For exercise I've been trying to get outside more, and three times in the last few weeks I've gone out running. I have previously been worried about hitting some ice or hard snow and hurting myself, but so far it's worked out well. I've had to step in a few snowpiles or two in places that weren't completely shoveled, but it's not a big deal. It's great to get some fresh air and look at something while I'm exercising besides the west wall of my basement, which is what I see when I'm on the treadmill.
------
We took our taxes to our CPA last week, and picked up the results today. We are getting a refund, as usual, but not enough for me to retire on. So I'll keep going to work. When I have enough money to retire, I'll let you know.
------
M and K continue with their usual school routines - they have homework that I could never have done at that age. K is doing plenty of hard stuff in second grade, and M's fourth grade class is doing some pretty advanced math. I haven't been able to visit their classrooms as much lately as I could earlier in the school year, and I hope after tax season I will have more time to stop in.
------
Speaking of tax season, and the software I've been working on, things are going pretty well. Our software is running on servers in Atlanta, and users from all over the US are sending information to us to process. It's a little disconcerting, because we don't know exactly what will happen day to day, but so far the system has held up well. We have had some problems, things that we never predicted would happen, and we've had time to make changes and update the servers. When we update them, we have to do it at night so we don't interrupt our customers' work. Our last software release was 10 pm on a Friday night, and the next one may have to be later, like 12 midnight on a Saturday or Sunday night, now that we're getting more users at all hours of the day. We had some users logged in around midnight (Eastern time) last night; there are users on the west coast, and possibly Hawaii or Alaska. During tax season, we can expect CPAs to be logged in at virtually any time of the day or night, so we are all on call in case of problems.
------
Speaking of being on call, you'll be happy to know that AmeriCredit called me again right after I posted my last note that I was starting to think they forgot about me. I asked the person who called if he would remove my phone number from his records, and he said "I'll do my best." In other words, no.
I went to the AmeriCredit website and filled out an online customer service form, asking them to take my phone number off the records of Robert (the former owner of my new cell phone number). I received this reply today:
Dear Mr. Breuy[sic],
Thank you for contacting Americredit.
Your telephone number and/or address have been successfully updated as invalid in our database.
If there is anything else that we can do to assist you at this time, please let us know.
We appreciate your business.
Sincerely,
[Person's name]
AmeriCredit Online Customer Service
The telephone number has been updated as invalid in their database. Notice that she did not say I would not be contacted again, and she did not say the phone number would be removed from their database.
Anyone want to bet I get more calls? If I do, I think it will be time for me to either pretend to be Robert, or to be completely annoying and not answer any of their questions.
Possible transcript:
AmeriCredit Phone Harassment Representative: "Hello, I'm calling for Robert ________"
Me: Who is this?
APHR: This is AmeriCredit. Is this Robert?
Me: Who is this?
APHR: This is AmeriCredit. Robert?
Me: Have you been watching the Winter Olympics? Wasn't that snowboard final terrific? I'm so proud of the Americans.
APHR: Robert, I need to talk to you about your car loan, for your Toyota Prius with the faulty accelerator. It seems your last payment...
Me: Oh, right, well, I lent that car to my roommate who is somewhere in Oregon with it right now. Or Connecticut. I'm not sure. Didn't the Chinese really show the west how to figure skate? Best pair I've seen in years.
APHR: Well, yes, Robert, but your last check bounced and we need you to send us some money.
Me: Who is this again? Is this my accountant with my tax refund?
------
It's snowing out a little right now, and it's very serene. I hope everyone gets a chance to get out for a walk around the block soon and enjoy it.
--
No comments:
Post a Comment