PreppyKev.com
A True Compendium of My Unique Education
A True Compendium of My Unique Education
Dec 10, 2010
As if I hadn’t already wasted enough time with Verizon, now I’m writing a blog post. I’m going to try to make it as short as possible, because my ten wasted hours on the phone with their “Customer Support” has already been nearly suicide-inducing. I moved my dry-loop Verizon Business Class DSL service from Fairfax, VA to Winchester, VA. They can’t move service. No, they have to delete it and start over from scratch. Seriously? This day and age, I have come to expect a little bit more from a company this big – a company who should have their methods of doing business and providing service completely nailed down.
So they set me up again with new service. This is around November 9th. I was hung up on like 15 times by their stupid automated answering service before I finally just started mashing buttons on the phone in anger and frustration. A real person finally ends up picking up. I tell her what I need and how I got to her, and she said she’s sorry for the inconvenience, but she hears that story all the time, so wasn’t at all surprised. She got me to someone who deleted my Fairfax account (and provided me with a confirmation number for the deletion) and set me up again, telling me I’d be up and going by Monday the 13th, but I can probably call on Friday the 10th and get it expedited to that day, because I already had my equipment and didn’t need a Tech to come out.
I called Friday to have it expedited, only to find out my account had been marked for deletion. I told her I had an account pending deletion, so maybe she’s looking at the wrong confirmation number. Nope. I was being deleted. She couldn’t tell me why. When I asked her why she couldn’t tell me why, she said this just happens. It gets sent from dept. to dept. until someone decides there’s an issue, then instead of trying to resolve the issue, or gather more information, they JUST DELETE THE ACCOUNT. I asked her if there were any notes along with it. She said no, because the departments within Verizon don’t communicate with each other in any way. They don’t work together. In other words, Verizon is like a machine that isn’t broken – no, it’s intentionally designed with parts that aren’t meant to work together in unison to perform one main function. It’s made with individual moving parts that don’t connect to the other moving parts. When it comes to customer service, the result of this type of infrastructure is epic failure.
Anyway, this latest representative started the setup process all over again, then told me I’d be active on November 30th. November 30th?! That’s right. I’d have to wait 20 more calendar days for my business service to be set up. I am a web developer. I kind of need my office to have the internet so I can work. Verizon cost me hours on the phone (money I cannot bill out to any clients), plus I was paying rent for an office that I couldn’t use (literally, I had to work from home until they got me set up). I have had internet at this exact same office a few years prior, so I knew that no one would have to mess with anything to set it up. I knew all they had to do was turn it on, so to be told I’d have to wait two-thirds of a month longer, just because they screwed up was unacceptable. I called Comcast.
As a note, Comcast’s customer service sucks a lot, too, but the technician was cool. Anyway, Verizon ended up getting me hooked up a little sooner than they said they would (the 20th instead of the 30th), but I was told that my 3.0 Mb down/1.5Mb up plan had gone up in price, and since I was a new customer (because they couldn’t move me – they had to delete and recreate me), I’d have to pay the higher rate ($53.99 instead of the $49.99 I’d been paying the previous four years), oh, and I would have to pay the new setup fee! Again, unacceptable – it’s robbery. I was not a new Verizon customer! They told me I had 30 days to cancel, so again, I called Comcast, had them hook me up, then I canceled Verizon.
When canceling Verizon, the guy I talked to, of course, tried really hard to get me to stay. He offered me money back, free months of service, et cetera. I told him the irony in this situation was that I bent over backwards to keep Verizon as my internet service provider, thinking it would be easiest, and they made my life a living hell, and I still tried and tried, and Verizon wouldn’t even meet me halfway. Now that I’m canceling, all of a sudden I’m an important customer? These tactics aren’t going to win them any favor among their current and potential customer base. I hope I reach a bunch of people who decide to fight back, or not to go with Verizon in the first place. Comcast costs me $8 more a month than Verizon, and it’s 500% faster!
Now, here’s the reason I’m even writing this blog post – because all this stuff that happened, I was pretty much willing to cut my losses and move on… but after all this, I looked at my bank statement, and Verizon is still debiting my bank account for Business DSL Service in Fairfax, VA! I canceled it on November 8th, and my latest bill is for the November 16 – December 16 billing period! They’re literally stealing my money!!! I thought I could save some time and try their online chat for help, instead of going through their wretched automated phone system.
