Memory Lane

A friend of mine is a PhD student at my undergraduate alma matter, and when we get a chance to email it is so fun. Aside from our discussion of DPS and our various past adventures, he will say things like, "I am sitting in Helen C. White working on a DVD duplication project that I need to use in the lab. It is close to 1 in the morning and so when I get done, I will probably take the drunk bus home," or "I took a long run out to picnic point this morning."

I seldom talk to friends about those college details anymore and I miss them. Hearing about Noah's life in M-town makes me incredibly happy- thinking him in the limnology building next to Lake Mendota makes me think about how I used to walk next to that building all the time when I took the Lake Shore path to the Terrace from the Lake Shore dorms. It is some how comforting to think that someone I know so well is still there, loving it like I do.

Thinkng about Helen C. reminds me of studying political geography and writing my case study of the Balkans with my group. I used to always take time, if it was during the day, to go upstairs and look out at the lake while I was there. Helen C. also reminds me of the statistic that some huge number of people met their mate at H.C.White library. At night, it was clearly a social hot spot for studying rather than quiet studying- something I never was good at, I couldn't do both.

When I think about big-time studying-I think about going to what my friends and I called "the libe"(a.k.a. Steenbock Library) the agronomy and animal life sciences library across Observatory from the Allen Centennial Gardens- (here's a great blog post with pictures )(I could also see the gardens from my dorm room). Out of the forty-plus libraries on campus, that was the best one to really get down to work. Later on in my undergraduate the CIMC became the library where I always was- it was the education library, wall to wall pre-service teachers.

But, to be fair, I did do more than just use the libraries while in Madison. One of my favorite parts of living there was all the beautiful places to be. I used to love to walk up Observatory Hill, because right near the top would be an amazing view of the lake- even better if you went up by the Observatory (astronomy) building. I think often about the amazing walks and runs I had along Picnic Point and out to the Arboretum, near Lake Monona. I loved lying on Bascom Hill or walking around the Capital at the Farmers Market. I also loved James Madison park- always people throwing frisbees and playing volleyball. Of course, nothing beat being on the lake in one of the UW- Madison scows.

There are good memories of life in Madison- living on West Washington across the street from Beaver Tail-and watching him every morning from my bed. Living near the stadium on football days. Brothers Bar with my School of Ed buddies. Trips to the Natatorium with my dorm buddies. Early morning runs down State Street. Political rallies near the Capital. Sporting events at the Kohl Center and the Field House.

I know that if I couldn't live where I do now, I would choose Madison. In fact, that is where I wanted to stay after graduation, but it wasn't in the cards. I think I am a little glad I left, in the end. I think I have learned far more having to move away from where I went to college. Plus, in the end, I like being closer to family and many other things. But if I had to, I would move back there in a second. Maybe just to walk along the lake shore path in early fall and to drink beer on the Terrace and...

Civic duty for the day: check, check

Today I did something I have never done before: I testified in front of a Senate Committee in the state capital building.

Last spring I was having trouble with my voice mail on my cell phone. People could leave messages just fine- I would just never get them. This was not completely new- Sprint had fixed it one other time. This time they told me that I most likely needed a new phone. The problem was that getting a new phone meant signing another two year agreement according to the customer (non)service representative, which I was unwilling to do... ("We are giving you horrible customer service, here sign up for another two years!")

I couldn't handle the injustice of it all. They claimed that voice mail was not a guaranteed part of my contract, therefore they weren't violating anything. They told me I had no other options other than starting a new contract. I worked my way through 15-20 customer service reps until I finally landed in the conflict resolution department. Finally, a woman said they would ship me a new phone and she promised that there would be no new contract.

All was well until 15 days later when we received our bill thanking us for re-signing with Sprint for a two year agreement. Again, a zillion phone calls, no one who could help me, people telling me I had to send my phone back, telling me I would have to pay an early termination fee, assuring that there were no options other than sending the phone back and dealing with no voice mail, one representative even hung up on me.

So husband and I did the only logical thing- gathered all the evidence (yep, I had been documenting) and contacted the Better Business Bureau.

A month later we got a message on our phone from Sprint. When I tried to call the number they gave me, I got a woman's voice mail. I never heard back, but a few weeks later the BBB contacted us to tell us that Sprint had filed a report that they had tried to get a hold of me, but that I wasn't returning their phone calls, and that they had tried to settle with me but that I wasn't cooperating.

Eventually, I got a hold of the slippery, slimy woman from Sprint. Oh, and surprise, to get me to drop my complaint they took off the new two year agreement I had never verbally, or in writing, agreed to.


Well, this last summer I got a phone call from the State Attorney General's office. They had found our BBB complaint and would I be interested in being part of a class action law suit against Sprint? Gee, let me think about it...

I signed the affidavit this fall and the lawsuit is still pending. However, most recently a state Senator has proposed a "cell phone user's bill of rights" for the new legislative session - a bill that would require cell phone companies to disclose all loopholes to consumers- how long they are signing up for, what the early termination fee is, what ways consumers have a right to terminate their contract, etc.

I was recently contacted by the AG's office to see if I would participate in testifying against Sprint. Today, I testified in front of the Consumer Advocacy Committee. They are considering the cell phone bill and wanted to hear consumer testimony.

