All I wanted to do was donate my mirror. That turned out to be a lot more challenging than I anticipated.
There was a full length mirror on the back of my closet door when I moved into my new apartment. It wasn't anything fancy, but it was functional. I'm not much of a decorator so I figured I would replace it with something that didn't belong in a college dorm room later.
Ever notice how something that doesn't bother you for a long time can suddenly become a huge annoyance? This is what lead me to randomly decide to paint my living room or rip up the carpeting that hasn't bothered me for months. That's what happened with my mirror.
One day I suddenly realized that as a 30 something year old woman, if I was going to be looking at myself every day before I went to work, I could treat myself to a nicer reflective object. The only problem was I couldn't find a full length mirror I liked (once I decide to change something I'm actually surprisingly picky). Three different Walmart's later, I had found a mirror that wasn't already broken and had a nice frame and door hooks. Now I just had to get rid of the sad one I already had.
Taking it off the door was surprisingly difficult because the previous owner had used a million of those sticky frame holders to practically glue it on. Picture trying to peel a piece of paper off the wall without ripping it after it's been stuck there for several years. I was trying to preserve the backing so when I took it to Goodwill, it would still look pretty nice. Mission accomplished, and the mirror sat in my kitchen for a few days before I headed out to be a good green person who doesn't toss everything in a landfill. Turns out being green is surprisingly difficult.
They wouldn't take my mirror! The woman at Goodwill took one look at it and pronounced, "We don't accept mirrors without hooks to hang them up with."
I was a little taken aback because after all, the mirror wasn't broken, and if someone wanted to hang it, hooks aren't that expensive. "Oh well," I thought, "I'll go buy some cheap hooks and put them on myself." Back to Walmart.
$2 later, I've got the hooks and have laid the mirror on the floor so I can put them on straight. A little piece came off the corner of the frame when I put one on, but I glued it back on. Off to Goodwill again.
I didn't know Goodwill could be so picky! Different woman decreed that since there was now a corner missing off the frame (it came off in the car), they wouldn't accept the mirror. On a side note, why couldn't wood glue hold this thing together?
At this point, I'm really starting to wonder if it's worth the effort and trying to figure out how I can safely bust the mirror up so I can put it in a town trash bag that I also have to pay money for. Any chance a mad crafter is hanging around that might want this thing?
Turns out I wasn't that far off. After explaining my frustration to one of my eternally patient brothers, he offered to take the mirror off my hands for his business space. If it turned out that he didn't like it, his mill is full of artsy types that I'm sure can do something beautiful with a college dorm mirror.
Maybe someday I'll see it in a modern painting or something. I'll get a warm glow inside and think, "Oh, I'm so glad I didn't throw that away! My little green thought has given something beautiful to the world of art. I'll buy a copy of the picture and donate it to Goodwill. Then again, they'd probably want hooks on the frame."
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Monday, January 2, 2017
Ubering
An Uber driver? I hadn't even thought of it but the idea was intriguing. I was looking for a second job and wanted something flexible. I had just started enjoying the fact that I had a life after a very consuming job ended and was in no hurry to lose my freedom.
Signing up was relatively simple. I had to wait a couple of weeks to be approved, but my driving record was clean so I wasn't worried. While I was waiting, I cleaned my car!
When was the last time you looked at your car like an objective outsider? It's really amazing how much dirt, hair, and random junk can end up in there! After taking a vacuum cleaner and some seat cleaner to it, I felt like my cleanliness ratings would be alright.
Speaking of ratings, do you know that along with rating your driver, we rate you? Riders are rated on behavior and if their rating is low enough, they will be kicked off the app.
So before I launch into my Ubering adventures, I thought I would give you a few insights about what the view is like from the front seat.
1) Please be patient.
The app is constantly being updated to be more efficient, but it still only gets us to within 50 ft. of your location before telling you that we're "here". In the middle of the city that might not mean much. I've ended up in a lot of back parking lots and had to call riders for help. They're usually just around the corner, but it's nice when they're understanding about it.
2) Please make sure the address for pick-up is actually where you are!
Drivers go to the address we are given. I can't tell you how many times I've driven to the address I've got, only to call the rider and find they're someplace else. The only way to fix this situation is for the ride to be canceled and ordered again. That new ride doesn't necessarily come to me so I've just wasted a trip. It can be extremely frustrating!
3) We're not deaf!
I'm so glad that riders feel comfortable in my car. On the flip side, you'd be amazed at the conversations I overhear. I've heard a pending break-up, a woman discussing egg donation, and some extremely drunk Harry Potter discussions. Most times it's really fun, but it can be awkward once in awhile.
4) Along those same lines...please remember that it's my car
We take great pride in our vehicles. I usually vacuum out my car every time I'm getting ready to go on the road. Please take any trash with you and if you need anything or want to change the music, please ask first.
5) Tipping
I get asked this every once in awhile and it's always nice to know that people are thinking about it. You don't have to tip your Uber driver, but there are several instances where it is very appreciated. If your trip was really long and it's going to take me awhile to get back to my usual hub, a tip is very nice. Also, if your party was particularly rambunctious or demanding, a tip would go a long way towards making sure that I give you a good rating!
6) Lastly, please understand that we must follow all laws regarding how many passengers we can take.
In my state, I can only take as many riders as I have seat belts for. My riders don't have to wear them, but I have to have them available for everyone. I've had riders give me bad ratings and be extremely nasty because I wouldn't let them squeeze more people in. Please understand it's not my choice to make. If I get pulled over not only could I lose my driving privileges, but I could lose my license.
Alright, enough lecturing! Ready to hear some stories from my Uber travels? I'll be posting about my more interesting experiences and hope you enjoy the ride! Literally
Signing up was relatively simple. I had to wait a couple of weeks to be approved, but my driving record was clean so I wasn't worried. While I was waiting, I cleaned my car!
