All posts by Becca

Growing up is Hard

My roommate and I have finally found an apartment, but she is on vacation right now so I’ve been trying to get everything set up before we move in next Thursday. I called the gas company to get that switched to our names and that worked out smoothly. I called the electric company next and they had me on hold for thirty minutes.

Bad start.

I finally spoke with a representative and she couldn’t find our apartment in their system. The street we are going to live on has a number (like 50th street) but it also has an actual street name. I gave both addresses and still no luck. The representative said I would need a meter number then.

So I called my landlord (which I had a few other questions for her and she’s very helpful so it wasn’t a huge deal) and she was able to send me the meter number. I called the electric company back and waited for another fifteen minutes on hold. Finally I spoke with a friendly woman and everything was worked out accordingly. She then told me she was going to transfer me to another person who would make sure that my address and information, etc. was accurate.

I was transferred and my information was relayed back to me and it all sounded correct. Then this guy started to ask me some questions about moving in. It was kinda random but they were innocent enough questions.

“How many TVs are you bringing with you? And how many laptops?”

I replied with one TV and a laptop for both my roommate and myself.

“What do you use the internet for? Do you stream or download or anything else?”

I don’t know. I use the internet like any other normal person does. What kind of questions is that?

“Okay so mainly just streaming then. That plus the tv will be $79.99 a month and when would you like to set that up?”

Uhm, what?

He explained that a TV and internet bundle would be $79.99 a month and again asked what day we would like to have someone come set it up for us. I proceeded to tell him that I would not be needing cable. Me and my roommate both don’t watch much television and we really don’t have the time or money for it.

“Oh okay then just the internet will be $44.99.”

My slow brain was finally realizing that he was trying to sell me internet. But then I was confused because don’t you do that through the internet company? Since when do you set it up through the electric company? But since I’ve never done this before I figured that maybe that’s how they did it here in Kansas City. So I asked, “Do you have to get internet through the electric company?”

“Well,” he responded, “We are partners with Time Warner so you get a discount if you go through us.”

In other words, no, I do NOT have to get internet through them. “Okay, then I don’t want to set up my internet right now. I haven’t even talked to my roommate about it yet.”

“We’re already halfway through so you can cancel the order later if you decide you don’t want it. There’s no cancellation charge and it is hassle-free.”

Okay, buddy, but you’re missing the point that I don’t want it and it would be a hassle to continue talking to you and to have to cancel it later! At this point I was beginning to get flustered. I tried to tell him again that I didn’t want it when he continued to ask me more questions. “Do you have a computer modem? If not, you can lease one from the company and it’s actually not that expensive. Let me add that on to your order and…”

And this is the point where I just burst into tears. This guy was making me get internet that I didn’t want and it was expensive internet. Plus, he was starting to add on other charges that I didn’t need and I was very uncomfortable and didn’t know what to do. I felt like he was already stealing money from me and I felt even worse because it wasn’t just me he was screwing over but my roommate, too. So crying is the obvious answer to all of my problems.

Thankfully my mom had walked into my room about halfway through the conversation to ask me something. She could tell that I was flustered and getting upset, so she sat on the bed and was waiting for me to get off the phone to talk to her. When I started crying I just handed the phone to her.

She very aggressively said, “All my daughter wants is to turn on her electricity. She doesn’t want internet or cable or whatever else you’re selling.” The guy started to rationalize what he was doing and my mom repeated, “All she wants is to turn on her electricity.” She had to repeat that four or five times before the man finally stopped trying to talk her into it. Or maybe my mom just hung up.

I love my mother.

Normally I could handle this situation fairly well. I know what I want and you selling me crap I don’t want is not what I want. But the fact that he was so persistent and wouldn’t listen to me just left me feeling so vulnerable and I had no idea what to do. Growing up us hard and people are rude. :(

Memories, the old and the new

My eldest brother Ryan asked me yesterday if I was doing anything for the evening.

I replied, “Not particularly.” I’ve been really busy last week with VBS and over the weekend I had a game night with my Sunday school class and also had lunch for some friends, so I was completely content to sit on my butt and enjoy the evening to myself in introverted bliss.

“Oh, okay.” He replied. “I was just wondering because I’m going to propose to Jessie tonight.”

He had said it so casually that I almost missed what he had actually said. I was doing the dishes, so I nearly dropped the plate I was holding and whirled around. It was really unexpected. They had been dating for about a year now and he had joked occasionally about them marrying, I figured it was a joke joke, not a there’s-a-litte-bit-of-truth-behind-this-joke joke, ya know what I mean?

He showed me the ring and it was simple but pretty. She helped him pick it out so she knew it was coming eventually. Because of this, he wanted to totally surprise her. After they go out to eat he usually offers her a mint. So he had her come over and they cooked dinner and then he asked if she wanted a mint. He “accidentally” dropped the container, got down on one knee, opened it and had the ring inside. She said yes.

I thought the proposal was kind of lame, to be honest. I’m not saying you have to adorn the room in rose petals or anything, but something a little more romantic would’ve been nice. But I’m not marrying him (thank goodness).

I went to Steven and Rachel’s apartment so I would be out of the way when he popped the question. While we were all happy for him, we all agreed it was kind of weird solely because we really do not know her. About a year ago, my parents left my church and started attending another one. When Ryan came back from Greece, he went there too and that’s where he met her. So my parents know her (I suppose) but me and my siblings don’t. She’s never had dinner with us and I can’t recall a time that we’ve had a conversation more than “How are you?” and “Hello.”

It’s just weird to think that I’ll have another sister and I don’t know a thing about her.

My parents are on vacation so I’m sure my mom will talk of nothing else when she returns. Also, I am not looking forward to this engagement putting attention on me and my relationship. I know my family and I already know the joking and questions are about to begin. “It’s gonna be you next!” or “When is Andrew going to ask you the question?” or “Are you looking forward to being a Smith?” are all unwelcome questions thank you. (I love my boyfriend, but we have no plans of marriage until we are graduated/nearly graduated.)

But anyways.

I got to see an old friend today which was really nice. :) We’ve been friends since preschool and she had texted me the other day asking when I was leaving for school and if I wanted to hang out. We were originally going to go out and eat somewhere, but since we are both indeed broke college students, we agreed to be cheap and just hang out at my house. We talked for a good four hours and it was just really nice catching up. I’m hoping to stay more in contact with her even when I leave.

Good friend really are the best. There is nothing like picking up a conversation with an old friend you haven’t talked to in a year like nothing has changed. <3