Thursday, February 21, 2008

But Your Service Sucks

First, I called my internet service provider that I no longer need their service from the next billing date because I am not getting the same or faster speed from my portable internet.

I planned to switch provider so I shopped around. There were several choices but all them charge connection/service fees --- no waiving even if I am the one who is giving them my business.

Two days later, I called my current provider, spoke to a different customer service rep and I told him I was trying to place my order via the internet for a cable connection to replace my portable because the speed sucks. But such a switch over is not available on the net and instead I have to order a new connection with the attendant connection/service fee. So I complained that no way I am paying it again, and told him that I am cancelling the service altogether, and I will give my business to another provider instead.

He apologized, checked my "client history", and declared: "ok you're going to get connected without cost plus a $20 rebate on you next bill to compensate for your dissatisfaction and just to keep you as a loyal client". And that was that -- I got my cable two days ago, and I am enjoying a much faster service though I am losing the portability of the net.

The point I am highliting is this: very few consumers complain when they are dissatisfied. However, companies now know how much customer satisfaction is important. You have everything to gain by expressing your dissatisfaction in an attempt to obtain compensation.

Noong nakaraang linggo ay tumawag ako sa ISP ko para sabihin na hindi na ako natutuwa sa pagbagal ng portable internet ko at kanselahin na nila ang serbis simula sa susunod na billing. Plano ko na mag-shop around kung alin ang mas maganda serbisyo, pero lahat sa kanila ay sumisingil ng halos $100 na service fee.

So tumawag ulit ako sa kasalukuyang ISP ko at nagreklamo ako na bakit hindi pwede magrequest ng switch over mula sa portable to a cable service -- kelangan ko umorder (magsimula ulit) ng cable at magbayad ng halos $100 na connection fee.

Ganun? E kako kung gusto nila akong maging loyal customer pa e wag nila akong singilin ng connection fee at kung hindi e talagang lilipat ako sa iba. Sandali lang, sabi nya at tsekin nya daw ang record ko. Tas sabi nya na ikinatuwa ko naman -- sige daw, magpapadala daw sya ng technician, i-hook up at i-activate daw ang cable ko ng walang bayad at meron pang bonus na.... $20 credit sa susunod na billing ko bilang pabuya sa pagrereklamo ko.

Odiba? kakaaliw naman magreklamo!

Saturday, February 9, 2008

There Are Things That Should Be Ignored

AND THERE ARE THOSE THAT WE MUST NOT.

Seriously now, how many of us pay attention to our feet? I mean, real attention not just casual scrubbing when we take a bath or looking at them to make sure we have matching socks (even that is not looking at the feet but the socks, LOL).

My previous post told you that I was unable to go to work because I had sore foot, more like burning sensations on both heels but more pronounced on my right foot. I couldn't wait for my orthopaedic MD, so I went to my podiatrist who looked at my sore foot.

As punishment for ignoring my feet all these years, she told me I must learn to write, and WRITE I SHOULD, the english alphabet in the air using my foot three times every four hours with one minute rest in between. And then, she showed me the structure of my foot and pointed exactly where, how, and why that part hurts.

To my consolation, she told me that this condition is not just an athlete's domain. She mumbled some name whom she said resides on my both my feet. I asked, "Who?" She chuckled and showed me a picture of the stranger, a.k.a. Achilles tendon, in my feet.

(Click HERE for an animation of an Achilles' tendon rupture.)

Sa lahat nang parte ng katawan ng tao, ang ating mga paa ang pinakagamit-gamit natin sa araw-araw subali't ito din ang kawawang parte na bihirang-bihirang makatanggap nang ating pansin. Maliban na lamang kung sumakit ang mga ito tulad ng nangyari sa akin kamakailan.

Hindi ko na nga mahintay pa ang aking ortho surgeon kaya minarapat kong magpunta sa isang espesyalista sa mga paa, siya ang tinatawag na podiatrist, tulad din siya ng chiropodist sa isang banda.

