101 thoughts on “Random 5 for August 11 – Robocallers, signs, weather, sneakers, sneaky”

  1. Gotta love a post that begins with a picture of the Austrian Alps – even if no one in this country has ever seen “The Sound of Music”. As for your spam trouble — have you ever used Thunderbird for your email. It does a wonderful job of filtering out stuff you don’t want to see and spares you that awful unsubscribing process.

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  2. I left a message on your introduction page (in moderating stage:) I am here from Kathy’s SMART site. Hi, I am Erica:)

    I am with you, Kate, on not wasting a beautiful day. The difference for me would be wine versus margarita. I am also with you on the robocalls. I have decided my landline is my decoy, leaving my cell for my personal calls.

    I wasn’t sure whether I read correctly on the “downwind” part. OK, now I am hooked to what could possibly come next:) Erica

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  3. I spent a lot of time unsubscribing from retailer emails, and honestly, I don’t think many of them actually observed my request! It’s ridiculous and very annoying! And we finally got rid of our landline and the nuisance calls now just go to my cell. It’s like swatting flies. No matter how many of these issues we think we resolve, new ones just pop up!

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  4. Oh urgh. I’ve had that same thing happen to me with spam and trying to unsubscribe. I use an email I had from when the internet first became a thing. I’ve kept it active all these years, and that’s the email I give out for retailers and the like. Sometimes it’s weeks before I check that email, and there are a few hundred in the box. I try to remember to check it once a week though and still there are a few dozen. Only family and friends get my personal email.

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  5. I hate if you unsubscribe and they whine about it … or they say well, perhaps you’d like to subscribe to this, this and this instead? When you say “no” they say it will take _______ amount of time to be fully unsubscribed … half the time it never happens.

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    • Me too. With today’s technology it shouldn’t take 2 weeks to delete an email address. In addition to unsubscribing I find that retailers hide things, i.e. auto renewal (or at least stopping it). There are many things I won’t pay on-line because once they get your credit card info, they auto renew you whether you want something or not.

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      • I agree and I had a nasty conversation with OnStar about auto-renewal. That was the first time I encountered the auto-renewal and they went ahead and did it. I was livid and said “a paper bill going forward” … I just got my paper bill last week. My car is ten years old, and I had the first year free and going forward I’ve had to pay. The last time I paid was 2015 – I had a deal of four years for $500.00. Now it is $200.00 a year. I am wondering if that is why my monthly maintenance reports, which used to arrive on the 3rd or 4th of the month, now arrive every three months instead – they are angry I had “a deal”? I went onto their website and the info for my vehicle had not been updated since 2018 (as to regular vehicle maintenance). I am rethinking whether I want to pay $199.00 as there is no multi-year deal available now. I already have auto club with Allstate – I never discontinued it. But the car is 10 years old but with only 6,500 miles. I hate big companies. Also, I once had a blogger follow me and that was in the very beginning where I followed back each new follower. So the woman’s blog was not of interest to me (much bashing of everything and everyone she encountered in her day-to-day life) so I unsubscribed. I got an automatic e-mail after I unsubscribed (she was not available on Reader so I got posts via e-mail like I know you prefer to do) … it was this scathing e-mail to the effect of “well, I’m sorry you decided not to hang around and please don’t let the door hit you on the behind leaving.”

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        • I’ve never gotten a notice when someone unsubscribes to my blog. That is nervy. As for OnStar, that is expensive especially since you don’t drive much or far. You have to be careful with auto-renewal. Sometimes you want to make the decision yourself.

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          • That is the one and only time it happened when unsubscribing and I was taken aback – whoa! I should not have been surprised as the posts were pretty venomous as well.

            I don’t think I’m going to stick with OnStar – the only thing niggling at my mind is the fact that the car is 10 years old, but with only 6,500 miles – I’m ambivalent about it. Last Friday I went into the garage to just run the car in the garage before I went for a walk. The “change oil” message flashed in the info window. I had planned to go on some longer walks in parks that are about 20 miles away over the weekend. I’ve never gotten that message in any car as I don’t drive that much and when I went to Wayne State and then worked downtown I took the bus (almost three decades). I go to the same oil change place, family owned, very nice and they say I only need to go once/year. I was not due for another month and I certainly had not driven 3,000 miles since 09/15/18. However, while running the car, it went from flashing to staying in the info window and I could not see anything else. So I guess I could have asked OnStar to do a diagnostic reading – if you’re in the car, they can do it after you push the button, but they won’t do it until after 9:00 a.m. So instead I went right over to the oil change place, and the whole way over I was muttering (to be polite). I figured “what else can go wrong this Summer?” But I just had the car in for a new battery when it was damaged by the spring when the garage door spring went airborne and crashed into the side of the car. They did a 12-point check but I said “no oil as I want to go to Lovedays” (everyone in this part of town goes there, heck my boss drives 15 miles from his part of town to go there). So they said it was a computer glitch and not to worry, but added “all people who don’t drive a lot of miles, panic and come right in here.” I felt like a little old lady taking her car out for a spin on Sunday afternoon.

