Emmy Social-Distancing Fails, But CORE's Table Read of Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a Winner :)

(Note:  Updates on the family member with COVID will be added to the original post on the subject.)

So ... I had to stop watching the Emmys. Not because it was already weird, as the Emmys were being delivered to people's homes by people in ridiculous Hazmat-type suits, but because people were also having huge parties - with not just family - at their homes, and eventually took off their masks to hug each other  - and it made me incredibly nervous.

Interestingly, though those these "oops" moments were plentiful, there aren't a lot of pictures of them available (in fact even this one only shows a partial mask) which is probably an intentional good thing - more about a culture trying to maintain social distancing upkeep, rather than trying to hide it/be dishonest ;) 

Other people who visited the Staples auditorium, who despite being in otherwise funny (but slightly too mocking) skit about social distancing, got entirely too close to Jimmy Kimmel, neither of them wearing masks.  

In fact, though I can't find a picture of it, trust me, they got much closer then this without masks on ...

Jennifer Aniston, this means mostly you,  defeating the purpose about an otherwise funny skit about social distancing.  

As opposed to Tracee Ellis Ross, who did it right, and never got close enough to Jimmy for them to even get a picture together ...

Then you had a surprise Zoom visit by Lisa Kudrow and Courtney Cox at you home as a semi-Friends reunion, which I ordinarily would've been super excited about - if you weren't sitting so close together WITHOUT MASKS on!

All right, now, we love you all, but I'm gonna have to get my rant on a minute.

Just because you live together, or are a family on your shows, doesn't mean you are in real life - and shouldn't get that close together without wearing masks!

In fact, wasn't the production of Batman just halted because Robert Pattinson contracted COVID?

Look, I get it - we're all tired of social distancing, this could be your only shot at a win, and when people get together and get excited, it's natural to want to hug others and move closer to people - but that is exactly what continues to spread this virus, and what masks are for!

COVID does not care that you're a celebrity or that you just won an Emmy, or that this could be your only win - you are not immune.

Just because you are celebrities doesn't mean you're immune - as Tom Hanks, Robert Pattison, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Idris Alba, and many, many others have proven.

If you want to risk that, don't do it on camera, please?

My husband's stepdad is currently in the hospital with both COVID and pneumonia, in the fight of his life - not so funny when it hits home, is it?

(In fact, Mark walked out of the room during the Jennifer Aniston/Jimmy Kimmel "fumigation" skit, angry that they were, in his words, "mocking" the dangerousness of COVID.  I'm not sure I took it the same way, but with his stepdad in the hospital, I get it. )

If you're role models -act like it - especially if you're my self-proposed liberals who supposedly support science!

I turned it off not long after Mark left the room and saw the Schitt's Creek winners removing their masks and hugging - it was making me crazy - nervous and frustrated for the spread of COVID - so I turned it off, sorry :/

Now -  rant over :)

And just so as not to be too hard on Jennifer Aniston - because I actually otherwise really like Jennifer Aniston -  here's an example of where she did a good thing - the cold table read, via Zoom, of "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." 

The event was sponsored by CORE (Community Organized Effort Relief), all of the donations and proceeds going to CORE, to provide free testing and support, and starred Jennifer Aniston, Brad Pitt, Jimmy Kimmel, Julia Roberts, Matthew McConnaughey, John Legend, Shia Lebeouf, Ray Liotta, Henry Goulding, Sean Penn, and Dane Cook, with narrated screen direction by Morgan Freeman.

If you haven't seen it, the full video is  below, and worth a watch - both for Shia Labeouf's take on Spiccoli - which Sean Penn, the original Spiccoli, got a big kick out of) - or  for Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt's re-enactment of the red bikini fantasy scene via Zoom, which was both awkward and adorable, considering their ancient history together.  

Jennifer handled it like a pro, where as Brad was clearly a bit embarrassed - aw, he actually turned red. 

(Now, Brad, you know you deserved that embarrassing moment, after publicly humiliating her by leaving her for Angelina Jolie, didn't you? Good for you, for taking it on the chin for charity ;)

All the other actors clearly were interested in this moment - even Shia Labeouf broke character for a second to directly watch them on Zoom screen - with Julia Roberts having the best lip-biting-smile reaction over it - do you blame them?  

Thank God that Morgan Freeman was there to transition it along  (but did include a "Lord have mercy" lol)

And if nothing else, it's worth a watch for Brad Pitt in the pirate hat? lol

Or just looking at Brad Pitt, I couldn't stop staring - even though he was a bit disheveled, and at first, I thought he was going to play Spiccoli lol. 

Brad Pitt has almost the same effect on me that Paul Newman and Alexander Dreymon has on me onscreen, I just can't stop staring - ever since I first saw him in Thelma and Louise!

(Yes, my husband knows, he gets the same way about certain women like Angelina Jolie or Michelle Yeoh lol).

My God, he's so sexy - I mean, look at him - that man is 56 years old and genetically blessed, it's crazy!

This video really revealed that Jennifer Aniston had more plastic surgery than he even thought about (her face looks a bit - distorted, especially around the mouth?), and he still looks THAT good! 

Speaking of bad plastic surgery, what the hell happened to Dane Cook's face!?!

People used to confuse him with Ryan Reynolds ...

(Ryan Reynolds and Dane Cook in the mid-2000s)

Yeah, that's not going to happen ever again, jeez.

And just in case you're wondering why he fell off the planet in general, circa 2010, it's because first, several other comedians accused him of stealing their material, and then his brother, who was his manager, stole all his money and is now in prison.

