lack of cust svc... a cut that bleeds the sting!

i've been on the phone for hours today. unfortunately i can't say it has been a pleasure. i've been back and forth with the representatives from MetLife in regards to my disability pay. i return to work this coming monday and noticed there was another serious mistake in my payroll from this morning. they now have managed to delay my checks by weeks, fail to credit the right amount of hours, and most recently not even bother to pay me enough to cover one week let alone two!
if it wasn't that i first had a run around with my existing mortgage company during my refinance, now i have people trying to short my pay. needless to say, one was supposed to take care of the other and now both are their own problem.
i have just over enough to cover three bills in my checking account and now MetLife expects me to wait until monday to take this up with HR. wtf - it's certainly not the end of the world but i don't appear to be having the best of luck lately.
i decided the rest of my day (since the good part of it is already shot) is going to be spent eating, watching a movie or two (Pianist and Longest Yard - rented the other day), and hopefully basking in nothingness. i have so much laundry to do but keep pushing it to the side. remind me next time to buy a house with same floor laundry hook-ups. i know, how f*in lazy can i be when it takes a pathetic flight of steps to drain my motivation. you're right, i sometimes lose the heroic battle.
i did end of stating out late with DC and DJ, kicking around the Stone, playing games and getting into some memorable conversation.
DC is having similar cust svc issues with Nextel so we both concluded it's just that time of year. he really was given the short end of a deal after they told him one thing and never followed through on their promises. sound familiar?
hopefully he was able to get that situation figured out today. i haven't spoke to DC today except over e-mail and he was very busy at the office.
DJ on the other hand has been taking a sabatical of sorts from our group, which is why it was especially nice to catch up with him as well.
DJ's brother is getting married this weeked and he has also been unbelievably strapped for time.

my parents were coming to town today (so i thought), but apparently i wrote them an e-mail last night following my previous blog entry and since it said "tomorrow" my invitation was interpreted to mean Saturday instead. no big deal, i'm flexible and can shift some things around to make it work. i haven't seen them for over a month and they're only two hours away from here. it probably works out for the better anyway because i have BJ tomorrow and they'll get a chance to catch up with their grandson this way.

other things occupying my space are anxious feelings about my upcoming wedding anniversary that would have been my wife's and my 4th - 10/05, the rapid change in weather has brought about some blues, and one of my playful felines is actually taking residency on my left leg so i can't move anytime soon without interrupting her sleep.

the sun is sure to rise tomorrow. check it - radiance by athenaeum. out.

velvet elvis has become quite the commodity...

so we (my men's group comprised of 5-7 close friends) are reading velvet elvis by rob bell. i am completely intrigued by this book and we are only two chapters deep at this point. this is what traditionalists have needed to challenge their ritualistic approaches to faith, and suffice to say i'm hard pressed to think of a better person to deliver the message. more on my men's group later but the basic idea is a bunch of down to earth guys that get together once a week to walk through life by each others' side. this includes all aspects from good, bad, to indifferent. in most cases it's a genuine willingness and interest in serving each other and helping one another becomes better people individually and as a global group. we are completely committed to one another and it's been a great journey these past few years. you are bound to hear much more about this important element of my life. for now, it's time to retire for the evening as the rooster will be crowing in a few short hours.

'nite world.

check it - still on "in your honor" as the 2nd disc is timeless, quite different from the norm for foo fighters

Kevin Smith is one funny a$$ guy...

i went over to my good buddy DC's house today and viewed a DVD he'd been wanting me to see for awhile now. the mastermind behind the NJ films clerks, mallrats, chasing amy, and jay and silent bob - Mr. Kevin Smith. WOW! Kevin is so damn witty and articulate off film yet plays a mental case in his movies? i was well aware of his films and had seen each several times but i had no idea what type of brilliance resided in said person away from hollywood. i absolutely developed respect for this cat for more than i would had i not seen these DVDs. the set included two discs and is made up of general public appearances at select universities around the country. the format is an open forum and students waste no time asking some very personal information, all of which Kevin takes in stride and answers without some BS facade. he exposes himself completely and after all, he does have a VERY interesting life, which is never more apparent than after listening to the colorful stories he shares on these DVDs.
seriously, you really need to check this out. we are talking choice material on anything from comic books, politics, paparazzi, propaganda, sex, homophobia (or lack thereof), monogamy, etc.
i won't waste any more of this blog expressing my shock at how much value i found in these selections, just do yourself a favor and head to your local video store when time permits.

there's been more to my day but i'm trying to get back to my old habits of keeping most things in moderation. perhaps i'll moonlight after my men's group and share another brief passage or two.

check it - the 2nd disc of foo fighter's "in your honor" - a serene dave grohl and co.

until later...

into the mix quite late as usual

ok, so i finally joined the likes of all you cyber savvy folk. if you took time to read my profile you'll better understand my reason for taking this plunge. if not, here's the skinny - to provide another means of ongoing communication with my sister joney and to heal my broken ways, period.
i'm very new to the concept of "blogging" as you all know it today so hopefully it's just another fancy way of referring to an online journal. even so, i've not taken the time to document my writings online so this would still be a virgin on the keyboard.
ok, enough of that...

this is where i apparently begin to tell you all about what i believe your curious minds may want to know (assuming this place gets any hits) so let's give it a shot.

before i do that let's just say i'll get to the more biographical information later. so take a brief tangent with me as i readily discuss my gripe of the day (not that i have them that frequently)... MAIL-IN REBATES
ok, so who the hell came up with this program anyway? seriously, did some half ass sit up late one night and decide that ripping people off by fabricating a way to save people money (one - that they likely will never cash in because most people are absent minded, or two - that they will hope you forget about because the idea of them sending you money was exactly that... an idea, which means it didn't make it further than the draft stage of the process)...?
i don't know how many times i have been prey to the rebate conspiracy yet i'm really the one to blame hear because like a puppy without water for days what do i do? yep, didn't take you long did it, i march my happy (or not so given the circumstances) ass back into the store and beg them to give it to me deeper this time. what can i say, i've been told i'm a glutton for punishment at times.
i'm completely convinced that i would have a down payment on one of those starving kids in Africa if it weren't for those retail conspiracies... because of course there isn't anything more fulfilling than folding the dolares and shipping them to good ol' Sally Struthers in another third world country.

ok, i feel better now...

we'll cut this initial post to make room for my twilight snack and keep you guessing what's next in that over-occupied mind of his.

therapeutic indeed, joney... good call.

in typical fashion of those who know me i will always try and leave you with a musical tribute of what falls heaviest on my heart/mind on the given day of my post(s).

check it: marvelous things by eisley

be well. out.