Wednesday, January 30, 2008
There in
or I guess you could say 1/2 in. 7 bags of bone marrow cells downloaded today and 7 to go tomorrow. It went better than expected. THE LORD IS DEFINENTLY holding us close with all the people praying for us and holding us close with visits, emails, phone calls....we would not be getting through this without all those people. It is a gift. Now if we could just get Hyland to eat a little food.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Its Happening
OHHHH my!! Rich is officially at City of Hope downloading his Chemo... I Will have to take some time to sit still later and down load or is it now call up load some pictures of all of us looking quite hopitialish in our mask and snorkel (oh wait that is a different vacation) mask and beautiful BLUE gloves. Off to USC with Kelly and Cassie today for a little tour. We need to keep those two high schoolers thinking future and keep those grades up. Things are good so far thank God! Rich is starting day 5 of his chemo (they count down from day 8) to the transplant day which is next Wednesday...
Saturday, January 19, 2008
OHHHH MYYY The Count Down Begins
Tuesday is the big day... Rich goes to his new apartment to start the chemo for the Bone Marrow Transplant. For three weeks he will be a resident at the City of Hope in Duarte, Ca. A friend set up this great web site and I must say the message boards are funny. These guys from his water polo high school team at Corona Del Mar have been friends along time. I think there is a move script in this story someplace... Any good writers out there. I am definitely trying to keep it light and not think to hard, long or fast about the whole thing and what is actually going to take place next week. AHHHHHH! I have called the COH social workers to see if I can get in when Rich is there to meet with them. You know we managed to raise our boys, we have made it through 33 years of marriage but somehow I think I missed the chapter in the book of life on Cancer and Bone Marrow Transplants. We will see what happens. I just want to know what to expect as far as his moods and my moods, temperament, anxieties and all those other wonderful emotions I know one of us will be feeling. I do know we are surround in Gods love with all of our friends and relatives. The Lord sends them to us to make our burdens lighter - FOR SURE.... This weekend is going to be about preparing mentally (is that possible) family visiting and keeping busy. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE.
Monday, January 14, 2008
TARGET PROTEST
Letter I sent to TARGET...
Dear Friends, Family and TARGET GUEST:
I am so MAD, HURT, and ANGRY, with TARGET I don’t know whether to cry or laugh. I do know they have lost the HYLAND’S as customers. It is so very sad when a big corporation like TARGET has no authority to be human or make exceptions? It seems like in some very perverse way they like to say “NO” and make you feel like a convict whose picture is on the wall for the most wanted only because you want what is FAIR. When they make $1,000 of dollars in profit from you in one year they are willing to tell you that for $20.00 (this being the difference in the exchange price) take your business someplace else TARGET policy is TARGET policy. SORRY we will not make any exceptions. What has happened to us as people if for $20.00 you are just a big NOTHING to corporate GIANT - TARGET! (Wal-Mart here I come)
BACKGROUND we average a minimum of 4 to 8 prescriptions filled there every month. We pay $25.00 for our co-pay and our insurance company reimburses them whatever the agreed amount is for the prescription. I would assume they are making a nice profit in the pharmacy department (by the way I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Target Crossroads pharmacy people that is one of the main reasons I get our meds filled with them)
PLUS- I am probably at Target 4 or more times per month buying household items and plenty of gift cards during the holiday season (at least 8 this year).
STORY - I was in Target on December 16, 2007 and bumped into Barry and the girls (I know this date without a doubt because of another story that has to do with “THIS HOME BELIEVES”). They were so very excited about buying Rich season 5 of the TV program 24(they probably paid between $35.00 and $45.00) and giving it to him for Christmas, knowing it would be some good entertainment while he spends his 4 weeks at the City of Hope for his transplant. Of course at this time I did not know that we already owned season 5 which is totally my fault since I told them it would be a great gift. It was in the eyes and mind of Taylor and Jordan the perfect well thought out gift for Uncle Richie.
