Monday, November 29, 2021

UPDATE AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Quick update on Minnie from my last post.  We are still in training.  She is so much better but she sometimes starts up with the quieter form of yowling which is still annoying.  I shut her down quickly. I am looking forward to no yowling period.  Patience Patti.

I switched from the "No" command  as I would sometimes forget and say it out loud.  It was freaking Callie out.  I tried the librarian trick of a "shush" around a finger to my lips, which came out almost hiss like.  She really responded to this. Seems I was speaking her language. 

Callie and Minnie have a detente relationship. They mostly ignore eachother but there is a lot of jealousy for my attention, almost sibling like.

I was at the computer in my bedroom, Callie was sleeping on the bed when Minnie cranked up in the living room as she headed for the bedroom. Then I got the giggles. Callie lifted up her head, turned toward me very expectantly. It was like, "Oh boy, Minnie is going to get it now." There was glee in my dogs face and she gave me a bit of a smile when I hissed at Minnie.  Yes, dogs can smile. 

Still a work in progress. 

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Don't know why it happened, probably bladder related, but I was awake and looking outside at 3 AM last week.  Then surprisingly, my outdoor security light that I pay the power company for, had a fit.  It flashed, burned really bright then turned my yard completely dark as it blinked out.

Ok, it has happened before and all I had to do was call the power company and they would send a bucket truck out to change the bulb.  That was before Covid and the worker shortage.  The next morning when I called, I was told there would be a one hour wait to speak to a representative.  Yikes. I hung up and got some things done around the house.  Tried later only now it was a 71 minute wait. What?? Finally not wanting to have my property sit in the dark at night, I tried a third time. This time I was told it would be a 120 minute wait. 

At the rate the wait time was accelerating I was scared to put it off any longer. I bit the bullet, put my phone on speaker and for the next 2 hours and 29 minutes I listened to the same piece of a song. It was interrupted every 20 seconds with a commercial.  I tried to ignore it but I didn't want to lose the human when they finally answered my call.

FINALLY the representative answered. She  was cranky but so was I.  I said nothing about the wait and just stated my case.  She promised someone would come out  by next week. Whee.

Since then it appears the light has fixed itself and is shinning brightly. I had been home the whole time so it couldn't have been serviced plus there were no tire tracks in my yard. Oh no, do I have to call back and cancel the order? Do I lie when the service man appears and just let him change the bulb? I think if I get on the phone again for over 2 hours to cancel the work order, I will need therapy.

What would you do?

47 comments :

  1. Being rather lazy, I'd probably not call. If they send someone to fix it, I'd probably just say, "I got tired of being on hold for two hours, so I gave up trying to call and tell you it's working again."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Donna,
      Makes sense and I have filed that away for future use. Thanks.

      Delete
  2. Poor Minnie. Many older cats have spells of yowling due to physical or mental changes. Patti, I'd definitely let your service appointment stand as your light is unreliable. Sure know the frustration of phone waits. Even worse is getting an outsourced representative whose very thick accent prevents me from understanding what's being said.

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    Replies
    1. Florence,
      I have never waited that long. The company is either terribly short handed or on an economy program.
      Luckily, she spoke unaccented English for which I was grateful.

      Delete
  3. I'd just let them change the bulb. Something is wrong with it...maybe loose but not burned out.

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    Replies
    1. Jean,
      You are right. That could have just been a warning of worse to come.

      Delete
  4. Agree, let him change the bulb. Those pets of yours are quite entertaining!

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    Replies
    1. Tom, think that will be the smart thing to do. It is probably in its last stages anyway.
      Yes, they do earn their kibble by amusing me.

      Delete
  5. Let them come; you may have a short or something equally dangerous. And make them change the bulb. Better safe than sorry.

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    Replies
    1. Suzi,
      I am glad I posted this. The general agreement it that there is probably something wrong with the light anyway. Thanks for making me feel good about that.

      Delete
  6. Let them change the bulb. Once a light starts doing stuff like that it's bound to keep at it and at some point go dark again. It's better to be safe. I wish those long waits on the phone didn't come with such crappy music. It's insane.

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    Replies
    1. robin,
      It really would be nice if they gave you a choice of music. What got me was after each commercial, the music would start from the beginning again. Grrr.

      Delete
    2. Patti-- It just occurred to me that they must do that horrible music on purpose. It's to make us hang up.

      Delete
    3. robin,
      Think you are right. I know that has worked on me before:)

      Delete
  7. Interesting that there is that type of rivalry between species. Also, being the kind of person I am, I probably would call to cancel, but early in the morning when there is less wait time.

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    Replies
    1. gigi,
      I think most commenters have talked me out of cancelling the order. It is totally possible that it will happen again and should be fixed. Hoping for the best.

