Wamu VS Chase

So, here I am in New York. I have a check in my pocket that I decided to deposit. I go to a Chase, considering they now own Wamu.

I walk in and say that I am a new customer as I am a Wamu customer and I need to deposit a check.

She tells me I CAN'T do it.

I asked her...well, this bank ATE my bank. Why not?

She did not have an answer.

I walked out, saying on the way, that is FUCKED UP. Your bank EATS my bank..yet I cannot deposit a check???

What's next? Are they going to just 'decide' to close all Wamu accounts...keeping the money?

It rather bothers me, we fly home tomorrow. After I get home I do believe I am going to go have to ask a couple questions.

Are we now second class citizens? We were Wamu but we can't access the banking system that bought our bank.

From what I read, 'Wamu is now part of Chase' in one spot (when I log into my account online) and in another it states 'still bringing you everything you love about your bank'.

If that is true, then why can I not deposit a check? I was told 'You can make withdrawals at the ATM'. Um, DUH. I can make an ATM withdrawal out of ANY ATM. How is that special?

Whatever, I mean, not like we didn't make sure to have money in the accounts beffore we flew out, it was just convenience I was looking for. A bit of service by the bank that sucked the blood out of a bank I love(d). Brutally murdered that bank I love(d).

I was willing to give them a chance, I mean, they are not going anywhere. As long as they keep getting banks handed to them.

I never cared for Wells Fargo, but I may have to make the switch. At least they didn't make the home loan mistake. Take a look at their stock, they are good and up there due to that so there is no reason for our Government to hand them off to anyone else for shits and giggles.

Now I think back...I seem to remember an interesting thing that happened...it wasn't long before they tanked (Wamu) that Chase made a bid on them and they (Wamu) declined it.

Funny how that goes, make a bid, get denied. Get handed the same bank you wanted to buy (and for SO FUCKING MUCH MORE) handed to you on a Government Sanctioned Silver Platter.

Chase? I was gonna give you a chance but I think we are done. It's me, really. I thought we could work it out and make a go of it. But we are just not communicating properly. I think you could do better and find other people WHO BELIEVE YOUR LINE OF SHIT.

Time for us to move on and no, I don't think we can be friends.

Psycho exes. Part one.

The Tale of the Pumpkin Ale

Some time ago I lived in one of Seattle finer Ghettos. Toward Garfield High. I loved it out there and spent the full year rather complacently but for...yes, you got it. A Craigslist encounter.

After a few times I kept asking myself, why the HELL do I post or respond? My underlying belief that not all the people there are insane, I mean, I had gotten all my jobs, my places I lived, random things...without problems, all on Craigslist.

Yeah, but those things have nothing to do with 'relations'. NSA. Love those letters. Why do they NEVER really mean that? Why can the truth not be said, I want to have random sex with you then EAT YOUR SOUL (insert evil laugh here).

So I did it again. I answered an ad. Things went so well I should have ran screaming. Things DID start to get odd when she realized that I did not want to be tied down. I learned what a handfasting was (No I did NOT do it!).

Then started the real fun. She shows up one night, Halloween to be exact. I had plans that night to head out to a party with some friends and they did not intend for me to be there with her. I gave them a call an let them know I was bringing 'company' and that was OK.

I wanted to take some pumpkin ale, I mean, it was Halloween and all! We wandered around a bit as I do not like to be early to any sort of gathering (I like to show up at Neighbors at 11PM, for example).

We stopped at the QFC and got the ale, 2/6 packs. I figured it was still way too early to hit the party so stopped for a drink. While sitting there some true colors of hers showed up.

“I don't want to sit here and just have a drink”. I had just GOTTEN my drink. I looked at her and said 'OK, that is fine, just let me drink this and we will go'. Keep in mind this drink had cost me 7$. “No, I want to go now” says she. 'I am not leaving this drink here, paid for, and not even touch it!' I said.

“You don't love me!” she said, and ran out the door. With the ale.

Well, go figure, no I don't. No I didn't. No I won't. Plain and simple.

I stayed, laughing with the bartender and then left to go back to the QFC. It was across the road, big hardship, lol. I got two more 6 packs of pumpkin ale and went back home.

Sitting on my PORCH was this PSYCHO. OK. My roomate had just pulled up and sensed the tension so asked me my plans for the evening. I told her that I was not sure anymore and gave a fast breakdown of what had just occurred.

She asked if I wanted to tag along with them. Normally I just do not 'do' frat parties but I decided right there and then that, yes, this time I do.

I walked over to 'the nut' and she was acting all normal...told her that 'we' were not doing anything, ever. She just looks at me like 'what?'. After pulling that. I told her to go home. She didn't like that. She really didn't like it when I stowed the 2 six packs I just got in the backseat of the roomates car and then took the OTHER two and did the same.

