Done yesterday (20111108 Tu)

[mdlbear]

Mostly a good day, I think. I took a walk -- somewhere upwards of four miles -- and my knee didn't bother me. And I did some major work on the new makefile for recordings -- it combines the functions of the old "album.make" and two wrappers for practice sessions and concerts. More on that whey I actually finish it.

Still, it's functional, and I got a directory full of reference tracks put together, so I was feeling fairly accomplished.

And Colleen got from the bathroom to the bed without her cane! I saw it! On the gripping hand, she fell sometime around 1:30 and needed outside help to hoist her up. Nothing injured but her dignity -- she long ago learned how to fall without hurting herself -- but still...

So... mixed?

I got a call from a trade magazine to renew my (free) subscription. My address has changed, and they didn't have my email address. Do I really mumble so badly that it takes five tries to convey a street name and an email address? Spelled out slowly each time? I often do blame myself for not communicating well, but I don't think the problem was all on my end of the wire this time.

Not too many links this time; howtorunaband.com looks worth perusing.

1108 Tu
  * up 6:30; W=195.4; drugs, nose, teeth, light, laundry, exercise
  * Tracks makefile working
  * a few minutes of chord practice.
  ? Do I really mumble so badly that somebody at a call center would take five 
    tries to get my email address right?  Or my street?  You'd think that
    "Bubb Road" would be pretty easy.  Poor guy; that's a job I DO NOT WANT.
    ! managed not to get (too?) annoyed; very unusual for me.
  * walk:  4+ mi around the DeAnza / Stevens Creek block.
    | no knee trouble; just short of blisters, I think.  Felt good.
    % brain mostly free-running.  "in the moment"?  Maybe.
  @ How To Run A Band, Get More Fans, and Market Your Music (@diskmakers)
  @ Fitness and Health Gadgets: Tracking your Life : If you want to change
    something, measure it! 
  @ debbieinkygirl: How To Set Up An Author Or Book Page On Google+ (Part 1)
  * get reference tracks put together (originally intended by Monday eve.)
    ! feeling accomplished.
  & Colleen got from bathroom to bed without the cane.
    OTOH, she fell about 1:30 and needed outside assistance getting up.

Comments

[chaoswolf]

Tell them to get with the 21st century and use a web subscription form. That'll make it easier.

*run*

[elf]

Do I really mumble so badly that it takes five tries to convey a street name and an email address?

No. I've been noticing this problem with customer service people on the phone--between lousy cellphone reception, earpiece settings problems, and speakerphones, audio quality & reliability has dropped dramatically in the last few years.

And of course, there's the outsource-the-calls problem that means you get someone who may not be remotely able to understand an accent not from their region. I don't just mean the calls sent to India; I've dealt with plenty of Americans who speak with an East Coast or Southern accent who have trouble understanding words and letter spelling.

[joecoustic.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's you either, at least not completely (I'm more making fun of myself with that last part :)). I too have problems being understood when giving that info over the phone, but I do know I slur my words a little and talk really fast. But I also think between connection issues, phone lines and the fact that we are just being called on to convey (on the givers side) and to interpret (on the receivers side) so many little syllables and that, let's face it, sound a lot alike over the phone makes it a really difficult process. I just think there is so much more of this than there used to be, even if computers are taking up a lot of the job, so it stands out more. I try to go in knowing the parts of my info that are always misunderstood as well as the similar letters and syllables that I traditionally mishear just to be ready for asking for and receiving clarification.