To be clear, I am NOT saying that Yahoo or their groups are stupid. This post is directed toward me and my need to belong to waaaayyyyy to many Yahoo Groups. At last count, an astounding total of 97. (Yes, you read that right.)
Only one of them isn't writing related.
Let's start with the positives. Those groups are a great way for a "group" of people to communicate. Especially great for writing groups where files are posted, like newsletters or chapters for critiquing. Groups can use the calendars to keep track of meetings, blog postings, etc. And, there is a digest version you can get as one "lump" email with a group of emails together so it doesn't seem like you got a hundred emails in an hour! They can also be closed groups, with only members allowed in. Sure, that's a plus.
Some negatives? Well, I belong to some rather large groups that do almost all their communicating through the yahoo loops - so they have several - set up for different subjects. These groups tend to be monitored heavily and come with lots and lots of rules of what and when you are allowed to post. A definte negative when you're looking for information or are dying to promote something and you know you're hand will be slapped if you "forget" which day you're allowed to post those things. (I know, I've been slapped before )
So, I've signed up for yet another group - one that emails you everyday with a list of groups and what you can post there that day.
Yes, I think this is a pain in the ass.
The problem here is that if you're a writer - you need to connect online with other writers. You have questions, you have answers, you have something to say - this is the place other writer's go to connect. So, while Yahoo Groups is evil - it does serve a purpose in my daily writing life.
I've also made some friends across cyberspace (people I see on loop, after loop, after loop) and when I meet them at conferences, it's like we really are friends!
After some careful consideration, I plan to dump as many of my yahoo loops as I can over the next few weeks. I'll be weeding them out and deciding which ones I need and which ones are just a time-suck. I much prefer the forum setting for a group over a yahoo group. Everything is easy to find and the only "rule" is to pick the right place for your post.
How about you? Love yahoo groups or tolerate them as a means to an end?
I've tried nicely to end our relationship. I've paid you on time and cancelled my subscription. Really, it's time for you to accept we can no longer meet over coffee in the wee hours of the morning and it's time for you to stop calling my house. No, I don't want another subscription or a trial period to see just how much we're meant for each other.
I've moved on, I get my news elsewhere.
So, really... Stop calling my house!
Thank goodness I'm a romance writer and am always on the lookout for a villain. Lucky for me, my next plot involves a NY publication and you've just moved to the top of my villain list! Although I've repeatedly asked your telemarketers to take me off their call list - I still get at least two calls everyday asking me to reconsider.
Has the newpaper business sunk so low they can't afford to let anyone leave the fold? Or do they think by calling everyday, I will finally give in and take them back for another try? They obviously have no idea who they're dealing with. Once I've made up my mind you might as well just pack up your toys and get out of my sandbox. We're done.
Now, when I broke up with the NY Times, I had no such problem. A class act, they let me behave like an adult and walk away.
Not so much this time. I've resorted to yelling at the phone when the number flashes across my screen, I've been kept up a night devising plots in my mind on just how to torment the next caller - because nicely asking to be removed from their list hasn't worked, hanging up hasn't worked, not answering the phone hasn't worked...it's be a month. My fuse is lit.
Since it wouldn't be fair to name the culprit without giving them the chance for a rebuttal (and since this is my blog and that will NOT happen!) I'll leave you guessing what paper it really is, if you email me, I'll tell you - so you can run the other way before the harrassing phone calls keep you up at night too.
A nod to my hubby - he warned me nothing is free. (In my defense, it wasn't free, it was a greatly reduced subscription for 8 weeks, and long before my 8 weeks were up, I knew this particular paper wasn't for me.) Six months later, I'm still paying for this debacle with my sanity.
Your turn... any telemarketer stories you can legally share to make me feel better?
Just when I had my plans for world domination all figured out, I had to go and find this.
Drats.
Looks like I'm in need of Plan B! Anyone know an evil chemist? I'd specifically like to (a) be split in two (b) freeze time to get more done in a day and (c) make myself invisible from time to time.
Between our visit last week to the doctor and our visit just a few days ago, I think I walked out of the office with an entire prescription pad full of medications, instructions and notes to the school on what the Middle-Guy can and cannot do.
Thank god for the iTouch I got for Christmas. I was able to load up all the details (yes, my friends, organization!) because I damn straight needed an agenda to keep track of all the different times the kid needs to be medicated and all the different requirements for each one.
So, this morning being the wonderful mom I am (no, that is not sarcasm, I really am wonderful ) I got the Middle-Guy up early enough to get ready for school and eat breakfast - one of the meds specifically says, "take with food." Of course eating breakfast is not the top priority of my teenager when a few more minutes in bed is the option - which led to the following conversation two minutes before the bus was due to arrive:
ME: "You aren't suppose to take those two little pills on an emtpy stomach."
MiddleGuy: "I didn't. I took it with Vitamin Water."
ME: "That's not food. Take a granola bar to the bus stop."
MG: He left the room (I'm sure there was eye rolling, but I can't be positive)
ME: Followed him. "Toast? Cereal? You still have two minutes."
