|
|
Post by Rennie Ellen on Jul 21, 2008 15:31:09 GMT -5
I'm sad to say this, but the few dishes and silverware I use to cook and eat with have been sitting in the sink for the last week. I've just been too tired to wash them. I haven't eaten much this past week, either. I'm too tired to chew.  The dishes are soaking now and I'll get to them later.  I'm also doing a load of laundry today because the Cipro I'm taking for the urinary tract infection is aggravating the colitis (not as much as the Avelox, but enough that I'm doing laundry today).  And along with that, I have to keep my raised toilet seat cleaned up because of all my trips to the bathroom.  AND I'm still working on my living room. It's almost done! I'm just SO tired. I feel I have to choose between trying to maintain or resting. Whichever way I choose, either my house or I will pay for it. If I rest, things start to pile up. If I clean, it takes me longer to get well. Right now my body is making it pretty clear what I should choose.  Slow and steady is my new mantra.... 
So while I was dealing with my physical challenges....in mid-June my neighbor and I dealt with a trash company (we have the same one, or HAD -- read on! ) that stopped picking up our trash!!! We both called them. They said a new driver was to blame. They told us they'd send someone right out, but no one ever came. We called every day! We'd either hear, "We'll send someone out today!" or they'd switch us over to voice mail. Nothing.
This continued until July 11th. My neighbor and I were wondering what to do, for by this time 3 1/2 weeks had gone by and our trash was STILL sitting on the curb waiting for pick up. We got our bills around the 1st of July, too -- they raised our service fee AND tacked on an $8 FUEL SURCHARGE!! My neighbor's trash (she's a single mom with 2 boys) was overflowing her container. The dogs would get into it and she'd have to pick it all up each morning and put it back in. My container was filled to the very top after 3 1/2 weeks. After the 2nd week, I just left it on the curb. It got too heavy for me to lug it back and forth. We both got the idea that we should ask them for a refund for those 3 1/2 weeks of no service (we pre-pay in advance). So she called and got voice mail. I called and got a live person. I was very polite but let him know I'd been patiently waiting for 3 1/2 weeks for SOMEONE to pick up my trash and if I could get a refund for those weeks no one came. The man very rudely said, " I'll do you a favor -- I'll go ahead and CANCEL your service as of June 30th." At first I was shocked!  I didn't want my service cancelled, I just wanted them to come pick up my trash! After a few seconds, I gathered my composure and answered sweetly, "That will be fine. I'm sure I can find another trash service who can do a much better job than you. Thank you and have a nice day." Then I hung up the phone -- rather violently! 
I went to my neighbor and told her what happened. She couldn't believe it! So what do we do now? I had the idea to call a local TV station and tell them our problem. This station had helped other people with problems like this in the past and I thought, what do we have to lose? My neighbor agreed and I made the call. I was thinking the station would send someone out later in the week, but the man I talked to on the phone got very excited. (Must have been a slow news day.) In 30 minutes I got a call from a reporter. She and her cameraman came out 20 minutes later! She interviewed both of us. The camerman took some closeups of my neighbor's trash (it was overflowing and looked worse than mine  ) with the flies buzzing around. She also called the trash company for their side of the story before she came to us. FORTY-FIVE minutes after her call, the trash truck FINALLY came down our cul-de-sac and picked up our garbage -- and the cameraman got it on film! The reporter also told us after talking with the company, we would both receive a refund for the 3 1/2 weeks of no service. My neighbor would receive it as a credit on her bill since she already paid, but since I "cancelled", I should get mine in the mail in a few weeks. And we made the 10 o'clock news!! 
The very next day I called around and signed up with a locally owned trash service (whose manager SAW the news the night before and told the customer service reps about it!  ). When I first moved here, I had a locally owned service till this other company bought them out -- their office is out of state -- and obviously out of touch!  Not only are my new company's rates lower (even with a price hike), they give new customers the deal of "Buy 3 Months, Get 3 Months FREE!" And when my neighbor's service time is up with this other company, she's switching over, too! 
My neighbor and I laugh about it now. Our neighbors joke with us about a reality series based on our experiences called "Trash TV". We hated to call the TV station and shame the trash company into rendering services we already paid for, but after 3 1/2 weeks of rotting garbage, we didn't know what else to do. It taught me a lesson in not being afraid to stand up for myself. The more I do it, the easier it gets.
|
|
|
|
Post by saffron on Jul 21, 2008 15:41:53 GMT -5
 You ROCK, Rennie Ellen! Congrats on not being afraid to make a few calls. Glad to hear you won your Trash War!
|
|
|
|
Post by skitter on Jul 21, 2008 16:08:50 GMT -5
Yea for you, Rennie Ellen!
Your body may be tired, but your spirit has to be soaring! I'm so proud of you!
Cheers, skitter
|
|
|
|
Post by messymimi on Jul 21, 2008 16:59:38 GMT -5
Good for you, Rennie Ellen! With that much pluck and spirit you will succeed at whatever you set out to do. messymimi |
|
|
|
Post by anonymoose on Jul 21, 2008 17:26:28 GMT -5
That's a great story - very proud of you for standing up to them!