Ang kainaman sa aking podiatrist, na di tulad ng ka-tropa nya sa propesyong ito, ay bihirang bihira niyang ituro ang lugar papuntang synthetic drugs. Ang kanyang panlunas ay matatawag na sina-una pang tradisyon, although bata pa siya nasa 30 plus yatang taong gulang. Madalas na panlunas na ipapagawa nya sa pasyente ay mga stretches, exercises, na tulad nga ng pinagsulat niya ako ng english alphabet sa ere ng mga ilang beses bawat 4 na oras na may pahinga in between.

Kaya ayun, medyo nakakalakad na ako ng maayos PERO kailangan ko pa ding ipagpatuloy ang pagsusulat sa ere kahit daw pakiramdam ko ay syento porsyentong nanumbalik ang aking maayos na pakiramdam sa paa.

Monday, February 4, 2008

I Am Not Able Today

I'm home, did not go to work. My right foot hurts, a little tender since last Wednesday. I walk limping, careful not to put a lot of pressure on it. I noticed yesterday, my right hip hurt while walking. And it was due to me compensating for the pressure off my right foot to the left side of my body. And where I have a little "bump" in the mid-section of my spine, that hurts too.

I hope this is not serious, as my orthopaedic surgeon is on a two-week vacation in Florida. He'll be back week after next, I think.



Araguy!!! Hindi ako nakapasok ngayon kasi ang sakit ng kanang paa ko, medyo maga konte ito. Noon pang Miyerkoles ko naramdaman ito - medyo inikot-ikot ko, as in stretch-exercise ko ang paa ko habang nakahiga, e na over-extend o overstretched ko yata .

Kahapon sa mall habang naglalakad, napansin ko na masakit ang kaliwang hip ko. Sa pag-iingat ko na wag bigyan ng pressure ang kanang paa ko, i throw my weight sa kaliwang side ng katawan ko .... kaya yun, sa pagcompensate ng body weight, kaliwang hip ko naman nasakripisyo. Paika-ika ako kung lumakad, halos dragging my right foot.

Week after next pa dating ng ortho-surgeon ko, kasi nasa Florida siya on vacation. Sana umige na ito bago siya bumalik

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Chinese New Year



Kung Hai Fat Choy!

Trekked to Scarborough Town Centre to watch Beijing's Olympic mascots launch Chinese New Year locally (this is the year of the rat in Chinese calendar, and the year starts on Feb. 7). After introducing the important guests, of course not - I was not included on the list - the 5 olympic mascots went on stage which was followed by the dragon dance presentation. I think, the dance was a lot longer than the years prior and a lot more entertaining. I had the greek grilled 1/4 chicken with rice and greek salad for lunch at the food court that wasn't that packed today. I guess a lot of shoppers are still shovelling snow on their driveway or still sleeping in.

Launching ng Bagong Taon ng mga Intsik sa Scarborough Town Centre (shopping mall), kaya nagpunta doon kanina, at doon na din kumain ng tanghalian pagkatapos manood ng dragon dance na mukhang mas kakaenganyo at mas mahaba ang presentasyon kaysa noong mga nakaraang taon. Nandoon din ang 5 mascot ng Beijing Summer Olympics na ngayong taon nga ay gagawin sa Beijing, China. Maganda din ang panahon, nasa plus side yata, at buti naman hindi masyadong siksikan sa Town Centre -- parang mga tulog pa ang iba o di kaya ay nagtatanggal pa ng yelo sa kanilang driveway.


Saturday, February 2, 2008

SNOWSTORM OF WINTER 2008

(a.k.a. the road less travelled)
First off, here are some of the pictures of this year's major snowstorm (taken just after it hit us).



I came out of the asian store parking lot huffing and there I was heading home on a 3-lane street. Snowploughs, some in tandem, were still clearing the roads. I took the middle lane, I thought it was safe there. And coming to the intersection where I had to turn right to my street, my mirrors told me there were no cars on the right lane, it looked like it is the road less travelled. Carpe Diem, I seized the opportunity (or something like that), and I moved to the right lane before I realized I ditched my car in the unploughed side, whoaaaa some 14" of snow.