In fact, I'd feel sorry for him, if it weren't for stealing other people's material:/

And I'm not against plastic surgery, and might someday get Botox or a nip and tuck here and there, if I had the money - but this is what happens when you go plastic surgery nuts!

And don't do fillers, people - ever! 

(Fillers always do a bad job, they're not where they need to be yet! 

That's clearly what Jennifer and Dane have had done, in addition to Dane's botched facelift.  Fillers makes the area around the filler injection lumpy, especially around the mouth).

Look at Brad and Julia, who although do appear to have Botox sometimes (especially Julia),  otherwise allows a few wrinkles or signs of aging, with no weird lumps and stretches around the mouth, beyond the normal that accrue with age - again, even with Julia, Botox, not fillers.

Anyway, without further ado, I give you the Zoom cold table read of  the script of "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" :)

You probably want to skip past Mayor Garcetti's speech, which goes on entirely too at the beginning (almost a full 5 minutes), just saying ;)

By the way, just in case you were worried that Shia had a relapse, because he's acting so weird and wasted even during the pre-read interview, no worries, it's not a relapse - Shia is a method actor, he's in character the entire time, even in the pre-show interview, because that's just what Shia does - it's method acting :)

Go Shia! Back on the A-list, where he belongs!

Okay, I've already spoken ad nauseum about my adoration for Shia's acting skills and joy that they've accepted him back on the A-list, so I'll stop. 

And no, that's not real weed, and I'm not sure about the cigarettes - Hollywood does have fake cigarettes and weed for smoke effect, you know :)

Temporary Perk-Up for a Worn Sofa ...

I will update the post below with the condition of the family member with COVID and pneumonia, I mentioned, but in the meantime, the pillows I ordered last week arrived today, so just trying to keep myself busy and distracted with arranging them in the meantime. 

So ... our dogs had pretty much destroyed our sofa - which is okay, they were worth it (RIP Snuggy Pug)  :)

However, sofas often require try-before-you-buy for comfort, we'd prefer not to try out a multitude of sofas with other people that refuse to wear masks, plus we've got to budget one in; thus,  we decided to just give the old one a temporary perk-up with some cheap throw pillows and a throw blanket :) 

Now, I love embroidered, Turkish, kilim, Native-American/Southwestern, and tribal-style tapestried pillows - all of which, I guess, is kind of incorporated into the term "Boho Chic," these days. 

However, Mark doesn't dig reds (and most Kilims contain at least some red), authentic ones are pretty pricey, and we're just talking about meantime accents until we're ready for the new sofa, right?

So everything you see here - including the dark-chocolate throw was on sale - for a grand total of $75.

Of course the sofa itself still looks a bit worse for wear, but it's a meantime fix? 

I'm thinking the rope pillow covers may little need a little ironing after shipment, hmm ...

However, it's almost time for fall decorating, pumpkins, leaf garlands, wreaths etc. - so I may add 2 copper/deep orange rust pillows to blend with my fall garlands etc. -

For now, I just bought 2 leaf pillow covers (I already had the pillow inserts, which I also bought on sale a couple of months ago. I just change out the covers seasonal or if I just want to change the colors) - and I'm not sure about them :/

Because the problem with buying stuff online is, until you get them and see them in your lighting, you don't know if they'll blend - and everything does but these leaf pillows, which came out slightly darker cream than I wanted, and they may be too much/too many pillows?

Hmm, I think the arrangement in the picture below may work better the one in the pic above, but I'm still not sure ... 

If you have to arrange them a certain way to blend, that kind of defeats the purpose of "throw pillows," doesn't it? :)

Don't get me wrong, like I said, I'm all about the kilim multi-pillowed look, but these aren't true kilim and I'm just trying to incorporate a little fall, but I'm not sure this works, what do you think?

I may add small dark orange rust/copper rectangular pillows instead, and put the leaf pillows on the bed, we shall see :)

Family Member With Both COVID and Pneumonia

I had a prior post on this subject, but parked it in draft, because we were asked to hold mentioning who it is, on social media, until all family members are told privately, and not all have been reached yet.

Prayers up, please?  

UPDATE:   The family member is not on oxygen or a respirator yet and not in ICU.  The pneumonia is a secondary bacterial infection to COVIDA, not part of COVID. 

As for treatment, a few things have already been tried, but there has been no improvement, but the good news is, there also has been no progression of the disesase.

The regimen was changed again (as I've mentioned previously as a medical transcriptionist, doctors don't care about what politicians or hedge-fund shareholders say, they will try anything for their patients for what works.

At present, they are on a new antibiotic for the pneumonia, sinus medication, and pain medication.  

The person was an avid daily runner before being infected, so this is likely the reason they are  not on a respirator or oxygen, as of yet rather than any regimen, very good physical condition and health before this, and yet the secondary bacterial pneumonia infection isn't clearing.

It is likely that the viral infection and the bacterial infection are  complicating the treatment of each other; thus, treating and clearing the bacterial infection with an antibiotic will help the body to only have to then fight COVID, but it's a matter of finding which antibiotic the bacterial pneumonia is sensitive to.

They are fighting it, very strong person - keep the prayers coming, though. 

Update:  9/22/2020

Now that all family has been contacted, we can reveal that it is Mark's stepdad. 

We spoke to him tonight, he sounds much stronger :)  

The other day, he could only give one or two words, struggling to breathe.

Unfortunately, they were certain that COVID had now entered his lungs.  He is still not on oxygen or a respirator, though, likely attributed to the fact that he was an avid daily runner, mountain climber, and tennis player - but it's watch and wait. 

