Diana likes great customer service. And it's rare that one encounters such a thing these days. I just had the most amazing customer service experience from an online retailer that sells baby gear (www.theportablebaby.com). I discovered that the thing they had just sent me was defective, so I sent them an email about it. I got an email back 20 minutes later, at 9:30 pm, saying that they just had a similar complaint from someone else and they would send me a replacement tomorrow.
Thank you, internets, for not making this a major pain in the ass. Because, let's face it, if you're ordering something from The Portable Baby, you've probably got your hands full and don't really have time to be haggling with customer service representatives.
Diana dislikes Sarah Palin.
A lot. So much, that I'm not sure its even worth getting started on all the reasons why. I just can't type fast enough to keep up with the fury that's buzzing in my brain on this topic. She is an embarrassment to attractive, educated women everywhere, in my opinion.
I also dislike, fairly desperately, all these republicans who get up on their high horse about moral values, accountability, and honor when they couldn't find a truly shining example of one of these virtues that isn't tainted with hatred and greed buried in their party platform if their lives depended on it.
That's about all I can bear to say on this topic. Blech.
(By the way, you should know that I was inspired to write a new post here because I went to staple something just now and was afflicted with the dreaded "flaccid stapler effect" that I discussed in my first post. I still dislike that, too.)
Diana likes ordering stamps by mail.
While I don't much like the frequency with which the good-old USPS keeps changing the first-class rate for stamps, I do love the "stamps by mail" service. You just fill in this little form telling them how many stamps you want, include the return label and a check, and the post office sends you your stamps in the mail within a couple of days. No postage necessary, of course, which just makes me smile.
The only drawback is that there's not much selection when it comes to the stamp design -- mostly you are limited to Lady Liberty -- and you do have to hold on to the order form until you're ready to order again (I keep this stashed with my stamps). Also, I think I'm going to have to account for the cost increase when I order again because my order form is a little out-dated.
Two related side comments on this issue:
1) Rob has become completely dependent upon me to make sure that there are stamps in the house. But that's OK. I don't think he gets any joy out of the process of ordering them, but he does seem to appreciate my love of the process, so it works out for both of us.
2) Ordering stamps on the USPS website is less fun. There's more selection, which I like, but I find it a bit cheap-feeling that they make you pay for postage to ship the stamps to you. It seems like you should get a break on that when you are shipping postage itself.
Diana likes note cards.
There are so many things to love about note cards. I like the ones that are really beautiful, and printed on high quality paper, like pretty much all of the ones that they sell at Twig & Fig, a store right near the cupcake place I mentioned in a previous post. Here's a sample of some of their cards:
Twig and Fig also had some cute and goofy cards recently. You, know, this kind of thing...
But I think the best part about note cards and postcards these days is that you get to send a friend something in the mail, which is pretty much guaranteed to make her smile. I try to send little notes to my grandmother now and again - it's like the best bang-for-the-buck. She feels so loved, and it takes me only about 10 minutes to do. I recently sent her one that had a pop-up bouquet of paper flowers inside. Talk about a hit.
I also love choose which pen to use on a particular note card. Mmm. I do love a good pen. But that's a different post.
Diana dislikes running shoe "upgrades." It seems that every time I need to replace my running shoes, the company has discontinued the shoe that fit me perfectly, only to replace it with some next generation "upgrade." When you're at the store, the salesperson always assures you that "its really the same shoe," and that the changes that they've made are basically aesthetic, but then you get home go for a nice long run and discover The Truth. And no, the previous version that you bought last time is no longer available for purchase at the store (definitely not if you wear a women's 11 like I do), and it MIGHT be available online, but probably not.
Diana likes cupcakes.
Diana likes the fact that an atomic fire ball comes in the mail along with your Burning Man tickets. This just makes me smile every year, and I am pleasantly surprised by it each year. I especially like that they continue to do this even as the event gets bigger and bigger. They must have buy thousands and thousands of atomic fire balls, and that's kind of wonderful to imagine -- all that spicy goodness in one place.
I know, some of you probably don't like these candies, and you're entitled to that opinion. Maybe it feels like an affront to you that they might actually be making you pay for a tiny bit of extra postage to send one to you. That's for you to include on your dislikes list.
When I was a kid, my dad and I used to get atomic fire balls together when we went hiking on summer vacation, so the candies really make me think of him, which is nice. He also used to always buy a roll of Necco wafers to eat in the car on the way to our summer place, but that's a different story altogether.
Diana likes Barack Obama because he makes me feel proud again to be an American.
Laurence Lessig eloquently presents all of the reasons that I support Barack Obama for President. Its about 20 minutes long, and definitely worth checking out, no matter who you are supporting.
More pithy things i like and dislike coming soon, I promise.
I've long purported to have nothing to write about here, so I've happily lurked on other people's blogs. But now, I'm engaging in my first-ever blog contribution. Here, I plan to share with you my silly little likes and dislikes, as inspired by the movie Amelie (one of my favorites).
"Her father, an ex-Army doctor works at a spa at Enghien les Bains. Raphael Poulain dislikes peeing next to someone else. He also dislikes; catching scornful glances at his sandals, clingy wet swimming trunks. Raphael Poulain likes; peeling large strips of wallpaper, lining up and shining his shoes, emptying his toolbox cleaning it out and putting everything back."
- A box of staples lasts a remarkably long time. I've been at my current job for two years, and I don't think I've ever had to get another box. How do the companies that produce staples stay in business?
- My dislike of the empty stapler feeling really has nothing to do with the difficulty of fixing it. It is really very easy to refill the stapler. My dislike of the situation is entirely limited to the *squish* sensation.
- I'm really grateful that the stapler that I currently have on my desk doesn't have a spring that is too tight. This is a blessing, really. We've all had a stapler at some point or another that would snap closed on you hand while you were reloading it. If I had such a stapler now, it would definitely be included as a separate item on the "Diana dislikes" list.
Recent Comments
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C said:
Man, I got stamps. Do you suppose it's worth mail ordering the 12 one cent stamps I need to be... read more
on Stamps by Mail -
Anita said:
I like that you are beginning to refer to yourself in the 3rd person! :) read more
on It's atomic -
Nicole said:
People like me. I always lose my boxes of staples because I am very disorganized. Also, I only use staples... read more
on The flaccid stapler effect
Mmm. Good question. Personally, I usually just suck it up and use two stamps until they run out, and then... read more
on Stamps by Mail