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Listening to: From the Choirgirl Hotel. Not for long, though... it's not really matching my mood quite like I was expecting it too.

Currently Reading: Just barely started Jonathan Lethem's Gun, With Occasional Music. Kind of saving it for the train, as well as a stack of others (both fiction and non). Also, I recently read Laurie Notaro's I Love Everybody (and Other Atrocious Lies): True Tales of a Loudmouth Girl (again) in like two days, and peed myself laughing. Highly recommended. I also devoured The Broke Diaries by Angela Nissel in, like, a mere few days. Laughed until I peed. Also highly recommended.

Wishing: income. Lots of it. Other than that, life's pretty good.

I couldn't be more The current mood of ronkc@diaryland.com at www.imood.com right now.

Buy "Civilised Conversation..." Merchandise! Please? All the cool kids are doing it....

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Do you love me?

01 November 2001 | 7:58 PM

Then Was The Hour of My Discontent, Chapter Two

Okay.

So I wrote my big, nasty letter to Bartell's, and people want to read, but I figured it would be more efficient to put it here. So here we go.

To whom it may concern:

I would like to make you aware of a recent shopping trip to your store. The date of the transaction was 28 October 2001 at about 10:45 AM. The cashier's name was Vivian.

As shown on the receipt (copy enclosed), I had three items, and paid with a check. My checks have been accepted at your store (as well as the store on Madison) for a full calendar year. Because my checking account was opened in another state (despite the local address appearing on the check), cashiers will sometimes need to call an 800-number on the face of my check in order to verify my account status. Sometimes a manger is called in order to initial the check.

On this particular occasion, Vivian called for manager service. A manager by the name of Steve appeared. Looking at my California driver's license, he asked if I was a student in the area. I replied in the affirmative. He asked where I attended classes. He asked to see my student identification card, which I produced. He asked my student number, which I did not produce. Besides not remembering such trivial information, I felt that it was very inappropriate, seeing as how my student number had nothing to do with my checking account, and was an invasion of my privacy. Where I go to school, even that I go to school, is the business of no one, save my educational institution and myself.

After not being able to produce my student number, Steve asked for my social security number. Again, this was inappropriate, having nothing to do with the acceptance of my check. Releasing one's social security number is dangerous in today's world, what with fraud, identity theft, et cetera. I explained that my student number was not the same as my social security number- I worked in my school's data processing department, and know for sure that the length of each number is different.

I explained to Manager Steve that when problems arise with my bank's out-of-state location, the manager will call the 800-number and acceptance is granted. He countered, explaining that calling would be required every time a check was written, and that this was not convenient for the staff or for the other customers. I was extrememly offended at this, as my concern is neither for the convenience of the staff, nor for that of the other customers. I was appalled that this man wanted personal information in order to accept my check, and that I was lectured and humiliated before my check was accepted.

I explained to Manager Steve that if this was too much of a problem, I could simply come back another day when I had cash. Presumably out of eagerness to complete the sale, he said that they would take the check, but asked that I be mindful in the future of the issues that may arise from writing such checks.

Again, this is the first time anything like this has ever happened. I am embarassed, I am offended, and I was inconvenienced. I should not have to coax a manager to accept my money. I should not have to listen to a speech on convenience from a store manager in order to purchase three items. My business with the pharmacy alone was enough to put Mr. Bartell's children through an Ivy-League university. My loyalty to the Bartell Drug Stores was more than complimentary, I would think. Apparently, that is not the case.

I felt that it was necessary to bring this to your attention. I wish your company well in its endeavors, as I will not be particularly interested in bringing my business to Bartell Drug Stores anytime soon.

I would like to request that appropriate action be taken immediately, and that I am informed of the outcome of this letter in a timely fashion.

I thank you for your time, and look forward to hearing back from you soon.

Sincerely,

Christopher J. E. Ronk

So there it is.

Please note the poll at left... Please let me know your honest opinion, as I will not have access to your identities, so you can go ahead and say whateverthehell you please.

Father Ely cancelled Theology class today, because he had a terrible headache, which works out well, since I was going to do homework over lunch, but then ran into some friends.

So, anyway... not much happening here, so much... Sigh.

Today's Smile:

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