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Failed Customer Service – Safeway

Since I have many cases to list, I will start with the oldest one….

Last year I purchased food online from Safeway.com as I had a free delivery coupon to use.  There was a deal on soda where you buy 2 get 3 free or something similar.  They did not have what I wanted in stock and brought me what they had.  Needless to say, I did not end up with the appropriate number of 12 packs to get the deal and ended up paying more than $5 for some of them.  At this price it was not a deal at all.  I emailed customer support 2 times and never received a response.  I was nice in the first email and a little frustrated in the second.  My local store was not able to do anything since it was delivered from a different one.

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Bike Purchase – 2008 Giant FCR 1

After much deliberation, I decided on the Giant FCR 1.  With an aluminum frame, v brakes, and a carbon fork and seat post, at 21.3 pounds, it was a better ride than the Jamis Coda Elite.  While the Jamis weighed only 3.7 pounds more and had my favorite brand of disk brake, the steel frame did not seem to make the ride any smoother.  In order to cut the weight I decided I could pass on the disk brakes and internal hub.

While I did get soaked without fenders, it takes me 14 minutes, as apposed to 18 to get to work.  I can also see myself riding for fun more than just to work.  I liked it so much I chose to ride in the rain to work the day after I purchased the bike!  

I do want to say that City Bikes is a great place!  They give everyone 30 days to try out their bike purchase and gave me no trouble when I returned it.  I truly was not happy and their policy has made me very happy even though they don’t carry the Giant brand.  

Today I signed up for Bike to Work Day…..now that I have a bike.  I am looking forward to meeting so many more that bike to work as I do.

Oh… remember why I got a bike in the first place?  Well, the bus route has changed quite a bit and last night the bus that was behind me most of the way home, was taking the old route.  It passed me half way home, but I still beat it to the bus stop as I travelled up Mass Ave 🙂  Needless to say, even if the bus route goes back, biking, while good for an old man like me turning 30 the day before Bike to Work Day, saves me time.

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Review Hairspray The Musical

Let me start by saying that I had seen the movie in the theatre and bought the movie as soon as it was on DVD and the soundtrack shortly after the theatre.  Like Rent, I found that my expectations were based on the movie and I was hoping to see cast members in the show which were also in the movie.  No John Travolta here 🙂

While the movie was nice, some of the songs made more sense in the show as they were portrayed differently.  Since I saw the movie I will have to say that I like the movie more, but the show was great in it’s own way.  I especially liked the ending when they encouraged the audience to get up and dance.  I do believe there was a break of character in the show, but the audience loved it.  It had to do with a Jewish phrase made by Edna’s husband.  I wish I could remember what was said, but believe that the inference was a sexual one referencing how to identify Jewish characteristics.

While there were technical difficulties with the sound several times during the performance, It was spectacular!  Unlike Avenue Q, I don’t believe I will see the show again unless it is on Broadway as I have the movie and really enjoy the soundtrack more than anything 🙂

For those of you who have seen the Movie or the Show and not both, I would recommend that you see the other.  Like a book to movie, there are some things that don’t get transferred for better or worse.

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City Bikes

City Bikes was my second stop last Tuesday (4/8) after the Bike Rack did not have the Swobo in stock.  I test rode a Jamis Commuter 4.0  I unfortunately was there just before closing time and did not have any time to really look around. I went back on Wednesday (4/9) and after test riding a Jamis Coda Elite, and not liking the riding position, I opted for the upright Commuter 4.0.  My decision was based on the internal 8 speed hub and disk brakes.  I did not like the color, not the fact that it had a de-railer on the front.  While it gave it 16 gears, I had many a derailment as a kid.  While I felt like a old man on a cruiser, I enjoyed the seating position and purchased the bike.  City Bikes has a 30 day return policy and since I had derailment this past week and did not like the color or the style of riding, may be returning the bike for a Coda Elite or the Giant FCR 1.  If I don’t like the riding style of the others, I may switch to the 8 speed Jamis Commuter 3.0 as it is $300 less.  While it does not have disk brakes, it is a more neutral color and since it does not have a de-railer, should not drop the chain at all!  While I considered riding to work all the time, I decided not to when it rained and therefore the fenders were no longer a requirement.  While I like the look and the benefits such as braking power, ability to stop in rain, and use when wheels are out of alignment, I dropped my disk brake requirement.  Now I am looking for a lightweight bike.  The Commuter 4.0 is 30.5 pounds.  What would be great is that the bike have the option for disk brakes, but that is something that must be part of the bike frame and those that don’t come with them have not had the mounts necessary to attach the Avid Juicy’s I like.  Perhaps if I become an avid biker, I can pick up a true mountain bike with shocks and disk brakes where they really are useful.  

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