As for symptoms, he said he first lost his smell and taste completely, then he he had the worst sinus blockage of his life, then the fever, then struggled to breathe, then came to the ER.

He was very careful, wore a mask everywhere, very clean, so right now, it's track and trace.

However, there is still so much we don't know about this virus, and we know that surgical masks sometimes gap or don't fit properly.

Also, IMO,  people have become so focused on masks that wearing gloves has all but been forgotten, forgetting this thing is also is also droplet-borne, right?

I still wear gloves, too, when I go out - not that even that will necessarily protect me, but it helps.

Regardless, keep those prayers coming, please?

________________________

Update:  9/23/2020

He was even stronger last night :) The pneumonia aspect is improving and his fever is down to 100.  They talked about sending him home within the next couple of days, but will see how it goes today - he's still pretty weak, his joints still hurt, and so do his lungs, though they're better.  They'd like to get his temp down to under 100. They also mentioned that they have a service that comes out in hazmat suits and fumigates your home before your return - no joke!

He's on the COVID ward and says he feels fortunate - he's encouraged to walk around because of the pneumonia, and he can see other people in rooms, and they are all on respirators and oxygen - scary stuff.   

Also, people are bugging him to death about signing new DNRs/living wills in case he takes a turn, which he already signed when he entered, plus asking him every five minutes where he's been 5,000 times, trying to figure out where he contracted it, but he hasn't been anywhere but the grocery, running in his neighborhood, and playing tennis, which he's already told them 5,000 times.

Fingers crossed ...

Update:  09/24/2020

He was feeling much better, but today, he developed kidney pain.

He has had no history of kidney problems, not even stones  - and a little known fact about COVID is that sometimes, COVID attacks the kidneys as well. 

  

RIP, RBG

 Heartbroken, one of my heroes (heroines) :(

What a little stick of dynamite, she was :)

Amazingly, the tiny little woman was scared of nothing - because she knew she was usually the smartest person in the room lol. 

Not sure what we'll do without her on the Supreme Court - she will be missed :(

Clearing Up the Wayfair Credit Card Bank Changeover Confusion - I Think? :)

Update:  Please see the important P.S. at the end.  It appears Lisa wasn't entirely correct, either :(

____________________________________________

While writing this post,  I spoke to someone who finally explained it to me in a way that made sense, and now I get it.

Thank you, Lisa! :)

Because though some Wayfair CSRs are saying otherwise, according to the last CSR I spoke with Lisa, a supervisor - who just happened to answer the phone due to heavy call volume - Wayfair apparently did NOT end their contract with the bank abruptly and not tell their customers - they claim it was Comenity Bank, the issuer of the Wayfair credit card, that abruptly ended their contract with Wayfair early, on September 11th, and failed to inform their cardholders.

According to Lisa, Comenity Bank didn't inform Wayfair itself until September 11th - and the action was taken against Wayfair's wishes.

As for me, I only have one other credit card, a basic all-purpose credit card, and I don't get department store cards because of the higher interest rates.

However, because of the special perks and sales with Wayfair if you have their card, I applied for a Wayfair credit card on August 3rd, directly from Wayfair's website, and received it.

I made a few purchases, great quality, arrived often very early, I was very happy.  I made my first payment, well over the minimum amount, as I always do, with plenty of credit left on the card.

However, when I tried to purchase a throw blanket for the sofa today, the card wasn't an option in the payment field, despite there being plenty of room on the card, and making my first payment ahead of schedule and over the minimum.

So I called customer service/tech support because I thought there was either a glitch or perhaps something else was needed on my end, since there was plenty of room on my card for purchases.

Instead, I was told that Wayfair abruptly ended their contract early with Comenity Bank - the bank that provided the Wayfair credit cards -  on September 11th, and were now going to use Citibank as their Wayfair credit card.

Regardless of who is to blame, the end result is the old Wayfair credit card with Comenity Bank I'd just applied for and received on August 3rd, which still has plenty of credit on it - which could only be used at Wayfair  - is now useless - because Wayfair is no longer using Comenity Bank as their credit card carrier.

The only option now is to apply for their new Wayfair card with Citibank, their new bank, because the old balance on the old Wayfair card cannot be transferred to the new Citibank Wayfair card.

This, would mean I apply twice for credit with Wayfair within 60 days, receive 2 hits to my credit score, have 2 payments for 2 different cards for the same store, and 2 interest rates.

Of course I'm not going to do that.  Who would? 

The first CSR I spoke with at Wayfair had nothing to offer for the trouble, and in fact, seemed to totally lack in empathy or patience for helping clear my confusion about what just happened.

In fact, the conversation with the first CSR, went like this ...

Melissa/CSR 1:  "We're not responsible, your credit card contract is with a third-party bank, so it's their job to let you know we ended our contract with them, not ours. And you have the option to apply for our new card, with our new bank."

 

Me:  "Okay, but I applied for the card from your site, the card has your name on it - in fact, it says "Wayfair Credit Card," not the "Comenity Bank Card," and it was your decision to end the contract with that bank early, not the bank's, right? But you carry no responsibility for this?"

 

Melissa/CSR 1:  "Well, we have the right to switch banks whenever we want. You have a choice to pay with a debit card directly from your bank account, nobody's forcing you to apply for our Wayfair cards."