When you begin the chat, it asks what you want to talk about – you have three options: Sales, Verizon Service, and Questions about Navigation/Web site. I chose Verizon service. Below is the transcript of my chat. It is not edited in any way, and nothing is out of context. It’s the entire thing:
Thank you for choosing Verizon Small Business.
A representative will be with you shortly. For quality control and training purposes, your session may be monitored or reviewed.
You are now chatting with Erika.
Erika: Hello! Welcome to Verizon’s Small Business Chat Service. How can I help you today?
Kevin: I was wondering – if I cancel my service mid-billing period, is the cost for that service prorated at all?
Erika: This chat is for site navigation. You would need to contact the billing department. Our business office is best equipped to assist you with your question today. Please contact them at 1-800- VERIZON.
Erika: I would assume it would be prorated but I do not definitively.
Kevin: oh.. sorry, i selected “verizon service” for my chat topic, not “site navigation,” which was also an option
Kevin: so i thought i’d be able to discuss service with you
Erika: I apologize about the inconvenience.
Kevin: why do they bother letting people choose the chat topic? that’s a site navigation question for you
Erika: I’m not sure.
Erika: Thank you for using Verizon’s chat service. The department to which I have referred you will be able to assist you. If you have any additional questions that we can assist you with, please do not hesitate to contact us again.
Kevin: Thanks.
Thank you for chatting with us. Please click the “Close” button on the top right of the chat window to tell us how we did today.
So there you have it. As a side note, I haven’t been getting mail for the last month or so, after forwarding my mail from Fairfax to Winchester. I called the U.S. Postal Service – you know, the one run by the horribly inefficient and massive United States government? Yeah. No hold time. Zero. A guy picked up immediately, I told him what I wanted, he transferred me to someone else who picked up immediately – it didn’t even ring her extension. And she was super nice and super helpful. I never, ever thought I would say something like, “Verizon should take a lesson from the US Postal Service,” but if Verizon’s “customer service” could emulate that of the USPS, holy cow, they’d be unstoppable.
Oct 13, 2010
I was randomly wondering today about whether or not it’s harmful, or how harmful it is, to inhibit the production of under-arm sweat. I realize I could just google it, but instead, I have a chance to stream-of-consciousness it a little bit. Yes, I just used stream-of-consciousness as a verb. I was trying to talk to someone about it, but that conversation failed, so I figured I might as well write here. At least that way I can go back to it if I ever feel like revisiting my idiot thoughts.
Think about medicine – what is it? Something you take in liquid or pill form on a regular or semi-regular basis to achieve some desired physiological effect. Medicine, in peoples’ minds, is in its own class. After all, pharmaceuticals aren’t like food, right? But what is medicine really? It’s simply a chemical that one exposes one’s body to for a certain length of time in order to change something inside the body. The question is this: if medicine can do that, couldn’t anything?
Antiperspirants, I believe, contain chemicals that clog the pores, as well as soak up any moisture that does get produced. Those chemicals are applied to the skin, which means it’s very easy for the body to take them in. Medicine? No, but could those chemicals not have an effect on the body in the same way a pill can? And, for those of you who wear antiperspirant, you expose yourselves to those chemicals every day. Along with all the crazy stuff we put in soaps, body washes, shampoos, conditioners, perfumes, body sprays, lotions, skin creams, etc. What’s the difference between a medical cream, and any other type of skin cream? Both get absorbed.
It’s just funny that we get crazy, one chemical at a time. Remember the trans-fat uproar? The bisphenol-A uproar? It’s not news that we use toxic chemicals for everything around us every single day. We’re simply told that we use them in small enough amounts that it won’t hurt us. But here’s what I’m getting at – how small an amount of some chemical is in a 5mg tablet? And most of us don’t take pills every single day. But we do take artificial flavors, dyes, perfumes, etc. – all kinds of unnaturally-occurring chemicals – into our bodies every day… and we’re to believe there’s no cumulative effect?
I don’t buy it.
This line of thinking is also behind some peoples’ idea of food as medicine. There’s really no difference – food contains chemicals that make our bodies work a certain way. Most peoples’ diet today is bad enough that it’s not all too different from taking statins every day when you don’t have a cholesterol problem… The Western diet really does just boil down to taking the wrong medicine.