      Delete
  8. Maybe he'll fiddle with the bulb for 2 hours and 29 minutes. Might want to log any future misbehaviors of the bulb in case that record would help the bulb guy. Otherwise, ask the critters to meow and bark him up the pole until it's fixed. Linda in Kansas

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    1. Linda,
      Ha ha, I'd pay to see him fiddle for 2.5 hours. Fair is fair. I'd sic Callie on him but she would just go home with him. She loves everyone:)

      Delete
  9. I agree with everyone. It has sure been my case to cancel the call and it was acting up because it needed that visit from the technician and then you'd have to call gain and wait 120minutes. No, let them come out. Your cat and dog story is funny, I know not to you, but...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peg,
      I thought of that and it would kill me if I waited over two hours to cancel and then have it die again.
      Glad you thought so. They crack me up and I laughed out loud at Callie's delight in Minnie's potential reprimand.

      Delete
  10. I wouldn't bother cancelling. Perhaps there is a short in the light and it may do something similar if you cancel. Best to have it checked out.

    Silly cat! Hopefully she learns her lesson soon.

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    Replies
    1. Eileen,
      Yours is the general census and I am going along with that.
      As for Minnie, she is at least using her inside voice these days. That is a huge improvement.

      Delete
  11. MEOW!!! I vote let them come check it out and replace bulb. I cannot believe you clung on for two and a half hours! WOW!

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    Replies
    1. Awkward Widow,
      I know, I can't believe I did it either but after a while you have so much time invested you don't dare hang up.

      Delete
  12. I would still have them come. Bulbs are strange things; they can come on for a while, then go out again. If you were to call them to cancel, the light would probably go out again. I think a new bulb is called for and deserved!

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    Replies
    1. Margaret,
      I now agree. It would kill me if I cancelled and it then died completely. Grrr. I probably would leave it out and just figure out how to get it off my bill. Yikes, another phone call:)

      Delete
  13. Callie gave me a real chuckle here, thinking she was the golden child in your eyes--but I felt my blood pressure rise, reading about that 2 hour wait on the phone! Well I'm late to the game here today, but I agree with most everyone else. I'd still get that light replaced, and even if it was in perfect working order, I'd STILL let the guy come and tell him "I tried to cancel but I didn't have 2 hours for someone to take my call"! Nobody should be put on hold that long, even if you are "Patient Patti" :^)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Doug,
      They really are a funny pair. Each one glories when the other is reprimanded. I have actually seen Callie give Minnie the side eye when she gets ticked.
      I have never waited that long and Lord willing, I never will again. It was torture with the miserable music and constant commercials.

      Delete
  14. Why not let them come out to change it?!! If it flickers I'd think it's weakened & ready to burn out. I'd also tell the technician about it so he can check the circuit while you have him there. You PAY for the service...I am more demanding, I guess.

    These critters all have a soft spot in our hearts. They live us, and we love them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anni,
      I know, I should be more assertive and it won't hurt to have him check it out. Will give it a shot.

      Delete
  15. Hope you get that bulb replaced and it will last a LONG time! Also hope you don't have to referee Callie and Minnie!

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    Replies
    1. Barb,
      Me too or at least they develop better phone service.
      Ha ha, so far it is only eye rolls and smiles so I guess they are OK:)

      Delete
  16. You have quite a dog and cat show. :-)
    Just let them come out and change it.

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    Replies
    1. Linda,
      You are right on the light and the animals do keep me amused.

      Delete
  17. I confess that I would not call and cancel. I would let them change the bulb anyway and if it goes out again, you will know the fault is in the line and not the bulb.

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    Replies
    1. Barbara,
      Smart deduction there and should work well finding the cause. Thanks.

      Delete
  18. I enjoyed the post and all the comments as well. Glad you are going to let them change it; something is wrong with it. Sending virtual pets to your two critters!

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    Replies
    1. Djan,
      Glad you enjoyed. Ha ha, the pets fought briefly over the virtual pets. I think Minnie won:)

      Delete
  19. That is so funny. Normally cats seem to get the upper hand at least in my house they did. Good for the Callie to get a point. I would 100% let them change the bulb.

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    Replies
    1. Sue,
      Callie really enjoyed her moment. If it was a physical battle,I'd bet on the cat. One well placed claw on the dog's nose gets the point across.
      Yep, letting them change the bulb. Don't know why I was stumped.

      Delete
  20. We just did that with our Urgent Care. It was an hour, and it would have been worse if we had waited and called later.

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    1. Mage,
      Good grief, that is as bad as having 911 put you on hold. I know I tried waiting and the wait kept getting longer.

      Delete
  21. I like it when you leave your number and they call you when your spot in the line rises to the top.

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    Replies
    1. Linda,
      Oh that would be heaven. I have never been offered that but would jump at it.

      Delete
  22. Forgive, but I would tell him "It has apparently healed itself, but could you please check it or change it because if it went out for one whole night it could happen again, and I need the security in this area." Hope all goes well.

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    Replies
    1. LC
      The good thing is that they came out and did it when I wasn't home. I did ask a lineman I ran into at a convenience store and he said they go off and on for a while sometimes before burning out. He said it needed replacing. Ahh. It worked out fine.

      Delete
  23. A TWO hour wait. Wow! That is awful!!! I'd probably let it go and assume that something is wrong with the bulb. If they don't come, the bulb will probably go on the blink again. At least that's how I would justify not wanting to wait TWO hours on the phone.

    ReplyDelete

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