 

Me:  "Oh, so it IS  Wayfair's card and your responsibility, then? Because you just used the word "our cards. :)"   

"And did you seriously just try to blame me for this, saying it's my choice to get into this mess, when there's no way I could've known this was going to happen, when even you admitted Wayfair customer service didn't even know until September 11th, and Wayfair left it to the bank to tell the customers - but didn't? "


"Nice try, but we are NOT going to blame me, the customer, for the crappy, sudden decision made to end contracts between your company and the bank - NONE of this is MY fault - the fault lies somewhere between your company and the bank, and I'm definitely not holding this bag of crap for either of you, sorry, that's a manipulation fail - so try again lol."

"And are you trying to sell me a new card or not? Because I can't tell - one minute you're saying no one forced me to get your card, like I shouldn't have applied for it in the first place, but the next you're asking me to apply for your new card as my only option, so now I'm more confused than ever :)"

 

Melissa/CSR 1:  "No, your contract is with the third-party bank, not with us, with Wayfair-"

 

Me:  "With your company's name on card, Melissa, which I applied for directly through your website.  And again, it isn't called the Comenity Bank card, it's called the Wayfair Credit Card.  I'm not going to get legal, but I doubt if someone did sue you, including the bank you just ended your contract early with, the "it's not our responsibility" excuse would fly.  :) 

 

"Now, I'm not blaming you, you're not an executive making these decisions, and I realize there's nothing you can do or offer, your hands are tied from a CSR perspective - I'm just asking if you can even understand my frustration? Because your attitude doesn't sound like you do in the least."

 

"So let's just talk human to human, Melissa. If this happened to you, what would you do?"


"Would YOU want to apply for another credit for Wayfair, less than 60 days after applying for/being approved for the first one - causing a double hit to your credit score, making now two payments - one for a card you can't even use - and paying double interest, just because the store up and decided they wanted a different bank?"

 

 

Melissa/CSR 1:  "I don't know anything about that because I don't have any credit cards. Well, not in my name, my husband does.  No, you can't use the card you just were granted because we ended our contract with that bank.  However, you have the option to apply for the new Wayfair card.  The bank that holds your card should've told you that. "

 

Me:  "Wowwww, okay.  So ... though you have no personal experience with credit yourself,  you don't even pay the bills, your husband does - you somehow obtained a job with Wayfair as a credit CSR, imagining you're qualified to instruct anyone at all on applying for even one credit card, let alone multiple credit cards, with your company?" 

 

"Oh, I don't think so. Wow, Wayfair's making good business decisions for their customer's all the way around, then, aren't they? LOL " 

 

"Okay, wait, that was out of line.  Look ... I'm sorry.  I'm sorry for the sarcasm, that wasn't necessary.  This really isn't your fault OR my fault, but despite having no personal experience with credit yourself, don't you think you could have the tiniest bit of empathy and understanding for the frustration this caused those of us who are cardholders in good standing, who weren't even informed?" 

 

"I mean, I've been through all my emails, my spam, my regular mail - there's nothing from anyone, Wayfair OR Comenity bank, about this taking place." 

 

"But okay, I get it, there's nothing you can do, I'm screwed. Thank you for your time. I'm sorry, but no - I won't be applying for that new card with Wayfair now with Citibank, because I can't financially, and I shouldn't have to, after I just did on August 3rd, I qualified already and I still have hundreds of dollars left on the to make purchases, but it's now useless to be used at Wayfair or anywhere."

As I said, I don't hold any department store cards - in fact I only have one other credit card, a basic all-purpose card - and I opened this card because of special discounts and to expand my credit score.

However, I can't imagine if let's say Macy's suddenly changed their credit-card issuing bank and stuck you with a useless previous card and asked you to apply for a new one - who has ever heard of a reputable department store ever doing that?

So I figured something wasn't right, here, Wayfair isn't a shady business, their reputation, at least up until now, is every bit as good as Macy's.

In fact, with the CSR on speaker, my husband, Mark, was yelling, "That's a shady Trumper business scam move.  See, this is the result of Trump and GOP senate rolling back Obama's consumer protection laws. Hang up on the fucking Trumpers! You're better than I would be, I would've said "Fuck you" already and hung up.  Why do you keep trying to understand these people? LOL" in the background.

In fact, I had to shush him to hear LOL.

But after I thanked her and hung up, I called back, figuring something wasn't right - and spoke with Lisa - who was AWESOME!

Lisa/CSR 2:  "No, no - I think there are some confused CSRs.  But please understand, we weren't informed of this ourselves until 6 days ago, so many are speaking without knowing the facts.  Which as I understand it, we, at Wayfair did NOT end the contract with the bank, they ended the contract early with us, and without warning."

 

"And though it's true that we do have the right to change banks, we didn't - and even if we did, we would find a less crappy manner,  far in advance, which Comenity didn't do at all, for at least half of their customers."  

"And if it was our decision, we would offer you some compensation for the trouble because then it would be our responsibility - but because it was the bank's decision and not ours, it isn't - they screwed us too, basically LOL" 

"Did someone at Wayfair tell you it was Wayfair's decision?"

Me:    "Yep, actually two people - the first person said she didn't understand the details, but she believed Wayfair made the decision. The second one was as I told you, she really had no game at all lol."

"Thank God, I called back, thank you!  I knew something wasn't right, this didn't make sense - and the scary thing is that those two CSRs DO think Wayfair made the decision and tried to make me feel bad for ever applying in the first place, as if it was MY fault lol." 

"Wayfair is a reputable company and they're great with communication, I knew something was off - now it makes sense!"

"Oh thank God, if I hadn't spoken to you, and you hadn't explained what really happened, I never would've used Wayfair again, but I will." 

