Here is what I received from WMATA as a response to my previous email and post:
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Thank you for your e-mail letting us know your views about our policy regarding SmarTrip Card customers now being required to have sufficient fare on their cards to exit the rail system. We appreciate your taking the time to contact us about this matter.
The decision to discontinue allowing card holders to carry over a negative balance was made for the purpose of creating equity between paper fare card users and the SmarTrip card user.
I hope this helps and if you have any additional comments or concerns please contact us again. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Michael Carrington
Consumer Representative
WMATA's Office of Customer Relations
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LAME. LAME. LAME.
SmarTrips aren't the same as paper cards. I paid money to purchase a SmarTrip card. My card is much faster and easier to process through the turnstyles.
Not to mention, I have seen SO many people who don't have exit fare be waived through with paper cards but those of us with SmarTrips have to take a negative hit. WMATA needs to start looking at where they are bleeding money.
1. Free bus fares. So many people get on with no money or SmarTrip card and are waived on.
2. Free Metro train fares. Again, I see a handful of people everyday in the 30 seconds it takes me to go through turnstyles just being waived through. I'm not sure why but I'm pretty sure even school-age children, the disabled, and random joes have to all pay a fare of some sort.
3. Months and months of escalator maintenance. Now, I may not be an escalator repair lady, BUT I am pretty sure that two people, working eight hour days are capable of doing this job in less than 2-3 months. That totals out to be 640-720 paid hours, and I'm sure their skilled labor does not come cheap. I may be a teacher now but I used to work in a factory with my dad during my college summers and saw lots of maintenance on machines much more intricate and larger than an escalator. It never took months. In fact, it took only days, maybe a week at most.
There is much more, but my Wednesday morning brain is failing me. That being said, I severely dislike WMATA. Severely.
I am writing regarding the new policy disallowing SmarTrip holders to exit with a negative balance. in the past, allowing this as a one-time deal was helpful to those of us who misjudged fares, especially in this age of metro adding new small charges. I can only speak for myself but I am a teacher at a small private school in NE DC, just off the red line at the Rhode Island Ave/Brentwood stop. I do not carry any cash with me due to the high rate of crime in this area. Often times, there are fights/arguments/situations in the base of the station where fare machines are. People are allowed to loiter in this area and beg for change, money and literally harass others. I have been a victim numerous times. The station managers seem to not even care as they sit there and watch it happen as well as waving people through that have no metro passes and say they cannot afford a ride, yet I am forced to pay $7 a day (roundtrip) to get into my place of work where I am directly effecting the community.
That being said, I will not carry cash or stop at these fare machines to recharge due to a safety issue. I feel it is a poor decision to not allow people to have the small negative balances. What will I be forced to do since I do not have cash for fear of being mugged? Will I be told I have to stay in the station?
With regard to all the fare increases, as a teacher making a very small salary, it has gotten to be so difficult for me to pay. And there is no help for teachers, yet regularly I see others getting a "free wave" through gates. I have been here for 3 years and in those 3 years, my fare has increased a total of $3 a day. It has almost doubled. Yet, I am still forced to ride on a rail system riddled with safety issues it fails to address properly, delays that have made me substantially late for work, even when leaving hours before my scheduled arrival, trains that are being "run" by teenagers and gang members who steal/yell/intimidate/harm other riders and an agency that has a genuine "we'll do it when we get around to it because we said so" attitude.
WMATA should start thinking about it's riders and customers before making such decisions. Perhaps you need to take a few business courses or speak with Mr. Ted Leonsis. He seems to know how to run a business or two.
Our shelves are here.
And I'm slightly obssessed with arranging them. Slightly.
My experience with CSN stores was up and down, I'll be very honest. In the end, all good things to say.
I ordered the shelves on a Thursday and got notification of shipment on Friday (hello! Yay for quick shipment!) FedEx tracking info said delivery on Tuesday so I was psyched...and Jeff was ready to get the "These Things Are Going On Our Shelves" boxes out of the living room.
Well, Tuesday came and there was no update to my tracking info. None. Said it was never even picked up. I waited until Thursday. There was still no update...so I called.
