Brrrr!!

Well, this morning was the coldest morning, thus far, that I've had to endure while doing public transportation. It wasn't all that bad, actually, as I'm in a warm bus, a warm train, or a warm shuttle van for probably at least 95% of the time! So, I can't complain. Tomorrow, though, is forecasted to be much, much colder. See the forecast below from Accuweather.

Thursday, Jan 15
High: 40 °F RealFeel®: 29 °F
Sunny most of the day, breezy and colder

Thursday Night, Jan 15
Low: 12 °F RealFeel®: 2 °F
Mainly clear and frigid

I believe their terminology "frigid" pretty much sums it up. It is frigid, for sure. My quest tonight, however, is to locate a hat in my closet that won't scrunch my hair. Yes, I'm gonna be vain even though I don't want to freeze to death!! I do believe I have a black felt hat of some sort that will certainly suffice.

Unfortunately the cold snap is going to be with us throughout the weekend. And that means we will be enduring some cold temps on Saturday during our annual field trip to the Birmingham Race Course. We take a group over every year about this time to tour the kennels and watch some races. This year we've got 90 folks going! Yep, it's the largest group in the history of SEGA. I hope everyone dresses warmly!!

Oh, I have to add that thanks to my Zune, I am back to having a stress free commute. Last night I loaded my new Lady Antebellum CD and listened to it on the way to work this morning. They write their own songs and music! What a talented trio they are. Truly talented!

There is also something very "warming" about listening to Jimmy Buffet when it's 20 degrees outside. It does put your mind in that tropical mode, you know? Beaches, margaritas, sun tan lotion, salt water - ah, just thinking of all that warms me up! :) Hey, don't laugh. Even if it actually doesn't warm me up, it certainly does put a smile on my face! Love that Jimmy Buffet!!

BTW the Zune is working fabulously!! Life couldn't be better!

Glory Be The Lord!!!

Yes, the impossible has happened. For those who have been following on Twitter, I have been dealing with my commute (and everything else) on public transportation WITHOUT my Zune. If these people only knew what torture it has been riding the bus and train, having to listen to everything and everyone around me, day in and day out - it was horrible!

You see, before the holidays, I attempted to download and install a mandatory firmware update, just as I was updating my playlist with my favorite holiday tunes. Unfortunately the firmware update corrupted the unit and there was no fixing it on my end as I diligently tried for several days. Thank goodness it was still under warranty.

I sent it in for repair, I believe sometime around the week of my birthday which was December 15th. I gave it a few travel days (via FedEx compliments of Microsoft) and it arrived at it's Repair Center in McAllen, Texas (of all places) on December 22nd. They immediately turned it around and shipped my unit back to me on December 23rd. It arrived in Atlanta on December 31st. Actually it arrived in Kennesaw at the FedEx hub there. Then on the truck for delivery at my home January 2nd. Unfortunately Microsoft required a person to person signature. I found this out when I arrived home that day, at which time I immediately called FedEx to arrange for a redirect to my work address on Monday, January 5th. Well, FedEx came that day to work and still no Zune. I called FedEx again that night to inquire about the redirect. They didn't have it in the system. Again, the next day, no Zune appeared at work. Again, I called FedEx to inquire about the redirect. A male twerp, uh customer service rep, tried to tell me that only Microsoft could issue a redirect and that the unit was probably on it's way back to them but that I had a package from DirectTV (probably a remote, he said) to be delivered that day. "No", I told him, "I don't have DirectTV." He assured me I would be receiving a package from them that day. Of course, he was wrong and no such package from them has arrived as of this writing.

Nonetheless, this whole time the FedEx delivery guy made three attempts to deliver the Zune to my home. He called my cell phone the first day and didn't leave a message. The second day, I was able to answer and explain to him that I was not home but was at work, therefore, I couldn't sign for the unit. I begged him to leave the Zune on the doorstep and he said he couldn't, that Microsoft required a person to person signature. I don't know why he attempted delivery the third day.

Anyway, it sat in Kennesaw for a few more days and finally made it to the Atlanta hub where it was put on the delivery truck and, indeed, was delivered this very morning. Amazing, I say, just freaking amazing that it took nine days for me to receive it. If not for the extra help and attention provided by "Yvette" at the Kennesaw hub, I seriously doubt this would have happened. Thank you Yvette!

