For her birthday, the Artist received a gift card to Borders. It was very convenient that we could use it at home to shop the very evening she received it. You see, she had a list ready of things she would like to use it to buy.
Order placed, items received -- except one, the latest release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows due to be released July 7th. She waits and waits, trying to be patient.
A couple of weeks ago I called to check when the book was coming because I had forgotten the release date. At that time the customer service rep told me that the pre-orders are shipped to arrive in my mailbox the same day as they are released in the stores. Great! We could expect the book on July 7th.
Imagine my surprise, disappointment, heartache for my daughter patiently waiting for the most wanted portion of her birthday present when Borders.com sends me an email that my order has been canceled.
What! Are you kidding me?
And I've been issued a refund.
How's that, I wonder. We used the entire gift card plus four cents from my credit card to pay for this order. Which was refunded? We used the entire gift card, so we threw it away.
A call to another customer service rep lets me know it was an error in their system. Really. No kidding. What are they going to do about it?
I can order again and they will cover the shipping.
Um, no--I already paid the shipping charges when we ordered all five items, four of which already came.
Apparently, when an order paid for via gift card is canceled, a gift card refund is issued. "But I don't want a gift card, I want the book."
Then I learn they have no way of stopping the gift card from coming to me in 10 - 14 days. That's right, I'd received the gift card that I can use to pay for my re-order after the book is released in the stores. My daughter is nearing tears. I'm sure there must be a way to stop an unwanted refund, but I'll play along because I don't know how to argue the point.
Next I try a different approach to the problem Borders.com created in my peaceful afternoon. Can they use the gift card number from the card they are sending me to pay for the book I would like to buy?
"No Ma'am, we have no way of tracking those numbers." Sorry, I'm not buying that one for a minute. I've lived too long with my data flow expert husband to believe that garbage. The other option is that Borders had complete idiots design their systems. And I don't think that is the case.
At last, the representative came up with a solution I could live with. Not happily, but I could live with it. I could order again today, paying with my credit card. When I receive the gift card I can call back and she will make a special note in my customer file that Borders should allow me to use the gift card to credit back my credit card account.
Still very dubious I asked what assurance I have that Borders will let me charge back with the gift card. The rep assured me she would make the not in the file and send me an email stating the same.
It seemed I had no choice if the Artist were to actually receive her long-awaited book. Within about 5 minutes I had the email that the order was placed. As I wrote this post I received a second email from customer service about my special payment instructions. That makes me feel a little better.
In the mean time I hope there are serious looks into the order fulfillment system at Borders.com which keeps orders for 3 months and then -- without instruction--cancels them the week before they are due to be fulfilled. All the wasted postage on sending out gift cards needlessly drives up the price of books.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tea Party Gear
Rick's getting geared up for the next tea party. This time it will be July, so hopefully we will be leaving our jackets behind. I'll be wearing the same t-shirt as last time. 
We will be bringing along the same sign as last time.
But Rick's new shirts have arrived! He will be sporting this one on July 3rd: These shirts plus more are available at the Blurt-Shirts store. 
We will be bringing along the same sign as last time.
But Rick's new shirts have arrived! He will be sporting this one on July 3rd: These shirts plus more are available at the Blurt-Shirts store. 
Thursday, June 18, 2009
My Stars!
Today we finally got around to the astronomy field trip that finishes the last of the school year. I took the children to the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
We looked through the whole first floor of the museum. Some of the galleries don't hold much value for me, but we had lots of time to spend before our planetarium show was to begin, so we looked. The kids enjoyed making potato heads in the forensic anthropology exhibit.
It was wonderful to spend lots of time in the Human Ecology gallery. It is beautifully set up and holds lots of interest for the kids and adults. This is one of the most dramatic displays there. 
And I like the tableau of the howling coyote in front of the cliff dwellings and an eagle with aerie off to the right. 
We also spent some time admiring the mineral and gem displays. I'm fascinated by the way these agates look like miniatures of what we might find in the art museum next door. 
Of course, the gallery with the assembled dinosaur skeletons is unforgettable. I think it made a big impression on the Engineer! 
Here the girls are invited to touch a dinosaur bone. 
Since my last visit to this museum was some 25 years ago, I did not know there were galleries downstairs to view. There, we saw lots of birds and plants from around the world. The kids took particular interest in an albino robin. The outdoor live animal collection was also new to me. We saw many owls, hawks, eagle, foxes, frogs, deer, turkeys, raccoons and a joyful otter put of a swim and dive show for us too.
When it was time to enter the planetarium, we relaxed in the seats. Before the show starts, multiple choice questions are projected onto the dome. I was pleased that the Engineer was able to correctly answer most of the questions himself. I guess he enjoyed his astronomy class this past year! The Artist and her friend were sitting out of my hearing, but I'm sure they knew the answers too.