I got a quick answer of the phone after only a few "press 4..." commands so that was very pleasant...an actual human being to speak with! He checked on my order and said that it hadn't really been shipped yet (insert Grumpy Heather here). I wasn't happy that I had been told it shipped and then it, well, didn't. Not cool. After a bit of phone tag with the warehouse, they figured out they never left (kinda knew it since the tracking info said it but oh well). They were going to put it on the first FedEx truck they could and would see about upgrading shipping to overnight.
And voila, they were here on Friday!
[I have pictures to post but those will come a bit later.]
Seriously, a bit of a PITA to put together though...and I'm pretty mechanically inclined. The only real issue was with the bottom shelf...the hole wasn't pre-drilled deep enough and on one, they didn't line up properly at all. Alas, they're put together and doing their job finally.
Now to hang up my homemade gorgeous pintuck curtains.
I might be the only freak who says it but it's true.
I think I'm somewhat partial as this time we hired movers and LOVED every minute of it. Worth every penny.
Then there's my mother/grandmother that comes out in me; the interior design freak. The decorating freak. Pillow maniac. Lighting and lamp decor fanatic. Whatever you want to say, I'll accept. There's something about having a blank slate that is so wonderful. The paint. The furniture. The little knick-knacks that arrange themselves so perfectly harmoniously.
Ok enough, right? WRONG. :) (You should know me better by now!)
I recently stumbled across this site called CSN stores. What first caught my eye was their lighting and lamps. I mean holyfreakincow this is awesome. (Check the link for exactly what I mean but have your wallet secured. :) )
Alternatively, I found that there other sites are FABULOUS and have some of the most amazing deals. Our new apartment has a ton more space (boo for city living, yay for square footage!) so we'd like to purchase some new shelving for the living room to flank our TV stand. I want something I can display some great pieces we have and never had space for and also some of our great hockey memorabilia. (My Brooks Laich and Mike Knuble signed pucks need to go somewhere, right?!) So we found these lovely leaning shelves that we are anxiously awaiting to arrive. They are these beauties: {sigh} I think they'll not only look awesome with our furniture but what a great deal! I've done a ton of research and can't find a better price.
On top of that, I'm going to give you all a great review of the whole purchase, start to finish, once I get them all set up. I always like to hear other stories on great successes and I anticipate this being one and would be happy to share what I think of CSN and the shelving. :)
So now I sit, wait, continue to sew adorable pillows and curtains (which I will be sharing shortly!)
Could I get a few more hours in each day, please? Thanks :)
I hate stress. I hate stressful events.
House hunting has been just awful as I have chronicled.
This week, our school was facing accreditation panels that visited to see if we made the grade for accreditation this year. The preparation has been stressful...lots of cleaning, organizing, super planning, late night/early morning phone calls from principals for materials. I had 6 people come into my classroom and ask me the same questions. No one knew about Title I in private schools so I had the same 20 minute speech to give. Brutal. Then last night I had to read the NCLB act to find all the Title I material they wanted clarification on via the law. Really? REALLY? Awesome. Make us do it instead of you. Make me do the legwork and outline for you instead of you doing it for yourself. I didn't know that because of your lack of knowledge it created more work for me. Fantastic.
It's over now but ugh.
A beaded cake server set is a gorgeous way to intertwine your wedding colors and personality! They add a unique touch to your wedding cake table as well as a wonderful keepsake.
I cannot catch up on sleep. I just can't.
I went to be last night at 11:30 which was decent. I was awoken when Jeff came to bed to find out one of my favs (Nicklas Backstrom playing for Sweden) had done pretty well in the game. They won! Falling back to sleep was easy, staying asleep wasn't. I woke up every hour after that.
My sleeping pattern is so off, thanks you to Olympics in Vancouver. Thanks to you.
On a side, what about those USA boys?! They played an awesome game. It rocked.
That's all I can muster up for right now. I'm too tired to even entertain the fact that I have 3 more groups to teach today.
So this whole Tiger debocle today is driving me nuts.
Here's my prediction: He sets up a flashy stand, says a few words without really admitting any guilt (except for the fact that he got caught, of course) and then done. No questions, no opportunity for more info.