It seemed as though it was my luck finding myself in the same situation as I was at the parking lot. After 15 minutes of rocking my car and some 1/8 inch of burnt rubber from my tires, I finally made it home. Did I tell you that it was still snowing non-stop and freezing cold?

Eto yung continuation nang dilemma ko kahapon mula sa parking lot ng asian store.

Medyo okey na ang roads kasi merong mga dambuhalang grader na nagtatanggal ng snow sa kalye. Sa gitna ng tatlong lanes ako nagdadrive, sabi ko sa sarili ko, mas safe dito. At mga 10 minuto nakaraan, nagpalit ako ng lane para makakanan sa susunod na intersection. Anak ng gutom na tipaklong, bago ko na-realize e hindi pa pala na-plow ang lane na yun - lumanding ako sa mataas na snow, siguro pati floor ng kotse sayad sa 14" na taas ng snow. Makalipas ang siguro mga 15 minutong pasulong-atras at mataas na rebolusyon, at nangangamoy na sunog na goma -- siguro mga 1/8" din nawala sa tires ko -- e nakaahon din ako't nakaalis hanggang sa makarating sa bahay. Grabe pa naman ang lakas ng snow at ang lamigggggggggg....

Friday, February 1, 2008

The Road Less Travelled



is an unploughed street.
(picture courtesey of The Toronto Star's Bernard Weil)



First Feb 2008 - first major snowstorm that hit us this winter. I looked out our window this morning and I saw tiny pellets of snow the size of iodized salt on your shaker. They are coming from everywhere, errr,, more like it's a going every direction, depending on how you look at it.

The snow drifts in no particular direction (bad sign for those driving this morning), and from the looks of it, it has been relently pouring since 2 AM, an accumulation only a snowboarder or a private snowplough contractor would love to have. It must have been a sight to behold for Kev when he woke up this morning -- alas! powdery, dry snow, whooopeeee! Too bad, Kev is working today, else he's off to Blue Mountain.

I heard school classes are suspended and the weatherman expects more of the powdery stuff as the day rolls on. I headed to work, very slowly almost crawling like Addi, that's how I'd describe it.

On an uphill road nearing a small bridge (BRIDGE ICES FIRST BEFORE THE ROAD, you hobo read your roadsigns will you?), a truck almost hit my car with his rear as the driver changed lane but slipped sideways instead. I'm glad I invested on some four snow tires,and an Anti-lock breaking system (ABS).

On my way home this evening, road conditions got worse, though the city had been ploughing all day it just could not keep up and they forecast for more snow and a mixture of ice pellets and stinging freezing rain tonight. And before the night is over, we will have more snow covering the ice on the ground tomorrow which will make it a lot more difficult to tread and drive. I passed by some oriental store and picked up some veggies -I will cook near-authentic pakbet on Sunday. I engaged the parking break as I parked on an incline - the lot was not clean shaven and a bit slippery.

Done shopping and back to the parking lot. Whoaaaaaaaaaa! I could not move the car. I struggled to do a gas and brake and a rock to and fro trick but the car just would move every direction but forward - more on sideways like a tailspin. Cars zipped by me though, and I was wondering what the heck was wrong with the space my car happened to be. I had made the car moved to about 10 metres (I did it sideways, mind you) and on snowcleared surface, but still the car wouldn't go forward. I had never experienced driving sideways nor I am licensed to drive sideways ... it was scary, AND frustrating!

Damn the breaks!!! Quite literally, indeed. I was cussingly frantic when I my right hand hit the parking brake. I Still had the parking brake ENGAGED, wa ha ha! stoooopeeddd me with a capital S %?&@(#$%!!!!! By the way, watch for Part Two of this memorable day.