 

"However, courtesy of Comenity bank, since the Wayfair credit card I just received a month ago is now useless, I guess I'll just be cutting it up and making lovely home decor out of THAT, instead of buying more home decor at Wayfair, because I won't be applying for the New Citibank card for a couple of months - you know, for when my points go back up from the last credit pull for applying for the original Comenity Wayfair card lol"

 

 

Lisa/CSR 2:   "LOL! Hilarious! Right? Aw, I'm not laughing at you, though, I get it - but just remember, they screwed us too - and not helping is some CSRs actually believe WE did this and think it's reasonable to not even offer understanding or empathy for customers. That just blows my mind, that they'd even think we'd ever do that, and that's okay!"

"Just know, you're not alone. We're getting hundreds of calls, Comenity didn't tell many. That's why even though I'm a supervisor, I'm actually helping answer phones directly today. Actually, of the ones Comenity bank did inform, that's the way we CSRs found out - we knew before the company knew, because some customers called in about the Comenity letter, completely confused. We had no idea how to respond, because Comenity didn't even bother to tell Wayfair yet lol. Our customers were like "surprise!" We had no idea what to say because we didn't even know lol."

Me:    "Well, it sounds like you're better off without that bank, with the way they do business. Citibank's fairly reputable. Somewhat, anyway, comparatively.  You know how all corporate banks can be, these days.  That's why I use a small local bank." 

"I just wish we all had a better heads up, but it is what it is, I guess. Thanks again for your time and explanation, I'll be back.   Well, in a few months, when my credit score points go back up, then I'll apply for the new Wayfair card lol. "

 

Lisa/CSR 2:     "Seriously, right? LOL You're very welcome, and I'm SO sorry the priors steered you wrong and that this happened, but yes, it screwed us too, and it's actually pretty embarrassing for us, we had no control and we all got burned from it.  I'm a supervisor, you just happened to catch me, and my name's Lisa, you can be assured this is the correct info. Have a great rest of your day."

Okay, Lisa was awesome - and I'm really not trying to be a Karen - but what are we supposed to say or do? 

I mean, we can all see that people are shittier than ever, in general, right now - and as kind and fair as you try to be, many people are being especially unreasonable, right now, saying and doing crazy shit.

And when they are, and when stuff like this happens that affects you, your credit scores, or in some cases, even your can affect health and safety - we're supposed to what, lie down and take it, for fear of being called "a Karen" if we don't? 

(Mind you, note that the same men calling any woman who even politely voices a concern about anything a "Karen" are always themselves the biggest petty, whiny, bitches themselves,  on a daily basis, that I've ever seen in my life - the type to throw a tantrum if McDonald's so much as puts ketchup on their burger when they didn't want it lol.  However, God knows that when a man calls a woman Karen, it IS, irrationally, a very effective deflection tool off their own daily tantrums/bitchedness ;)

Regardless, sometimes you have to speak up, if for nothing else, just to help you understand what happened and the policies better? :)

_______________________

PS - After I wrote the above, I called Comenity Bank, because Wayfair suggested it, to see if they had anything to offer, since it was their choice and their responsibility.

Comenity told me that's not true - these things actually happen frequently, and they are almost always a a mutual decision, so it would surprise him if it was just his bank's decision and not a mutual one between Comenity and Wayfair - especially considering this is the second time Wayfair has used their bank for their credit cards, and Wayfair only returned just a just a few months ago - so it would surprise him if his bank just cut them loose after allowing them to return just a couple of months ago.

So that was useful information - and I believe him.

And the truth is, I don't think anyone's lying on either Wayfair's side or the bank's side - I think just being CSRs, they don't know what really happened. 

I asked him, isn't there any legal protection or credit protection from companies and banks doing this sort of thing?



The CSR said ... "Not anymore."

Which of course makes Mark right - this IS the result of Trump and Congressional rollbacks of consumer-protection laws with corporate companies and banks, which set in place by Obama and the congress of 2009 :(

In fact, I remember when Obama set forth the consumer protection laws, and Congress approved them, to stop the bleeding.

Because the transcription company I was working for went bankrupt and I never got my last paycheck - and my credit card company charged late fees 4 times in one month - and I wasn't alone, it happened to many people during the recession.

Thus, Obama specifically announced his plan to stop this, as well as other consumer-protection laws and Wall Street (Frank-Todd) law.
Congress passed it, and it all stopped - immediately.

However, all of those consumer-protection laws are now gone - courtesy of Trump and a Republican Senate - and corporations get record-high tax shelters in addition to shady business practices like this.

In my opinion, if we are headed towards another recession, it won't be because of just COVID - it will be because of the return of same shady corporate business practices and tax shelters that were in place that led to the fall of the economy and stock market in October of 2008, - which people forget was one month before Obama was even elected.

Actually worse - because these same corporate protections are in place more than ever :(

He also said that I mentioned Macy's as an example, and in recent years, this has, and will continue to happen, with Macy's as well.  It happened with Amazon yet, but it will.  It screws their own customer's credit, but they do, and they don't care.

Comenity Bank CSR:   "I feel bad for you guys, because you apply having no idea this is going to happen and get stuck with a card you can't use and a hit to your credit, but it happens all the time."

Me:   "Why did they even continue to accept applications, knowing they were going to do this?"

Comenity Bank CSR:  "That, I can't say, that's above my pay grade, but I think we both know they're all happy to take your money and don't care you can't use it anymore or what happens to your credit score. All I can tell you is we continued to take applications for a credit card right until August 24th, anyway. And that I, personaly, feel bad for your guys. And I wish there was something I could do, but I can't. I'm sorry this happened, but ... lesson learned about store credit cards in 2020?"

