adventures in corporate stupidity

Or, further reasons I am glad my new job will have no administrative responsibilities:

I just got off the phone with Delta. I had a mysterious $30 charge show up on a staffer's purchasing card account, on the same day he had changed a ticket, but not documented on the receipt for the ticket change (which included a revised ticket price and a $100 change fee.) Delta's representative told me that this was an additional ticket change fee, because the original ticket was purchased through an online web site. I said, okay, whatever, I just need some receipt or document to show that. He said there is no receipt or document. I said, then I can't pay the charge; maybe you could put me in touch with someone in a finance department who could help me? He said, not finance, but let me get in touch with my supervisor. A short, politely administered hold period ensued. Phone representative returns to tell me that he has a fax number where I can fax a request for a receipt documenting this charge, but the receipt will cost $20. I say, "You're kidding me. You're kidding me." He is not kidding me. I say I will have to talk to my supervisor about that little number, and hang up.

The head financial goddess says we'll just fill out a missing receipt form for the charge, with a note that Delta's corporate policy is written by idiots. And so I have done.

Kids in defense of Ugh

Casper slept on the top bunk of her bunkbed last night. (The first night she christened the bottom.) Dillo remains very excited about the concept and says "bunkbed!" a lot. Actually Dillo has a small and changing repertoire of words and phrases that he brings up at odd moments, out of context. Maybe he just likes the sounds or newness of them. Right now they are "bunkbed!" "YMCA!" and "Barack O'Mama!"

Dillo says "yes" a lot and almost never says no. I'd say this implies something about his temperment - have YOU ever met an almost two year old who never says no? - but he does say "DOP! [stop]" a lot. So I guess that's his no word. He used to say "yeah" and "nope" which was adorable, but now it's just a rather serious-sounding "yes."

Casper finished pre-K on Monday, and gets off at 1:30. We thought it might be nice to take her to tea at the Big Fancy Golf Course Hotel (which has afternoon tea) but there is no tea on Mondays. Ah well.

The current Ugh is worrying about Casper's fall disposition. The elementary school 4 blocks from our future house is our top choice, but kindergarten may be full (thinks the PTA president) and could even have a wait list. The school district assigning-person won't say. We can't even apply for Casper until we close on the house, so that's probably July 1. With school starting August 7. Of course, since this is public school we are guaranteed a spot somewhere, but the hassle of transport (busing? parent driving?) and switching after a year is not something I want to submit her to. We looked at the private Montessori school, which looks wonderful, although not very diverse. Unfortunately they make no guarantee about placement either, and it didn't sound likely. Our other option is in the day care with Dillo, where we could almost certainly get a spot if we wanted one. But she would be one of only two 5 year olds, and I'm not sure that's what would be best for her.

In good news, top choice school will have an after-school program starting this fall, and if that falls through (or sucks), the YMCA buses kids out for after-school there, like what she's doing now. We just need to hang on and hope we get a spot.

bunkbed!!