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Been busy and suffering from my cold. The nose isn't as bad as the cough. Nose clearing up, which means I've passed the runny runny stage and the stuffed so that I can't breathe stage (the scary one when I also have a cough), and am at the nosewell stage. Skip these next couple of lines if you're disturbed by talk of mucus. I've called this stage the "nosewell" stage since I was a child, and it's because when I blow my nose there's tons of mucus--it just doesn't stop...it's gusher!!! If I could market it I'd be rich...
My cough is hanging on but at least I can sleep now (I had a really hard time for two nights). It's a deep one and I'm trying to get it up higher. I'm sure that working in Robert's apt hasn't helped. Friends knowledgable about old apartments with tons of old books and stuff (like Rick and Claire) told me that I should have worked with a face mask on and Rick says books carry all kinds of disgusting things with them as they rot. And yes, I'm allergic to both dust and mixed molds....
So it's very likely that I won't be going back to Robert's apt again. Most of stuff has been or is being cleared out this week. I was there Tuesday for about three hours beginning to sort the books in the kitchen while a book dealer was working in the back room. I couldn't stand it after three hours (burnt out and feeling crappy) so waiting for him in the coffee shop down the street eating dinner there and reading my newspaper.
Ellie made me make an appointment with my doctor to check out my cough. So I've got an appt with the nurse practitioner Wednesday (my doc's out of the office till May 5th)...to ask if I need an inhaler... if I might have some asthma--although I usually don't have trouble breathing unless the two conditions happen: stuffed nose/bad cough. Claire and Rick don't think I do (CLaire does, so she should know). But I'll go and have a talk anyway.
Discovered a new restaurant near me. It's been there a year but I just never checked it out--Bourbon Street Southern Gourmet Pantry-- It's a southern/New Orleans type of comfort food place and breakfast there was divine. I had cheese grits--I didn't know grits were that good. Like polenta. Texas toast with honey. Hazelnut coffee which made me realize I need to adjust my mix of coffee beans from Porto Rico Trading Company from 1/4 pound hazelnut to one pound coffee on sale to 1/2 a pound hazelnut to one pound of coffee.
Just in time to take the place of my long beloved Florent, in the Meatpacking district across from where I live which closes June 29th thanks to a greedy landlord. Florent's passing is the final nail in the coffin of what was once a vital neighborhood that has been transformed into a shell--literally--of what it was. The facades are landmarked, the neighborhood is landmarked...but all that means is the building exteriors are the same as they were but are now filled with designer shops, expensive restaurants and effing tourists.
Going to New Kingston, NY tomorrow (not near Kingston, where I'm taking the bus to first) to visit my friend John. The country for the weekend! John says the flowers are all in bloom! Can I stand it for that long? We'll see.
We're hanging out in Kingston first where I'll be shown what I hear is a very pretty waterfront and then we're going to the theater that evening either with another friend I haven't seen in years or to see that friend in the play--John isn't sure. Then a long drive to New Kingston and our friend Donni is joining us tomorrow. I haven't been to John's house yet (he moved there from Brooklyn about a year ago)but I gather it's big. Maybe some yard-sailing. John's thinking of throwing a party Saturday night--I guess he'd be inviting a bunch of old friends who have moved up north in the general area but I wonder if they'd be amenable at such short notice...hmmm.
So that's what I've been up to.
My cough is hanging on but at least I can sleep now (I had a really hard time for two nights). It's a deep one and I'm trying to get it up higher. I'm sure that working in Robert's apt hasn't helped. Friends knowledgable about old apartments with tons of old books and stuff (like Rick and Claire) told me that I should have worked with a face mask on and Rick says books carry all kinds of disgusting things with them as they rot. And yes, I'm allergic to both dust and mixed molds....
So it's very likely that I won't be going back to Robert's apt again. Most of stuff has been or is being cleared out this week. I was there Tuesday for about three hours beginning to sort the books in the kitchen while a book dealer was working in the back room. I couldn't stand it after three hours (burnt out and feeling crappy) so waiting for him in the coffee shop down the street eating dinner there and reading my newspaper.
Ellie made me make an appointment with my doctor to check out my cough. So I've got an appt with the nurse practitioner Wednesday (my doc's out of the office till May 5th)...to ask if I need an inhaler... if I might have some asthma--although I usually don't have trouble breathing unless the two conditions happen: stuffed nose/bad cough. Claire and Rick don't think I do (CLaire does, so she should know). But I'll go and have a talk anyway.
Discovered a new restaurant near me. It's been there a year but I just never checked it out--Bourbon Street Southern Gourmet Pantry-- It's a southern/New Orleans type of comfort food place and breakfast there was divine. I had cheese grits--I didn't know grits were that good. Like polenta. Texas toast with honey. Hazelnut coffee which made me realize I need to adjust my mix of coffee beans from Porto Rico Trading Company from 1/4 pound hazelnut to one pound coffee on sale to 1/2 a pound hazelnut to one pound of coffee.
Just in time to take the place of my long beloved Florent, in the Meatpacking district across from where I live which closes June 29th thanks to a greedy landlord. Florent's passing is the final nail in the coffin of what was once a vital neighborhood that has been transformed into a shell--literally--of what it was. The facades are landmarked, the neighborhood is landmarked...but all that means is the building exteriors are the same as they were but are now filled with designer shops, expensive restaurants and effing tourists.