            I don’t like auto-renewal anything, nor auto-debit. My supplemental health insurance I carry, besides the Obamacare, will only do the insurance from a checking account – I set up a debit card withdrawal for that purpose but they don’t do that anymore and it does not raise my comfort level having them do the monthly debit from my checking account.

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              • That’s interesting and now it’s something else for me to worry about … I had no idea there could be a computer glitch to trigger your message or mine. I guess I should expect it to do that 9,000 miles then? My last car had a “mushy horn pad” – it was something that was problematic for all 1988 Buick Regals. The horn would go off on its own at any given time, and I had it to the dealership many times for that, as well as other recall items. So each time I got out of the car I had to take a fuse puller and yank out the horn fuse, and likewise when I got home and put it in the garage for the night. A friend of the family took their car to a new car service shop that opened up a few blocks away and mentioned my horn dilemma and they said to bring it in and they’d rewire the horn to stop the horn from going off on its own. They put a small horn button where the horn was – worked like a charm. I’m not a honkin’ type of person but I always worried something would trigger me to need to honk and I’d forget that I had to hit the little button instead of the actual larger horn pad.

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  6. You didn’t waste the weather at all – you just soaked it up! I buy running shoes too but can’t find anything but those with bold trim – hot pink, bold turquoise, etc. My week was good…not so good for others in my state of Texas. Grateful for every day.

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  8. Spam robo calls and junk emails. UGH.Some stores you shop at sell their lists. And we’ve noticed your zip code also is used by some merchants who think you fit the customer image/type that ant their products. It’s really difficult to stay out of their grasp – have gotten really wary of supplying any emails/zip codes when asked – and they ask even at Lowe’s/Home Depot/Academy when they check you out. If you ask “why?” often the checker looks totally blank – as they never considered why before. It’s not mandated, you can skip that step.
    With narrow “older” feet, now Keen shoes are the ones I check first. Most of those last forever, but I do have multiple colors of one style that is light, yet somehow gives supper support and comfort – and is totally washable ( no longer made – I managed to snag the last black one in my size on Amazon this summer. Zappos carries them too – always check pricing among those for the identical shoe…) Nike’s just didn’t hold up and now don’t fit as well. I have fond memories of Reeboks…hmmm.
    Your gym is a never ending supply of funny topics! We need all the laughs we can stumble across

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      • I never can find them locally either – and the stores in the city that would have them never have all the styles. Their customer service are pretty helpful. I watch for the free shipping and free returns. (Both Zappo and Amazon offer free shipping and returns so I’m more willing to try sizes..Keen sizing is weird sometimes, but never had any issues sending back ones that don’t fit even on sales. Do check pricing among all of them though for the best deals)

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  10. I’m glad you’re having good weather. Ours is actually a little cool for summer, barely making it to 70 degrees. Last year when it was hotter, we had forest fires. I’m glad we’ve avoided that.

    I went shoe shopping today. The sneakers that were sturdy and felt comfortable were pink. Ugh! I tried another store and found some by Brooks that were charcoal with little gray and plum-colored dots. They look good actually for sneakers. Then I went to the Walking Company and bought some tan low-top boots. Very cool.

    “No grunting or clanging.” That’s funny.

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  11. My cell phone has the area code from the city where we first signed up, so I don’t answer calls from there unless it’s one of my contacts. That helps weed out a lot of robocalls. I do wish they could solve the general problem, though.

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    • I never answer my cell unless I am expecting a call. We use the landline mostly. A few weeks back I was tricked into answering because it displayed a local hospital I had just had a lab test at. I swear they are spying.

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  14. Get with the program. Tan is out of fashion. Gray is in. But I did just find a tan baseball cap, so I’m excited. Btw I hate clanging. Re the farting suggestion: need a similar sign on planes!!!

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  18. We’re both shopping for sneakers ourselves. I’ve never paid over $30 for a pair of sneakers in my life, but that streak will apparently starting now. The lowest (at any quality anyway) is now at $39, so I guess that’s what I’ll be spending. – Marty

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  19. My current robocaller is insisting that my social security number is “compromised”. I should call them about it. Sigh.
    I worry about the people who call them back or answer the phone.
    I refuse to stay subscribed to any retailer. I have been known to forgo the “spectacular” discount offer just to avoid having to deal with the “un” subscribe process.

