Wreck This Journal: This is as nice as it will ever look

A few months ago I stumbled upon a website called Wreck This Journal. After reading through the blog, looking at the videos, and checking out the first few pages on Amazon, I knew I HAD to have this book. I have always been a lover of books with a firm belief that books should be carefully cared for. Not this time. This book, you are supposed to mess up!

I headed to a local bookstore and picked up a copy. Here is my fresh from the store still all pretty book.

My son had originally expressed interest in joining me in wrecking a journal, me with the actual book, and him following along in a composition book. He didn't last past the first exercise though. Teenagers. 

So day 1 I filled in my this-book-belongs-to section, which as far as the defacement of books goes, isn't all that defacing. But it isn't like you'd typically find.

 

So, the first step into this new realm of book treatment has went well. Now, here comes the hard part - cracking the spine. WHAT! I have to crack the spine? But I don't like to do that to my books. Deep breath. Ok, that's what this is all about. Letting go. So here goes. Bend...twist...squish...break!

And the results are in, a nicely broken spine and on the first day!

I plan on posting occasional follow-ups on how my wrecking is going. Are you wrecking a journal too? I'd love to know how it's going.

Until next time,

The Blogoholic

High School? Really?

Today I registered my baby boy for high school (don't tell him I called him that). I can't believe DB is 14 years old and about to be a freshman! To top it off, now that we are out of that horrible district, we're putting him back in public school. His dad and I got a chance to meet his counselor, the soccer and baseball coach (he's trying out for both), and get a look around the school.

We've got his new backpack ready to go. New shoes, new haircut, new clothes (well, some anyway), and it doesn't feel real. When did he grow up? And when did he get taller than me? It happens so fast. Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and enjoy more of his growing up again. Ah, to re-live the first steps, his first words, that cute baby smile, his adorable baby giggle, and all the other things that make up for the late nights, teething, and diaper changes. Alas, it's a one time deal.

I'm very proud of the man he's growing up to be. If he focuses and puts his mind to it, he's got a big bright future ahead of him. He's brilliant (and that's not just the mom in me talking), fit, athletic, and totally adorable. I just can't believe it's happening so fast. GB decided to comfort me by reminding me that soon he will have his Senior Ball and be graduating. Thanks a lot. Why not twist the knife a little and tell me soon he'll be moved out, married and have a family of his own. *sigh* What's a mother to do.

Guess I just need to put on a happy face and be encouraging and there for him, it's not easy. Sure does make me appreciate my mom more. Love you mom!

Until next time,

The Blogoholic

Do Your Part Against Childhood Obesity

For no cost, you can help this problem, and get a little something in return too.

Childhood is a growing problem, and we can all do our parts. The First Lady, Michelle Obama is running a contest for "apps for healthy kids." One of my favorite little companies, Break Pal, is a finalist in this contest. They are trying to get their app into the schools to help kids, not just to help with the obesity rates, but the mini exercise breaks help with concentration too (this is true for adults as well). Break Pal integrates exercise right into the daily routine in short bursts, I've been using it and it helps with my productivity at work.

Please take a moment to register and vote for them, it's a great product that could really benefit our youth and give them longer healthier lives.

If not for the kids, do a little something for yourself. Here's part of a message I received from Phil at Break Pal (he and his wife are the owners):

Our application is the only one to integrate exercise into the day and also teach about nutrition.

Unfortunately we are a very small organization. Just my wife and Myself. We bootstrapped the entire project and built the app without outside funding.

We are competing against huge national corporations and unfortunately they are using their marketing power to garner votes for their apps and are leaving us in the dust. Some of them have PR firms working for them to get votes and I'm sure many ask their hundreds of employees to vote.

This is Where You Come In

I think that maybe bloggers can compete against these PR firms. It's worth a shot. Who better is there?

So I've decided to do something drastic.

I'm going to give out a premium version to anyone who votes for our app. They just have to contact me and tell me they voted and I'll give them a premium account. No catch. A free premium account and a thank you for voting.

It takes less than 90 seconds to vote.

What do you think? Would you vote for us? Would you be willing to spread the word? Maybe post it on your blog. It wouldn't take a full review or anything (unless you felt like it). Just a post saying we're giving away as many free memberships as people will vote for us.

