A Mother's Balancing Act

Creeper at the Movies

OK, is it just me, or is it weird for a guy to go to the movies, by himself, with the intent of picking up women?

Creepers. Yuck!

So, my High School Daughter (HS Girl) and I went to a movie the other night (Super 8 - which was great, by the way), and we decided to stop in line at the concessions. We were third in line and discussing what to get.

Balanced Babe: Mmm...I haven't had popcorn in forever. We have to get some.

HS Girl: I don't like movie popcorn...it's too salty.

BB: How could you not like movie popcorn? It's the best...it's so bad for us...but I don't care. Yum-oh.

HS Girl: I want something sweet.

BB: (whispering) I have M&M's...

Just then, Creeper (directly in front of us) turns around and grins leers at us. He has to kind of peer up at us - me, 5'11, and HS Girl, towering above him in all of her own teen stretched out glory, complete with braid down to her waist.

BB: Uh...helloo??

Creeper: I like to listen.

BB: Uh, yes...? (expecting him to utter some sort of excuse or apology for eavesdropping)

Creeper: And I've always loved tall women, so I couldn't help myself...

HS Girl: (eyes wide, smirk on her face, speechless)

BB: OKayyy...

Creeper turns back around.

HS Girl: (whispering) Flash your wedding ring!!! (explodes into a flood of giggles...)

Can I just say, "Not ok, Creeper Dude. Not ok." And as far as I'm concerned, he wasn't necessarily focused on me. My daughter was oblivious, but she can easily be taken for older than her 16 years. He could have been hitting on either one of us. In the end, her laughter shamed him on his creeper's way.

But, YUCK!

This is why women never, ever, ever, ever want to go to the movies alone...God forbid. Reminds me of the old Mad TV skit... "Can I Have Your Number?" Hilarious. In that case, the "creeper" was played by a young woman, dressed as a young man. Too funny.

Balanced Babe - Molly Wendland

You Call That Customer Service???

Dealing with customer service agents over the phone has never been a picnic for me. Don't get me wrong. I can be the epitome of grace and dignity...up to a point.

But Time Warner Cable does me in just about each and every time we have a problem. Recently, my daughter and I decided to "On Demand" a movie from their cable system. Well, once we had (finally...!) decided which one to purchase, I entered our super duper secret purchasing pin, and "Voila"! Up popped the wrong movie! It was the next one in the sequence of titles. We had requested "Whip It" and somehow we got "New Fame".

We neither rent nor "On Demand" all that frequently, so I really didn't want to be charged for a movie that I had no intention of watching over the next 24 hours, so I promptly told my daughter to wait a moment and I would go take care of the problem with the cable company. Having had numerous previous miserable experiences over the telephone, I thought I'd beat the system and see if I could just handle it online.

Lo and behold, they had Live Chat!

Cool, thought I!

Not so fast.

What follows is a transcript of my (lengthy...) "conversation" with Time Warner Cable Chat...Grab a glass of wine. You may need it...

You are waiting for an analyst to assist you. You are currently 64 in the queue.

Yes, you read that correctly. 64 in the queue!!! Some might question why TWC would even reveal a number like that to the public. It took almost a full minute for each place in the queue. Yep. Just under an hour to get a live human being to enter the chat room. Here's how the chat screen ultimately looked and then the chat that finally ensued. I copied and pasted it in just for you!

user Molly has entered room

 

We are experiencing higher than usual service times. Please wait and an analyst will be with you shortly.

 

We are experiencing higher than usual service times. Please wait and an analyst will be with you shortly.

 

We are experiencing higher than usual service times. Please wait and an analyst will be with you shortly.

 

We are experiencing higher than usual service times. Please wait and an analyst will be with you shortly.

 

We are experiencing higher than usual service times. Please wait and an analyst will be with you shortly.

 

We are experiencing higher than usual service times. Please wait and an analyst will be with you shortly.

 

We are experiencing higher than usual service times. Please wait and an analyst will be with you shortly.

 

We are experiencing higher than usual service times. Please wait and an analyst will be with you shortly.

 

We are experiencing higher than usual service times. Please wait and an analyst will be with you shortly.

 

We are experiencing higher than usual service times. Please wait and an analyst will be with you shortly.

 

We are experiencing higher than usual service times. Please wait and an analyst will be with you shortly.

  

Yes, there really is going to be some real chat in just a few more lines...

 

We are experiencing higher than usual service times. Please wait and an analyst will be with you shortly.

 

We are experiencing higher than usual service times. Please wait and an analyst will be with you shortly.

 

We are experiencing higher than usual service times. Please wait and an analyst will be with you shortly.

 

We are experiencing higher than usual service times. Please wait and an analyst will be with you shortly.

 

We are experiencing higher than usual service times. Please wait and an analyst will be with you shortly.

