The Holidays Can Be Hectic

Cheap, Good Malbec

PHOTO VIA WINE.COM
Because I don't know anything about wine (and probably never will, truly), I have been lookin' at Malbecs because I heard it was, you know, "in." I know. Who cares. But I "discovered" a tasty Malbec at Spec's. So next time you're stuck in the wine aisle, give Alamos Malbec Mendoza Seleccion 2007 a try. $9.02 after tax.

Chatting with a Robot

PHOTO VIA FLICKRER BANALITIES

I recently canceled my eFax account, with a robot. Herewith my J2Global Chat Session with Megan F.:

The session has been accepted.

{Ann}

Hello

{Megan F.}

Hello, Ann. Welcome to j2 Global online support. I am Megan, your online Live Support Representative. How may I assist you?

{Ann}

A couple of things. First, I need to cancel my account.

{Megan F.}

I am sorry to hear that you wish to cancel. Can you please provide me with your Fax number which you wish to cancel and PIN for verification?

{Megan F.}

I am waiting for your response.

{Megan F.}

Ann, are you online with me?

{Ann}

Sorry!

{Ann}

OK

{Megan F.}

Can you please provide me with your Fax number which you wish to cancel and PIN for verification?

{Ann}

######

{Ann}

PIN is ####

{Megan F.}

Thank you for providing your information. Please give me a moment while I go through your records. In the meantime, please type the number corresponding to your reason for cancellation: 1) Moving to another provider 2) Bought a fax machine 3) Business or role changed 4) Short term project completed 5) Financial reasons 6) Problems with faxing or billing 7) Dissatisfied with quality of service 8) Too costly

{Ann}

5

{Megan F.}

Ann , I understand that currently you do not need the service. In the current situation, we will waive off the monthly fee for two months. This way you will be able to keep your account, which will enable you to send and receive faxes. You will also be able to use all of our services and re-evaluate it for your faxing needs. During this period, you will not be charged any monthly fee. We are suggesting this so that you can give it a second thought, as you will not be paying $11.00 for the next 2 billing cycles.

{Megan F.}

Your eFax account will be credited with EUR$22.00 so that you may utilize our services without being billed our monthly fee for the next two billing cycles. During this 2 months period you will only be charged for sending faxes.

{Megan F.}

Since you will not be charged any monthly fee for the next two billing cycles you could keep the number till then. If at all you find that you need our services during this period, then you will still have the account. If however, you still feel that you do not have any use for our services by the end of this two months credit period, then you can always contact us back anytime. Would you like that?

{Ann}

I don't need the service :)

{Megan F.}

I completely understand your wish to discontinue, since you have already paid for the month, we do not want you to lose out on the money. I suggest you to retain this number at least till the end of two months credit offer as you will not be charged any monthly fee for the two months. As a good will gesture to continue our association we will offer you an additional gift balance of EUR$10 along with the monthly credit which will enable to send some additional fax pages free of cost.

{Megan F.}

During this two months credit period, you can keep this service active and if you use it once in these two months we will be more than happy that we were able to serve you. During this period only usage charges would be applicable for any faxes sent.

{Megan F.}

If you do not wish to continue beyond this waiver period, then there is no obligation to continue. There are no contracts. All you would need to do is, contact us just once, anytime during this credit period to re-confirm your decision. We are at your service, round the clock, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

{Megan F.}

You can reevaluate your faxing needs during this period.

{Ann}

In fact, I opened an account to send one fax and am not sure it even worked.

{Megan F.}

Ann, did you go through my above set of response?

{Ann}

Yes.

{Megan F.}

Just to confirm do you wish to accept the above offer?

{Ann}

I would like to cancel now and hopefully be reimbursed for at least the past month.

{Ann}

No.

{Megan F.}

I am sorry as per the records there is no refund applicable.

{Megan F.}

Okay, I understand and respect your decision for cancellation. I will cancel your account with us immediately.

{Megan F.}

Is there anything else, I can assist you with?

{Ann}

I cannot be credited at all?

