Girl tried a little too hard to get the ball, and accidentally kicked an opponent in the face - and got a red card. Which means she's out and the team plays short one player, plus she can't play in the next game. The last game of the season.
This was no relaxed league like this summer's though, because even though I tried to tell the ref it was accidental, he said it didn't matter. I know it sounds bad, but I also know she was just trying hard.
She was crying and said, "This is the last game I'll ever play with this team!" and I said, Hey! They don't know that yet! Plus, we might play in some tournaments with them, or you might decide the other team is too hard core and you'd rather come back.
I tried to cheer her up, but after awhile she wanted me to leave her alone.
The team was a little stunned after that, and got scored on again right away. Another of her team got hurt and they had to play down 2 players for awhile! They ended up losing 0-3, but the team played a lot better than the score indicates.
So we have one more week of practice and another game, but the Girl can't play.
I talked with the coach of the team she wants to go to, and they are struggling with injuries and such too.
We'll have to see what happens.
Sunday, November 07, 2010
Jimmy Carter?
Last night I dreamed I came home (to our old house) and my Dad was sitting in the living room with Jimmy Carter!
I was annoyed that my Dad had let him in and hadn't even picked up the house, so I went around picking up laundry baskets, etc., and taking them to my room.
I asked Mr. Carter if he wanted any tea or anything, but he declined. I asked what he was up to lately, and he said nothing. I said, "Really? There are no causes you want to get behind?" And he said no, he didn't have to do anything anymore, he was retired.
Later he asked me how Rick was doing, and I said, "You know I'm married to K, right? Not Rick."
That was pretty much it. I wonder what the heck it could mean!
I was annoyed that my Dad had let him in and hadn't even picked up the house, so I went around picking up laundry baskets, etc., and taking them to my room.
I asked Mr. Carter if he wanted any tea or anything, but he declined. I asked what he was up to lately, and he said nothing. I said, "Really? There are no causes you want to get behind?" And he said no, he didn't have to do anything anymore, he was retired.
Later he asked me how Rick was doing, and I said, "You know I'm married to K, right? Not Rick."
That was pretty much it. I wonder what the heck it could mean!
Saturday, November 06, 2010
Migraine Pills
I have been getting migraines for many years. I was lucky to find a medicine that worked for me, but I have a major complaint against the packaging.
The first med came 3 pills to a little plastic box. I felt it was wrong to throw them out, so I didn't really know what to do with all the leftovers. They were packaged carefully, so I guess it's bad for the pills to get somehow smashed or punctured.
Now, they changed my Rx as my old med is now not covered, and I had to use a new one, that I might even like better than the old pills. But why, why, why is it so hard to get to them?
OK, I already have a headache. Now I have to figure out how to get to the stupid pill?
The new pills come in a regular box, which I like. They are in plastic bubbles, on a sheet of 3 pills. They are perforated, so you can get them apart, but here's where it gets tricky.
There's a triangle at the edge which can bend and snap off (also perforated),with a thin covering of foil on top of a layer of something else. The thing is that when you use the triangle and try to peel the foil back, it doesn't work. It's very hard to get the foil back, but even if you do, you have to get through the layer of paper or whatever below it.
And remember, I have a headache. I usually end up poking my fingernail through the layers I can, and peeling it back to expose the hopefully unharmed pill.
I don't know what they are afraid of happening to that pill that would be worse than my trying to poke it out with my fingernail!
The first med came 3 pills to a little plastic box. I felt it was wrong to throw them out, so I didn't really know what to do with all the leftovers. They were packaged carefully, so I guess it's bad for the pills to get somehow smashed or punctured.
Now, they changed my Rx as my old med is now not covered, and I had to use a new one, that I might even like better than the old pills. But why, why, why is it so hard to get to them?
OK, I already have a headache. Now I have to figure out how to get to the stupid pill?
