A Scattered Brain

Wow!  Bowling last night was an absolute blast.  Barring the fact that one of my teammates will probably quit (more on that later), I had one of the most fun nights at bowling I’ve ever had.  It’s amazing how things change based on the team you’re bowling against.  This week we were up against a team of people that work at a granite shop.  They were such a fun loving bunch and both teams just had a great time together.  That’s what league bowling should be all about.

I bowled o.k.  Not bad, but not great (176, 149, 162) and missed some easy spares, but since we were having fun, it really didn’t matter.

On a sad note, it appears that one of my teammates is going to quit.  It came as a bit of a surprise yesterday when I was told and I will have to start looking for another team member.  I understand that if it just isn’t fun and if this person doesn’t look forward to bowling each week, she shouldn’t be required to continue.  I’m a little disappointed but if she truly wishes to quit, that’s the way the cookie crumbles.

Have a great end to the week all and take care!

Greetings all,

I’ll keep this bowling blog fairly short and sweet.  Last night was a much better night for me; even if we lost 2 out of 3 games.  I bowled a 156, 171, and 180 (I think those were the scores, don’t have them with me).  I felt better about my spare shooting, missing a couple I should have made, but pretty accurate overall.

The other team was really good.  They had one bowler who averages well over 200 and another who averages around 165, but bowled two games over 200 himself and we were crushed the first two games.  The last game it went down to the very wire.  We were up by just 1 pin going into the last bowler for each team.  I let the other guy go first so I would know what I needed to do.  For some reason, we both didn’t have our best frames, but I was able to keep our 1 pin lead to win the game so that felt really good.  I had the chance to really increase the lead, but nerves did get to me and I’m glad I held on regardless.

Have a great week folks!  Don’t work too hard.

So, I got a response from Coinstar and it was a quick turnaround. Even though I will get my fee back, I was more pleased with the fact that they are working on software upgrades to prevent this in the future. Here is the response:

Dear Mr. Stanton,
First let me apologize on behalf of our company for your experience with our machine. We are aware of circumstances where this type of error occurs, and have a software release ready for deployment that will result in the desired scenario you stated.

Unfortunately, with equipment on any communication network, these types of network outages do occur, we are also working hard to minimize the occurrence of these events from the network perspective.

With that said, we would be happy to reimburse you for the fee that was deducted from your transaction. We feel it is only fair that since we failed to provide you the product you chose, we should be accountable for the failure.

If you would please send me the address you would like to have a check mailed, I will ensure we get a check produced for the $5.29.

Sincerely,

Dave Cramer

Coinstar Customer Service Manager.

It even got escalated up to the manager quickly. So, maybe Coinstar doesn’t completely suck, but I’ll still think twice before using them again. Especially since Nevada State Bank has free coin counting even for those who aren’t customers of the bank.

Below is a letter I just sent to Coinstar regarding an experience my wife and I had last night. I am so angry that this happened. NEVER USE COINSTAR for any reason is my only advice.

Greetings,

First let me start that I expect some kind of response to this letter… not repayment or any other physical handout, but at least a non-form letter response from your company regarding/explaining your response to the following situation.

My name is Spencer G. Stanton. My wife and I had what turned out to be $59.43 in change and since we had noticed that Coinstar machines allowed for the purchase of gift cards WITHOUT any service fee, we decided to try one out for the first time. We went to the Coinstart located at the Albertson’s on the corner of Eastern and Horizon Ridge in Henderson, NV.

The process seemed very easy and straightforward; we started out by picking an Amazon.com gift card and proceeded to insert our coins. The final total came to the above mentioned $59.43. After all of the coins were processed, we were given the message that it may take a minute or two for our card to be processed and we could hear the modem dial out somewhere.

After about 2 minutes, the machine came back with a error stating that it couldn’t process the request for an Amazon card at that time. However, instead of giving us any other options (a different kind of card, for example) the machine stated that it was printing a cash voucher. This would have been fine, except that in the printing of the cash voucher, your machine proceeded to charge the ENORMOUS 8.9% that you charge for changing cash into cash. That left me with a voucher for $54.14, a loss of $5.29. One of the reasons I had never used a Coinstar machine in the past was the service charge; the idea of transferring to something other than cash for no service charge was the only incentive for using Coinstar at all. As far as I remember, there was no warning of any kind stating that cash would be used in case of the inability to issue the card. I would have seen that as a red flag and probably would not have continued my transaction.