As a blogger I'm sure you know all about contests and how great it is to win one. Getting into this contest has been the biggest thing that's happened to us and we really hope it can launch our program. This will bring it nationwide exposure.

If your interested here's some information

Easy voting instructions (this will take less than 90 seconds):

1) The fastest way to vote is to go directly to the registration page first. https://www.appsforhealthykids.com/register

2) You'll then need to confirm your email address (don't worry they won't spam you)

3) Go directly to our app and click vote http://www.appsforhealthykids.com/application-gallery/break-pal

4) Bonus - Share on facebook and twitter.

That's it!!!

We've produced a video on the subject with the help of our local 
Public access Television station. If you've got time there's some great information here.
http://www.breakpal.com/blog/help-end-childhood-obesity

Thank You, we really appreciate your support

Phil Weaver
www.breakpal.com
(209) 772-1954
139 Main St.
Valley Springs, CA 95252



So please, take a moment and help out our pals ant Break Pal. And if your really feeling generous, share on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, or any other social networking site you use. You can link to this post for instructions.

Until next time,

The Blogoholic

Wordless Wednesday: Black Bear Diner

As seen at the Big Bear Diner









Until next time,

The Blogoholic

Worst Customer Service Award of the Month Goes To...

After a month of dealing with old and new companies, moving half way across the country, and dealing with a stolen credit card number the search concluded for the company with the Worst Customer Service. Not only do they win for the month, they may just take the year. And the winner is.... Zoosk!

In the last month I've dealt with rental trucks, Realtors, rental agencies, various stores from grocery to thrift store, and even dealing with getting my new driver's license, all with wonderful service and great people. A few days ago I discovered my credit card number had been stolen and used online to make a couple purchases. Luckily I get notices in my email of all charges, an electronic receipt, so I knew the moment they happened. Well, you can bet I rushed right in and cancelled that card. The charges were still in their "Authorization" phase, not actually being charges yet, so I set about contacting the companies that charges had been made with to attempt to get them stopped. Smooth process until I get to this month's award winner.

Tried their customer service line and was greeted by a message that said they don't talk to people on the phone, if I'm a member I need to log into my account and if I'm reporting a fraudulent charge, I have to email them. That right there pushed them high up on my poor customer service list, a company that won't even talk to someone who had their card stolen and needs to report FRAUD? You'd think they would want to clear something like that up right away, but NO that would be too easy.

OK, I'll play their way, I emailed the email address and told them what happened. My number was stolen, and there is a fraudulent authorization for their company, I want to have it stopped before it's processed. Here's the lovely email I received back:

Hi,

Thank you for contacting Zoosk and alerting us to this situation.

I'm sorry for the inconvenience with this unwanted charge. Since you aren't registered with our site, we do not have your name or email address in our records and we are not able to identify the account that used your credit card. It is likely that someone used your credit card number to make a fraudulent purchase on our site.

If you feel your card is lost or stolen, please follow this process:

1. Please immediately contact your credit card issuer and report unauthorized charges or close the account.

2. Dispute the charge(s) that you believe are not authorized through your credit card issuer.

3. The bank or credit card issuer will then file a claim with us. With this information, we can trace the payment, cancel the account that used your card, and issue appropriate credit.

Please let us know if you have any additional questions. Happy Zoosking!

Regards,

XXXXX

Zoosk Customer Support

(Yes, I took out the rep's name). Well, now that seems a little odd to me, of course someone who is a victim of fraud wouldn't have the name and email of the person using their card. Why would they have a message saying to email them if they wouldn't do anything about it. So, I emailed back. Said I would gladly give them the account number on the card used, since it wasn't any good anymore anyway. I really would like to stop the charge, not wait for it to clear then dispute it and wait for the money to be posted back. Their response.... Nothing, not a word. They completely ignored my pleas for assistance, and instead let the charge go through. Now I have to jump through hoops to get it reversed. So, Zoosk wins this month's Worst Customer Service Award (it was so bad, I couldn't wait until the end of the month to announce it.). Congratulations Zooks on your less than prestigious award, and for making sure you didn't have a customer for life. You are officially in my "Companies I'm Never Doing Business With" file.

Until next time,

The Blogoholic