Affirmative :(

So in the end, all I've learned is that in a way, it is my fault, considering I've never had an online store credit card like this before and had no idea this could happen.  

Sometimes  you're the statue, sometimes you're the pigeon lol - and there's nothing you can do but take it.  

I guess it's just I've had more than my share of this kind of crap.

Never again, though - I'll pay this off and stick with just my other all-purpose card - regardless of what better deals are offered if you have get the store credit cards - because you can't even use the card if the store changes banks :(

Ya know, I didn't expect it to turn out this way - when I initially wrote this post.  In fact, I was trying to be positive about someone handling a situation well (Lisa), and the Comenity Bank CSR was very good, too - it's just I can't get the real story from either, because they didn't tell their CSR's enough info, nor the correct info, and they keep blaming each other - and there's nothing they can do regardless.

I promise, I'm really not trying to be a downer, nor am I depressed or even angry, but I realize these past few posts haven't been my best or most positive lol.

The truth is, I keep trying to look for the positive in people, even after a negative experience, as you can tell in this post I still did with Lisa - and the Comenity CSR was helpful, too, though there was nothing he could do.

But I guess I am feeling a bit disheartened, lately, because though I always thought I'd seen the worst business practices and worst in human behavior just before, and during, the recession - I'm actually seeing even worse now. 

In fact, people didn't even believe me, when I told them how people were behaving on the most menial of jobs, back when I was working a 2 jobs, during the recession -  people fighting over hours, throwing each other under the bus, etc.  

I said even back then, "It's like Reality TV mindset has taken over our culture, and our ways of dealing with each other - we've lost basic human decency in favor of selfishness - everyone is acting like they're in some sort of apocalypse and survival mode without just cause, screwing each other over, right and left, though we aren't."

Who knew we'd actually glorify that Reality TV mentality so much that we'd actually elect a president based on it? 

Well, if nothing else, at the very least, the whole country knows now I wasn't lying.

People have shifted, the world has shifted, fast, just within the last 15 years or so -what was considered rude, greedy, selfish, and basic lack of common decency is now encouraged :(

It just makes my head spin - and just want to just hide in my apartment and not go anywhere or talk to anyone lol.

But I will - eventually :)

 

Speaking of Ripley, Here's Sigourney Weaver and Samantha Bee - LOL!

In my prior posts, I mentioned the recent need to channel my inner Ripley again ...

(Actually worse, my inner Beth Dutton? lol).

Today, this video popped up in my feed - I had never seen it.

Apparently, it's from April 2019 - Sigourney Weaver helps recreate the scene where Ripley meets Newt in  "Aliens," on Full Frontal (The Samantha Bee Show) - however, with a twist ...

Comedian and political commentator, Samantha Bee, is Newt - hiding in space from the horror of having to cover, and make jokes, about the 2020 election and host the White House Correspondents Dinner ...   

Note that the very liberal Samantha Bee is so traumatized by the last election and current events, she's actually clutching a Trump rag doll (or is it a chew toy?) LOL!

Oh, the horror! Oh the humanity! 

However, after a pep talk by Ripley - and surprise appearances by journalists including Katie Couric, who is also hiding ("They mostly come out at night ... mostly" lol) - and a Ripley pep talk - she's ready to come back and cover the election with humor again.

LOLOLOL!

My Husband's - Erm - Conversation With a Trumper

(Edited - to actually much worse than it was previously LOL!)

I wasn't present, but I heard about it later - so I'm going to say what I have to say here.

That's right, in case you couldn't tell, I've found the need to channel my inner Ripley again lately, on some Trumpers  ...

No, worse.

In fact, I might even go all crazy-scary Beth Dutton tornado, on some very deserving Trumper trailer parks -  because I'm THAT tired of falsely-entitled/over-privileged delusional Trumper bullshit  lol.

Of COURSE the Trumper was the one to bring up the subject with my husband - Trumpers usually do, imagining that just because we're white and in the South that we'll agree with them.

At first my husband tried to change the subject and avoid it - and this person knows that. 

The reason that person brought it up was, they were going somewhere together yesterday, but had to wear masks to get in - and the Trumper started by first bitching about Governor Beshear, then praising Trump. 

(I can only thank GOD this trip wasn't to the gun range, as they'd originally planned lol.) 

By the way, I had told my husband that even though I liked this person, I personally wanted to keep these people at arm's length, because I already suspected they were Trumpers, and when they found out we weren't, there was going to be conflict.

So when my husband called me, terribly upset because we really liked the guy otherwise, the first thing he said was ...

Mark:  You were right - they're Trumpers. I couldn't believe the things coming out of his mouth. He brought it up because we were both wearing masks while out, we had to before we went in."

"I mean, after his tirade bitching, I even asked him if I could speak a contrary opinion before I responded,  and also said I really didn't want to talk about this with him." 

"I was looking forward to talking about Yellowstone and horses and a lot of other stuff we have in common." 

 

"With Yellowstone, he doesn't realize the difference between protecting your own family and property, when justice has failed you - VS. - walking into other people's states, territories, and neighborhoods, taking justice into your own untrained civilian hands, without being asked by law enforcement to do so, and shooting protesters just because you're afraid they could potentially riot!"

"That attitude that the entire country is your personal property makes him exactly the thing he hates - like a real estate developer or the federal government, trying to take other people's territory, from Native Americans and other ranchers, just because they can, and demonizing anyone who naysays their doing so."


