AOL = Big pain in the...

I am home today. It feels so odd to be home during the week, without my daughter chattering, hearing the neighbors lawnmower or the street kids running about. Such silence. Well, except for the dishwasher, heater and dryer humming along at the same time. Why am I home? Because my left leg is swollen up like a tree stump.

I have had two surgeries over the past four years on my knee. Torn miniscus and all the yucky stuff that goes along with it. The surgeries helped, but it has never been the same and I don't think it will be. Dr. said, that if he found me in his office again, he would be doing a full blown reconstruction instead of the Orthroscopy. I don't want surgery again. Period. I know, I am stubborn. If I need surgery then I should have it done. But, not only is the cost of said surgery something I cannot do, but it also my issues with needing help, I guess. I have a sometimes in the way attitude of "I can do it all myself." (Which, occaisionally, finds me in a worse situation because I do need help...) Anyway, it has been bothering me, for a while, so I am home to baby it a bit. Once it feels better, then I can get back into being more active to keep me from going under the knife. I hope.

Right now, I just want my ankles back and to actually see the little bones in my feet when I wiggle my toes.

I spent about two and half hours on the phone, yesterday, with the AOL company. And I do mean the whole company. I spoke with Tech Support, On line help, In store technical and billing, I ended up somewhere in India at one point who then transferred me to new registrations and then finally, Cancellations. I was frustrated and at my wits end regarding an issue that has been going on since October of last year. I had it. I said ya know what? Just transfer me to your cancellation department. Maybe that IS something you can do for me. Ya think? The guy in cancellations was the most intelligent person I had spoken to during my trek around their offices. I think they save them for that particular department, because they have much more finesse and knowledge of the inner workings of AOL. He helped me with several issues, except for the one I had originally called about. He provided me an email address to send my request to, again, and let me just say, it was the most scathing, demanding email I have sent in a long time. I haven't heard back. I am not surprised. Perhaps, in a week or so I will get some prefab email reply stating that they are looking into my issue.

The issue? A purchase I had made back in October of a couple obscure CD's. They charged my credit card for the purchase, but never sent me the item. It even shows on the purchase history that it was never shipped. Their terms of service clearly states that they will not charge for items purchased until they are shipped. I was charged, it never shipped and I want my money back. Seems rather simple to me, but yet I have been going round and round with them on this for 9 months. They requested that I provide them with the details of the transaction, I did. Everything, down to the date and time I made the order. Then, get this, the girl asked me if I kept the original packaging and could tell her where the item came from. Hello? Does she not Get that I didn't receive the item? She said that she couldn't help me unless I could provide that info. Arg! Please tell me that you are located somewhere here in Oregon so that I may drive over and slap you myself. Customer service consists of Listening to the actual problem before consulting your cheat sheet of fix-its.

I don't know that this will get resolved. My chances are looking pretty slim. I wish I could charge interest on the money they have taken from me. I surely would have enough for that trip to the coast, I so desperately want.

Right, so now that I have ranted and gotten that out of my system, I am going to go elevate my leg like I told my boss I was going to do today.

Have a great Monday...