On Anderson Cooper, Big Box drama, Jeopardy, and ATM cards…

What a day!

So, things obviously didn’t go as scheduled, but today was eventful, random, and hilarious regardless.

I forgot to set my alarm clock. My cell-phone backup alarm woke me up 15 minutes before the start of class.

I slapped everything together and managed to get to class with 1 minute to spare. I didn’t forget my deodorant or my cologne either. Hah.

After class, I went to the dining hall with Matt, then showered and made an appearance at work. I’m a graphic designer/printer, and I had to start a large order from bosslady, even though I had other things to do. (The printer takes about 3-4 minutes per poster, and there were 20 to be done).

While bosslady’s posters were printing, I skipped to the health clinic where I was violated by a doctor, had blood withdrawn by a nice lab technician, and I received a shot. (“Received” is being nice…the nurse guy stabbed me in the arm!)

Good thing I’m not scared of needles.

I went back to work and my computer informed me that yet another file was corrupted. My computer’s files and folders have slowly corrupted/shut down for the past few weeks. I took the laptop to the on-campus tech place. They told me that I had to drop my laptop off and they wouldn’t even look at it for two weeks.

No thank you mam.

So, I ended up at Bestbuy. My MP3 player was also dead, so I figure I could exercise two warranties at once.

Bestbuy was a three hour long saga that could have been a disaster had it not been for good manners and preparation.

The short of it: Initially I was told that my computer’s warranty had expired, and that my MP3 player’s warranty wasn’t applicable for the damage.

So, basically, I was told “You’re SOL. Womp!”

But, since I was friendly with the Geeksquad guy,(and because the guy in front of me was throwing the king-of-all-bitchfits,) the Geeksquad guy offered to speak with a manager.

They offered me a deal: They would replace my MP3 player if I bought another warranty.

So, I got a $200 MP3 player for purchasing a $30 2-year warranty. Holler.

Then, I went to my car and tossed my glove compartment. This is where I keep my Bestbuy receipts –
including the receipt for the $350 3-year computer warranty I had bought last August.

I gave it to the stank customer service girl and smiled. She said “oh crap, we have no record of it! Oops. Good thing you have a receipt,” and sent me back to Geeksquad guy to update my service order with the laptop.

The laptop is in Gatewayland for at least a week. Maybe two. But at least it’s there on Bestbuy’s dime.

I got back to campus, engaged in that warzone we call a communal laundry room, back to work for a hot minute, and then to the dining hall with Carmen. Afterwards we went to the Senior Convocation to hear Anderson Cooper speak.

Anderson Cooper seems a little older, and skinnier in person, but he’s very charismatic. Here are the four best quotes:

“I’m not one to give advice. That’s Bill O’Reilly’s job and he does it very well.”
“And once you start sweating you notice how relatively sweat-free everyone else is.”
“To CNN’s credit they did send me to the Congo for two and a half weeks when they knew it would turn some viewers off. Especially since my major competitor is running a story about the missing blond of the week and getting better ratings.”
Girl: “I’m going on a journalism internship in Rwanda and Uganda, but I’m scared. Is it dangerous there? I don’t want to die.”
Anderson: “I don’t even know you and I don’t want you to die either. You’re not going to die in Rwanda and probably not in Uganda either.”

Donna Shalala didn’t give any closing remarks. I think she was scared of the two older men who weren’t allowed to ask questions. One of the Convocation helpers kept allowing undergrads to pass them. The question and answer session was then cut off, but the men still lingered by the stage.

I saw Shalala shoot a weary look at the men from the side of the stage. I think she saw the potential for a scene and decided against it. Go Shalala.

Her instinct was right: The older of the pair looked like he was about to jump for the mike. (I heard he was a security threat when he followed Anderson Cooper and Shalala backstage.)

I couldn’t go to the senior’s reception after the Convocation because I had to help with a Jeopardy program back at the dorm. The head of the Service-Leadership center on campus hosted, and he was hilarious. He’s our big, white equivalent to Chris Rock (with a little of Sarah Silverman’s meanness).

Jeopardy in the lobby was fun. One of my guy’s won.

Afterwards, on the way to the library, I decided to withdraw some cash from the student union’s ATM, but there was a hole where the card-sucking-thing is supposed to be.

I notice this, of course, after I put my card in.

My card plunked down into the machine and landed somewhere in the void. Probably on some bills or wires.

I spent the next 40 minutes on hold/talking to computers at Bank of America’s phoneline. I then explained my embarrassing situation to the (rather amused!) tele-help guy.

He said they would shred the card in the morning. I’ll get my new card a week.

And now, at midnight, I can finally start on my homework…on a library computer of course.

Long, fun day… I just hope tomorrow is a little less eventful.