Overdrafts, Doctors, & Strokes...

So, the day was going well Friday until Smurfette went down to check the mail, when she came back up with a thin envelope from the bank. You know it's bad news when the letter from your bank isn't a big, fat, thick one that contains your monthly statement... Apparently, my bank has changed its policy regrding pending transactions. You used to be able to use your check card the night before a deposit and be fine, as the funds would be available when the pending transfer went through... It seems that they changed that policy up so that the money comes out of the bank on the same day that the transaction was made... That's all fine & dandy, unless you don't know that it's going to happen to you...

On Thursday night, Smurfette & I had dinner plans with "J. & S.", so we stopped by and picked up a cheap bottle of wine & two little loaves of french bread. Spending a total of $16. The next day, the bank's website showed no signs that there was any kind of problem, so I proceeded to pay my bills. There was no hint that I had racked up $140 in overdraft fees!

As soon as I got the letter, verified what it said on the website, and grumbled about it for a few seconds; I called up the customer care line. They were nice enough to explain the situation, and the fact that (apparently) they sent out a note about the policy change back with our February statements... They were also nice enough to reverse a little over $100 of the overdraft fees, so all I 'owe' is a little over $30... Which I should get in tomorrow's (Monday's) mail from my mother, who was kind enough to have sent her kids each $100 from my Great-Grandparents' estate... So, I guess I have *that* going for me... Too bad I have to use it to put tabs on my car, pay for the defecit in the bank account, and the rest for gas for the week... I *was* going to use it to go see the Revenge of the Fallen... *sigh*

So, anyways... This morning (Sunday), an hour before I start getting ready for work at "The Big Blue Box", Smurfette informs me that she's calling the nurse's care line to see what they might recommend to help her throat feel better so she can enjoy her time at her cousin's graduation party. Well, they said that she should really be feeling better by now, as it's been a *week* since the symptoms started. They told her that she should come in and be seen by a doctor again, so I was forced to call into work and inform them that I would be late (sadly, this is somewhat expected). I was told it was fine, to keep them updated on when I'd make it in, and 'good luck'. :D

It was a little over an hour at the clinic, a half hour to get her new prescriptions (thankfully we had a few bucks in cash to get them!), I ran her off to her cousin's grad party, then sped on down the highway to work. I ended up being two & a half hours late for work, but I don't think there will be any problems from it, since I gave them notice that I'd be late (even if it was a little later than normally required)... I spent my time running around trying to make up for lost time and managed to complete a few little projects.

One nice thing, last week I set up a tall cardboard shipper for the Transformers DVD (to conincide with the theatrical release of RotF), and immediately put my name on it after it was complete. Today, one of the managers told me that he saved it from getting thrown out, and that it was back in the warehouse for me! So, after my shift; I carried the cardboard Optimus Prime out to my car, disassembled him, and he's sitting in the back seat of my car. Tomorrow I'll take him inside, break him down to his component pieces, then pack him away until I can do something with him... Heck, I still have the large top piece to the large cardboard shipper from the first movie's DVD release packed away!

But alas, the bad news has to do with Smurfette's cousin's grad party. It seems that her grandmother, who'd come to town from Florida to attend the family get-together; had a stroke earlier in the day, but didn't tell anyone... However, it seems that she'd had another small one *at* the party, and her kids (& the rest of the family) *made* her go to Regions Hospital for a night of tests & observation. She seems to be doing 'ok', but who knows for sure? *Wishing her the best of luck*

Anyways, I think that pretty much wraps up what I have to say for the day...
Have a good night all...
:D