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Given that Robb and I are operating on a budget, we were able to save up enough money since the end of CAiNE 2011 up until now to afford the Flight and Hotel. The joys of working and sticking to a budget (within reason; sometimes unexpected stuff comes up, like having $1000 stuck in credit limbo with Air Canada, will get to that shortly) do pay off within a few months' time, to say the least. It's quite awesome and I'll have to thank Robb again for suggesting it. I should give myself a pat on the back as well for going with it and for having someone as awesome as Robb in the first place, too.
CAiNE 2013's location will be announced soon (not soon enough!), at the end of closing ceremonies for CAiNE 2012. Did I mention:
a) I'm flying out of New Brunswick first thing in the morning, so I won't know for at least 2 hours after the announcement's made or that
b) I've submitted one of the two only bids put in (the other by Vancouver) for CAiNE 2013? I'd crack open a bottle of wine to celebrate/freak out if we got the bid.
Regarding Air Canada, there was an original flight planned for Orlando, Florida. Suffice it to say that due to a decision not to end up in a crap hotel and the timing of it wasn't optimal, I canceled our flight and had a $1100 credit with Air Canada. Despite the impression that Air Canada and Air Canada Vacations are operating together/under the same parent company auspices, not to mention that I'd found a great deal on their site (yes, AC has great deals once in a blue moon), they would not transfer the flight credit to be used on the ACV portion of their business. So, my new trip to Montreal will be a big semi expensive birthday gift later this year. And I wonder if Air Canada is still scratching their heads about why they're doing poorly. Baggage fee gouging, change fee for a cancelled flight are two things pissing me off. But, it's done and over with for now. I won't be dealing with them if I can help it.
So, how've you all been? Despite the fact I haunt your pages more often than I post lately again...
I've got some other good news on the health front, but that will be on a separate post.
Am I speaking crazy talk?
Idris: No, but I always took you where you needed to go.
Also,
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and Happy Holidays!
- Location:Canada, Toronto
- Mood:
peaceful
It baffles me how a person chooses fail to pay attention to a cue on anything (technological device, social response). A person at the Tim Horton's earlier today was paying for their purchase with a debit card. For those of you unaware, Tim Horton's is our local (relatively, arguably) inexpensive coffee shop chain that's even found in the northern USA (mainly, NY State). Earlier this year, they worked out the ability to process your transactions with debit, in addition to credit cards and gift cards.
This person, rather than pay attention to the debit terminal's cue to confirm the amount, attempts to enter their PIN. Several times. On different cards. Arguing with the TH staffer that it's the terminal's fault.
Yes. Clearly it's the terminal's fault for the customer refusing to pay attention to the confirmation cue before confirming the account type (by default our units offer Chequing and Savings) and then require/request the PIN.
Being the dumb idiot good samaritan that I am, I tried to assist her. The next 10 minutes proceeds along the lines of me being a smartass (also known as an expert; which, btw, I am actually one given my line of work for Banking transaction processing both in Canada and the USA), that the terminal is not working and that my help is not requested nor wanted. At this point we have a line happening with one terminal, two staff on till trying to process orders with a beligerent moron on their hands. Thank goodness this time I was trying to pay with cash. I would've removed the person's card and throw it across the supermarket (Tim Horton's near us has standalone stores and a booth setup in a supermarket).
Now, to be fair (although I don't know why I bother given this is my journal and I can pretty much say what I want), this woman was in her 60s based on her age. That being said, I've seen people her age and older be twice as mindful and attentive to when a situation like this happens.
Why does a person remain so horribly ignorant in this day and age when this kind of payment option and technological aspect will only increase year after year? What hope is there to gain in staying unaware of maintaining a basic, fundamental kind of living such as paying attention to your surroundings and situation? Am I wrong in my assessment?
My only mistake, in my opinion, was that I tried to help more than once. I should've taken the cue that this had been going on for a while even before I showed up.
Second:
HAPPY (belated) BIRTHDAY, AWESOME ROBBO OF MINE!
