Did you ever have one of those days? I mean, a day where you really shouldn't complain, nothing has gone tragically wrong, everyone is healthy and happy, safe and sound, but you still just want to slap someone?! Well, today was one of those days.
It all really started about 3 weeks ago. OK, not about 3 weeks ago, exactly 3 weeks ago. It all started on January 25. I received a recorded message from Chase bank. Of course this call was received in the middle of the night since they are calling from Houston and just can't figure out that nasty time change. Well, the call informed my..via recorded message ...that my account may have been compromised and they are cancelling my debit card. The friendly voice on the phone said they would be mailing a new card in 7-10 business days. Thus began the fun! I called Chase the next morning and informed them that they could not mail me a new card, that the card needed to be sent via courier (Fed Ex, DHL, UPS) because Dubai does not have home mail delivery. The friendly man on the other end of the phone informed me he would put all that information in the record and that they would send the card via one of those couriers. Yea! So easy!
Well, as the weeks have gone on I have made 3 more calls to Chase Bank. I have been trying to track down my new debit card. During one call, when I asked how the new card was shipped to me, the friendly blond lady on the phone (pretty sure she was blond) told me the card was sent in a white envelope with a window in it! (See what I mean!)
I have come to find out through many expensive phone calls that Chase has mailed my card - US mail (evidently in a nice white, window envelope!) Now, all of us living in the UAE know that this card is now in the great expanse of the desert and will never be seen again.
My last phone call and written e-mail correspondence instructed me to FAX -- yes FAX -- in a letter asking them to courier a new card. I have been told that because of all the trouble (who's trouble?), that they can not take an e-mail, it must be a FAX. OK..I'm getting to today now!
SO, I wrote a lovely letter instructing Chase to ship me a card - any kind of envelope will do, as long as it is sent via an international courier service! When I took Brian to the doctor today, I saw a little office sign at the gas station. It said they have e-mail, bill pay, and FAX! Yea! This isn't so bad. I drove over, went inside and was greeted by three lovely young ladies. "Good Morning, Madam"..three times over! I gave a wonderful greeting back and told them I needed to send a FAX. They smiled so sweetly and said their fax machine is broken. When asked if they knew of another location to send a fax, well, I won't continue, you know the answer. Away I went!
Later today as I drove to the gas station to get Wendy's for Brian (yes, I buy lunch at gas stations now), I saw the sign on the shop of the station. It said 'FAX'. I was so happy! I went in, told the man at the counter I needed to send a FAX. He told me they don't send faxes there. Since I was standing next to the sign that read "FAX", I questioned him, pointed to the word "FAX" - as if that would help - and said "it says FAX". He told me they don't have a phone in the gas station and you need a phone for a FAX machine. Oh...silly me.
So, tonight I went into Kevin's room. I happened to look at his new printer. It has a button labeled FAX! Oh my, I have been driving all over and I have a fax machine in the house. I moved Kevin's dresser, unplugged the wires from the machine, unplugged the machine from the wall and carried it to my bedroom. I know that sounds romantic, but that is really just the only place in the house that has a telephone line connected. I was so happy to have solved my own problem. I moved my bed, unplugged my phone line from the wall, unplugged my lamp and reconnected Kevin's printer. YEA! DONE!! Then this beeping noise and a message "Printer out of ink. Replace cartridge before you fax something you idiot!" OK, I am exaggerating just a little here, but I think you get my point - no fax!
It is 9:50 PM. I run to the garage, jump in my car and zoom over to Spinney's hoping to find a printer cartridge. I am determined to get this FAX out today. Well, surprise surprise! No ink cartridges at Spinneys. You knew that was how the story was going to end, right!?
As I get back in my car to drive home, I begin to laugh. I mean, what else can I do? I begin my nighttime prayers early. I thank God for the wonderful day. I thank him for keeping us all healthy and safe. I thank him for the opportunity to experience life as an expat. AND, I thank him for giving me a sense of humor. Without it, I'm pretty sure I'd be kicking dogs, growling at kittens, and eating an entire row of mint cookies.
