Carmella's Hang Out

I had to get rid of my Sprint cell phones. Me, the girl who never thought she would USE a cell phone, is attached to hers and is sad that she had to give up her nice camera cell phone use. I did not have to give the phone back to Sprint, thank goodness, so I can still use the camera on it and use my phone book in it, etc. I just cant make calls on it anymore.

Monday, I found out that my contract was up with Sprint, and Dad had just been talking with me about giving up the phones, since the bill is far to great for me to handle with no good job. Due to responsibilities I feel I have, and a promise I made to a dear friend of mine, I can not go cell-less. Sprint could cut the bill down but not enough. The lowest plan they have is 40 a month, and that does not have any texting at all. Much of my cell use is in texting, I feel I HAVE to have that. {I say I feel that I do, because I know that it is silly to NEED a cell phone. While it is a great help to me, and something that I do need to be able to keep my promise and ‘obligation’ as a friend, I guess in all honesty, I do not really need a phone.} My decision was to get rid of both my Sprint phones, {they were both in my name, but Dad and Mum used one} and go with a pay as you go Tracfone.

So, I went in to the Sprint store on Monday, first to see what they could do as far as a good deal, and just ended up asking for one of the phones to be canceled right then, since the other would be canceled once I ported my number over to a new phone. {Just having put in job applications with that cell number, I did not want to loose it and perhaps miss a job call.} I left the store, feeling a little bummed that I would have to get a phone outside of Sprint {this would probably be too big of a sidetrack, so I will just say that when I got the phone four years ago I had to pay 200 or so in a safety deposit, since I have no credit at all. Every other phone company is at least 400 in a deposit. I did get that money back, in the form of free service for a few months, after a year or two, but now should I ever want to go back, I probably have to pay that all over again.} and I went over to Meijer to get a new phone. Kade and I found a little pink tracphone for $15 and an airtime card for 30 minutes at $10.

Because porting the number could mean loosing the use of either cell until the process was done, I waited till Tuesday after noon to port the number, since the kids and I were out all morning, and I did not want to go without a way to get in touch with anyone. Tuesday, I had the number ported, and was given a message that it could be ten days before the port was finished. Instead, the port was finished two days later, on Thursday. Problem was…the port went through and did not activate the phone!

20 minutes on the phone first on hold and then speaking with someone very hard to understand since English was their second language and my phone was activated, my minutes added, and all was set to go.

Right?

No. I found out later that day that my voicemail would not set up. Sigh. For some reason, when I followed the instructions, those being to call my mailbox number and following the instructions given, I always got a message that said “I’m sorry, you have reached a voicemail box that has not yet been set up. Goodbye.” And every try took one unit away from my minute tank.

So I called back today. Got a message saying the estimated time of wait was five minutes. Forty minutes later, our phone beeped, indicating an in coming call. I checked the ID and, thinking it could be someone for my brother or Dad…..hung up and switched over to the other line.

IT WAS A STUPID SURVEY POLL!!!! “We are not trying to sell you anything. We are just asking people to watch a half an hour video. Would there be any males in that house 40 years and older who would like to talk to me?” I could have screamed….or cried. I was not sure which I wanted to do more. Instead, I told the guy on the phone, “No, ya know. I just hung up a very important call to answer yours, so no. We are not interested.” He said, “Oh, ok. I’ll try back later.”

Not ready to face another forty minute wait, I went on to the call I needed to make to Sprint. Why, you may ask. Well, because my blue camera phone was off due to the port, but the silver phone my Dad uses still works. I do not want to have bills that I do not need, and needed to find what was going on, since I was told on the phone that it was canceled.

With Sprint, I was only on hold for seven minutes and had soft music playing! GOOD NEWS!! The phone was set to turn off, but was waiting till the end of my pay period, since I had paid up till July 7th. NO MORE $70 A MONTH BILL!! That is the really good thing about giving up my cell. Now, I only have to make sure to buy a card ever 45 days to keep my phone active.

