Rose's Roadly Recommendations

Just to be fair and balanced (see next entry), here's a few recommendations if you're ever on a road trip with 4 cats or other small cantankerous creatures.

• Red Roof Inn

  Allows pets to stay free. Many hotels won't accept them at all. Others require additional funds ranging from $5-$25/night.

• White Castle

  I stopped here because some ex-Chicagoans speak of it like Lourdes or Fatima. Instead of healing, they serve teensy little hamburgers, a couple of inches in diameter. They also let pets come inside. A counter girl wanted to see my cats and confirmed this with the manager. However, her eyes glazed over when I said I had 4, so I declined to put everyone through that. It would have been a pain to unload 4 carriers anyway, and one of the cats had learned how to unlatch the carrier.

• Sonic

  And all other blessed drive-ins.

• Anti-recommendation:

Pay-by-card cell phones. I was charged three times for one purchase of minutes. Also, the number they gave me had recently been someone else's, and I couldn't set up voice mail because I didn't know her password. People calling me heard, "Hi, this is Crystal," and I started ignoring any number I didn't recognize because I was wasting my minutes on Crystal's calls. Also their tech support seemed to be located in a foreign country where it was hard to make yourself understood (a regrettable trend). And 24/7 seems to be 24 minutes/day, 7 employees.

However, the phone can still be used to make emergency calls even when you have no more minutes. One night I got a call from the police, asking if anyone in the house had dialed 911. No, not even the cats. (They've been known to call California.) I told them about this phone feature, that probably a previous user of the phone number had made the call. Perhaps they could call the cell phone company and get her name...but how would they find her? The number now led back to me. Crystal, I hope you're okay.

6:26:16 PM    

These Are a Few of My Least Favorite Things

Just your standard rants here as I try to get set up in a new place.

1. Organizations who must have your social security number to work with you.

Your landlord, phone company (land and cell), gas company, electric company, COBRA. Of course, I'm sure all these folks employ 100% totally, radically honest people, as do all the government agencies who process your tax forms. But why should thieves go through stinky garbage when we have to wave these precious #s around just to get basic services?

2. Organizations who persist in misdirecting my mail.

I try to make it clear that I want I my mail sent to my post office box. Why?

• Keeping unwanted media out of my life is a full-time job. I'd rather sort it and pitch it at the post office.
• Mail doesn't come to your house any more anyway. My neighborhood mail box is 4 blocks away; the post office just slightly further.
• I can share my contact info without letting you know where I live.
• I can deal with packages, certified letters, insufficient postage, etc. right on the spot.
• Unlike New England, the box lobbies are open early and late. (Massachusetts: Twice the Price! Half the Service!)
•  

3. Landlords

And all other bully organizations that treat you like criminals and claim they have no responsibility when their neglect ruins your furniture and they know you won't take them to court.

4. Html email

What Charlie said.

5. Organizations who post job listings with special presentation demands and neglect to remove them after they've been filled.

Self-explanatory.

6. Organizations that decide what your name is.

I kid you not, in Texas it's a law that your first name, the very first name on your birth certificate, must be on your driver's license. And you're only allowed 3. I'm known by Middle Maiden Married. So say my checks, credit cards, all other ID. But my DL, which I will always need as ID for those other things, will say First Middle Married. I forsee some interesting conversations, particularly at airport gates.

Enough of the gripes. Happy Assumption Day, all.

6:07:48 PM