The Good, The Bad, and…

On second thought – just the good and the bad.  Nothing else.

THE GOOD

We just had a visit from some relatives I’ve never met.  I am relieved to be able to put this in the "good" category.  Yeah, sure, they’re family…but hey – when you come right down to it, that doesn’t mean I’m gonna like them!  My cousine, his wife and their two kids were on vacation (from Oakland) visiting family.  They went to the norhteast to visit her family and then came here to visit Daddy dearest.  Daddy and Cousin have been corresponding rather regularly for the past year or so – and I guess he felt it was time to meet the ‘renegade’ part of the family. 

Daddy dearest was on his best behavior.  He was charming and kind.  He even offered to hang out thier laundry for them.  Yes – hang it out on the line.  She-cousin likes the laundry better when hung on the line and not put in the dryer.  Daddy dearest likes his laundry that way, too.  So when they were running late for their kyaking trip at the beach, Daddy dearest offered up his dryer.  They refused, wanting the sun dried laundry.  Daddy dearest says – go on!  I’ll hang it up.  And he began to hang.  The SECOND they were gone, he threw it all into the dryer.  You just gotta love that man.  No really.  If I didn’t love him, I’d be in jail for assault at the very least.

Still, Daddy’s shenanigans aside, it was nice to connect up with a piece of the family.  They were very nice and only mildly strange.  Maybe not even strange – just eccentric.  Yes, that’s it.  Eccentric.  No one in my family could be truly odd….

THE BAD

Why does "the bad" always have to do with money?  ugh.  Last month’s electric bill was DOUBLE my usual bill.  Coming in the summer months when money is scarce for a teacher – it was a real stretch.  I meant to call them to see what’s up, but was just never in the mood to deal with the customer no-service people.  So I paid it.  We just won’t eat until Friday.  Today the new electric bill came in – at HALF the usual bill.  Can somebody please make sense of this for me?  Are they messing with me just because they can? 

I have a long standing dispute with the apartment I lived in while in Atlanta.  A $1900.00 dispute.  Unfortunately for them I believe the statute of limitations for collection of the debt has run out without them filing the appropriate paperwork, etc.  That doesn’t stop them from calling and harassing me however.  Usually, I use my trusty caller ID and don’t answer the phone for any number I don’t know.  Today I answered.

"Ms Wolf""
"yes"
"This is Julie"
"yes"
"I am with WillyBilly Company"
"yes"
"You own $1900.00 to Stupid Apartment Complex"
"and?"
"I am giving you the chance to pay before this goes on your credit report"
"Fine.  Let me check with my attorney and get back to you on that."
"Well if you’re going to be like that – it’s already on your credit report. So there!"  (I SWEAR that’s exactly what she said!!)
"yes"
"Why do you suppose Stupid Apartment Complex placed your debt with us?"
"I guess you need to ask them that question."  and I hung up.

I detest BULLIES!  Do they really think that they can threaten me and I’ll whimper, cry and cringe and somehow cough up $1900.00 that I don’t owe and don’t have? 

Chickie needed her birth control pills filled.  After the miscarriage debacle and all the associated heartache and monetary woes, I said I’d pay for them to MAKE SURE she got them.  This was the first month I bought them.  Imagine my surprise when I went to pay for the pills and was told I owe $50.00.  FOR BIRTH CONROL PILLS??

I asked all the usual questions – is that for one month? yes
Is that AFTER insurance pays? yes
Why are they so expensive? Because the insurance company sets the price.  They tell us how much to charge.  We just charge it.  You saved $8.00.
But my co-pay is $15.00 for perscriptions.  Well, they must not want you to take this medicine so they don’t cover it.
You mean to tell me that the insurance company knows more about my daughter than her doctor does?  They know more about what medicine is good for her than an actual physician?  yes.

I paid the $50.00.  I went home to call the insurance company – who doesn’t accept phone calls on the weekend.  At this point all I can conclude is that the actual name of that ‘higher power’ we pray to……is The Lord Most High Insurance Company.  pft!

Still and all…..life goes on and even though this entry racks up 3 bad to 1 good – The good still weighs more and the turkeys aren’t gonna get me this weekend!  I think I’ll take the dogs back to the puppy beach and try and coax Cassidy into the water……