As this was my first use of a Coinstar, you can be assured that I have no plans to ever use one again. I feel that this may not have been some technical error, but rather a thinly-veiled bait and switch. If it was a mechanical error, or in the case that gift cards can’t be given out at a specific time for any reason, the ONLY acceptable option is to give the cash voucher and waive the 8.9% fee. I’m not so upset that the card wasn’t available, but rather that I was given NO OTHER OPTION but to take the cash voucher with the fee attached. This is a completely irresponsible way of handling difficulties at the machines.

I like the idea of converting change into other, more usable options so long as there isn’t a charge involved. If I had been given the option of even taking back my change rather than accepting the finance fee, I would have taken my coins back and transferred them some other way.

Again, I expect a full, personal response to this letter as well as a plan to fix this kind of problem in the future. Thank you in advance for your time.

Sincerely,

Spencer G. Stanton

I will post their response, if any. I still can’t believe we got screwed like that. Have a great weekend and go Purdue!!!

What’s worse than a bad bowler?  A bad bowler who thought he was good.  After a terrific first week, things have just been down hill.  This week has by far been the worst 3 game series I’ve bowled in league.  I haven’t had a single clean game (no open frames) and only 1 over 200 the entire time; and that was in the first week.  Pathetic is all I can say about it so far.  The only other remotely decent week was when we all pre-bowled so we were able to go at a much faster pace.  It got so bad tonight that I used my straight spare ball the third game because I couldn’t handle the bad breaks.

The most frustrating part is, espcially in the last two weeks, I’ve been hitting my marks on my strike ball.  My aim is right where I want it; but either I get too much or not enough oil and the ball misses the pocket nearly every time.  I make a small adjustment, as I should based on the previous ball and the same thing happens, either I hit high or I hit light.  To put it in other terms, it’s like hitting a baseball on the sweet part of the bat every time but still flying out at the warning track.

Here are all of my scores to get you up to date:

I need to figure something out quickly as it’s to the point now where my poor bowling is hurting the team pretty drastically.  I’m supposed to be the most consistent, and at least 30 pins higher in my consistency than I was tonight.  I either need more practice or need a break; and I just don’t know which.  Probably should get a lesson with someone who can look at my game objectively and put me back on the right track.  Who knows?

Thanks for letting me babble on.  Have a great rest of the week, everyone!

Ok, so I didn’t quite win a new car, but I certainly got one yesterday.  My Saturn was starting to get to that age where things were going to start going downhill quickly.  A 5 year old American car, that’s what you expect.

So, it was either a $700 repair to fix the exhaust system or purchase a new car.  I’ve been wanting a new car since Kylah got hers last year so I finally decided to spring for it.

Spencer, what did you get?  I know all of you are on the edge of your seats so I won’t keep you in suspense any longer.   I bought a 2006 Nissan Altima 2.5SL.

This thing is loaded to the hilt: leather seats, 6 CD in-dash Bose stereo system with 6 speakers, heated seats, trip computer and gas mileage information, storage galore, HomeLink (the ability to open garage doors from the visor instead of the remotes), 175-HP 4 cylinder engine, and massive seating and trunk space.  I had originally wanted to look at the 6 cylinder version but they didn’t have any and once I started driving this one, it had the power I was expecting out of a V6 but only in 4.  Oh, and it’s a gorgeous navy blue with a beige interior; very classy.

I also got a pretty good deal.  I was able to get the interest rate down to a measly 3% as well as getting near blue book on my trade.  They kept coming back with things that were just a bit high and I kept on saying I’d come back a different day because I’d have to discuss it with my wife.  Eventually they finally made the right push to give me all that I wanted (low interest and high trade value).  Of course, once they did, I said that maybe I could call my wife instead of going home to talk to her; I’m so sneaky!  All in all, not a bad deal and boy do I love that new car smell.  I’ll just have to be careful not to get any tickets as this thing has pep to it.