MG: Back in the kitchen he takes out the Corn Flakes in a tupperware container, flips open the lid and shoves his hand inside. One handful of flakes gets shoved in his mouth. He smiles. "Cereal. Done."
Why do I bother?
We go back to the doctor next week to check the progress with the new meds. I'm thinking of asking for a little something for myself
Labyrinth ~ n ~ a structure containing winding passages through which it is hard to find one's way.
Today's Word Goal ~ 800 words
Today's Coffee ~ Vermont Country Blend
I have now officially reached the age of weighing what's worse - the problem or the cure.
Two weeks ago I had my very first visit to the gastroenterologist for a few things, among my complaints? Hearburn after the gallons of coffee I drink daily and at night after the Lindt truffles I pop while watching my favorite TV shows. I should add here that I have NO intention of giving up either one of these routines.
To the doctor's credit I think he immediately picked up on my stubborn nature and didn't even mention taking a break from either offenders to see if my symptons went away. Instead he went straight for his trusty prescription pad and scribbled away. He also gave me a few samples to take home and try first.
The first side-effect on the bottle? Headaches. And they're not kidding!
Honestly, I'm not getting the point of these pills. The headache is so bad I want to gouge my eyes out with an ice-pick. Sure the heartburn is gone, but it went away with half-a-dozen tums too and at least I was getting calcium with those babies.
I go back to the doctor next Tueday to report on my progress - question - do I lie and tell him "hey those pills are great!" or do I tell him I'd rather stick with the fruity flavored tums?
And don't say to stop drinking coffee and eating chocolate. I'd rather die.
Last night I had the pleasure of shopping at local WalMart around 9pm. Feeling quite pleased my holiday purchases I'd carefully selected and placed in my cart, I walked to the cashier closest to the exit I would use to leave the store.
Unbeknownst to me, I got on Scrooge the Evil Cashier's line.
Not only did she grab at my items as I putting them on the counter while complaining with each and every item that it was time for her to leave and she had to hurry, therefore I needed to hurry and get my stuff out my cart asap - but she threw them in the bag without a care and few loud thunks.
When it was discovered that one item was unmarked, she tossed it to the side of her register and proudly announced "I can't sell you what isn't marked."
Um...wtf?
Politely, I asked if we could call someone from that department. She said "No."
I politely commented there was no reason to be rude to me.
She replied, "There is no one back there. You are my last customer, why does this always happen when I need to leave! I'm not calling anyone."
I asked to talk to a manager about her nasty attitude.
She called someone named "AL" he walked by and she said "this customer wants to talk to you about my bad attitude."
To which "Al" replied, "haha, it's the holiday season." AND WALKED AWAY.
So not only did I walk out of the store an unsatisifed customer and without the item in question - but I discovered Scrooge is alive and well and she's a cashier at Walmart Store #2915 at the register right inside the garden center.
Would you believe my son is 18 today? I can't! The day he was born doesn't seem that long ago, all the milestones from crawling to now driving...my little boy has grown into a man. Excuse while I go get my tissues...waaaa...
Would you believe I got at LEAST 20 mosquito bites on my ankles, arms and neck in less than 30 minutes? And to make matters worse, I got them standing in front of my house last night defending my 15 yr old to "code enforcement" for the heinous infraction of playing with his airsoft gun with a group of boys at the park. Oh my...what will our youth think up next to terrorize the neighborhood? But do the police come when the teenagers are drinking and shooting heroine in the park after dark? NO. It's much easier to pick on kids playing - because they are the real troublemakers, right?
Would you believe I've joined a group blog? This one is small, should only require one blog a week from me (I think I can handle that ) and combines my love of paranormal romance, writing and being a mom. Stay tuned, I'll have more details as we get more organized - but I can tell you when we open the doors I'll be giving away a copy of my paranormal Christmas book "Her Knight Before Christmas."
The Saucy Scribe, proudly serving up the Sauce since June 2005! One bold writer telling it like it is.
Thanks for stopping by the blogging home of romance author Debora Dennis! I'm a wife, mother of three great kids (one on the autism spectrum) and a writer. This is the place I hang my hat to let my hair down and ramble on about my life.
Grab a chair and drink and get ready to Dish with Debora, saucy style. All comments, rants and raves contained in this blog are strictly my unvarnished opinions or delusions that are alive and well in the vast recesses of my own wild imagination.
I love comments, but lurkers are welcome too! Just know I'm glad you found me and hope you come back again soon!
To be clear, I am NOT saying that Yahoo or their groups are stupid. This post is directed toward me and my need to belong to waaaayyyyy to many Yahoo Groups. At last count, an astounding total of 97. (Yes, you read that right.)
)
Once I've made up my mind you might as well just pack up your toys and get out of my sandbox. We're done.
) I got the Middle-Guy up early enough to get ready for school and eat breakfast - one of the meds specifically says, "take with food." Of course eating breakfast is not the top priority of my teenager when a few more minutes in bed is the option - which led to the following conversation two minutes before the bus was due to arrive:
) and combines my love of paranormal romance, writing and being a mom. Stay tuned, I'll have more details as we get more organized - but I can tell you when we open the doors I'll be giving away a copy of my paranormal Christmas book "Her Knight Before Christmas."