When was the last time you looked at your car like an objective outsider? It's really amazing how much dirt, hair, and random junk can end up in there! After taking a vacuum cleaner and some seat cleaner to it, I felt like my cleanliness ratings would be alright.
Speaking of ratings, do you know that along with rating your driver, we rate you? Riders are rated on behavior and if their rating is low enough, they will be kicked off the app.
So before I launch into my Ubering adventures, I thought I would give you a few insights about what the view is like from the front seat.
1) Please be patient.
The app is constantly being updated to be more efficient, but it still only gets us to within 50 ft. of your location before telling you that we're "here". In the middle of the city that might not mean much. I've ended up in a lot of back parking lots and had to call riders for help. They're usually just around the corner, but it's nice when they're understanding about it.
2) Please make sure the address for pick-up is actually where you are!
Drivers go to the address we are given. I can't tell you how many times I've driven to the address I've got, only to call the rider and find they're someplace else. The only way to fix this situation is for the ride to be canceled and ordered again. That new ride doesn't necessarily come to me so I've just wasted a trip. It can be extremely frustrating!
3) We're not deaf!
I'm so glad that riders feel comfortable in my car. On the flip side, you'd be amazed at the conversations I overhear. I've heard a pending break-up, a woman discussing egg donation, and some extremely drunk Harry Potter discussions. Most times it's really fun, but it can be awkward once in awhile.
4) Along those same lines...please remember that it's my car
We take great pride in our vehicles. I usually vacuum out my car every time I'm getting ready to go on the road. Please take any trash with you and if you need anything or want to change the music, please ask first.
5) Tipping
I get asked this every once in awhile and it's always nice to know that people are thinking about it. You don't have to tip your Uber driver, but there are several instances where it is very appreciated. If your trip was really long and it's going to take me awhile to get back to my usual hub, a tip is very nice. Also, if your party was particularly rambunctious or demanding, a tip would go a long way towards making sure that I give you a good rating!
6) Lastly, please understand that we must follow all laws regarding how many passengers we can take.
In my state, I can only take as many riders as I have seat belts for. My riders don't have to wear them, but I have to have them available for everyone. I've had riders give me bad ratings and be extremely nasty because I wouldn't let them squeeze more people in. Please understand it's not my choice to make. If I get pulled over not only could I lose my driving privileges, but I could lose my license.
Alright, enough lecturing! Ready to hear some stories from my Uber travels? I'll be posting about my more interesting experiences and hope you enjoy the ride! Literally
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Are you a New Englander?
I have always thought of myself as a New Englander. I cannot claim ancestry back to the early days when it was a collection of colonies, but I still like to think that being born here has given me the right to make a claim. However, I understand that a lot of people would disagree with this, so I have come up with a list of qualifications for the classic New Englander. Feel free to disagree with any of these or add to the list if you wish!
You know you're a New Englander when:
1. You live in or are very close to a white house with black shutters.
2. Your front door is merely a decorative entrance and while the inside of it could be used for pictures, the outside is usually not used at all and may not even have the stairs necessary to reach it.
3. You have severe personal space issues and can feel boxed in if someone sits too close to you (too close being within 10 feet). This is especially noticeable at church where before the service begins, you like a perimeter of empty seats on every side and feel threatened if someone sits in your pew (there's empty space two pews down, why don't they sit there?).
4. You spend the second half of winter complaining about the cold, snow, and ice on the roads, forgetting that summer was just sooo hot and spring will be full of rain. Any change in the weather is heralded with delight until you remember just how lovely the last season was. You can't believe that anyone could want to go back to the season you just finished, but surely there was something nice about it?
5. You actually classify your regions weather as having four seasons. Summer, winter, mud, and construction.
6. You know how to navigate a double laned traffic circle.
7. Ice cream can be eaten any time of year, but the day the local ice cream stand opens, even if it is cold, raining, and/or snowing, you'll be there. The parking lot will be so full that you can't find a space and everyone will be standing around complaining about the cold weather while eating their ice cream.
So that's what I've got so far. I'm sure there are more out there, but can I just say that I love this area and all the quirks associated with it! Looking forward to sharing more of my ramblings but be warned about this journey, it's bound to be a very strange trip!
You know you're a New Englander when:
1. You live in or are very close to a white house with black shutters.
2. Your front door is merely a decorative entrance and while the inside of it could be used for pictures, the outside is usually not used at all and may not even have the stairs necessary to reach it.
3. You have severe personal space issues and can feel boxed in if someone sits too close to you (too close being within 10 feet). This is especially noticeable at church where before the service begins, you like a perimeter of empty seats on every side and feel threatened if someone sits in your pew (there's empty space two pews down, why don't they sit there?).
4. You spend the second half of winter complaining about the cold, snow, and ice on the roads, forgetting that summer was just sooo hot and spring will be full of rain. Any change in the weather is heralded with delight until you remember just how lovely the last season was. You can't believe that anyone could want to go back to the season you just finished, but surely there was something nice about it?
5. You actually classify your regions weather as having four seasons. Summer, winter, mud, and construction.
6. You know how to navigate a double laned traffic circle.
7. Ice cream can be eaten any time of year, but the day the local ice cream stand opens, even if it is cold, raining, and/or snowing, you'll be there. The parking lot will be so full that you can't find a space and everyone will be standing around complaining about the cold weather while eating their ice cream.
So that's what I've got so far. I'm sure there are more out there, but can I just say that I love this area and all the quirks associated with it! Looking forward to sharing more of my ramblings but be warned about this journey, it's bound to be a very strange trip!
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