Net Crimes & Misdemeanors

Things That Stick in my Craw: Air Travel - add your comments - please! 

NEW Things That Stick in my Craw: Women's Clothing - http://thingsthatstickinmycraw.com/2010/02/things-that-
stick-in-my-craw-womens.html

NEW Things That Stick In My Craw - Worst Christmas Presents Ever

So my TGIFridays saga. I met my mom and sister at TGIFridays in Concord, NH at noon last Tuesday. By about 1 pm, we had our food. I ordered boneless buffalo chicken w/green chile dipping sauce. It tasted okay (I've had better), and we had a good time laughing and talking. Then we went shopping. I got home around 430 pm and told Chris I felt weird. I had a headache and my tummy was a little upset. Took some aspirin and acid reducer. As time passed, I got worse and worse, to the point where we thought we'd have to get a new toilet seat (ha ha).

My night was miserable, with a waste basket next to the bed. I got up Wednesday morning, made chai green tea to help settle my tummy and got ready for my drive to Portland for a three hour meeting (I had to go to it, I get paid by the hour as a consultant and I need the money). Before I left, I called the TGIFridays and asked to speak to the manager on duty. The guy who answered, Jamie, said he was. So I explained I thought I had food poisoning and wanted to alert him in case anyone else called. He had the gall to tell me it was impossible to get food poisoning that quickly, that it takes days. I was too sick to argue with him. He didn't even bother to ask my name or for a phone number to follow up. Then he said, "I'm going to go have some of those and see how I feel." Then hung up.

I was stunned. I was just so sick. And then I got ticked off. So I went to the TGIFriday's web site and filed an online complaint.

Went to my meeting. Made it through without running to the bathroom, but I was dizzy on top of the headache and nausea. The thought of food made me feel worse. Drove home. Still felt lousy. Went to the store to get ginger ale and cheez its (what usually helps settle my tummy) and something for dinner. I was starving and hoped it would stay down. It did, although my tummy turned over a few times and I was nauseous.

At about 730 pm, the restaurant called. I let the machine pick up thinking it was the dumbkoff who I had talked to earlier and who now probably got an earful from corporate.

It was the general manager, Matt. I called him back and he was so apologetic, wanted to make sure I was okay and said he was livid with his other manager for treating me like it was no big deal. He affirmed that food poisoning can sometimes happen within 30 minutes. He was very nice. He said he's going to send me some gift cards as an apology and if I ever go back to his restaurant, to call to make sure he was on duty and he would treat me right.

Wow.

I guess complaining to corporate does work. I thought they'd blow me off as well.

I was still feeling crappy Thursday night and crashed early. Tummy was still upset Friday, but not as bad. Headache, too. I promised my mom and Chris I'd call York Hospital to see if I should go to the emergency room tomorrow if I still wasn't feeling better.

Woke up yesterday at 7 am, told Chris I wanted to sleep more. I was really nauseous (and before you ask, I can't be pregnant - I had a hysterectomy years ago, so it's impossible). Slept until 10 am. Took Phoebe for a walk, thinking the cool air would help. Came back, caught up on emails and the headache kicked in. Had OJ, fruit punch, ginger ale, plus aspirin.

At 130 pm, I finally called York Hospital's emergency room. By a stroke of luck, my doctor was on duty there. He called me back and said he's seen food poisoning go on as long as 5-7 days. Oh yay. He said to keep drinking things with sugar like I've been doing, try to eat  at least something, take more ibuprofen and/or aspirin and rest. If I'm not better by tomorrow, he's going to run some tests. I'll have him send the bills to TGIFridays.

No gift cards in the mail yesterday. After all this, I'd better get some. I at least know the Portsmouth location has good food - we usually go there.

Damned chicken!

For my new Things That Stick In My Craw, I want to know what your worst
Christmas present ever was and why it was the worst. Whether you gave
or received it, tell me tell me tell me!

NEW Things That Stick in my Craw - Spoilers - http://thingsthatstickinmycraw.com/2009/12/things-that-
stick-in-my-craw-spoilers.html

Want to get something different for yourself or someone else this Christmas? Order my book, Net Crimes & Misdemeanors 2nd edition. For $20, you get a signed copy of the book, 3-CD lesson by Video Professor which is based on the book, free gift wrapping, free shipping in the USA (media mail) and a bonus!!!  You can pay by Paypal to netcrimes@netcrimes.net or send a check/money order to

J.A. Hitchcock
PO Box 782
York, Maine 03909

Support a writer and get or give a great gift!!!

I signed the contract for my newest book - True Crime Online: Most Shocking Stories from the Dark Side of the Web, due out in fall of 2011. Publisher is the same for my Net Crimes books, Cyberage Books, an imprint of Information Today, Inc. I am very excited!

NEW Things That Stick in my Craw - Drive Thru Etiquette (and thank you to those who contributed): official web site

NEW Things That Stick In My Craw - Grocery Shopping

Read about the NEW Things That Stick in my Craw - Hotels, Motels, etc

NEW Things That Stick In My Craw - <a href=http://thingsthatstickinmycraw.com/2009/10/things-
that-stick-in-my-craw-facebook.html>FACEBOOK SUCKS</a>

NEW Things That Stick In My Craw - Parking Idiots

NEW Things That Stick In My Craw - Twitter: http://thingsthatstickinmycraw.com/2009/10/things-that-
stick-in-my-craw-twitter.html

All right - here it is. Something I've been working on and procrastinating about. A new site called Things That Stick In My Craw. Each week I'll update it w/ the latest things that stick in my craw. And if you have some of your own, feel free to either add them as a comment to the site or send to me direct. Enjoy!

Things That Stick In My Craw