"What happened at Standing Rock should've been a big clue of how Trump's government was going to go, if you criticized, opposed, or protested it. And the fact that he can condemn the police state brutality against protesters in Belarus, but condemn all protesters here, despite most being peaceful, without realizing the hypocrisy, is proof, in my mind, of too much Trump Kool-Aid drinking"

 

 

"After he said I could respond, when I did, he literally started screaming in my face and spitting.  Anybody else, and I would've punched the guy, but that's what they want so they can play victim and put it on Fox News.  So I just yelled right back in his face."

 

Me:  "I'm sorry this happened, honey, I've been there, 1,000 times, here. This is why transplants from other places have a hard time making friends here, without at least some family here, even if you had a ton of friends elsewhere, like you did in Detroit. I know you wanted to be friends and are disappointed, I'm so sorry.

 

"And you still CAN be friends, if you want, it's just going to be tricky, because even though you have a lot of other things in common, underneath it all, you both will know that your values are completely different."  

 

But we can't forget that Trumpers  project and gaslight - THEY are the ones who've been propagandized/brainwashed - without any true factual evidence - to believe that any Democrat OR Republican who doesn't support Trump is 'the Satanic/demonic enemy trying to destroy this country.' 

 

So just try to remember that his vehemence, the screaming and spitting - it's not really about you or what you said - it's fear-based, it's coming from his own irrational fears and paranoia, not even really about you at all, and possibly arguing with his own conscience and guilt, because he knows some of these things he's supporting are selfish, greedy, and morally wrong, and actually ANTI Christ's message." 

 

 

"Again, this isn't Detroit, Kentucky is tricky - this is why both Dave Chapelle and Trevor Noah said Lexington has "charming racism." 

 

"It's not that Kentucky people are nicer people, it's that they're especially skilled at being fake friendly and passive-aggressive.  And unfortunately, though it's mostly conservatives, the liberals here can be the same way, and are, at the very least, complicit and enable this broken system."  

 

"They can seem like the friendliest, nicest people in the world on the surface - if you're white, at least middle class, and evangelical.  But if you were black and/or poor and progressive Catholic or Episcopal or some other church they didn't approve of, they'd be civil and friendly, but you'd never get in their inner sanctum and there'd be trouble." 

 

"As long as you go along and pretend everything they do is fine, you'll be fine.  But if you're like me and can't because it disturbs your soul, you won't." 

 

"You're better than me at playing the game, but I also know that it disturbs your soul, too - and that you have even less patience with Trumpers than me lol! 

 

It's just I've lived here longer, so I've learned to anticipate it and expect it and know how to keep most at arm's length, smile, and just avoid.  That is why I didn't rush right out with my mask to hang out with them, too, I've learned from living here too long." 

 

"Be careful, now, though - learn from my mistakes here.  I wouldn't say another word because like I said, they're passive-aggressive - the type to smile in your face but pour something in your coffee later lol.  Not literally, but everything is behind your back or through others, never telling what they did to you privately or to provoke you first, of course, when they tell the story, but always making themselves the victim." 

 

"If so inclined, they can find a way to screw you in the community for it, with a smile on their face, and if you say anything directly to them about doing so, they will smile and act like you're making it up and crazy, they'll make themselves the victim."  

 

"My advice after living here and mistakes?  Don't mention it ever again, to anyone, but no need to apologize for standing up either.  Neither one of us are very good at kissing ass anyway.   Just either act like it didn't happen or it's all okay, a bad day, water under the bridge and move on, but stay at arm's length to protect yourself." 

 

However, as I said, I wasn't there - so I'M going to speak now, from here. 

 

So let me say this now - unequivocally  - not only to them, but to all Trump supporters.

That's right, brace yourselves - because I'm now about to go all Beth-Dutton crazy, up in here, on your delusional asses  LOL. 

...

If you didn't even bother to watch the George Floyd video or others before you spoke about protests and riots - it's like voting without being informed, and therefore we don't want to discuss it with you - because you really have no clue what all the fuss is about to even knowledgeably speak on the subject, and are therefore just arguing from an emotionally-manipulated, fear-based place.


And if you are voting for Trump for stupid, selfish reasons -- i.e. you don't like it that you have to wear a mask when you go places, can't go to football games, etc. - - despite the fact that Woodward caught Trump on audio stating he was downplaying the severity - - you really are the poster children of white-privileged, selfish, spoiled brats, just throwing tantrums about what you're temporarily not allowed to do - even though it's for your own safety and the safety of others!


News flash, Trumpers - not everything is about YOU and just YOUR rights - there are other taxpaying people in this country who do not share your opinion or experience, who've been restricted from the good life for generations!


Is your world really THAT small, and has life been THAT easy for you, up until now, such that having to wear a mask is seriously the worst thing that's ever happened to you, and the only restriction ever placed on you, in your over-privileged life?

Then I'm GLAD you have to wear a mask - not only for your own safety and the safety of others - but because somebody finally told you that you can't do something - - and God forbid, this one is actually because of how it affects the health of other people!

Now you know what it feels like to be told you can't/restricted from the good life, too - but instead of learning that empathy lesson, you can't even handle a few months without becoming bitter, tantrum-throwing, gun-toting asshole!


So can you really not understand why some people of color and women are so angry after centuries of it, then?!?

 

And by the way, the reason why some of us are sailing right through these restrictions without becoming depressed or angry is BECAUSE we're used to it - we know what it's like to feel restricted chronically, and could never afford to do all the things you've been lucky enough to receive, but take for granted and are unappreciative of anyway, crediting yourself and your "hard work" for!


