Now Entering the Twilight Zone

I've always been aware that there are usually multiple people with the same name. My father is one of them. Although he is not a "John Smith", it's pretty darn close! It has caused him problems throughout the years, most recently with the Border Police. I would have loved to have been witness to that interrogation of an 80 year old!

For me, I never thought of my name as being common. I had met a few people with my first name, many with my last, but never anyone with my first and last. However, my unknowing bliss came to a screeching halt when I went away to college. It was upon freshman registration that I learned that there was another student with my name. And not just first and last, but middle as well! I was fortunate, this student decided early on to receive her education elsewhere and I was able to return to my state of semi-bliss. I say semi, because just knowing that there is someone else out there with YOUR name is a little unnerving.

As my college years went by, I forgot about the other me. I was thrilled when I got married. My all-too-common last name would finally be changed, albeit to only a slightly less common name. I continued in my bliss, throwing out my new name to every government agency, credit card company, relative, prospective employer, and basically anyone else with whom I came into contact. At a routine check-up at my doctor's, the "newbie" (I will call her that because I had not seen her before) came into the exam room and started with the typical banter "Hi. How are you doing?" and such. As she looked at my chart, she paused then asked "And how have you been doing since the lumpectomy?" On the verge of tears, shaking and only partially clothed, I managed to squeak out a "The what?" followed by her saying "You are (enter name here with newly acquired last name). "Um (gulp) yes", I said. I guess I scared her as much as she scared me, because she suddenly got this look of "Oh crap" and darted out of the exam room. When she came back, it was as if she were entering the room for the first time. The only indication at all that this was a second go-around, was a muffled "Now I have the right chart". POP! There went my bliss bubble!

This realization of the new other me with my new last name happened twenty years ago. Since that time, she and I have crossed paths several times but have never formally been introduced. So I am here to introduce myself. Hello BW, I am BW. We live in the same town and apparently shop at many of the same places. I know this because several clerks have, upon checking my ID, have commented that they know you, or maybe there is another one of us. I've never really thought much about you, but have always known that you were around. At times, I must admit, it has been comical. It has never really been an inconvenience (except that doctor visit!). You've just always sort of been there, like a freckle on the back of my hand.

Three years ago I worked for a company that did business with you. Your information found its way to my desk in a stack of files to which I had to make follow-up calls. I can honestly say that I have never in my life made a phone call like that! Luckily you were not home and I got your answering machine. The message I left went something like "Hello. This message is for (insert my name). This is (insert my name again) from (company name)." I'm sure there was an uncomfortable pause there along with maybe a weird chuckle before asking you to call our office. Luckily, when you called back I had already left. After a while, you returned to the "just there" status in my head. Until this morning.....

My insurance company called. I am sure that the girl had something important to ask me, but she was doing nothing but confusing me. The conversation went something like this (after initial introductions):
Her: "I'm calling about the fax you asked me to send to (previous insurance company) yesterday."
Me: "I didn't ask you to send a fax. I've already notified (same previous insurance company) that we've changed. I called yesterday to get the fax number, but I didn't ask you to fax anything."
Her: "You called and asked me to send them a fax. They need verification for your teenage son."
Me: "I've already told them about my teenage son."
Her: "You did called yesterday?"
Me: "Yes. I bought a new vehicle and needed to add it to my policy."
Her: "Right. We spoke about adding that vehicle and dropping the other company's policy, but they needed proof of your son's coverage."
Me: "No. They never said that to me. And you worked out my sons' coverage yesterday."
Her: "You asked me to fax them....."
Me: "Hold on. Honey, did you call (new insurance company) and ask them to fax something to (old insurance company)?
My DH: "No."
Me: "I called to get a fax number...."
Her: "And you added a truck."
Me: "Um, no, I added a car."
Her: "Oh. (long pause) I've got the wrong BW." POP!!

So this note is for you. The other me. The other BW. Our paths have crossed many times, and I am sure they will cross again. But, switching from the same insurance company to the same new insurance company. With the same agent. Buying a new vehicle at the same time. And calling on the same day with some of the same questions is a little too close for comfort.

PS: Please check your insurance policy!

SPAM

I love my blackberry. In fact, I'm not sure that I would know how to function without it now that I have it. It's like the TV remote - I remember having to get up and walk across the room to change the channels and/or volume, but now I find myself walking all over the house looking for batteries when the remote dies rather than just getting up and walking a few feet to change to channel. Why is that?

One of the things I love most about my blackberry is the fact that I can receive my emails on it without having to constantly check my computer. This has been a lifesaver at times. Okay, maybe it didn't actually save my life, but it has been known to save me a trip to a nearby county when my daughter's practice has been canceled at the last minute. It is just so convenient to be able to instantly receive and read my emails. And, I LOVE the fact that my blackberry does NOT receive the SPAM!! Okay, occasionally a few get through, but rarely.