They actually sent a brand new replacement for my corrupted one. Upon opening the box, I immediately plugged it into my laptop at which time it required the firmware update which it did successfully install. Right now, it's loading all my albums, playlists, pictures, and video and is at 90% complete.

Suffice it to say, I will never use FedEx again, not if I can help it. UPS is much more customer friendly, consistent and dependable.

As I sit here marveling at my new Zune that is now almost completely loaded with my music, pictures, and videos, I am confident all is well in the world (big sigh of relief).

An Update From the Commuting Front

This week has been so grand not having to drive in the daily snarling traffic. It is such a relief and is so much less stressful, it is unreal. I honestly think my blood pressure might go down. But before I get carried away with the pleasant side of all this, don't think there aren't any stresses related to commuting. Let's see, there is the daily early morning drive to the bus stop (Hiram theater) where I honestly drive like a "bat out of hell" in an attempt to get there in time and not miss the bus. It's a challenge, for sure. I have been going to bed later than I should and then having a hard time getting out of bed. My goal is to fix that this coming week and get back on schedule - no matter what! In bed by 9 p.m. and up by 3:45 a.m.

Once on the bus using a CCT paper card, the next challenge (if I'm by myself) is to avoid getting sat on by that rather "large" woman I spoke of in an earlier post. Once that situation is under control, I am next challenged with getting into the MARTA rail station using the Bus to Rail Transfer card the bus driver gives me every morning (if I remember to ask for it). Out of the last three weeks, it has worked properly at the turnstiles three times. It's not user error as I swipe it as I was instructed by the MARTA employee (remember my one-on-one swiping lesson from last week?). They just don't consistently work. Luckily there is usually a MARTA employee there who can authorize entry using their own card.

Next the challenge is to catch the northbound Doraville train. We usually miss it because we are wasting time at the turnstiles trying to get into the station. Another train is usually not far behind but we still have to wait 5-8 minutes for it's arrival. Once on board that train, it's a nice 20-25 minute ride to the Brookhaven station. From there we usually have a few minutes until our complimentary van arrives to take us the rest of the way.

Coming back, it's about the same except that I use MARTA's Breeze card for entry onto the train and onto the bus. It works every time, without fail. Well, except for the bus (CCT) rides I put on the card on Wednesday and Thursday which would eliminate the need to use the paper CCT card and thus the Bus to Rail Transfer that never works. Anyway, on Wednesday I purchased 10 rides ($13.50) but found out when they didn't work on Thursday that they were for local rides on CCT not "express rides" which is what I'm doing. So, on Thursday I invested another $47 for 20 Express Rides on CCT and put those on my Breeze card. I thought all was well but this morning the Breeze card with the CCT rides didn't work again. Thank God I had the paper CCT card I had been using as a backup. I called the Breeze folks at MARTA and she said the fare box on the bus must not have been working. I'll try again on Monday and see what happens.

I must say it is very frustrating trying to get to know the system and understand what is expected, not to mention trying to catch the right bus at the right time and the right train at the right time. I think that I could write a "Dummies Guide to Successfully Commuting in Atlanta" manual and probably would make lots of money thus eliminating the need for me to commute!

With all that being said, I try to entertain myself so I don't get bored with the whole thing. Let's see - I now have my Zune which is wonderful, I might add. I am working to get more CDs loaded and will sign up with a service so I can download movies and even upload movies off my DVDs and convert them to my Zune. The Zune has an awesome 3.2 inch color display and great sound. I've been watching some NBC News podcasts that are updated nightly and I've downloaded some Cesar Millan episodes to watch and there are scads of other podcasts I haven't even looked at yet. My unit is the 80 (GB) so I can store up to 20,000 songs, or 25,000 pictures, or 250 hours of video. I'll never fill it up but I will certainly have fun trying!

Besides the Zune, there is definitely ample people watching available during the entire commute from Hiram to my building on Clairmont and then back. I just sit, listen or watch my Zune, and watch the people. Yesterday we were waiting for our bus at the Five Points Station and a man rode by on his bike with a boom box attached to the handlebars. Cracked me up!

I will start carrying my Flip so I can record a few snippets of the funnier things we see! Sometimes the free entertainment is better than the stuff we pay for!