We enjoyed the program, "Far, Farther, Farthest". After identifying some constellations visible locally on clear nights (that's your cue to laugh, we have few clear nights) this time of year, we went on to identify some specific stars and planets.
Then we saw photos that have come back from the Hubble telescope, and learned how astronomers use parallax to measure the distances of these stars from the Earth. At the end of the show, the instructor asked if anyone had requests for certain stars or constellations to be pointed out. The kids were spellbound, and when the 45 minutes was over, they were astounded. The Artist said it felt like 5 minutes.
We looked through the whole first floor of the museum. Some of the galleries don't hold much value for me, but we had lots of time to spend before our planetarium show was to begin, so we looked. The kids enjoyed making potato heads in the forensic anthropology exhibit.
It was wonderful to spend lots of time in the Human Ecology gallery. It is beautifully set up and holds lots of interest for the kids and adults. This is one of the most dramatic displays there. 
And I like the tableau of the howling coyote in front of the cliff dwellings and an eagle with aerie off to the right. 
We also spent some time admiring the mineral and gem displays. I'm fascinated by the way these agates look like miniatures of what we might find in the art museum next door. 
Of course, the gallery with the assembled dinosaur skeletons is unforgettable. I think it made a big impression on the Engineer! 
Here the girls are invited to touch a dinosaur bone. 
Since my last visit to this museum was some 25 years ago, I did not know there were galleries downstairs to view. There, we saw lots of birds and plants from around the world. The kids took particular interest in an albino robin. The outdoor live animal collection was also new to me. We saw many owls, hawks, eagle, foxes, frogs, deer, turkeys, raccoons and a joyful otter put of a swim and dive show for us too.When it was time to enter the planetarium, we relaxed in the seats. Before the show starts, multiple choice questions are projected onto the dome. I was pleased that the Engineer was able to correctly answer most of the questions himself. I guess he enjoyed his astronomy class this past year! The Artist and her friend were sitting out of my hearing, but I'm sure they knew the answers too.
We enjoyed the program, "Far, Farther, Farthest". After identifying some constellations visible locally on clear nights (that's your cue to laugh, we have few clear nights) this time of year, we went on to identify some specific stars and planets.
Then we saw photos that have come back from the Hubble telescope, and learned how astronomers use parallax to measure the distances of these stars from the Earth. At the end of the show, the instructor asked if anyone had requests for certain stars or constellations to be pointed out. The kids were spellbound, and when the 45 minutes was over, they were astounded. The Artist said it felt like 5 minutes.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Off Balance
I almost don't know what to do with myself! Today was the last day of school for our school year. I ignored the uncorrected school work and the books I need to add to my Book List of the children's reading for the year. I also ignored the report card grades I have not yet begun compiling. I paid my full attention to 5 hours of Pride and Prejudice on DVD and I reveled in it. That was a nice way to balance some of the stress from the last weeks.
There will be time next week for book lists and grades and preparing portfolios. For today, my time was my own.
Some more of what I did in that time is reflect on a TV show I enjoy. So, You Think You Can Dance generally holds my interest. This year's cast has been fun to watch so far, and I'm looking forward to more.
But I do have a complaint. And for me it is a serious one. I absolutely hate it when I'm watching a particularly enchanting number and the camera angle tilts so the dance floor is at a 45 degree angle. I have to shut my eyes. Perhaps I'm too heavily invested in the dancers' movement, and I feel the floor slipping out from under myself. It is so unnerving I was close to turning off the tv on Wednesday.
The show self-proclaims to be bringing dance into millions of living rooms where it would not have been otherwise. I'm sure that is true. But I wonder if viewers would enjoy it more if the cameras would stop spinning the picture so people could see the dance rather than just the spectacle.
I don't mind walking out of the room while the musical guest is performing during the results show. Rather, that is a pleasure. But please don't make me leave the dancing!
There will be time next week for book lists and grades and preparing portfolios. For today, my time was my own.
Some more of what I did in that time is reflect on a TV show I enjoy. So, You Think You Can Dance generally holds my interest. This year's cast has been fun to watch so far, and I'm looking forward to more.
But I do have a complaint. And for me it is a serious one. I absolutely hate it when I'm watching a particularly enchanting number and the camera angle tilts so the dance floor is at a 45 degree angle. I have to shut my eyes. Perhaps I'm too heavily invested in the dancers' movement, and I feel the floor slipping out from under myself. It is so unnerving I was close to turning off the tv on Wednesday.
The show self-proclaims to be bringing dance into millions of living rooms where it would not have been otherwise. I'm sure that is true. But I wonder if viewers would enjoy it more if the cameras would stop spinning the picture so people could see the dance rather than just the spectacle.
