The Hit List - Communication Breakdown

Astrology fact: Mercury is currently retrograde.

Theresa fact: In my natal chart, I have six planets ruled by Mercury.

Reality: I usually feel the effects of Mercury retrograde. Big time.

Ever since Mercury went retrograde on the 7th, I’ve been stuck in tech/communication hell with my internet provider. (Consider this your warning if you are thinking about hooking up with Time Warner Cable.)

I’ve had spotty email service for days now. At times, I could not even access my inbox. Emails have been lost in cyberspace and lord knows if they will ever return. I’ve been a loyal customer for years and have never had problems like this. EVER. (Wonder if this has anything to do with their recent move to merge with Comcast?)

If you’ve tried to contact me (or send me birthday wishes ‘n greetings) in the last week, I swear I’m not ignoring you (unless you are my baby brother because, in that case, I just might be).

For a Gemini, being unable to communicate – even via email – is akin having your tongue cut out and being isolated on some monkey-experimenting island. Painful and scary. For a business woman who depends on the internet, this means you’re cut off from from your livelihood.

In other words, this week was a hot drag on my mojo (and patience). I’m sure it was equally as craptacular for Time Warner but they really sailed off on the failboat when they couldn’t even provide reasons for this epic shitstorm nor estimates for when things would be restored. (Memo to TWC: alerting your clients is ethical and good business. Keeping us in the dark will cost you more down the road because now you’ve shown yourself as a business that doesn’t give a fig about your clients.)

So what’s a good Mercury ruled gal to do?

Improvise.

Put out a warning to my clients and pass on my alternative email address.

Monitor PayPal closely to quickly respond to any purchases.

Pester Time Warner multiple times. (That got me nowhere.)

BREATHE.

It’s always convenient to blame the planets when stuff goes awry but in this case, the responsibility for tech failure and poor response lands squarely on the shoulders of an internet provider that is not very concerned with their clients.

No planet or retrograde is ever the cause of crap customer service. That buck stops right at the door of the CEO. In weeks, Mercury will be direct. But the question remains: will Time Warner ever be direct with their customer about dropping the ball and leaving us all in the dark? That remains to be seen. (I have a feeling you shouldn’t hold your breath on that one.)

Latest birthday swag. Thank god the regular mail works!

Other stuff:

It’s summertime and you know what that means? SANGRIA. Make a pitcher! Or two.

When you’re not able to receive your email, nothing is better than amusing yourself with stories like THIS ONEGuy in gorilla suit gets tranquilized. OMG

From Sir Richard Branson: The War on Drugs Has Failed So Let’s Shut It Down. YES.

A site has been created for the mysterious tiger in the Cadillac.

I’ve been experimenting with Vine, the video looping channel. Here’s a killer Vine from Space. WOW.

Anyone who loves Siegfried and Roy is okay in my book (I’m into Liberace). Check out “Stop Playing It Safe” from Nubby Twiglet.

I believe that most people are generally pretty kind. 45 acts of kindness gives some real life examples.

Ever get a negative review or hate mail? It can burn pretty deep. Melissa Cassera has some wise advice on how to cope with this because some day, it might just happen to you.

If you were a woman trying to apply for a job with Walt Disney back in 1938, this is the kind of letter you’d get.

Photos of youth who do not ascribe to either gender: Agender: A Beautiful Photo Series Of Gender Nonconforming Youth. This line troubled me: “Researchers reportedly discovered that those in the LGBT community who live as neither male nor female face the highest level of discrimination and violence from outsiders.” It’s hard to stomach discrimination.

So funny: Pinterest Fail – where good intentions go to die.

Are you waiting for the Game of Thrones season finale with bated breath like I am? This funny post should hold you til tomorrow: 17 “Game of Thrones” Children’s Books That Are Too Hardcore to Exist.

Want that “Trust No Bitch” necklace I’m sporting above? Here ya go: Hot Fashion Sexy Gold Plated Trust No Bitch Design Necklace – Lead / Nickel Free

What I’m Grateful For:

Options

Writing time

Homemade bahn mi sandwiches

A perfect birthday

Sweet gifts and thoughts

Cards with cats

Lavender hand lotion

Goodwill

Soundtrack for 6/14/14: “The more you ignore me, the closer I get” by Morrissey – in times like this, only Morrissey will do