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  21. It was a good karma week. Finish the digital cookbook for the blog and received a small commission to make greeting cards from a realtor in the neighborhood. Email spamming just cranks my handle. And not in a good way. Luckily my Apple laptop seems to employ basic AI and as I move those that manage to get through, it trains itself to move them for me (about 95% of the time). Bed, Bath & Beyond is the worst when it comes to unsubscribing. It even says when you unsubscribe, it won’t keep future offers’ from being delivered. Hello? WTH? And I’ve never even visited Car Magazine online. Why can’t I just receive the ‘You have won” emails from Nigerian princes like normal people.

    Have a great week!

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  23. I’ve had issues unsubscribing to certain retailer’s list too, Kate. Usually I’ll get a message saying that option isn’t available now. What? As for the robocalls, for the past 6 months, I’ve had a woman named “Kate” call me. I know it’s not you, though. 🙂 She acts as though we’ve spoken before about my 100K line of credit I have available. Since I never answer numbers I don’t recognize, she leaves a message. I know it’s a recording, but it sounds so real. I block the number and she calls again. I must say, the woman does a lot of traveling…she’s called from practically every state in the US!

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  24. Here’s a great robocall blocker – and it’s free for land lines – https://www.nomorobo.com/ — just find out if your provider participates (most do) and sign up your # — within 24 hours all calls stopped. They still try but we only hear 1 ring … so satisfying! If you use a cell only you can subscribe but I believe there is a fee. Worth it!

    I need some new runners … *Canadian for sneakers. Probably a good time to go look b/c of back to school sales ~ I prefer shopping on Zappos.com for shoes – free shipping both ways 🙂

    Cheers! MJ

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    • We tried that blocker a few years back and our provider did not participate but my husband is going to try again. A lot has changed with the public outcry so hopefully… I love Zappos especially if I am between two sizes. I can get both and return the one that doesn’t fit.

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  26. I need to replace my trainers, so as we’re off to Cheltenham for my mammogram next month, I’ll do it then.
    Love the fart downwind or no bending if you have gas.
    Had some hot rain so I stood out in it and prayed for shrinkage. It didn’t happen, but I did feel refreshed.
    Your spam: as blocking and unsubscribing hasn’t work, can you report them to your provider? Just a thought.
    Have a good week.

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    • You seem to go through trainers regularly. I rarely wear shoes out. My gym sneakers which I replaced are close to 10 years old but I don’t wear them much outside of the gym and walking. I go at the geriatric time for fart control is key! 🙂

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      • I don’t own shoes, so wear my trainers every day and get through a pair every six months.
        When I did wear shoes in the office, I would find a pair that were comfortable and buy three pairs in different colours. I have a pair of boots which I bought when we were on the boat and wear those with leggings if I have to ‘go posh’. Since losing weight though, they are a bit loose so I have to wear thicker socks!

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          • Nope. I hate sand between my toes, so if I’m going down to the waters edge, it’s always trainers. I have a pair of cheap crocs (and I mean CHEAP) that I wear in the garden instead of my slippers if Hubby’s just cut the grass.
            I live in joggers and tees all year, jeans if I’m going out. I own one frock (for wedding 2017 which is the only time I’ve worn it) and although I have a few skirts, they don’t go with trainers or boots! All comes with being on the boat I guess and no storage, so we just had the essentials and have stuck with it. The couple who bought the cottage had plans to convert the front bedroom (some 7 feet 6 by 12 feet) into a walk in wardrobe. I’ve never owned that many clothes!!

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  28. Glad someone has nice weather. It is hotter than H*** here. Someone says it is the dog days of summer. My cats disagree. I was going to tell you to get some Keen shoes for the gym. They never wear out. The only way to get rid of them is to lose them or move. Guess it is too late since you have Nikes. As far as robo calls, I threaten to take my phone out as that seems to be the only way to stop it. I get a few on my cell too, but I always block the number after. Probably doesn’t help, but it gives me the satisfaction of revenge. (evil laugh here)

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    • It was 60 degrees when I woke up today. Hasn’t been that cool in the morning since May or so. It will warm up but not to H***. Shoes are a weird thing. Only the ones you really like wear out! I love Rykas too but only black or blue ones were available here. I’ll check out Keen.

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  29. When it comes to sneakers I usually just go with what’s available and fits my scrawny foot. I prefer darker ones b/c they don’t show the dirt, but if white is all there is then what’s a woman to do? As for spam, delete – block – ignore. Whatever works. Kind of like my approach to sneakers, bringing my comment full circle.

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