things that annoy us

...when someone calls and leaves a generic business 800 (toll free) number to call back....

Last week, someone from my parents' Long-term Care insurance company called my home, and hubby took a message and number. He left a message on my cell, but by the time I got the message, it was after office hours. They're not open weekends.

Last week, I was also notified that, since my mom is getting better (rather than worse), she can no longer remain in hospice care. Medicare covers all hospice services and supplies. Now that she's no longer under their care, I must buy/rent whatever equipment and supplies they provided. The hospice social worker provided me with phone numbers to a couple of agencies/businesses that are also not open on the weekend. So....I decided to take the day off to run these errands. But first, I attempt to make a few calls...

I called the hospice Social Worker to find out whether they supplied the disposables...and how much. He did send me a list of equipment, like walker, wheelchair, shower stool, etc. He hasn't gotten back to me. The place where I plan to rent the equipment also has delivery services for the disposables.

As mentioned before, there was a generic toll-free number for the LTC company itself. As I have no idea who or why they called me, I chose to "Select 1 for general questions." I was on hold for a good half hour before I had to be transferred to "Claims." From there, another "gatekeeper" said that I was contacted in reference to the activities in the past month regarding my dad. I told her that he was in and out of the hospital and is in a rehab facility. So, she said that someone would get back to me in 24-48 hours. I told her that I can best be reached TODAY, as I may or may not receive voicemails in a timely manner at work tomorrow.

Well, I get off the phone, turn on the shower, get undressed, and hubby tells me that my phone is ringing...at the other end of the house! He doesn't get to it in time, but hands it to me. Sure enough, there's a message from LTC, leaving me the same toll-free number to call. GRRRRRR!!!! (God forbid, anyone would leave me the number to a direct line!) At this point, I thought, "Screw it, I'm not waiting any longer to take a shower!"

After my shower, I called the 800 number, this time pressing "2 for Claims." After entering Dad's info, I'm given the option of a call-back due to the high volume of calls...GREAT!!! I wait another half hour to receive a call back from what amounts to "Gatekeeper #2," who informs me that the woman who called me earlier is now on the phone with someone else and that she would return my call ASAP. GRRRR!!!!

So, now I'm waiting...

I'd be tearing my hair out, although luckily most of the time when I get this sort of thing I have found a way to sidestep the bottleneck. At least it was a freephone number. I get irritated when given a toll number and avoid using them like the plague.

I presume they are typical Australian wines? I have never had any of her brand.

I wouldn't mind an alcohol-free dessert wine lol I like how they taste and don't care about getting a buzz.

Showing up for an appointment only to be told that it was cancelled.

Facebook often crashes on me: it's a pain.

I know, that happens around here all the time. You have this big sign flashing at you when you are doing the speed limit or lower. 

Screw capped wine bottles.

the fact that I don't know anyone from australia

basically, there is this newsletter I want to sign up to (I've been wanting to for a while)

the catch?

the sign up page only works if you're based in australia. if you try to access it from another country, you get the message sorry, this page only works in australia

if anyone knows anyone from australia (or indeed is from australia themselves!) please contact me. I'm hoping someone can use there address to sign up, then just forward me the newsletter. they don't even need to read it if they don't want to.

Isn't that the norm nowadays?

Corking tools and corks are quite cheap. My ex used to make our wine, it was really quite good...

Modern tools make it effortless.

People who dump their rubbish in the countryside too!