And we have our very own "superstah" now - you've been on TV, how cool is that?
|
|
|
|
Post by crazycatlady on Jul 21, 2008 19:41:18 GMT -5
Great story, Rennie! Good on you for sticking up for yourself AND the neighbor! Hope the fatigue clears up soon, so you can get back to normal! 
|
|
|
|
Post by Rennie Ellen on Jul 21, 2008 20:56:13 GMT -5
CrazyCatlady,Great story, Rennie! Good on you for sticking up for yourself AND the neighbor! Hope the fatigue clears up soon, so you can get back to normal!  !
The fatigue is permanent -- from my post-cancer fatigue syndrome. The nurses explained to me that my energy level is like a bank. If I rest and take care of myself, my energy level is fine, just like if I make deposits into my bank account, I'll have money when I need it. But if I overdo, it's the same as being overdrawn with my bank account -- I'll get in trouble. So I have to always be careful. That's why I use the motorized carts when shopping at the supermarket or Walmart. I need the energy saved from walking around the store to bring in and put away my things when I get home. After that, I rest! If I overdo, I pay for it for days and even weeks afterward. I have to really plan for things like going to the movies or even across town, so the next day I won't feel like death warmed over.
The colitis and the UTI was a double whammy. I'm trying not to overdo on the tidying up but I still have SO MUCH that needs to be done!!! The "Bedroom Of Doom", my carport storage room, and my rental storage unit still need to be taken care of. I wanted to get it ALL done by this winter, but I don't think I can make that goal now. I can tackle the "Bedroom Of Doom", MUHAHAHAHA! I've tried to get some help from the Bible study group but everyone's busy for the times that I need them to clear out the storage unit and carport storage. For those two things, I NEED to have help. 
The dishes are washed and drying in the drainer! I'll put them away tomorrow when I get up for breakfast. I went to the grocery store today and got some sturdy, microwaveable paper plates so I won't have to wash so many dishes. The laundry can be folded and put away tomorrow. Slow and steady.... 
|
|
|
|
Post by threeg on Jul 21, 2008 21:12:31 GMT -5
Good for you Rennie! Doesn't it feel good to win?  That garbage company will go under QUICK if this is how they treat thier customers! You might even see other customers on the news after this. I'm sure they're just as rude to all...  WTG on doing the dishes too.  Take care, and feel better soon. 3g is me |
|
|
|
Post by eaglesflight on Jul 22, 2008 0:01:53 GMT -5
The fatigue is permanent -- from my post-cancer fatigue syndrome. The nurses explained to me that my energy level is like a bank. If I rest and take care of myself, my energy level is fine, just like if I make deposits into my bank account, I'll have money when I need it. But if I overdo, it's the same as being overdrawn with my bank account -- I'll get in trouble. So I have to always be careful. Rennie--have you ever seen But You Don't Look Sick? This sounds like The Spoon Theory. It really helped me to understand chronic health problems when I read that article. Maybe it would be something useful you could forward to epople who have trouble understanding what you go through. |
|
|
|
Post by Rennie Ellen on Jul 22, 2008 10:29:06 GMT -5
Eaglesflight,Rennie--have you ever seen But You Don't Look Sick? This sounds like The Spoon Theory. It really helped me to understand chronic health problems when I read that article. Maybe it would be something useful you could forward to people who have trouble understanding what you go through.  But it's exactly what I go through every day with my chronic pain and fatigue! I highly recommend that everyone go to the website and read "The Spoon Theory." That's the best analogy to give healthy people an idea of what my "new normal" is like.
Speaking of spoons, my dishes are done, but I forgot all about my pot and frying pan! They're now soaking and will be washed later. One "spoon" will be used today in getting the kitchen all tidied up. Another spoon will go toward sitting on my loveseat and folding laundry. If I have another spoon for later, I'll continue to tidy up the living room.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rennie Ellen on Jul 22, 2008 10:50:26 GMT -5
Anonymous,That's a great story - very proud of you for standing up to them! And we have our very own "superstah" now - you've been on TV, how cool is that?
After that, I've been interviewed several times for local cancer fundraisers (the first couple of times I had NO hair!  ) but I was worried about the trash thing. I was afraid I'd only be remembered as the "trash lady". But so far all the feedback I've heard has been positive. My neighbors think M. (the other neighbor) and I are heroes for going up against the big, bad trash company, but I don't see myself as a hero. I just wanted someone to pick up my garbage!
|
|
|
|
Post by comingclean on Jul 23, 2008 16:16:27 GMT -5
Hmmm....i tried those two links and both say "bad url" i guess they don't like me  |
|
|
|
Post by eaglesflight on Jul 23, 2008 16:23:11 GMT -5
Thanks, comingclean, I fixed them. Sorry about that!
|
|
|
|
Post by Chris on Jul 23, 2008 17:25:43 GMT -5
Rennie that is so cool -- you are an inspiration!!!!!!!!! I'm so glad your trash situation is all straightened up now!!!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Rennie Ellen on Jul 24, 2008 21:24:39 GMT -5
Just an update that I got my new trash bin yesterday from the new company! (I prepaid for 3 months service) My new trash day is Thursday. I had 3 trash bags ready to go into it and set my bin out on the curb last night (they have to be out by 6 AM trash day! ). And this morning around 8, I heard the lovely sound of a trash track as it came down the cul-de-sac to empty my bin!
So hopefully now the Trash War is over. Now I'm planning to rid the world (or at least my home!) of clutter and the injustice it causes! 
|
|