The new pills come in a regular box, which I like. They are in plastic bubbles, on a sheet of 3 pills. They are perforated, so you can get them apart, but here's where it gets tricky.
There's a triangle at the edge which can bend and snap off (also perforated),with a thin covering of foil on top of a layer of something else. The thing is that when you use the triangle and try to peel the foil back, it doesn't work. It's very hard to get the foil back, but even if you do, you have to get through the layer of paper or whatever below it.
And remember, I have a headache. I usually end up poking my fingernail through the layers I can, and peeling it back to expose the hopefully unharmed pill.
I don't know what they are afraid of happening to that pill that would be worse than my trying to poke it out with my fingernail!
Friday, November 05, 2010
Lost Info
The other day I was in the tax office, and answered the phone. A man was calling with a question - he knew that his ex-wife had filed an extension, but he didn't have a copy of it. He wanted to file his taxes, but he didn't have his ex's SSN nor that of his step-daughter. He'd need those to file as MFJ or MFS.
I asked if he couldn't look at some past returns or papers that might have it, but he said no, his ex took everything. I asked if he couldn't just call her and ask, but he said she wasn't responding to his calls or emails.
For some reason, I brought up how he was going to file for this year, and he said, "Oh, I'll be filing as married. Because I'm married again."
OK, now I understand why he doesn't have any paperwork and why his ex won't return his calls.
Not sure I feel sorry for this guy...
I asked if he couldn't look at some past returns or papers that might have it, but he said no, his ex took everything. I asked if he couldn't just call her and ask, but he said she wasn't responding to his calls or emails.
For some reason, I brought up how he was going to file for this year, and he said, "Oh, I'll be filing as married. Because I'm married again."
OK, now I understand why he doesn't have any paperwork and why his ex won't return his calls.
Not sure I feel sorry for this guy...
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Phantom Bank Account
We all know that there's been quite a turnover in backs in the last year or so. K was at a bank we don't usually use, for the Boy's loan, when they talked him into signing up for a new checking account.
The lady had gone on and on about how there were NO FEEs, and that finally convinced K to put $500 into a new account there. Later, K went to check on his account, but the bank had changed names and for awhile they couldn't find his account! He was somewhat troubled by that, but was happy that in the end they found his money.
Well, he didn't check on the account much, because he didn't use it. Last month he checked it again, and found that the bank had taken $75 out of the account! They had taken nearly 20% of the whole deposit!
Naturally upset, he made them check to see what had happened. It seems that they forgot what kind of account it was, decided it was the kind of account where they subtract $25/month for some reason.
He made them credit the account for what they had needlessly subtracted, but came away rather upset with the whole thing. Banks have a reputation of being so rule-based and having to do the right thing, but the truth is that they'll do whatever they can get away with!
He went back to that bank on Monday for something else, and found that the bank had deducted another $25 (now that it was November.) Frustrated, he made them credit the account again, and he withdrew the whole $500.
He said he could see the woman who had sold him on the account cringing in the background.
The lady had gone on and on about how there were NO FEEs, and that finally convinced K to put $500 into a new account there. Later, K went to check on his account, but the bank had changed names and for awhile they couldn't find his account! He was somewhat troubled by that, but was happy that in the end they found his money.
Well, he didn't check on the account much, because he didn't use it. Last month he checked it again, and found that the bank had taken $75 out of the account! They had taken nearly 20% of the whole deposit!
Naturally upset, he made them check to see what had happened. It seems that they forgot what kind of account it was, decided it was the kind of account where they subtract $25/month for some reason.
He made them credit the account for what they had needlessly subtracted, but came away rather upset with the whole thing. Banks have a reputation of being so rule-based and having to do the right thing, but the truth is that they'll do whatever they can get away with!
He went back to that bank on Monday for something else, and found that the bank had deducted another $25 (now that it was November.) Frustrated, he made them credit the account again, and he withdrew the whole $500.
He said he could see the woman who had sold him on the account cringing in the background.
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