Yesterday January 10, 2008, I went to Target to EXCHANGE the season 5 “24” DVD’s (current price on Target site $44.99 not on sale) for some SEINFELD DVD’s (current price on Internet $33.99, since I will no longer shop at Target I can not verify the current in store NOT on sale prices). I was told that without a gift receipt or the actual receipt I would only get $14.98 towards the $34.00 purchase of the Seinfeld DVD. Apparently if you can believe TARGET would sell the “24” product for less than their cost at a Thanksgiving sale then I am only entitled to the lowest selling price the product has sold for sometime in the past YEAR, without a receipt. After much discussion from their customer service people about - lie to your friends tell them the DVD’s skip or they are damaged to get the receipt and then you can return them and then you can exchange them for FULL CREDIT. I told them I did not want to ask Barry for the receipt and ruin what the girls were so proud to give to Rich. And in my world I just wanted the Christmas gift giving experience to us to be perfect for them (all those ohhhs and ahhhs when you open those gifts). Besides with Barry’s limited time and situation you know he no longer has the receipt and again I would not ask him.
I called the manager yesterday Lee and did not receive a call back. No surprise there. I called today and talked to Manager Maria. Same story we don’t care if we lose you as a customer you only get $14.98 credit without a receipt. I asked her and begged if she could look up my ATM number and see exactly how much we spend at TARGET in one year and that we were not criminals trying to steal from TARGET (she could not be bothered to look it up never asked for my name, never said I will take it up with someone else, never offered any other suggestions for a solution…. That is our policy good by have a nice life) and were they willing to lose us as shoppers for what amounts to about $20.00. The ANSWER is YES they DON’T care! I need to add at this point that I did lower myself and my standards and even tired using the “C” card (cancer, bone marrow transplant, entertainment for my hubby while at City of Hope). Still no give… I did tell her I was sorry for her that she worked for a corporation that had no authority to be human or have a heart. DEFEATED and shaking I was so very upset and now crying to a TARGET TEAM MEMBER over the phone that I said not good enough I want that exception on this exchange give me someone else to call. She said in a very polite COLD manner I can ONLY give you a number for GUEST RELATIONS… who are they kidding there are no RELATIONS with TARGET. This number is not something they keep by the phone since she had to leave me hanging for sometime to go retrieve the number. In case you need the number for Guest Relations it is 800-440-0680.
Several minutes and deep deep breaths later (although I was still shaking) I called the number. Talked to a nicer person named Michelle and told her the story….. No receipt and I don’t want to bother asking the people who gave us the gift, just want to exchange it… Target makes $1,000 of dollars profit from my family every year, husband has to have bone marrow transplant, can we please have an exception (by now this has become principal with me over $20.00 and I feel their $14.98 refund is an INSULT). She said SORRY that is our POLICY and we will not make exceptions for you or anyone else…. (crying again just thinking about how angry and sad this makes me I need to get this done and move on) and of course her worldly advise that since my husband had health issues I really did have bigger things to worry about…. INSULT….dhua….. do you think?….. Then help me out here LADY.
This is my official protest I will be calling my favorite Target Pharmacy team members and asking them to transfer all of our prescription needs to another pharmacy…. Any one have recommendations or suggestions? I just want everyone to be aware of what we as consumers are dealing with when it comes to TARGET. Personally it makes me very sad. What makes me the angriest is myself…. As you know we have lots of Heath stuff happening at the Hyland House and I feel like the dam is ready to break at any moment and I hold it together quite well but when I let something like this get to me and I cry over the phone to the Target Team Member, I realize how little you or I really matter. I know I can not cure Rich’s cancers but maybe I can get a big corporation to make some exceptions now and again it gives me something to fight, and in someway I need something else to vent my anger towards especially when it is unjust and unfair.
One more question I have asked them (and they of course have no answer)…. .Did the Seinfeld DVD’s go on sale during the year (you know they did)? And if they did why can’t you give me the lowest sale price on the Seinfeld DVDs for the $14.98 you are willing to give me on the return of the “24” DVD’s. I will be happy to pay the difference. In other words if I was trying to exchange Seinfeld for “24” I would get the lowest sale price Seinfeld sold for during the year.