I think it's really crappy he's interrupting a tournament for this and I feel really bad for the golfers who are there and competing. I will say this; to be fair, I never really liked Tiger. While he is a good golfer, I always thought he seemed so arrogant and rude. And now of course I think he's scum of the earth, but I have a feeling I'm not alone in those feelings.
Seriously, though, I wish Tiger would just go away. For good. Golf ratings could suffer without him but IMO, having a scummy guy as your "face" again isn't great for golf either.
I'm exhausted. Tired. Worn out. In need of a nap.
These Olympics have made me stay up way to late lately!
I will admit. I could certainly go to bed earlier. [I get that it's my own fault]. BUT how can I miss seeing some of my favorites play?! It's awesome to see them skate for their countries (and reunite with some old Capitals, too...Feds, Kozlov, Ovi, Semin & Varly?!)
But midnight start times are crazy. I definitely appreciate that it's only a 3 hour delay rather than when the summer Olympics were in China but it's just very late. ::sigh:: Yet I know I'll continue to watch. ;)
Today is our first day back to school after our week off due to the 2 blizzards we had happen upon DC.
I am not a happy camper.
Students are either uber-hyper or uber-grumpy.
I want to be sleeping and doing my etsy things even though that's all I did over our "break".
I want to be able to hang out with my husband and Bentley.
I want to be able to watch the Olympics.
OK, pity party over.
Highlight of the day so far? 1st grader: "Ovechkin is playing for Russia in the Olympics? Man, the US is screwed."
Please take a minute and vote for my shop, Certainly Chic!
Poll: Who is your favorite shop in the I Heart Handmade Wedding market?
I have had over a week off. The 2 blizzards that came through literally ended any chance of getting into the city [except for a hockey game. You know, life essentials and all that jazz. ;)] I have to go back to work tomorrow and while we need to buckle down to get the kiddos ready for the Stanford 10 coming up soon in March, I loved being home and cozy. I know my commute will suck [as is DC metro system all the time] and that it will be a day with kids who don't want to be there any more than I do. Suck it up, Heather. Suck it up.
So I'll leave you with some photos of a few etsy orders I completed while off this week...
is the pits. We live in a high COL area. There are few starter homes available. The competition is wicked. It stinks.
Just now we were on the phone with our realtor. We had an offer in (we went to see the house in the middle of a blizzard as soon as it went on the market. THAT'S how serious this is). Well, 2 other offers came in and the seller is sitting down with the listing agent and is reviewing them all tonight. We upped our offer. I am in love with the potential of this house (I know..."don't get attached". That's all BS, btw, especially if you've been in a deep house hunt before).
This is our 8th offer. We've lost 7 others. We have bid well over asking for most of them. It's just frustrating and I want this to be the one. In my head, I'm thinking it won't be but my heart can't stop begging for it.
So I'm a hockey nut. A freak. Obsessed. Whatever you want to call it, I am it.
I love the game. I love the skating. The plays. The hits. The suaveness of some players on the ice.
Most of all? I love the Capitals.
I'll be honest. Before I moved here to the DC area, I just loved hockey. I didn't have a team. I bought Jeff a 6 pack of tickets for his birthday in 2008 and fell.in.love. No going back. The time the '08-'09 playoffs came around we not only had playoff seats but season tickets for '09'10. Sold.
There's just an awesome feeling when in the Verizon Center. Caps fans are awesome. Friendly, honest, and fun. The Capitals organization is amazing - they are so giving, so appreciative of their fans and they really have made sure the players they have in Caps jerseys stand for greatness, on and off the ice.
I am also loving photography and why not shoot some of my favs? That's what I thought, too. Here's a photo to share. You can find more at my flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/44634756@N08/
And another. Because I can :)
So this is it.
I decided to dive in. Head first.
I had a personal blog, a business one, twitter, the whole nine yards. It got to be too much to keep up with and I gave up.
Until now. :)
This is is a combo of everything. Life in general, being a teacher in DC, my wedding business (certainlychic.etsy.com), hockey (big Capitals fan!), food (I guess that means I have to cook...) crafts, hopefully a new house soon and anything else I can conjur up.
So please come, read, enjoy, comment, and follow. It'd be much appreciated!
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