Bureaucracy is a way of life today

• I called several bookstores including the University one. "Yes, I'm calling about a book I need to order for my class. Oh, there is no book?" Move ahead a bit. Then I get wind that I do have a bunch of books needed for this class.
• I call the bookstore back and get another surly person. Your professor's fault not ours, he says. Ok. thanks. I order it online. Take that bookstore!

• I got another letter from college addressed to the wrong address. Thank goodness my aunt is good about getting mail to me. Somehow she is my permanent address. I have called Kent several times to change this. She is your next of kin, they say. Why is this even in there to be confused? They say it is fixed.
• Call back to change address AGAIN because my aunt keeps getting mail for me from school. Another surly operator. It is changed, she says. And you need to call another department. I did, I say, and they both sent me to you. She then gives me an address where I change it myself. Fine.

• I call my doctor and inquire why they haven't given me the doctor referral. They say the doc was supposed to call me by now. You call them, they say. Of course I will. That's what I do.

• Professor says to go to special web site for tests, etc.. This site is not there. Of course it isn't because this is the Twilight Zone where nothing goes right today. E-mail for help and haven't heard back yet.

On a positive note: All whining aside, I am still grateful that I am able to be in college at all. This must not be forgotten.

Jay's turn at the bureaucracy wheel:

• In July, 2005 we enrolled for a premium service for our computer/cable. This upgrade has been billed and paid for since that date. At this stage it appears very likely that our service was never actually activated; but we were certainly billed for it! Jay explained this to three different representatives today and all three are united in their exquisitely simple response. "It looks like you have the service because you are being billed for it." This is followed by hair pulling frustration. How do you argue your way out of a circular argument? Oh, and we are talking about hundreds of dollars in dispute. The cable company, ironically brought this to our attention when we were inquiring about a separate issue. They said there was a service order back in '05 that wasn't put through but still charged. Now they are back peddling.