Wasted Days and Wasted Nights

I've just spent the majority of my day doing the thing I hate: being on hold.

I took a deep breath this morning and decided to tackle a bunch of stuff all today, because I hate it all.

There is an establishment (and most of you would know 'em if I named 'em), who has had a copy of one of my books since June 16. They were to review it and decide if they wanted to sell it, as they do some of my other books.

I've called eleven billion trillion times since then and most the time can't get anyone to talk to me, and when I do, they'll "check on it" and get right back to me.

Now this place is very, very successful. How, I have no idea. 

My mother's hearing aid ain't fitting, either. So I've been on the phone with them twice, argued over e-mail three times....and still don't have an answer.

I've made doctor appointments.

I've ordered some stuff, which went smoothly, though I hate to do it.

I've done laundry, and everything is running okay, there, too.

I've been on  hold with my credit card company  long enough to have a baby. I finally got help from them - not resolution, mind you - but some help with two mystery charges on our bill.

My question to you is this: Why are businesses less efficient than they used to be? Are we, the customer not valued anymore?

Okay, that was two questions. I've had a hard day. Give me a little slack.

I, myself, have been on television today. Granted, it's the local station and two guys from an insurance company talked (on and on) about - guess what? - insurance, before it was my turn. At least by then all my nervousness was gone, replaced by a state of stupor, which occurs anytime anyone talks about insurance.

It was fun, though. I got to read an excerpt from "Out on a Limb of the Family Tree", and talk about my new, upcoming book, "The Year of Nine: Where the Rain Begins". Hopefully I behaved  myself and will be invited back in November when my new book is released.

By the time the show was over, the adrenalin was pumping, and I was starving. Daughter and I went out to eat and had a great meal.

The waitress brought our bill, I put my card in the jacket, she whisked it away, but came back a few minutes later.

"I don't think this is the card you wanted to give me."

I thought, 'Why wouldn't I want to give you my card?', then looked at it. Took a second or so until I realized I was staring at my library card.

Daughter and I burst into laughter, as did the waitress. She confessed to not even looking at it and trying to run it through the machine with no success.

I've always heard you never could tell what bizarre, erratic behavior us TV stars are liable to exhibit.

I guess they are right.