Jul 23, 2010
I had gained almost 15 lbs. since moving back to Winchester. I was eating really well prior to moving back, but then I … stopped. I drank a lot and ate bar food and restaurant food, and, really, just gross stuff (the kind for which you can’t pronounce all the ingredients). So I decided at the beginning of this week, I’d try to fix it. So far, in the last four or five days, I’ve been eating probably 90% fruits and vegetables (mostly blended together into a smoothie, so more accurately I’ve been drinking my fruits and vegetables), and very few grains, carbs, and sugars. I have lost almost 10 lbs. in less than a week (I’ve been lifting weights and doing some outdoor work, too). I feel like I have a lot more energy, and I’m staying hydrated because I drink so much liquid.
It sounds like an unhealthy amount of weight to have lost, I’m sure. That’s what I would say to anyone who told me they lost 10 lbs. in five days, but I have the feeling that my body is making proper adjustments now that I’m feeding it more natural whole foods, and the rapid weight loss will subside as my body gets closer to the shape in which it should naturally be – provided I continue the diet, which is really difficult, but this is one of those times when I know that sacrifice is going to pay off in the end. I think that’s one of those lessons I’m going to be relearning all the time.
Nothing good comes easy. If people not only realized that, but lived like they realized that, I think it would enrich their lives and the lives of those around them. Lots of things (food/diet, industry, employment, family, to name a few) would be different – in a good way. People would be healthier, and I would bet happier, too.
Jul 20, 2010
You don’t always get what you expect, but it doesn’t mean the unexpected can’t potentially make you very happy. I’m constantly in need of inspiration, and right now I feel like I’ve gotten more than a taste of it. I look forward to more free samples. In the meanwhile, the blog’s been semi-reinstated, in hopes that I will indulge my newfound inspiration, and keep track of the lessons I am learning every day of my life. As I cross the crossables, I think, “Here’s to the future,” something I have thought many, many times before. My hope is a recurring emotion!
Jun 23, 2009

Margaret Anne Lonsdorf Frey, “Peggy,” 55, passed away on Monday, June 22, 2009, in her home following a long illness.
She is survived by her loving husband, David Duval Frey; four children, Christine of Orlando, Florida, Kevin of Greensboro, North Carolina, Joseph of Clear Brook, Virginia, and Catherine of Wilmington, North Carolina; one grandson, Hayden of Clear Brook, Virginia; two sisters, Jane Lonsdorf Keffer (and husband Walter N., Sr.) and Patricia Lonsdorf Perucca (and husband Richard J., Sr.), all of York, Pennsylvania; eight nieces and nephews; as well as seven great-nieces and nephews, with two on the way. Peggy also leaves behind her in-laws, the Frey family, William S. Frey, Jr. and wife Carla, Andrew W. Frey, Sr., and Purdon Hobbs, all of York, Susan and Paul Haddaway of Easton, Maryland, and Dave’s twin, Catherine, of Thomasville, Pennsylvania; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents-in-law, William S. and Purdon W. Frey, Sr.
Peggy was born January 27, 1954, in York, Pennsylvania, the daughter of the late John F. and Margaret (McLaughlin) Lonsdorf.
Peggy lived a life full of friends and fun things to do. She was a member of the board for the Youth Development Centers in Winchester, VA, and Wilmington, NC. She was also a board member for the American Cancer Society in Winchester, VA, and the YWCA in Wilmington. Peggy volunteered at the ACS in Wilmington, as well as her local hospitals in Winchester and Wilmington. Peggy was also a member of the Apple Club in Winchester, and an avid supporter/participant in the annual Apple Blossom Festival, an Exchange Club member, and a board member for the Winchester Medical Center Women’s Auxiliary.
Peggy was a 1971 graduate of York Catholic High School and attended York College of Pennsylvania. She was employed by several different banking institutions before leaving the workforce to be a full-time mother. She will be greatly missed by her many, many friends and family members.
A public visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the John W. Keffer Funeral Homes and Crematory, Inc., 2114 W. Market St., York PA 17404, with a service from 1 p.m. to 1:30. Burial will follow, in Prospect Hill Cemetery.
Serving as pallbearers will be Kevin M. Frey, Joseph P. Frey, Walter Nash Keffer, Jr., John Lonsdorf Keffer, Paul R. Keffer, and Kevin Hoffman.
Contributions may be made to any local American Cancer Society, or Youth Development Center in memory of Peggy Frey.
Aug 7, 2008
At my office, there is a fella whose car claims to be a Mercedes-Benz SLK 230, which is a pretty nice car. In fact, let me quote from CarTalk.com:
This is a fun little car. If Mercedes set out to build its own Mazda Miata, this is what they’d end up with. The SLK 230 is a fun-to-drive, sporty convertible that’s about the same size as a Miata. Of course, it’s several steps up in quality in just about every respect–which had better be the case if you’re going to be shelling out an additional $22,000.