I don't mind walking out of the room while the musical guest is performing during the results show. Rather, that is a pleasure. But please don't make me leave the dancing!
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Quite a Debate
Our school year is winding down, with just a few lessons in math and history to go. Our study of the Middle Ages, Reformation and Renaissance has brought us to study Martin Luther.
Today in history class we read an English translation of Luther's 95 Theses. Phew!
In my mind, images from movies, books, woodcuts and engravings fill in the scene. I can picture a resolute, robed monk tacking his papers (parchments?) to the door of the castle church. From there, my imagination really takes over!
We read: Out of love for the truth and desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg... The introduction concluded with a request that those unable to be present for oral debate would participate in the debate by letters.
Now, I'm wondering, for how long, exactly, did Luther reserve the university conference room!?!
When I see how long it took us to read and give my children cursory understanding of the points, I can't imagine how long the day of debate would have been.
Today in history class we read an English translation of Luther's 95 Theses. Phew!
In my mind, images from movies, books, woodcuts and engravings fill in the scene. I can picture a resolute, robed monk tacking his papers (parchments?) to the door of the castle church. From there, my imagination really takes over!
We read: Out of love for the truth and desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg... The introduction concluded with a request that those unable to be present for oral debate would participate in the debate by letters.Now, I'm wondering, for how long, exactly, did Luther reserve the university conference room!?!
When I see how long it took us to read and give my children cursory understanding of the points, I can't imagine how long the day of debate would have been.
Friday, June 05, 2009
Ever the Artist
Some see art everywhere. My daughter, ever the artist, would have to be included in those who see the world a little differently.
Our family enjoyed a particularly seed-laden watermelon after dinner yesterday. As Rick and I were wiping our chins and carefully avoiding crunching those pesky seeds, we noticed the Artist was busy.
And she'd found a new medium in which to work: watermelon seeds.
Rick, the Engineer, and I thought she made a deer, but she was trying to depict a dog. With the help of some more seeds, she brought the composition around pretty well. I find it funny that the damp paper towel shows the US President's place mat underneath. In the second photo, the water has had a chance to dry.
I really enjoy how much her design reminds me of ancient cave art.
p.s., Thank you, Kim, for the tips on Math U See. We received a sample DVD yesterday and we liked what we saw. Watching someone else work out the problems will be a big help for me in teaching math.
Our family enjoyed a particularly seed-laden watermelon after dinner yesterday. As Rick and I were wiping our chins and carefully avoiding crunching those pesky seeds, we noticed the Artist was busy.
And she'd found a new medium in which to work: watermelon seeds.
Rick, the Engineer, and I thought she made a deer, but she was trying to depict a dog. With the help of some more seeds, she brought the composition around pretty well. I find it funny that the damp paper towel shows the US President's place mat underneath. In the second photo, the water has had a chance to dry. 
I really enjoy how much her design reminds me of ancient cave art. p.s., Thank you, Kim, for the tips on Math U See. We received a sample DVD yesterday and we liked what we saw. Watching someone else work out the problems will be a big help for me in teaching math.
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Disappointed
Last night I started watching the movie The Woman in White. Admittedly, I had high expectations. But they were elevated and dashed in the space of one sentence!
I popped the DVD into the machine and soon learned I would be watching a Masterpiece Theater production. Hooray! In the next moment I learned the production would last only two hours. Gasp!
This story! In only two hours! How could they?
The answer is, they could not.
There is a lot in the movie that is nowhere in Wilkie Collins' story. Some, I can understand, are devices to move the story along. Other parts seem unnecessary and gratuitous.
I do so wish a four or even a six hour miniseries were made of the story. With all its espionage, villainy, identity theft, two hours simply is not time to explain. The movie left me unsympathetic to the heroine and hero and curious about the fate of the villain. And whereas the end of the book is just and fitting, the movie ends with an unsatisfactory emotion less than hope and barely more than a wish.
Wilkie Collins also wrote The Moonstone. I plan to look that mystery up next.
I popped the DVD into the machine and soon learned I would be watching a Masterpiece Theater production. Hooray! In the next moment I learned the production would last only two hours. Gasp!
This story! In only two hours! How could they?
The answer is, they could not.
There is a lot in the movie that is nowhere in Wilkie Collins' story. Some, I can understand, are devices to move the story along. Other parts seem unnecessary and gratuitous.
I do so wish a four or even a six hour miniseries were made of the story. With all its espionage, villainy, identity theft, two hours simply is not time to explain. The movie left me unsympathetic to the heroine and hero and curious about the fate of the villain. And whereas the end of the book is just and fitting, the movie ends with an unsatisfactory emotion less than hope and barely more than a wish.
Wilkie Collins also wrote The Moonstone. I plan to look that mystery up next.
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