Knowing that the voicemail problem with my tracfone was not going to fix itself, I dialed the number again, and was back on hold. This time it was only 20 minutes {though the estimated time was still only five!} and my prayer was answered when I when I got an operator who spoke English very well. {Still as a second, but much better than the first lady. I had been praying that I got someone who did, because I was not sure I could deal with having to repeat myself, or have the tech support repeat themselves over and over.}

It all works now, I am very happy to say!! But MAN was that frustrating!! I so wanted to cry. Not only did I have to give up my nice phone and great texting plan….but they made it hard on me. heh. I feel much better now. heh.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Silverleaf starts tomorrow. YAY. Ren Fest season is here in MI!! {ok, so it has been for a few weeks/months now…but this is MY Ren Fest Season starter.} It would be really fun to go tomorrow, but I will be unable to make it. First off, we did not work it out with either Dad or David, so I do not even have permission for the use of the car….let alone the car at all since my bro has to work! heh. Also, a few weeks ago, Kade and I were asked to judge a 4H event. We will have to be out of the house before eight tomorrow morning, and will not be back until after two. I really, really hope to get permission and use of the car on at least one of the next few weekends, so that Kade and I can go to Silverleaf. It is a rather far drive, so it is not one that can be made often. {by us at least} The hope is to help out at the bunny/balloon fencing again. I had fun with it last year, plus the help with tickets and gas is a big deal too. Since I was all pumped about the season beginning here, I got out one of my costumes to do some repair work. I did have a new pattern picked out, and even some of the fabric purchased, for a new garb set this year, but I am going to have to put that on hold for now, so I am going to ‘make do’ with what I have. My red/black gown needs to be taken in a bit, and the skirt to my wench/peasant garb needed to have some new clasps put on…also helping take it in a bit as well. I put on the top to see how the entire thing looked for this year, and then helped make a few pizza’s while still all garbed up. heh. Fun fun!!

Thursday marked week six of our biggest looser competition!! Kade and I tied for the winner this week, and now weigh the same!! Three pounds lost each in the prior week. That means she has lost over 12 pounds since the beginning of this, and I have lost 11. This is a big deal for both of us!! I know I will never be a skinny mini,,,and I am really ok with that! I just want to feel better, look better, and be healthier! While I am not going to give up the fight, I do not see myself making my goal in the next four weeks! I did just go under another one of my mini goals, however!! To make it to my goal, I would have to loose around 19 pounds in the next four weeks, so I am going to just be happy with whatever I make it to in that time….and give myself even more to actually HIT the goal I have set. For one day, this year, I will make it to my ultimate weight goal!

I got to thinking the other night. If I have known you over three years, and did not babysit you once….you are more than likely married or about to be married!! Friends from every stage of my life are getting married, or have just been married. A boy I went to Kindergarten with is married, and his younger sister, who was in preschool when we were all in school there, is to be married later this year. My best friend of my late single digits early double digit years is getting married from what I can gather. {I read comments that made it seem as though she is to be married soon, but she has not replied to the message I sent her, so I do not know that for sure.} The girl who was best friend during my early ‘teen’ years is to be married later next month. Captain Jane, my longest internet friend {we met when I was 13} will say I do later this month. Cass is already married as of last year, and Oms will be wed in October, I met them both at the same time/same place over five years ago. My cousin, who became such a wonderful friend as we got older, though we had some big time fights and arguments in our younger years, is married over a year with a beautiful baby boy! Interesting isn’t it?

K, I really should be getting to bed now. I have to be up in a few hours, and I was up early this morning after not having slept well.

A big thank you to both Sarah Hope and Teek, for cheering me up when they didn’t even know I needed to be cheered up, and didn’t know they were doing it.

I thank the Lord for my friends! Though we are all so very far from each other, and I wish that could be different, it would be hard to find a smile some days, without those who are so close to me. Kade, Hope, Cass, Teek, Grant, Van, thanks. And thanks to my other good friends who I did not mention in this blog, but are still dear to me anyhow. I’m sure you know who you are.

The screen saver on my new phone is a scrolling marquee that says “Give thanks always”. Reminds me when I am in a bad mood, that I need to be thankful none the less. Besides, with the family the Lord has blessed me with, along with my friends…what do I have to be down about,right?

Thank you Lord, that I do not live in a country where I am beaten for my faith daily, and I do not have to live in fear of worshiping You or sharing Your word. Please help me use the freedom I have here.

Remember those that are in bonds.