That is how I ended up in the University District on a Halloween night with 24 bottles of Pumpkin Ale, and one more 'ex' (I didn't know we were a thing!) on the list.

Thankfully? After one call and one email, she never bothered me again.

Shame we can't say that about all of them.

Things that must be said.

So, I started this blog in a heart wrenching moment.

Background: too much, but here is the background to this.

My wife and I (I can say that, we have a domestic partnership here in Washington) plan to own our own restaurant in the next couple/few years. We have been talking to a lot of people and been hanging around some of the places that seem to have 'It'. Bleu is one of those places. It is terrible that one of our favorite people there decided he wanted to take a permanent hike, but so be it, eh?

I started this blog around that, but that is not all there is, there is so much more that needs to be said.

I originally met my wife online. many years ago. We both were on a site about breast surgery. Yep, we gots the saline/silicone to show for it! And neither one of us has a problem saying it.

I got EVERY job I have had since I have been here (long enough to burn through an ID) off of craiglist and every apartment...

Sometimes...that is not the best thing. My problem? Women. No, not like normal, but totally abbynormal as HELLLLLL!

I am taking my spot here back, grief is taking the back window.

I am going to go through a few interesting positions I have been put in, then talk a bit about a truly insane one. (I wish she would just take her whatever, because, for the love of all that is unholy..after a YEAR GIVE IT UP!!!!).

Anyways. This is going to be a hell of a ride, hope you enjoy.

All righty now.

I can admit, that was an amazing blow. You see someone one day before a trip they are taking. A trip that will make themselves happy, see family. Have some fun and see old pals. Come home, shoot yourself in the head. Yes, give me the chance and I would PUNCH you in the head, Cory. That's right. It was a cowardly thing. You tossed us all to the side. you forgot everybody.

I hope they got the kitty and she is in a happy home, she will miss you too.

Does anyone have a clue?

Should I have...how many things does that apply to?

Could I have....there is another one we are all too familiar with.

All I can really say is that tonight we got that platter you did so well. The cheese and pears..such a beautiful blend of hot peppers, olives, herbed soft cheeses...bread and balsamic vinegar paired with olive oil. And the pears soaked in port (my treat, she can't have them, alas).

It was good, we sat and chatted with Jason. We go on, even if you decided not to.

Dude, I am so gonna miss your smile. Your exuberance. But, I will have to let it go. Rock on, and expect a big cosmic kick to the balls whence we meet again.

G'night Cory.

Just snapshots in my mind...

We saw you last week. You were happy. There with your ready, easy smile. As usual everything was good, your kitty was happy and saying hey, you had good things going on.

Now all I can do is think of the last time we saw you and go over it all...nit picking to try to find something. Any god damned clue whatsoever. How? Why? THERE ARE NO WORDS.

You went to see family and come home to shoot yourself.

I just...I can't stop hoping this is a bad dream. That if I get up in the morning and call, you will answer with that 'hey Hey! What's up, dude?' followed with a 'yeah, man, I'll be here, just buzz me'. We were going to ebay your computer so you could get something smaller! You were going to move to a cheaper place...

A place with a balcony.

You were saying that night that if you had a balcony you would be out on it all the time. It was weird to smoke inside so every time I was over, I would mention it and you would say the same damn thing, if you had a balcony then you would be out there smoking ALL the time.

I am feeling kind of pissed. You took off on us, everyone. A phone call. THAT IS ALL YOU HAD TO DO! We were ALL here for you! Fuck.

Why did you have to kill yourself? Why did you come home and shoot yourself? WHAT the HELL.

That smile, that was always ready for anyone. The twinkle in your eyes. The easy way you held yourself.

No more of that.

No more running into you randomly as we were (I just typed are...) NEIGHBORS. See now, there is a place here in OUR hood where the entire place is in tears. Because none of us can understand. No one can see a clue. Out of the blue. Or should I say Bleu.

We are all left without any understanding of how a bright, quick, happy and healthy young man can do...off with himself. You could have called. We were all here.

Waiting forever now, as all you are to any of us now is just a snapshot in our minds. No matter what we do we can't do anything but remember you, we cannot create new images or events so you are relegated to being pictures flipped in our minds. Just snapshots, you are and were a great guy. You will be sorely missed....it's random people like you who come along into our lives who just make sense.

And then that happened. Which scares me beyond reason...I mean, if you are HAPPY.

AND HEALTHY.

And have what seems to be a lot going for you. Good looking, decent job that you enjoy, friends. All that. Great place (sans balcony, dude, you had the BEST floors! Hardwood!)...

That is what scares me. It makes me look at everyone I know. It scares me to think that at any point any one of my friends or family might just...

I can't even think it.

I just keep a picture, a snapshot in my head, you, chill...laughing (loved your laugh) and that smile, kicking back on the couch. Or another favorite, helping me get OUT, damn there was some cool and weird old locks on your door!