It’s nice to have a new car again, even if it does come with a payment.  Of course, this is the kind of car that should last a very long time (or so I say now; and yes I know the next car is Kylah’s)!  Yippee!

In memory of the tragic and horrific events that occurred five years ago, I want you all to remember where you were and what you were doing when you first heard about the events happening on 9/11/01.  Here is my story:

I was feeling absolutely horrible and so I was going to work a few hours later than usual.  I arrived at work around 9:00 and started my daily troubleshooting of peoples’ computers and was working specifically with one of our Implementation manangers in his office when a woman burst in stating that a plane had hit the World Trade Center.  At that time, I assumed it was some small commuter plane that had hit accidentally and went back to work.  Then our office became more of a buzz as the truth started to come out.

Someone found a small 13″ T.V. and we placed it in a corner office by the window so we could watch with reasonable reception.  In the business I was in, we had quite a few clients that worked in both buildings of the WTC.  I was still feeling terribly ill and went home around 12:00 to continue to watch the events unfold at home.  At some point while talking to Kylah in the morning, she stated that she thought it “was that Bin Laden guy” and I completely agreed.

Later, I found out that the very first customer I had talked to who worked for Janus Funds in Colorado happened to be at the WTC for a conference and was one of the 2,800 killed.

Please, never forget what happened that day even though the media refuses to show it; and always remember those who passed and those who have fought to help prevent anything like that from happening again.  And, please share your thoughts of where you were and what you were doing that day.

Greetings to all of my numerous fans who missed my bowling blog.  The new season has started and so I’m back, back again, guess who’s back, tell some friends.

So, this new season started off pretty well.  My goal average for the entire league is 190.  Tonight, I started off with a 547 series; 182 average.  Not too shabby to start out 30 pins higher my first week over my first week of the summer.  We’ll see how things go as the weeks progress, but out side of my first game where I couldn’t get a good read on the lanes at all, I was pleased with everything.

Here are this week’s results:

Again, not bad except for the first game before any of the oil broke down.  I’ll have to figure that out but it’s tough to practice for that because very seldom do you get to bowl on fresh oil when you come to open bowling.

This league is huge, too.  The summer league had only 24 teams.  This one has 38!  Plus with more money going into the pot, the payouts should be much nicer so that’s all good.

Well, that’s all for tonight.  Have a great one everybody and take care!

Here are two stories that indicate that the world is most certainly about to end:

First, apparently Pluto is actually NOT a planet.  After years of growing up believing that there are 9 planets and hearing that there may in fact be 10, I’m told that in fact there are only 8.  What’s going to be next; Earth won’t be a planet anymore?

Second, and even more of a sign of the end times, there will no longer be 24 hour marriage licenses given out here in Las Vegas and that they will in fact close at midnight.  Midnight?!?!?!  It takes at least until 3:00 am to make the ill-advised decision to get married while drunk.  I know they say it will save the state some money, but the math just doesn’t add up to me.  Doesn’t the publicity alone pay for being open all night long?

Last night was the last competitive night of the summer bowling league.  We had a nice, strong finish and won all three games plus total pins.  The win comes with a bit of an empty feeling as the other team didn’t even show up except for one person and you have to have at least 2 of the 4 be there for anything to count.  He seemed very disappointed and upset with his team and who can blame him?  Basically, it meant that as long as we were all within 10 pins of our average all games, we’d win.  We all bowled fairly well regardless and probably would have won at least 2 of the 3 games even if they had fielded a team.

I bowled my second best series of the summer, which I’m proud of.  Unlike the last good one, which just seemed to be all luck, this time I’d made some changes to my approach and delivery that look to be helping with two of my biggest issues: consistency and speed.  Here are my scores and averages for the whole season:

I ended up with an average just 4 pins off of my goal of 170 which isn’t bad considering it was a fairly arbitrary number based on what I used to bowl 7 years ago.

The next league starts Sept. 6 so that gives me three weeks to just practice, recondition my balls (insert dirty joke here) and get ready for the next season.  Don’t worry, the bowling blog portion will return.  We’ve even ordered really spiffy bowling shirts and if we can’t beat the other teams with talent, we’ll at least look better losing!