These policies are true for all Targets. Pass this on and let TARGET know we are worth more than a $20.00 difference…. Copy this letter and give it to them next time you are in the store…. Email them… Let’s start a TARGET complaint BLOG! jmhyland79@yahoo.com
Dear Friends, Family and TARGET GUEST:
I am so MAD, HURT, and ANGRY, with TARGET I don’t know whether to cry or laugh. I do know they have lost the HYLAND’S as customers. It is so very sad when a big corporation like TARGET has no authority to be human or make exceptions? It seems like in some very perverse way they like to say “NO” and make you feel like a convict whose picture is on the wall for the most wanted only because you want what is FAIR. When they make $1,000 of dollars in profit from you in one year they are willing to tell you that for $20.00 (this being the difference in the exchange price) take your business someplace else TARGET policy is TARGET policy. SORRY we will not make any exceptions. What has happened to us as people if for $20.00 you are just a big NOTHING to corporate GIANT - TARGET! (Wal-Mart here I come)
BACKGROUND we average a minimum of 4 to 8 prescriptions filled there every month. We pay $25.00 for our co-pay and our insurance company reimburses them whatever the agreed amount is for the prescription. I would assume they are making a nice profit in the pharmacy department (by the way I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Target Crossroads pharmacy people that is one of the main reasons I get our meds filled with them)
PLUS- I am probably at Target 4 or more times per month buying household items and plenty of gift cards during the holiday season (at least 8 this year).
STORY - I was in Target on December 16, 2007 and bumped into Barry and the girls (I know this date without a doubt because of another story that has to do with “THIS HOME BELIEVES”). They were so very excited about buying Rich season 5 of the TV program 24(they probably paid between $35.00 and $45.00) and giving it to him for Christmas, knowing it would be some good entertainment while he spends his 4 weeks at the City of Hope for his transplant. Of course at this time I did not know that we already owned season 5 which is totally my fault since I told them it would be a great gift. It was in the eyes and mind of Taylor and Jordan the perfect well thought out gift for Uncle Richie.
Yesterday January 10, 2008, I went to Target to EXCHANGE the season 5 “24” DVD’s (current price on Target site $44.99 not on sale) for some SEINFELD DVD’s (current price on Internet $33.99, since I will no longer shop at Target I can not verify the current in store NOT on sale prices). I was told that without a gift receipt or the actual receipt I would only get $14.98 towards the $34.00 purchase of the Seinfeld DVD. Apparently if you can believe TARGET would sell the “24” product for less than their cost at a Thanksgiving sale then I am only entitled to the lowest selling price the product has sold for sometime in the past YEAR, without a receipt. After much discussion from their customer service people about - lie to your friends tell them the DVD’s skip or they are damaged to get the receipt and then you can return them and then you can exchange them for FULL CREDIT. I told them I did not want to ask Barry for the receipt and ruin what the girls were so proud to give to Rich. And in my world I just wanted the Christmas gift giving experience to us to be perfect for them (all those ohhhs and ahhhs when you open those gifts). Besides with Barry’s limited time and situation you know he no longer has the receipt and again I would not ask him.
I called the manager yesterday Lee and did not receive a call back. No surprise there. I called today and talked to Manager Maria. Same story we don’t care if we lose you as a customer you only get $14.98 credit without a receipt. I asked her and begged if she could look up my ATM number and see exactly how much we spend at TARGET in one year and that we were not criminals trying to steal from TARGET (she could not be bothered to look it up never asked for my name, never said I will take it up with someone else, never offered any other suggestions for a solution…. That is our policy good by have a nice life) and were they willing to lose us as shoppers for what amounts to about $20.00. The ANSWER is YES they DON’T care! I need to add at this point that I did lower myself and my standards and even tired using the “C” card (cancer, bone marrow transplant, entertainment for my hubby while at City of Hope). Still no give… I did tell her I was sorry for her that she worked for a corporation that had no authority to be human or have a heart. DEFEATED and shaking I was so very upset and now crying to a TARGET TEAM MEMBER over the phone that I said not good enough I want that exception on this exchange give me someone else to call. She said in a very polite COLD manner I can ONLY give you a number for GUEST RELATIONS… who are they kidding there are no RELATIONS with TARGET. This number is not something they keep by the phone since she had to leave me hanging for sometime to go retrieve the number. In case you need the number for Guest Relations it is 800-440-0680.