 

We are experiencing higher than usual service times. Please wait and an analyst will be with you shortly.

 

We are experiencing higher than usual service times. Please wait and an analyst will be with you shortly.

 

We are experiencing higher than usual service times. Please wait and an analyst will be with you shortly.

 

analyst Sandra Mystica has entered room

 

Sandra Mystica (real name given to me - this caused major guffaws at our house...): Thank you for contacting Time Warner Cable. At the end of our chat you will be given the option of taking a brief survey. My name is Sandra. Please give me a moment while I access your account.

Sandra Mystica: I understand that you would like to get the movie charge refunded. Is it correct?

Molly: Correct.

Sandra Mystica: I apologize for the inconvenience.

Sandra Mystica: I will be happy to assist you.

Sandra Mystica: I have issued credit for the movie, it will show up on your next bill statement.

Molly: Thank you, Sandra Mystica! I appreciate that very much. Is there anything else?

Sandra Mystica: No.

Sandra Mystica: Yes.

Sandra Mystica: I am sorry.

Sandra Mystica: Is there anything else that I can assist you with today?

Molly: Nope. I'm good.

Sandra Mystica: It was a pleasure assisting you. Have a great night!

Sandra Mystica: Again, my name is Sandra. Thank you for chatting with Time Warner Cable. We value you as a customer and are here to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

As you can see, I got a little punchy and enjoyed toying with Sandra Mystica a bit too much. You have to admit, though, that when it comes to the cable company, they've really got it coming to them!

Balanced Babe

~ aka Molly Wendland

Creepy Guys Suck!

That's right. The title of this post pretty much sums it up in a nutshell. Creepy guys give the rest of the good guys - like my BSM (that's Big Strong Man for those of you just joining us...) - a bad rep.

I was doing some shopping yesterday outside of the pristine suburban (no, not so very plastic, thank you very much!) bubble that we live in. My girls need costumes for a party this weekend, so I thought that perhaps, the thrift stores might be just the ticket for an old prom dress or some such thing. Normally, this type of shopping trip wouldn't phase me at all. In fact, I find them to be a challenge.

I had gone to an client appointment in the morning, even though I had the day off, so I was dressed in a nice skirt, blouse and cardigan sweater. I had on some of my favorite, newer peep-toe shoes with a kitten heel, but I have to say, "peep-toe's" are not an invitation to every weirdo crackpot in the city to come on to me. Um, yeah...but I digress...

So, I had already endured leering eyes from yucky guys in two thrift stores when I came upon a Big Lots. The one in our neighborhood recently went out of business, so I decided to pop in. Long story short, a creepy dude proceeded to tail me, make eyes at me every chance he got and tail me through the store the entire time I was there. To the point that he sufficiently freaked my crud out. After he slinked onto the aisle I was on (after I had zigged and zagged a couple of times to shake loose of him) yet again, I got fed up and headed to the checkout with my shopping cart. The whole time, he never had a cart or any products in his hands.

When I got to checkout, I calmly told the cashier about my experience and asked if there was someone who might escort me to my car. I told her I just thought you needed to trust your instinct in these situations. She nodded appreciatively and immediately called a guy up to her register to help me to my car. I had been thinking of the self-defense class my daughters and I had taken where they said to never have both of your hands full when walking in a parking lot. Within moments of me relaying my story, Creepy Dude slinked up behind me (one of 3 registers available at the time), and I quietly let the cashier know that he was "the one". He was now carrying a large metal spoon and some other small item. The nice gentleman carried my items to my car for me as I told him of my experience in their store and that they might want to watch out for that guy who was coming out behind us.

The store employee told me he'd be watching until I got out of the lot, etc. Creepy Dude came out of the store and stood there and watched us the whole time. Then, he headed to a bicycle that was parked in front of the store.

Perhaps, he was just mentally ill. Or perhaps, he was going to just leave his bike there and force me into my car to violate me or even just steal my car.

I don't know. Any way around it...

Creepy guys suck.

Balanced Babe - (aka Molly Wendland)

Note: For a look at my oh-so-sexy peep-toe's, click here. They're the ones in the middle of the shot of three pairs. And yes, I do kind of have a little bit of a fetish. Sort of like the chick in the book to movie "In Her Shoes". I don't always even wear them. Fun movie, by the way. Even better book!

Extra note after the fact: I've been laughing when I tell this story to my friends. You know, how I attract the best-looking 50 year old guys with comb-over's of anyone I know and stuff like that? So, it's funny now, but this Creeper really did freak me out, and I was afraid to walk to my car alone...in broad daylight. And that does suck. In particular as a mother of two teenage daughters and an advocate for domestic violence awareness, it really pisses me off. Women shouldn't have to be afraid. It just sucks.