Thank You For Patiently Waiting

“The TPP* will bring us into the 21at century… Global supply chains…Winners and losers…”  Pres. Obama

The Warriors, a Team Beyond Comparison

By Harvey Araton, NYT  5-31-16                 

“Golden State has drastically extended the standard scoring range, which makes comparing it with storied N.B.A. teams of yore like distinguishing between a smartphone and a land line.”

First try: 10 a.m. 

Me: Hello, AT&T?  I just moved, and there’s supposed to be a forwarding message at my old phone number to my new number.  But I just called my old number, and my old answering message is still playing.  Also, my password no longer works at my old number, so I can’t tell if anyone’s left me a message at the old number.  Can you help, please?

Agent:  Hello. Thank you for calling AT&T.  No worries, we will take care of your problem.  Will you please tell me your current phone number and the 3-digit code at the end of your bill?

Me: Sorry, I just moved and I don’t have by old bill handy.  I can tell you the amount of my last bill, though, for identification.

Agent: No worries. Can you please tell me your current phone number and the 3-digit code at the end of your bill?

Me: No, I don’t have my paper bill with me, I just moved, but I can tell you the amount I paid on my last bill, since it’s written here in my checkbook.

Agent: I’m so sorry, let me understand.  Do you need new service?

Second try:10:15 

Me: Hello, AT&T?  I just moved, and there’s supposed to be a forwarding message at my old phone number to my new number.  But I just called my old number, and my old answering message is still playing.  Also, my password no longer works at my old number, so I can’t tell if anyone’s left me a message.  Can you help? Please?

Agent: That is a different department.  No worries, we will take care of your account, Miss Ellen.  Can I put you on hold while I contact the other department?

10:25

Agent:  Thank you for patiently waiting.  Miss Ellen, can you tell me the 3-digit code at the end of your phone number on your bill?

Third try: 10:30

Me: [allow your imagination to run wild]

Agent: Let’s see, the problem is that your old number isn’t due to be discontinued until the first of the month, which is tomorrow.  I checked, and there’s no way to move the date up today.  But that disconnect will happen tomorrow.  Then your callers will get an automatic message, telling them to call your new phone number.

Me:  Thank you, that is very helpful.  But the other problem is that my password for the old number doesn’t work, so I can’t tell if anyone’s left me a message there.

Agent: I see.  Let me get our technical team on the line, to reinstate your password for the day.  I’m going to put you on hold, and we’ll get someone on the line who can help.

[I am on hold.  I go to iTunes to try to download some music.  iTunes tells me I am no longer subscribed to whatever part of their service I need to get a new song to play.  Would I like to download the new program?  I click on the icon to download the updated program.  Meanwhile I listen to the tunes I already recorded:  Judy Collins “We Want a Revolution” suite from Marat/Sade; “You Don’t Own Me,” Leslie Gore; “The Longest Time,” Billy Joel; and on to Katie Goodman, Kweskin Jug Band, Taj Mahal, and Tom Lehrer.]

10:45

[Recording]:  You’ve reached the repair department at AT&T.  Due to heavy volume, your call may not be answered for up to 4 minutes.

[The Comcast tech couldn’t find the connection to the internet in our new place, so we’re working off of borrowed wireless until we can get real Ethernet service, next week. 

[iTunes sends a message that there has been an error in downloading the updated program.  I can try again later.  Meanwhile, it would like to add or update service from Apple, Quicktime, and other programs.  I think about “The Golden Notebook,” and get up to unpack.]

*TPP = Trans Pacific Partnership