Now that I can receive my important emails on my cell phone, I don't check my email on the computer as much. So, when I got into my SPAM folder today I discovered it was inundated with junk. I must admit that Yahoo does a pretty good job at keeping out the SPAM, but it could be better. Which brings me to my question.... how exactly do companies know WHO to send SPAM to? I once thought that it was by cookies. You know, those pesky little tracking devices put on your computer by websites that you visit (intentionally or not). But now I'm not so sure. Yes, I did click on a "Work From Home" ad once (just to see) and was overloaded with SPAM about surveys and mystery shoppers. However, lately I've been getting a lot of emails about meeting Latino singles in my area. Hmm, I am neither Latino nor single. So how did I get picked to be the recipient of such SPAM? I sometimes receive emails inviting me to meet single women. Once again, I'm married.....to a MAN! And I am sure that these are not invites to knitting circles. I receive emails daily wanting me to "Improve my Portfolio" or informing me that I've won a shopping spree to Wal-Mart or Best Buy. As much as I would love to have a free shopping spree, something tells me that it's not. Maybe you receive SPAM based on your age. My husband receives daily multiple emails touting the benefits of such prescriptions as Viagra and Cialis. But the best one so far was in my SPAM folder yesterday. I had not one, but three emails from the Hair Club for Men! Really?? Now I know how they got my name - someone there must have read my blog!

Bren

Random Dozen

It's Wednesday, so time for Random Dozen from Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee.



1. Do you use the labels various charities send you as “free gifts?”
Yes, although I haven't gotten any in quite a while. Guess I've been blacklisted for not making a monetary contribution.

2. What is your favorite time of day (or night) for skywatching?
Probably sunset. I'm never up early enough to see the sunrise and am usually in my car around sunset.

3. What is the most adventurous you've ever been with trying a new food? (Keep it G-rated please)
I'm not adventurous when it comes to food. I have a very limited menu from which I refuse to budge. My father once tried to get me to try some "chicken nuggets." I stuck to my guns and later found out that it was really alligator tail. I know what a REAL chicken nugget looks like! A manicurist did have me try a really weird fruit. I like most all fruits and did not want to offend her (apparently this was quite a delicacy in her homeland). It tasted like roses, which I can handle smelling but not eating.

4. Have you ever heard a rock sing? (Trust me, there's a reason for this one!)
No, but I've heard some singers that sure could rock, and some even look like rocks.

5. If you could learn a language you don't presently speak, what would it be?
I wish I could speak French fluently. I studied it all through high school and college, but can't remember enough to carry on a conversation (except with myself, and even then I make up french-sounding words)

6. Al Capone's tombstone read, “My Jesus, Mercy.” If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say?
"She's under here"


7. If you were a famous musician who was known by one name, like “Cher,” “Sting,” or “Jewel,” what would it be? It doesn’t have to be your first name, but it can be, if you’d like.
"Bren" - it's what people call me.

8. Have you ever been inordinately “into” a television show?
Yes! I LOVE my DVR (and TiVo before that!). I am so addicted to it in fact that I sometimes catch myself trying to pause the radio, or even my kids! In the evenings, I am usually gone so I miss most of my favorite shows. I cannot miss an episode of Amazing Race, Grey's Anatomy or Ugly Betty (boo hoo).

9. When you sneeze, do you go big, or do you do that weird “heenh!” sound that makes people think you’re going to blow your brains out? Any other variation we should know about?
My sister-in-law The Bug said that her dh could probably find her in Wal-Mart by just her sneeze. Well, my mother-in-law DID find me in Wal-Mart by my sneeze! I have been known to scare people so badly that they wet their pants and/or almost wreck the car. I come by it naturally. My dad has the same loud obnoxious sneeze. My mom however could sneeze no less than three times in a row. And I don't mean sneeze-pause-sneeze-pause-sneeze, I'm talking achooachooachoo-pause-achooachooachoo-pause-achooachooachoo. So I guess that's really nine times.

10. Do you still read an actual newspaper that you hold in your hands, or do you get your news elsewhere?
Up until recently we had the local paper delivered everyday. I'm not saying that I read it everyday, but I did try to glance through it. In trying to cut back on expenses, our daily paper got the chop. Now I have to rely on the web, TV or friends to fill me in.

11. Are you a good speller?
I ought to be considering my parents paid for me to go to college and earn a degree in English. However, if it weren't for spell check, I'd be screwed!

12. At what time each day do you start thinking about Lost lunch?
I got lost watching Lost after the 2nd season, so I gave up. I am embarrassed to admit that I usually don't wake up until 10, so I'm really not thinking about lunch until most people are thinking about dinner.


Bren