Several minutes and deep deep breaths later (although I was still shaking) I called the number. Talked to a nicer person named Michelle and told her the story….. No receipt and I don’t want to bother asking the people who gave us the gift, just want to exchange it… Target makes $1,000 of dollars profit from my family every year, husband has to have bone marrow transplant, can we please have an exception (by now this has become principal with me over $20.00 and I feel their $14.98 refund is an INSULT). She said SORRY that is our POLICY and we will not make exceptions for you or anyone else…. (crying again just thinking about how angry and sad this makes me I need to get this done and move on) and of course her worldly advise that since my husband had health issues I really did have bigger things to worry about…. INSULT….dhua….. do you think?….. Then help me out here LADY.
This is my official protest I will be calling my favorite Target Pharmacy team members and asking them to transfer all of our prescription needs to another pharmacy…. Any one have recommendations or suggestions? I just want everyone to be aware of what we as consumers are dealing with when it comes to TARGET. Personally it makes me very sad. What makes me the angriest is myself…. As you know we have lots of Heath stuff happening at the Hyland House and I feel like the dam is ready to break at any moment and I hold it together quite well but when I let something like this get to me and I cry over the phone to the Target Team Member, I realize how little you or I really matter. I know I can not cure Rich’s cancers but maybe I can get a big corporation to make some exceptions now and again it gives me something to fight, and in someway I need something else to vent my anger towards especially when it is unjust and unfair.
One more question I have asked them (and they of course have no answer)…. .Did the Seinfeld DVD’s go on sale during the year (you know they did)? And if they did why can’t you give me the lowest sale price on the Seinfeld DVDs for the $14.98 you are willing to give me on the return of the “24” DVD’s. I will be happy to pay the difference. In other words if I was trying to exchange Seinfeld for “24” I would get the lowest sale price Seinfeld sold for during the year.
These policies are true for all Targets. Pass this on and let TARGET know we are worth more than a $20.00 difference…. Copy this letter and give it to them next time you are in the store…. Email them… Let’s start a TARGET complaint BLOG! jmhyland79@yahoo.com
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
SINKING IN....
Yes, it is 1:12 in the afternoon and it is sinking into my brain that it is the New Year and already lots of changes have happened in 13 hours. Our house went from full to empty (including the nest), Mike and Meghan left to go back up to Northern California and we all saw Jeff off today at the Newport Pier for his bike ride. OFFICIALLY he is on his way from Orange County California to Orange County Florida. He and his friend Mike. Their new apartment is a bike with a trailer, a tent, coleman stove and lots of camera equipment to film their documentary. They should by now be well on their way to their first nights stop someplace in Devore. Oh my rear hurts just thinking about all that time on a bike seat. Here a few pic's to share! Jeff with his new apartment on the back of his bike. Jeff thinking it's here I AM DOING IT. The 5 of us at the end of the pier (this is by the way a great picture of all of us, if you photo a lot you know what I mean since someone is always saying NO not another picture) and Jeff with Mike his cycling buddy. Little difference in size, kind of like the 
movie TWINS. In the previous post their is a link to Jeff's web site and they are supposed to BLOG along the way. I can not wait to hear about the travel up the interstate 15 the Cajon pass (they think they will be in Vegas Friday or Saturday). Yes, they believe they can ride up the pass to Las Vegas with those bikes and pulling about 75 pounds of trailer (or as I like to call it apartment) behind them. 13 hours of change already. I think I should scrap that as a page! Keep me from thinking about all the other "sinking in to my brain"
stuff that needs to be done. Clean scrap room, put away decorations and wrapping paper and and and and.... HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE. Okey warning this post looks really good but sometimes when I hit the official button it changes everything since I did this through PICASA so I could use the pictures.... here goes.
I will get a link to
www.southern-tier.net officially posted on the left soon.
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