Saturday, April 27, 2013

My Belle

Let me lay the foundation for you:

This time last year I was starting to feel a little anxious about my daughter finishing elementary school.  Middle School is tagged with the negative- and some days- the stories you hear are TRUE.  It is a time when being "different" in any way will make you feel like it is the end of the world.  Parents becoming a necessary evil in the said child's pursuit of happiness.  Hormones start to emerge and eye rolling is a natural response to any and all questions.  It is a time when "laying on the bed" is an activity.  It is hard on a household.  However, it is also a time when doors start to open.  New opportunities arise and kids can "try" new things that interest them.  I like that.  I like the fact that the box has expanded.  
Mackenzie has dabbled in two new things: Archery and Drama.  Drama has stuck- she loves it.  This year she auditioned for the two school plays and got a part each time.  I was proud.  The schedule is tough and some days I had to question the amount of time she was spending on the play and not her school work.
After the last production of the year, she hopped in the car and announced next year the Drama Club would be doing "Beauty and The Beast".

Fast forward to last night-

I saw Mackenzie rummaging through the video drawers and asked her what she was looking for-
she said "didn't I have Beauty and The Beast when I was little"  * inner thoughts to self- your still little PRISS*  I told her "of course, she had all the princess movies".  She continued to rummage and I went about my business.  A few minutes later, I heard the Disney intro on the TV.  She found it.  She watched every single minute of it.  This has not happened since she was around five or six- so inside I was smiling.  I was a dog with a bone.  Old memories of her tromping into Target with her plastic high heels flooded me.  WOW!
After the movie went off she announced she was going to bed.  It was only around 8:00 so I read between the lines:  going to mess with her hair, going to smash in her junk journal, stand in front of her mirror admiring herself- the normal but not sleep.

Around 10:30 I went to the kitchen to (HMMM- THAT IS NOT REALLY IMPORTANT- NO NEED TO GET INTO THAT) anywho- as I was saying, I went into the kitchen and heard Belle- Live in CONCERT-  I walked towards the steps and then I heard Belle talking to..... who exactly?  Chip, Mrs. Potts.... THE BEAST?   I took the first step ( the child talks to herself like I do- Not genetic- must be environmental).. then singing again!   So I listened.  This was so much different than when she is in the shower bellowing out.  I smiled- she has talent.  She sounded beautiful.   She has a great love of the theater and I have a great love for her.  I walked away and let My Belle continue the "play" in the privacy of her little room.
 Note to self- I always KNEW she was Mackenzie Belle - it was the number TWO name on my list when I named her :)  My sweet Grandmother's name was the only one that could have and did change that.

Have a beautiful day!

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

PayPal-

So I have not had a Paypal account in years.. and a month or so ago I was browsing the internet shops and found that an account of this type might be useful.  I love Etsy and other little personal owned boutiques.  Most are scrapbook related that I browse and some have amazing deals on designer products- 75% percent off amazing deals!  mmmhmmm you darn tootin' - hard to pass up!
So after adding to cart a few items on clearance and proceeding to go to checkout- I found my only option of payment was "PAYPAL"- well, guess I need to set one up and link it to the checking account- you know six of one/ half a dozen of the other type deal.  NO BIGGIE.... ahem

So I did.  I entered the account number and scanned in a marriage certificate to change the name on the OLD /UNUSED account that was once out there.  Changed addressed and hopped through all the hoops.

Then I went back to my "little gem of scrapbooking happiness store" and proceeded to add stuff back to cart and check out.  WOOHOO- HAPPY MAIL IS A COMMIN' SOON!  Confirmation email received- ROCK ON SCRAPBOOKING FRIENDS- ROCK ON!

Fast forward  about 4 days.  I get an email from PAYPAL- saying my account number is not valid.  HMMM- not valid you say?- trying a fast one you say?  I disagree- but I will delete and add it back.  So I did.
Wondering if it worked- I decided the only way to know for sure was to test it.. so sadly *sarcasm* I shopped some more, added to cart and clicked on Paypal.  I get another confirmed email- and then to keep an extremely long story somewhat short- 4 days later- a reject notice..

GRRRRRRRR!

One evening around diner time I shared the experience with my NOTECHNICALPROBLEMICAN'TFIX  husband.  So he decided to tinker with the account himself... * at this point and time I would LIKE to point out he did the same exact exercise I had done previously- guess that makes me smart too*  Any who- he attached a back up plan to my account so the orders would go through IF all else failed- okay,  that was nice!

Fast Forward again- a few weeks later....

Another attempt- another failure being blamed on my bank, but never fear they dinged the back up plan. The husband decided to call them on my behalf- he had come to the conclusion that since the bank account was already attached to his Paypal account they must have a glitch in their system.  ummmmm OKAY- sounds good- call them ( inner thoughts- I feel sorry for whoever answers the phone and attempts to argue with him about a technical problem in banking no-less, that is his forte)

This is really long- so sorry-

We called- I talked to the girl and told her the husband had my permission to make whatever changes they needed to make to correct the problem because I have a little person that needed to go to bed.
They are on the phone for over an hour-   at times I hear his voice jump up in sheer desperation and I know the "agent" is not listening to what he is telling her.  She is treating him like a user error moron. (shew- poor lady, she is not too bright)... She keeps telling him they do NOT have glitches in their system.  Their system is infallible * she is going to eat those words*
So after he completed some minor trouble shooting to prove his theory and before he handed me back the phone she admitted- they do have a problem, they are NOT infallible and she would be happy to confirm the account if I could just answer a couple of questions..

It is about to get SKETCHY... I am about to prove the not so bright theory by accident!

Here are the questions she chose to ask me-
1. Dad's name inserted here- how old is he?
My response- he is dead
2. Dad's name inserted here again- how old is he?
My response- he is still dead- *crap on a cracker- what is wrong with her?*
3. Dad's name inserted here AGAIN!  how old is he? ( doorknobs have more intelligence)
My response- Do you think you continue to age when you die?  Does the record or whatever you are looking at not say "DEAD".. He is dead!
4. When was the house on blah blah blah built?
My response- I am going to say 90- I don't live there anymore but I did around 92 or so.. and it was standing when I bought it.
 * I passed this one clearly because she moved on to another one- oh goody*
5. What county is the said house located in- and she listed options-
My response- Jefferson- I passed again
6. What month was INSERT EX-HUSBANDS NAME HERE born?
My Response Unedited " you know what - that is my ex-husband! You have asked about my dead dad and ex husband in less than five minutes- This is BS (said it) - I am not transferring large amounts- you will NEVER see an amount over 100 bucks-  my transactions are and would remain around 20$ or 30 dollars.  My husband has been on the phone with you for an  hour- you know he handed me the friggin' phone- CANCEL THE ACCOUNT there is no store on earth worth this .........
I set the phone down and walked off- the husband picked it up as is she said "I am gonna go ahead and confirm this for you"....
SIGH
As you know, I always like to have a lesson when life tosses me a challenge- SO-What have I learned- Nothing- I have learned NOTHING-  I smoked a bunch- but didn't learn a stinkin' thing.  On second thought... perhaps I did- PayPal- That word is an oxymoron- What A "Fine Mess"!  I wonder if she was a "little pregnant" while she was digging up "forgotten memories".  Oh I digress...