(no subject)

I was so busy whining last night that I forgot to mention what I spent most of my day doing. The results of yesterday's activities (which overlapped slightly into today) can be found throughout our glass gallery and also in the first picture of the teddy bear picnic -- now that Andy's home from Siggraph and three of the critters got a bath, I was finally able to get the portrait of our oldest bears.

(no subject)

Andy had to go to school early today for a meeting with his advisor. His advisor showed up for a change and complimented Andy a few times. I spent the rest of the day reading Revelations to find out what the other five signs are.

Or maybe not. I just sort of went through the motions today, with tons of ups and downs. If yesterday was bang-your-kneecap-and/or-your-funnybone nasty, then today was papercut nasty interspersed with finding Animaniacs Band-Aids -- they sort of balanced out. On the nice side I got one of Andy's graduation gifts, and it was even prettier than I'd hoped. It was a bit cooler today. Andy pointed out last night that he's already had the mechanic order the AC parts, so it's going to get fixed. I baked another batch of adulterated chocolate chip cookies. I ended up taking my walk despite putting it off until late. There's one other thing, but I have to list some of the annoyances first, because it's related.

I've mentioned before that I have an idea of something which might sell on eBay. Basically, I want to put together birstone studs and earring jackets which can be mixed and matched. In order to keep prices down, since I want to sell these relatively cheaply, I ordered Swarovsky Crystals mounted in sterling silver, along with some packaging supplies and something to keep necklaces on so they don't tangle. The company from which I ordered put through the authorization for the full amount about a week ago.

Today I received the order, and half of the earrings, incidentally both colors required to complete different sets, were backordered. I'd mistyped the necklace hanger thingy when I ordered, so it wasn't listed at all. I'd also ordered two pouches for Andy and me to use as dice bags, and one of them was backordered; the other completely missing.

I have placed web orders only with this company because every time I tried to call, at least during their business hours, I was getting fast busies. This is my second order with them; the first was for some packaging also for future use if my idea for selling works. I think I mentioned when I got the half of the first order. Today I noticed that backordered items are noticed on the invoice, so I checked the one from the last order, and the second item was listed, but not itemized as backordered. Oh, and the earrings didn't come with backs, though I should have realized that due to some "here are other things which might be good to order" part of the page.

I called, not expecting to get through, but for the first time I did. The wait was 24 minutes, but they have a system wherein they read back your phne number to you and have you record your name and customer number, then they call you back at your place in the queue. I was all for that and started on dinner while I waited for the return call. And, in an unusual turn of luck, the callback occurred before I began peeling the garlic.

Anyway, this is the part to make up for most of the problems: the other item from the first order is backordered and will be shipped; it's just that their invoicing system was broken. The order for the green pounch had been cancelled, and she determined that they've discontinued that color. Since black pouches were also on backorder, she added a black one to my current backorder list.

Unfortunately the necklace thingy wasn't on backorder, and in-stock items can't be added to backorder lists. This also means my order didn't reach the minimum needed to redeem a gift certificate, but I'll be able to use it next time I order. I suppose it's not so bad that the two sets of earrings didn't arrive, since the backordered item from the first order is packaging for my grand scheme. Also, they've changed the package size on the earrings (now six pairs per package instead of the original three), but the new cost was nowhere near double the old, so that part's a good deal for me.

The charge for the partial second order went through today, but the hold on the full cost is still there. Luckily I have enough in the account that this hasn't put me at a negative available balance, but all the same I hope the hold goes away before any other charges go through. I really wish my CU wouldn't put the holds on for so long; it's sort of ridiculous that the hold is still on even though the actual charge has gone through.

Anyway, I have the comics I was auctioning off all ready to go. The auction ends tomorrow, and they got some bids, so that'll be a little less clutter. I also put up a few other auctions for paperweights (clutter reduction, and these were the type which I weren't as pretty in RL as they'd looked in their eBay listings) and a hokey fireworks kaleidoscope with sound effects which could have been gorgeous but instead comes off as gimicky. Both paperweights already have bids.