You know that Progressive insurance commercial, that asks “If we’re this helpful while you’re shopping for insurance, imagine how helpful we’ll be when you need us.” That makes absolutely no sense, so I call bullshit. Any company is going to do whatever they can to make themselves look good to prospective customers. After they’ve hooked you, they don’t have much incentive to go out of their way to be helpful.
And while I’m being cranky, FedEx has climbed to the top of my corporate shit list. I ordered something on August 1. It was supposedly shipped on August 2. After a few days, I checked the tracking info, and found that the package had been placed on the truck, then apparently it warped into an alternate dimension. I figured it would show up eventually, and forgot about it. A couple of days ago, I received a postcard from FedEx–dated August 8!–stating that they needed additional delivery directions. Now, first, it took them a week to figure out they couldn’t find my place? I don’t think so. Second, why on earth did it take two weeks for the stupid postcard to get to me? That part of the problem may be the fault of the USPS. Delivery around these parts has gotten a bit random lately. However, FedEx should have provided better tracking info, and they should have informed me sooner that there was an issue. (And, no, they didn’t try to call, even though they had my phone number. If they had, it would’ve shown up on my caller ID. Hrmf!)
So, I called FedEx, as the postcard directed, and was told that the package has been returned to the vendor. I am not amused.
Now for an arting update: I’m working on a large-ish painting/assemblage something-or-other, using a wood panel as a support. I haven’t worked much on wood, so this should be entertaining. Whether that’s entertaining in the fun sense, or in the train-wreck sense, remains to be seen. If I don’t mention it again, you’ll know it did not end well.
In Art porn news, the new Dick Blick uber-catalog came today. Two copies of it, in fact, though one of them was, for some inexplicable reason, placed in my neighbor’s mailbox. I’d really like to know what the new mailwoman is smoking and/or drinking. I’ve taken to checking all three mailboxes, because my mail is regularly strewn between them. Serenity now!
(Photo: Baby circa 1920, another “yard sale box-o-junk” find)
red paper boat 