There you have it. Stated by the pros – Mercedes-Benz’ own upscale Miata. However, this car parked in the parking lot is hiding a dirty little secret. I am here today to spill those proverbial beans to all my loyal readers. Hahaha! I made a blogger joke. Loyal readers. Ha.
Without further ado (click photos to enlarge)…
Clearly a Mercedes-Benz? I think we need a closer look… Ah, yes, that’s much better. Look at that craftsmanship! I’m starting to get suspicious now…see around the MB badge? Not exactly a quality touch-up job. Okay, something is definitely wrong here! This car is cleverly disguised.So what is the deal here? Did someone get screwed thinking he was buying a Mercedes-Benz, or is this person just cleverly concealing the Mazda Miata hidden beneath all the fancy Mercedes-Benz insignia? The world may never know. I never see who drives this car.
But… should the owner of this vehicle ever happen to stumble along this blog post… you are driving a Miata, man. Be proud of your Asian engineering! Seriously. Being a Mazda owner myself, I can happily say that my ProtegĂ©5 has never been unkind to me.
And…what if my girlfriend made me wear big fake muscles all the time, so people would think I’m way more buff than I actually am? That would be so demoralizing. your car deserves so much more.
I made a little “before and after” so you can see how it’s supposed to look.Jul 23, 2008
My goldfish’s name is Pesto, but now that I feel like we’re friends, I secretly call him CJ. I think it’s a friendlier name for a goldfish with his personality. He’s his own fish. He likes to put his mouth on the algae that grows in the bowl when I leave the water too long. He also knows when it’s time to be fed, and he watches the food container and my hand expectantly, until I drop the food on the surface of the water. He immediately darts for it with such force that water splashes up. His name is still Pesto, but until he does something like sleep with my girlfriend, I will affectionately call him CJ, which doesn’t stand for anything.
Jul 8, 2008
Back in 2002-ish, The Perks of Being a Wallflower was a really trendy book, and I was told so many times I needed to read it, but I didn’t, because people liked it so much. It was natural for me to resist, but at some point, because it was supposed to be so good, I bought it for Emily (or so she says
. Well, she finally read it, and really liked it, so she gave it to me a month or so ago, insisting that I read it. I did.
Big surprise – it is a really good book. The novel isn’t without its flaws (some of the letters are too “booky” to be letters), but some of the flaws probably aren’t really flaws, and instead are present out of necessity, due to the format in which the book is written. The main character, Charlie, writes a series of letters to a “friend” – someone he doesn’t really know, but has heard respectable things about. These letters make up the book. They follow Charlie through his freshman year of high school, as he makes friends, breaks hearts, does drugs, and discovers himself.
In the book, it’s clear that Charlie is the wallflower, but as the reader, you can’t help but feel that you are also a wallflower, silently standing by, gathering insight from this kid’s journey through one of the most tumultuous periods in his life. I couldn’t help but personally identify with the character (more than I care to admit, in some ways), as I recalled many of my own awkward and infinite moments in high school, but, moreover, I couldn’t help comparing some of Charlie’s attributes and experiences to those of my friends. Parts of this character (and others) fit so many people, which adds to the realism of the story, allowing you to associate most characters and events with your own real-life equivalents.
When all is said and done, Stephen Chbosky, the author, has painted a relatively universal picture of what it is like to experience many teenage firsts, and it’s hard to believe anyone could read this book without remembering what it was like “back then.”
Jun 20, 2008
Here is a funny story, but first the backstory.
I called up the insurance company (The Hartford, through Wachovia), where we have our company’s general liability policy, and I changed the address on the policy, because we moved. Well, that address change resulted in a new bill of $18.00, but the retards sent our bill to the old address, so it didn’t get here in time, and I was charged a late fee of $20. So I cut a check for $18, and wrote a letter that said, “Hey guys, the address change I made resulted in this new bill, so it would make sense that the new bill should go to the new address. I’m not paying the late fee. Take it off.”
Well, they sent me another bill, with another late fee! So I called up, and I got their automated system, with no option to go to a real person. So, after trying my luck with the automated system for a while, I got frustrated, and on one menu, it read off my choices, and asked me to make a selection.
Automated System: Please make a selection.
Me: I HATE YOU.
Automated System: So you want to speak with an insurance specialist. Is that correct?
Me: HAHAHAHAHAHA. Yes.
The insurance specialist came on the line and waived my late fees. Joy.