Tomorrow is another day - fax machines of the world...LOOK OUT!
It all really started about 3 weeks ago. OK, not about 3 weeks ago, exactly 3 weeks ago. It all started on January 25. I received a recorded message from Chase bank. Of course this call was received in the middle of the night since they are calling from Houston and just can't figure out that nasty time change. Well, the call informed my..via recorded message ...that my account may have been compromised and they are cancelling my debit card. The friendly voice on the phone said they would be mailing a new card in 7-10 business days. Thus began the fun! I called Chase the next morning and informed them that they could not mail me a new card, that the card needed to be sent via courier (Fed Ex, DHL, UPS) because Dubai does not have home mail delivery. The friendly man on the other end of the phone informed me he would put all that information in the record and that they would send the card via one of those couriers. Yea! So easy!
Well, as the weeks have gone on I have made 3 more calls to Chase Bank. I have been trying to track down my new debit card. During one call, when I asked how the new card was shipped to me, the friendly blond lady on the phone (pretty sure she was blond) told me the card was sent in a white envelope with a window in it! (See what I mean!)
I have come to find out through many expensive phone calls that Chase has mailed my card - US mail (evidently in a nice white, window envelope!) Now, all of us living in the UAE know that this card is now in the great expanse of the desert and will never be seen again.
My last phone call and written e-mail correspondence instructed me to FAX -- yes FAX -- in a letter asking them to courier a new card. I have been told that because of all the trouble (who's trouble?), that they can not take an e-mail, it must be a FAX. OK..I'm getting to today now!
SO, I wrote a lovely letter instructing Chase to ship me a card - any kind of envelope will do, as long as it is sent via an international courier service! When I took Brian to the doctor today, I saw a little office sign at the gas station. It said they have e-mail, bill pay, and FAX! Yea! This isn't so bad. I drove over, went inside and was greeted by three lovely young ladies. "Good Morning, Madam"..three times over! I gave a wonderful greeting back and told them I needed to send a FAX. They smiled so sweetly and said their fax machine is broken. When asked if they knew of another location to send a fax, well, I won't continue, you know the answer. Away I went!
Later today as I drove to the gas station to get Wendy's for Brian (yes, I buy lunch at gas stations now), I saw the sign on the shop of the station. It said 'FAX'. I was so happy! I went in, told the man at the counter I needed to send a FAX. He told me they don't send faxes there. Since I was standing next to the sign that read "FAX", I questioned him, pointed to the word "FAX" - as if that would help - and said "it says FAX". He told me they don't have a phone in the gas station and you need a phone for a FAX machine. Oh...silly me.
So, tonight I went into Kevin's room. I happened to look at his new printer. It has a button labeled FAX! Oh my, I have been driving all over and I have a fax machine in the house. I moved Kevin's dresser, unplugged the wires from the machine, unplugged the machine from the wall and carried it to my bedroom. I know that sounds romantic, but that is really just the only place in the house that has a telephone line connected. I was so happy to have solved my own problem. I moved my bed, unplugged my phone line from the wall, unplugged my lamp and reconnected Kevin's printer. YEA! DONE!! Then this beeping noise and a message "Printer out of ink. Replace cartridge before you fax something you idiot!" OK, I am exaggerating just a little here, but I think you get my point - no fax!
It is 9:50 PM. I run to the garage, jump in my car and zoom over to Spinney's hoping to find a printer cartridge. I am determined to get this FAX out today. Well, surprise surprise! No ink cartridges at Spinneys. You knew that was how the story was going to end, right!?
As I get back in my car to drive home, I begin to laugh. I mean, what else can I do? I begin my nighttime prayers early. I thank God for the wonderful day. I thank him for keeping us all healthy and safe. I thank him for the opportunity to experience life as an expat. AND, I thank him for giving me a sense of humor. Without it, I'm pretty sure I'd be kicking dogs, growling at kittens, and eating an entire row of mint cookies.
Tomorrow is another day - fax machines of the world...LOOK OUT!