Has it ever even occurred to you that while you play around all day on Fox News, Facebook, Twitter, watching Yellowstone clips on YouTube instead of working - or have 2-hour paid "business" lunches at Malone's - or "do business" on the golf course - or take 5 paid vacation weeks a year - - that hourly-wage, manual-labor people get restricted internet access, exactly two 15-minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch, and don't even have paid vacations nor even health insurance until Obamacare?!?


And yet you still imagine yourselves 'working harder' for the "right" to these benefits than manual hourly laborers do, that you've somehow worked harder and earned it, are more deserving, smarter, better people, instead of reality, which is that you were already born into a situation which already afforded you greater opportunities to work towards luxury?




You're too smart to be reading/watching Fox News - which you should've been smart enough to realize, by now, is speculative opinion dressed up as fact, written on a third-grade level, as well as that there were actual verifiable facts about this president you didn't even know about, because Fox News never told you.


And other facts, like even though there is a small faction of Anti-Fa in Washington and Oregon, there is no proof whatsoever that they, or anyone, started and funded ALL the protests across America.


I happen to personally know many protesters, and they were NOT paid - AND - you admitted Lexington's protests were peaceful yourself, as were many, including Portland's - UNTIL - Trump tear gassed even peaceful protesters in D.C. and sent in federal agents to Portland!


Never forget the order of events and the whys!


But instead, you want to over-inflate Anti-Fa and invent 'Satanic' boogeymen to blame - simply because your fragile little ego can't admit the truth and deal with reality - which is that there IS a double-standard in our justice system in America!


Nor can your fragile egos handle the fact that this president that you voted for is, at the very least, making everything worse, instead of helping to heal and unite this nation!


As my husband already said, extremists on both sides are making the problem worse - and Trump is taking one extreme side and responding to any opposition, peaceful or not, with authoritarianism like that in Belarus and Russia!


For a smart guy, you're being incredibly naive and stupid, not to mention extraordinarily greedy and selfish!


Lastly, please stop imagining yourself John Dutton, you're no John Dutton - as IF he's a hero anyway!


I mean, John Dutton literally brands his own cowboys/ranch hands as his personal property, for God sakes, and then orders them killed if they ever try to leave - who does that?!?


But he at least has some small semblance of basic human decency, compassion, and sanity left, however small.


In fact, I can say this now freely - though I laughed along, I never took it as a compliment or appreciated you calling my husband "your Rip Wheeler."


If you really knew my husband, you'd know he's actually more of a Kayce Dutton, the former Navy Seal, who is otherwise a peaceful, loving, fair, and compassionate person, who refuses to murder people just because his Dad wants him to, due to perceived disloyalty.


Kayce has only killed as a soldier in self-defense or when justice failed him/his wife, regarding their kidnapped son, or on behalf his wife's Native-American people, where wealthy white men have raped and killed Native American women without consequence, taking advantage of territory jurisdiction issues.

 

Speaking of Monica, though I joke about going Beth Dutton, I'm proudly a Monica :)


Though she's all about peace and love and education, make no mistake - she proved she can throw down and "Go Beth Dutton," too, if she really needs to.


(In the very last episode of season 2, when her son was kidnapped, and then what she did this season 3, after a serial white rapist/killer came to town, again, who was taking advantage of jurisdiction issues on Native American reservations. )

Regardless, if these were the only choices - Rip Wheeler and John Dutton - it would, in fact, be the other way around - my husband would be more of the brain/John Dutton and YOU are the hotheaded muscle, Rip, which you just proved today!

 

 

 

More proof of your over-privileged and over-sized ego and Trump-style fantasy delusion!


I am happy, and have no reservations, to burst your bubble, by putting aside my Monica for the moment, and pulling a Beth in this post :)

Speaking of Dutton's character on the show, although he does have a brain, his pride often supercedes it.

I mean, John Dutton owns 100,000 acres in Yellowstone that he can no longer afford.

For the love of God and all that is holy, how much land does a person need to run a cattle ranch?!?

He makes it about a promise to his father, but that's bullshit - it's his PRIDE that's caused the problem, and he's put his family through enough.


F*ck his damn over-inflated American pride! At this point, the smartest and best thing for everybody would be to sell half of his land to casino owner, Thomas Rainwater, taking his much lower offer, but essentially giving back the land to the Native Americans, where it rightfully belongs!

Dutton would still would have 50,000 acres, which is plenty of land to run a cattle ranch, plus he could then use the profit to pay his bills and continue run his his ranch.

Then, both Dutton and Rainwater could work together to fight off the "imminent domain/manifest destiny" that is real-estate developer and federal government BS.



DUH?!? How hard is that problem to solve!?!



And by the way, Mr. White-Hatted Cowboy Hero - not a single one of you self-purported "Christian white gentlemen" who imagine yourselves cavalry (and women) came to my aid, nor provided any true, empathetic guidance, back when I really was a damsel in distress - you just found more ways to victim-blame, shame, and demonize me as being deserving of all it!


And even though I understood your limited perspective due to white privileges you take for granted, I would STILL have helped YOU anyway, if in need.


However, at this point, you - and the white-stallion high horses your over-privileged asses rode in on, carrying the cross of Christ as subterfuge for a multitude of sins - ***MAY F*CK RIGHT OFF***!

________________________________

PS. - Okay, I got carried away, that last part isn't true - I'd would STILL help you, if you asked for and really needed it -  but until then, the "you may f*ck right off" stands lol.