PhD Candidate

I am now officially a PhD candidate. That's right. I passed my Qualifying Exams. I not only passed, I did really well. I can't begin to tell you what a relief it is to be through that last hoop (until my defense that it). But as my adviser told me when I was done, "Now you really begin". So, I'm back in the lab re-synthesizing my degraded DNA and ready to start doing experiments again.

On another note, this weekend we go to Las Vegas! It's a good way to celebrate. S's parents are here for three more weeks and they're very keen on going. It should be great. We haven't been there in awhile.

I'm involved in planning many things right now. It's helping me remember how much I enjoy planning events. I'm doing a Napa bachelorette for my cousin and our annual departmental retreat in Laguna Beach.

I'm very frustrated with computer companies. Dell and Apple specifically. Dell for selling me a $125 REFURBISHED battery for my laptop without telling me and Apple for not shipping my laptop for one month. One month after I placed my order. Supply and demand they tell me. Seems to me they should've anticipated high demand since they did a major iPod promotion for back to school. Back to Dell because, really, at least Apple has pretty decent customer service. Bend over backwards to please for the most part. Dell. When I called to tell them they sold me a refurbished battery I must've gotten transferred to the most over-worked, under-paid call center in India. After that phone call, I felt very American in my hatred for the call centers until S reminded me of American Express (another shining example of terrific customer service, Indian call center as well). Dell told me that I knew my battery was refurbished since I ordered it online. I had to tell, let's call her rhymes with Simple, that no in fact I placed it over the phone and I spoke to three different people when I placed my order and not one of them had told me I would be getting a refurbished product. She said well ok, but you pay for return shipping. When I told her that was unacceptable, she started to yell at me. I mean really yell. She told me again that I knew it was refurbished because it was a web order. And that she won't transfer me to her supervisor because they will tell me the same thing. So since pleading did not work, I yelled. That was when I was cut-off abruptly and transferred (I thought she hung up on me, but I waited just in case). The supervisor. Alex. At least Simple told me her real name. He apologized. Good. Very insincere though. I could tell he was just going through the motions. Very scripted. He said he'd cover shipping. But. He said he will do this for me even though my 21 day return period has passed. A favor. Check. So I let him know that in fact I only received the battery the previous day and I only ordered it the previous week, so thanks and all for making an exception for me, but my return period has not expired. And I asked where I can complain. For being yelled at. And called a liar. He said he'd make a note of it. Right. They didn't ask me to fill out a survey this time. Still waiting on the battery to be picked up. The whole experience though reminded me a little bit of being in India and how it always seemed like a struggle to get the right thing, whether it was the work you paid for, the proper food you ordered, etc. It transfers here too. I've seen exactly the same attitude in Little India. It really pisses me off. I know I'm biased because I grew up here and I expect things done a certain way. But I do not think I am unreasonable in my expectations. I knew right then that one of the biggest selling/marketing points for Apple is Dell customer service.