Going to New Kingston, NY tomorrow (not near Kingston, where I'm taking the bus to first) to visit my friend John. The country for the weekend! John says the flowers are all in bloom! Can I stand it for that long? We'll see.
We're hanging out in Kingston first where I'll be shown what I hear is a very pretty waterfront and then we're going to the theater that evening either with another friend I haven't seen in years or to see that friend in the play--John isn't sure. Then a long drive to New Kingston and our friend Donni is joining us tomorrow. I haven't been to John's house yet (he moved there from Brooklyn about a year ago)but I gather it's big. Maybe some yard-sailing. John's thinking of throwing a party Saturday night--I guess he'd be inviting a bunch of old friends who have moved up north in the general area but I wonder if they'd be amenable at such short notice...hmmm.
So that's what I've been up to.
Here's the letter I'm actually sending:
April 24, 2008
UPS Corporate Headquarters
55 Glenlake Parkway, NE
Atlanta , GA 30328
United States
To whom it may concern:
I’ve used UPS pick up service for several years, but in the past year the service has become spectacularly bad. I always phoned in my pickups and although there were occasional bungles I was pretty happy with it. I decided to try your online service. A few weeks ago, I put through the order, received a tracking number and waited--I called at 7pm to find out where the driver was and was asked for my “request number.” As I had other received a tracking number, I was nonplussed, but the person on the phone managed to get some poor UPS guy out here around 9pm.
Yesterday, I was very careful when I created my online order and looked specifically for such a “request number” but no option for such a number ever came up as I filled in the online forms. So just to make sure everything was ok when the order was put through I phoned UPS to find out why I didn’t not receive an option for such a “request number” and see if I could get help for acquiring one. The person on the phone talked me through the online form --(which no place indicated that such a thing as “request number” exists) by clicking on some arcane part of the form that is a mystery…and voila! A request number was issued. So I was happy.
At least until today. At 5:08 I called UPS because guess what? NO PICKUP although I received email confirmation and online confirmation that today’s pick up (scheduled yesterday) would be by 5pm. I read my request number to the person on the phone and guess what? It’s NOT IN THE FRIGGING SYSTEM! She said she could reschedule a pickup for tomorrow and I calmly explained that it’s got to be today as I’ve been waiting ALL day for the pick up stuck in my apt and besides I was leaving town tomorrow. She said she’d call one of the drivers and have him pick the package up this evening (and that someone would call me back to confirm this).
6:05pm: After a discussion with yet another UPS minion, I discovered that there was still no record of the pick up in the system. I had to give the man on the phone my credit card info and for the privilege of the screw-up I was charged the $5+ pick up charge for same day pick rather than the $3+ charge for next day pick up ordered online. At the very least, I want that money back! This all despite the fact that I received confirmations yesterday via email and online for the initial missing pick up. Someone (supposedly) will pick up the carton by midnight. Lucky me. I’m switching over to the USPS for future pick-ups. Your service has been unbelievably awful. How do you stay in business?
A former customer
Finale: The very nice UPS man just came (8:50 pm).
April 24, 2008
UPS Corporate Headquarters
55 Glenlake Parkway, NE
Atlanta , GA 30328
United States
To whom it may concern:
I’ve used UPS pick up service for several years, but in the past year the service has become spectacularly bad. I always phoned in my pickups and although there were occasional bungles I was pretty happy with it. I decided to try your online service. A few weeks ago, I put through the order, received a tracking number and waited--I called at 7pm to find out where the driver was and was asked for my “request number.” As I had other received a tracking number, I was nonplussed, but the person on the phone managed to get some poor UPS guy out here around 9pm.
Yesterday, I was very careful when I created my online order and looked specifically for such a “request number” but no option for such a number ever came up as I filled in the online forms. So just to make sure everything was ok when the order was put through I phoned UPS to find out why I didn’t not receive an option for such a “request number” and see if I could get help for acquiring one. The person on the phone talked me through the online form --(which no place indicated that such a thing as “request number” exists) by clicking on some arcane part of the form that is a mystery…and voila! A request number was issued. So I was happy.
At least until today. At 5:08 I called UPS because guess what? NO PICKUP although I received email confirmation and online confirmation that today’s pick up (scheduled yesterday) would be by 5pm. I read my request number to the person on the phone and guess what? It’s NOT IN THE FRIGGING SYSTEM! She said she could reschedule a pickup for tomorrow and I calmly explained that it’s got to be today as I’ve been waiting ALL day for the pick up stuck in my apt and besides I was leaving town tomorrow. She said she’d call one of the drivers and have him pick the package up this evening (and that someone would call me back to confirm this).
6:05pm: After a discussion with yet another UPS minion, I discovered that there was still no record of the pick up in the system. I had to give the man on the phone my credit card info and for the privilege of the screw-up I was charged the $5+ pick up charge for same day pick rather than the $3+ charge for next day pick up ordered online. At the very least, I want that money back! This all despite the fact that I received confirmations yesterday via email and online for the initial missing pick up. Someone (supposedly) will pick up the carton by midnight. Lucky me. I’m switching over to the USPS for future pick-ups. Your service has been unbelievably awful. How do you stay in business?
A former customer
Finale: The very nice UPS man just came (8:50 pm).
.