Julie Barrett is a freelance writer and photographer based in Plano, TX.

Just like they say on TV...

Fresh when it gets here from Julie Barrett
Thursday, October 12, 2006


I just saved a bundle on my car insurance!

It was borne from an exercise in frustration. I've been trying to pay online since Sunday. The insurance company is revamping their web site. They don't show an account number for us, but when I type ours in, they won't accept it because there's already a web account tied to that number. Of course, there is. It's our account! Unless, of course, someone is attempting to pay our car insurance for us. As if that would happen.

I have this thing about driving an insured car, so I wrote a check and schlepped down to the insurance agent's office. I was ushered back to the office and the agent sat me down and asked, "how'd you like to save some money?"

I don't know about you, but when an insurance agent asks me that question, they usually want to add a rider for the houseplants for some outrageous amount, and then offer a discount of 6.7% off of my homeowners insurance. Thanks, but no thanks. So I dubiously responded, "o-kay..."

It turns out that he really was ready to lower our car insurance rates. It all has to do with our driving records and our credit rating and the like, but when all was said and done we saved a serious chunk of change. And all because their web site was acting up.

Other than that, it's been a mostly lousy day. I can barely move my shoulder. Even so, I did finish one more cloak that I'll post on ebay tonight. While I was sewing, my brain worked in other areas and I was able to come up with what I think may be a decent opening for the story I'm working on. But I'm going to save it for NaWriNoMo, I think. I did make copious notes and added to the collection of index cards on the office door. I'm sure it will stall at 20K words, but we'll see. I may surprise myself.

Still more hardware frustration. I thought I'd found a workaround for my scanner, but it blows up. The webcam doesn't work. That is no surprise, but I'm really bummed about the scanner. It should work from my laptop, though. I'm not keen on dropping another $200 for a scanner that has essentially the same specs but an updated driver. That, in my opinion, is a waste of money.

Guess I'll go take something for the shoulder, and then see if I can get this cloak cleaned up and measured so I can pop it up on ebay. Cleaned up, you say? Yeech! I just go over it with a lint roller and look for loose threads to snip. It's that kind of clean-up. The sort of detail work that (I hope) makes a difference.

No picture today, but I'll have dual kitties for Feline Friday tomorrow.

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Filed under: Life   Writing           

  6  Comments
 

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deslily said:
hmmm, no website for your brand of scanner having downloadable "updates" such as drivers??? Most do.
Date: 10/13/2006 5:49:08 AM Date: 10/13/2006 5:49:08 AM

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julie said:
Oh, there are drivers. That's no problem. But I'm now running the 64-bit version of Windows XP, which requires 64-bit drivers for devices. I'll have to explain it further in today's entry later...
Date: 10/13/2006 7:10:24 AM Date: 10/13/2006 7:10:24 AM

Gravatar
lisa said:
Well, I understand about the drivers. I have my own little hell story concerning a HP scanner, Windows XP, and downloading a driver for it. Not sure about the 64 bit thing though. I am not fluid in Geek. :)
Date: 10/13/2006 8:15:40 AM Date: 10/13/2006 8:15:40 AM

Gravatar
deslily said:
hmmm, no website for your brand of scanner having downloadable "updates" such as drivers??? Most do.
Date: 10/13/2006 5:49:08 AM Date: 10/13/2006 5:49:08 AM

Gravatar
julie said:
Oh, there are drivers. That's no problem. But I'm now running the 64-bit version of Windows XP, which requires 64-bit drivers for devices. I'll have to explain it further in today's entry later...
Date: 10/13/2006 7:10:24 AM Date: 10/13/2006 7:10:24 AM

Gravatar
lisa said:
Well, I understand about the drivers. I have my own little hell story concerning a HP scanner, Windows XP, and downloading a driver for it. Not sure about the 64 bit thing though. I am not fluid in Geek. :)
Date: 10/13/2006 8:15:40 AM Date: 10/13/2006 8:15:40 AM





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