Kaninang umaga ay nagsimula ang unang snowstorm dito sa lugar namin.... AKALA ko e nagsimula na ang spring, bakit ganun? Enihuuuuu, nabalitaan ko na kanseld ang klase at pagtingin ko sa bintana e nagliliparan ang snow na singbutil ng asin. Eto na kako yata ang snowstorm, ang kinaiinisan ng mga motorista -- yung nagdi drift ang snow at kinokoberan hindi lang isang side ng kalye, actually LAHAT ng sides. Kaya ang right window at left window ng kotse pati side mirrors ay unti unting natatakpan ng snow, kahit umaandar ang kotse.... mabagal na mabagal siguro mga 20 kph sa 60 kph zone dahil nga sa kumakapal na accumulation ng snow na nagsimulang bumagsak siguro mga 2 kaninang madaling araw. Eto yung kundisyon ng weather na gustong gusto ni Kevin para magawa nya ang kanyang peborit na wintersport, SNOWBOARDING. Kaso, pur Kevin, may pasok pa sya ngayong Byernes, kung hindi e sigurado kong umuusok ang Blue Mountain ski and snowboarding resort sa pagbisita nila ng mga kaibigan nya.

Sabi pa nga ng wederman, the worse is yet to come -- anak ng tipaklong, buti na lang weekend bukas. E mantak mong mixture of freezing rain at ice pellets, arukodyosko ang sakit humampas noon sa exposed skin mo.

Mabagal ang usad ng kotse ko kaninang umaga, sadyang binabagalan namin ng mga iba pang motoristang kasabay ko sa kalye, hindi pa masyadong nag plow ng snow ang city, o hindi talaga sila makaagad sa dami ng snow na pumapatak. Aba e isang truck driver ba naman ang bigla biglang nagpalit ng lane kung saan nandoon ako, muntik na nya akong mahampas ng likod ng truck nya kasi umislayd ng sideways -- MADULAS ANG KALYE damuho ka @$&%*#&$!!!!! Bukod dyan, malapit tayo sa maliit na tulay at may nakapost na sign: NAGYEYELO ANG TULAY UNA PA SA KALYE!!!! Pwede ba, magbasa ka ng mga roadsigns? Buti na lang gamit ko ang apat na snow tires, at saka meron ABS ang kotse ko. Naranasan ko nang umikot sa madulas na kalye kasi wala akong snows, naging leksyon na sa akin yan tuwing winter.

Dumaan ako sa oriental store ng pauwi na ako sa bahay. Bumili ako ng mga gulay kasi magluluto ako ng "parang" tunay na Ilokos Pakbet.... paborito kong lutong gulay. Makapal pa din ang yelo sa parking lot at hindi pa halos na plow. Pag park ko ng kotse, sinet ko ang parking brake para kako wag dumausdos.

Natapos na akong mamili at pinaandar ko na kotse. Kaso, baket ayaw umusad ng kotse? Tinapakan ko ang gas, naku ang kotse patagilid kung umusad, pakonte konte syang umusad pasulong. Ni-rock ko ang kotse (gas-and-brake, to and fro teknik) para makaalis ako sa slippery spot ng kalye. Naka 10 metro siguro ako ng paganun-ganun, at ang kotse ay umaandar ng patagilid (sideways), pa-atras, pag tinapakan ang gas -- kaso ayaw pasulong! Ang dami ng kotse na nakalampas sa akin, baket kako ayaw sumulong nito?

Sa frustration ko, natabig ko ang parking brake! AYSUSSSS santamaryang batang ire, sabi nga sa Batangas! Hindi ko pa pala naaalis ang Parking Brake.... tangeeeeeeeengotttt ko!!! &*&#&$*@!!!! E paano ako makakaalis noon? Susko day!!!!

Nekst taym, kukuha ako ng draybers laysens na patagilid ang takbo ng kotse para sa ganun pag nangyari ulet sa aken ito at may pulis na sumita sa aken e meron akong maipapakitang lisensya na samakatwid e CERTIFIED akong magmaneho ng patagilid.

(Hanggang ngayon, umuusok pa ilong ko sa inis!!!) Syanga pala, merong Part To ito.