{Megan F.}

I am sorry as per the records there is no refund applicable.

{Ann}

(Are you a robot?)

{Ann}

OK please just cancel my account.

{Megan F.}

As per your request I will cancel your account with us immediately .

{Megan F.}

Is there anything else, I can assist you with?

{Ann}

No, thank you.

{Ann}

Will I receive a confirmation email?

{Megan F.}

We are sorry that you have decided to leave eFax, but if your faxing needs do change in the future, we would be more than happy to have you back.

{Megan F.}

Thank you for contacting j2 Global online support. Goodbye and take care.

{Megan F.}

Yes, you will get an e-mail confirmation regarding cancellation of your account at your registered e-mail address after ending this chat session.

The user has ended the session.

Best Facebook Message Ever

--------------------
Subject: Facebook question

Do you handle your Facebook business in a certain order? For example, let's say you log in tomorrow and have a photo comment, a message, and a friend request. Do you have a particular order for handling this? Is there are a reason behind it?

Answer this question, and I'll tell you why I'm asking.
--------------------

Hell shit, I'll answer this question. I hope it wasn't a mass message!

Right, Right

From Daily Intel:

Dan has gotten a lot twitchier lately, a little more awkward. The whole apricot-muffin situation was kind of over-the-top. Jenny notices, too: "You still have feelings for her, right?" she says, adding slowly: "Do you think you could put them into words and say them out loud?" Plus 3.

Until Next Year, Gossip Girl

PHOTO VIA E! ONLINE

As far as Gossip Girl goes, reading anything other than Daily Intel's weekly reality index is like watching Beta Chuck and New Blair.

Last night's episode was good, for several reasons. Ed Westwick acts (a bit too hoarsely but who cares), and I laughed out loud a couple times, once when Jenny says to Dan, "OK, so can you put those feelings into words and say it out loud?" or something like that.

I really thought the episode ended when Blair and Chuck hold each other. GAWD. Shows how much I care about Lily's big secret, which turns out to be an abortion, after which she goes to a mental (?) hospital in France?? Pourquoi??

Other notables:

• No Vanessa this week. Do people (in this case, Nate) not bring dates to funerals?
• Good casting for Cece! I know we've seen her before, but this episode I thought, good casting, she could be Lily's mother!
  
• Blair looks really pretty at Eleanor and Cyrus's wedding. Love that she covers her eyes when they kiss.
• Serena. She always sounds like she's drowsy as hell/about to die.
  

About This Time Last Year

C punched me, twice. As much as holidays depress me, I enjoy looking back and remembering the year.

After throwing an unforgettable holiday party with my roommate (there was a champagne room), I went to Paris, where I finished school and received my B. Arch. When I returned I managed to find a job in Houston, of all places. In the past year I've grown closer with old friends and have made new ones as well.

I didn't intend for this to be a year in review sort of thing, but here are some highlights of 2008:

A
peeling avocados

B
barbacoa tacos
Belgian for Beginners
Boom Boom Room
brisket, sometimes from Goode Co., sometimes from Lockhart, Texas

C
first camping experience
"Canadian Girl" live at Walter's
Jack in the Box Cheesy Macaroni Bites
my couch

D
Daily Intel's weekly Gossip Girl reality index
Dear Old Love

E
El Rey
my external hard drive

F
"Foolproof" by Ron Sexsmith
fresh tulips, sometimes

G
Gmail video chat
the color grey
my gym

H
a lot of hot dogs
Hypem
J. Crew cords

I
IKEA GRÖNÖ lamps

J

K
KFC and Gossip Girl

L
Laredo Taqueria
Last.fm

M
Mad Men
Mission Burrito

N

O
President-elect Obama

P
Patricia Waller
Pink's Pizza
the Poison Girl tamale guy

Q

R
remixes

S
the return of SNL

T
The Heights
The Wire

U

V
Subway Veggie Delite

W
the original Barnaby's Waffle Fries with Blue Cheese Fondue
Warren's Inn

X

Y
yoga class on Sunday

Z