Before the hearing began, I saw my former colleague- a fellow government teacher, and who was just recently elected to the senate in a special election. Small world, he was on the committee I testified to. He came over to chat and we talked about old times and what I was up to. We only talked for a few minutes, but by far the best line was his, "I don't know about you, but I my least favorite unit was state and local government. I think now it will be my favorite, since I am in it."

It was fun- the hearing was long and at times tedious, but interesting. I sat and listened to the committee debate each part of the bill and to the cell phone company's representative talk about how much they have done for consumers. Finally, after two hours it was my turn. I told my story for about 5 minutes into a microphone in front of a panel of about 20 Senators and about 50 other lobbyists, press, and general observers.

After the testimony, as I was leaving. A former State Attorney General approached me and was raving about my testimony. The Senator who sponsored the bill joined in as did the staff who had invited me from the AG's office. I felt so great for doing my civic duty, and apparently doing it well! As I was leaving one of the lawyers said to me, "You know, you really made a difference today. Thank you for your time. You were an amazing speaker." I almost felt embarrassed by how many times I had been thanked, but I was glowing a little bit knowing that I did do my civic duty today.

It is again, February.

It happens once every year... It turns into February.

February is my least favorite month of the whole year. No, it doesn't help that it is shortest, no it doesn't help (much) that the days are getting longer or that the average temperature is creeping up, and no it doesn't help that I am so busy right now that I don't have time to think. February still bothers me.

It is nothing like the holidays where I have good reason to feel stress. It is completely internal, and unrelated to all external events other than the weather, I think. It is almost like a buzzer goes off in my head about two months before the thaw and this is what it says: "I am tired of bulky clothes! I am tired of being inside! I am tired of snow! I am tired of feeling like all my body wants to do is be sedentary and eat food! I am tired of nothing interesting really happening in this season!"

Every year I try to cope with it by doing the following: playing outside as much as I can, going to the gym every day, seeing lots of friends, planning new exciting things like trips or adventures, thinking about all the things that I want to do inside before it gets too nice to be inside, using my sun-simulating light, doing yoga and other relaxation techniques, recommitting to enjoying warm drinks, cozy blankets, good books and movies, and fireplaces.

All of this works, to a degree. And I do have to say that I have gotten better and better at controlling the impact of the buzzer in my head over the years, but it is still there.

Do you have good ideas that you use to 'beat the heat' of February? Is there some fountain of sanity that everyone but me drinks out of this month? Is there a sun-shine pill that I can pop? Send me your suggestions, addressed to "19 days left".

Stinkin', Linkin' Leo

Seven years ago today, I met the amazing cat we all know as Leo.

This year for Leo was one that included finally getting used to his adopted sister, Nora. We thought it might never happen, but slowly they have become... not exactly always friends, but definitely siblings. Now they will sleep next to each other (never touching), they often play-fight, and I hardly ever hear hissing anymore. It is a relief, and they are so cute together it makes me glad that Leo now has a partner in crime. I have never seen Leo act so young.

This year Leo used up a few more of his nine lives. There were several time this last year that I wondered if we might end up Leo-less. His experiment with the chain link fence almost a year ago didn't go well, and he hasn't said much about his first experience with kitty CPR (through the nose, for those of you wondering). Leo also tried the staying "out" for days this summer (especially fun since we had to leave for the Boundary Waters in the middle of it). Leo's latest stunt included a puncture wound and surgery for an abcess this fall, with a side of the fleas. That increasingly gray hair around his eyes is no mystery- he has earned every piece of it. (He would claim the baths haven't helped).

Leo continues to be the master of the neighborhood, becoming even more loved and adored this year. He climbs chain-link fences as a human would, he keeps our gardens bunny rabbit-free, and demonstrates his physical prowess by rapidly climbing trees after a sprint across the front yard. He often can be spotted in cheetah mode- running with his tail arched and his eyes wild. Leo also spends a fair amount of time lounging as well- his favorite spot is in the mulch on sunny days. He is also not opposed to rolling on his back on the sidewalk or greeting his friends all over the neighborhood with his "jump and love" technique. This year he has stepped up his "getting to know you campaign" in the neighborhood by door knocking and entering people's homes uninvited. The best Leo story of the year is of K and P getting ready for bed in the bathroom, only to find him sitting in their hallway watching them.

Now that Leo is done mourning the loss of his "only-kitty" status, he has returned to being the master of the household. He now frequently joins me on the couch once again, and has returned to being extremely vocal- chirping, grunting, mewing, and exclaiming, "rnt" in response to things we say to him. (this is usually indicating a strong preference for loves or outside, or both). My least favorite things about Leo's return to boldness is his propensity to chirp all around the bed in the middle of the night in order to get Nora to come down and play.


So as another year passes us by, and Leo's real age and origin remains a mystery, I thank God that I found him or he me. He continues to fill every day of mine with love, good old fashioned silliness, or just plain fun. And as I celebrate each year longer that we have been buddies, I also know that he will not live forever, and that at some point he will leave my life the same way he entered it- with no warning, carrying his spirit with him. So Happy February 7th Leo and happy seven years of our life together!

Gold to Me

One last thing... Leo's theme song is Ben Harper's "Gold to Me" and some how he knows it. If you, too, would like to celebrate Leo's day, give it a listen and imagine a cool cat struting around the room almost exactly to the beat.

"Some shine when the day is new, but they fade when the day is through, but you, you look like Gold..., and I just want you to know, to me you mean so much, so much more than all the Gold."