tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-106620832011-04-21T12:58:43.196-07:00Rants of a 30 something geek girl.Alicia de Vrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15996481962192277921noreply@blogger.comBlogger21100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662083.post-1107710123510752172005-02-05T19:45:00.000-08:002005-02-06T09:15:23.520-08:00So I'm sitting in the café at Borders, doing some work on the laptop while Annie shops for a public V-day gift for me, and get tapped on the shoulder, by an ex-client. <br /> <br />A deadbeat ex-client. Who stiffed me on the final 50% of my fee after I did some work for him, about a year or so ago. <br /> <br />He's got a problem, he says. His new IT guy apparently can't find his ass with both hands, and can I come out and do some work on his server? <br /> <br />I'm kind of stunned that he had the balls to even talk to me, let alone try to get me to do work for him again. I bring up the unpaid invoice, and he grins and says he can pay me that "as part of the new thing", like I have FUCKING MORON stamped on my forehead. He says he sent me a couple of emails about it, but of course, everything from his address goes straight to the deadbeat folder so I haven't seen it. <br /> <br />I manage to remain calm and civil, which is particularly hard since I'm having cramps that feel like something's trying to tunnel its way out of my abdomen with a dull spoon. In a fit of inspiration, I tell him that it's ok, I can just pick up a cashier's check at his office monday at lunch for the old invoice and for an hour of my time (at double the normal rate, of course) for the initial consultation. <br /> <br />He starts telling me it's a big inconvenience for him to get a cashier's check instead of just writing me a personal check or using paypal, but I unleash Bitch Within enough to give him The Look at about 20% power and he shuts right up. <br /> <br />He is pretty desperate, apparently his new guy broke the server configuration and can't get one of his "important new clients" sites up and running. I let him know that when I show up to get the cashier's check, it'll be with my friend the cop, and she and I will be heading off to the bank before I look at his problem, and he looks less than thrilled, but still agrees. <br /> <br />After he leaves, I tell Annie that the consultation is going to consist of me telling him to lose my number, and drop dead, but that can wait until after I've hit his bank and cashed the check, and she laughs. <br /> <br />I have to wonder what's wrong with this guy - does he really think he can screw someone out of money owed them and they'll still do business with him? <br /> <br />Not holding my breath for a check, but on the plus side, it's a big enough chunk of change that if he tries giving me a non-cashier's check for the balance he owes me, I can press charges. Happily press charges. And if it is good, I can get Annie an iPod for Valentine's Day. <br /> <br />More Monday night.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10662083-110771012351075217?l=wiblack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Alicia de Vrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15996481962192277921noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10662083.post-1107710024811613612005-02-01T09:11:00.000-08:002005-02-06T09:13:44.813-08:00So I'm at the bookstore Sunday afternoon waiting for my girlfriend and our housemate to show up so we can go do the movie thing, and as I'm typing away on my laptop in the cafe, a guy comes up and tells me me that Apples suck and are too expensive and why did I get a Powerbook instead of a Dell? I try to think of a polite way to say fuck off and die, but then I think, does he deserve the effort it's going to take to be polite to him? Especially since he hasn't bothered to be polite to me, he's not really trying to hide the fact that he's staring at my tits and I realize (ok, I was a little slow, but I was writing) that he's trying to hit on me. <br /> <br />I mean really, I'm sitting there minding my own business writing a letter to my Mom, and his idea of a good opening line is to interrupt me while I'm visibly busy, then pretty much accuse me of being a moron for not making the same computer choice he did. In what universe does this actually work for getting a date with someone? <br /> <br />I give him the blank stare, but he doesn't pick up on it and asks for my number anyway. I really meant to keep quiet, but Bitch Within says "Sorry, I have a strict policy to only date within my species" before I can close my mouth. <br /> <br />While he's processing that, Annie and Cookie show up and we go see the movie (Elektra, BTW, and don't bother paying full price unless you're very into Jennifer Garner) <br /> <br /> <br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/10662083-110771002481161361?l=wiblack.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Alicia de Vrieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15996481962192277921noreply@blogger.com0