Potatoes, onions, bananas and delivery FEEDBACK for Amazon

RantWoman now has potatoes. RantWoman now has onions, in particular a bag with the kind of small onions RantWoman really prefers. RantWoman is about to run out of fresh bananas but the point of a recent Amazon order was bananas.

(RantWoman acquired the potatoes and onions at a street level grocery right next to a bus stop near an in-person meeting. So Amazon is out of the picture about that, at least this time.)

Here a confession: RantWoman quit shopping at in person at her neighborhood Amazon Fresh in connection with the last #No KingsDay protests. There are both food preference and political reasons: Before No Kings Day 2.0 RantWoman found herself looking on Amazon for faraday bags to protect her electronic lifelines while out protesting billionaires for doing billionairish things. At that point, RantWoman reality checked, decided that she prefers shopping in other places anyway, and also decided she did not have time to evaluate other delivery options. So RantWoman made a small in-person shopping gesture but still relies a lot on Amazon delivery. 

Stay tuned for a bananas reflection in connection with #NoKingsDay 3.0

RantWoman realizes that the vexations of an Amazon order are definitely "first world problems" when the news media is melting down full of lots of scary scenarios involving oil, fertilizer, ground troops and all like that. RantWoman also has TWO pleas from Amazon to interact with the Amazon data collection about satisfaction with the delivery. The pleas had links that took RantWoman to more ads, not straight to the comment options, unsatisfactory as they are. So here goes world.

When RantWoman is out of fresh bananas, RantWoman has this odd tendency to forget about all the other food in the house, including multiple packages of dried bananas. A few nights ago, RantWoman was out of fresh bananas. RantWoman fully intended to go replenish the supply of bananas and also potatoes and onions. RantWoman figured there is a short bus option, prices are affordable, and RantWoman could buy in a quantity she can carry home.

Nice thought. RantWoman got sucked into one of her YouTube rabbit holes and realized it was really too dark out even for the easy bus option she had in mind. RantWoman REALLY needed bananas. There the yellow Amazon icon was on her phone. RantWoman was even in a space to do the free delivery with a $100 order deal that comes with Prime. RantWoman simply REFUSES to pay $9.99 / month for free perishable grocery deliveries on orders over $25. RantWoman, though is quite happy making orders over $25 for non-perishables. But RantWoman needed bananas.

RantWoman has NO idea what she did, but she wound up in Amazon NOW, unable to get out and with no acknowledgement of one order. RantWoman did in fact include potatoes and onions in her selections but those selections apparently went into a different shopping cart. RantWoman also forgot the all-important bananas. RantWoman would REALLY have liked just to add bananas to the first order but wound up making a second order, partly because there was some kind of hiccup about the usual  order confirmation. 

Here is a summary of those two orders from a few days ago:

RantWoman has bananas. That is the important thing.

RantWoman does not have the russet and yellow potatoes and avocado she would also have liked to have.

RantWoman also has

4 packets of cheese slices when 1 or 2 would have been fine

5 c6 ox containers of raspberries or blackberries

2 packages of hummus

one package of two small frozen pizzas

1 box of donuts

1 6-pack of good tapioca pudding.

2 pints of Cherry Garcia ice cream at a price lower than usual.

RantWoman also has two emails asking wihether RantWoman was pleased with her deliveries

No.

The two delivery drivers were wonderful, courteous, helpful. The problem is definitely not the driver(s).

RantWoman's intent had been to start her grocery list, on Amazon. RantWoman got taken straight to Amazon NOW.

RantWoman previously rebooted her phone to get out of Amazon now. This time RantWoman went ahead.

RantWoman placed her order then realized she had forgotten the bananas, the whole point of her offer.

RantWoman also lost patience before getting acknowledgment of the order in the app.

So RantWoman did a duplicate order with several of the items. RantWoman added the bananas but could not see the potatoes.  They showed up in RantWoman;s shopping cart after the second order was placed and RantWoman was finally able to get out of AmAzon Now.

WTF

The bananas arrived in great shape but too ripe to last very long.

RantWoman definitely was not distressed to get several of the items she ordered at discounts over prices she has seen and / or paid in the past.

RantWoman's shopping cart leaned a little more toward treats than sometimes. RantWoman can definitely COPE.

Dissatisfaction with the Satisfaction survey

In other words, RantWoman is mostly fine except for the part about whatever UI issues are going on about getting out of AmazonNow.

Well and frustration about options for sharing feedback about where Amazon is doing great and / or falling short in contributing to RantWoman's happiness and nutritional needs.

The Opening Day /#NoKingsDay 3.0 angle

Digression: RantWoman spent her Saturday immersed in the hordes of transit riders celebrating the opening of the #2Line #CrossLakeConnection. By now RantWoman should know better about opening day hordes. RantWoman also had to adjust her initial travel thoughts based on howls of pain from her own body. That meant doing other errands and only then trying out the full opening day experience. The trains were packed. At one point RantWoman flashed back to the only other time she has felt that smushed on public transit, a long time ago on a subway from Brooklyn to Manhattan for another GIANT protest. Protest and Survive, indeed.

The opening day moment: RantWoman again needed bananas. By the time RantWoman did her day's train travel she was exhausted, and there were hiccups about bus connections. But RantWoman finally figured out minimal walking bus connections that yielded her preferred banana purchase: one banana ripe enough to eat the next day and a bunch green enough to feed RantWoman for a whole week.

By the way, a plea to Amazon Logistics

While RantWoman has people's attention, and if her rambling narrative has not driven Amazon readers crazy, a BIG request:

RantWoman lives in a building with over 100 apartments. Everyone has the same street address. Many people order from Amazon. Some of them have tougher mobility and budget considerations than RantWoman. Quite a while ago, RantWoman got a phone call from Amazon Logistics in connection with a delivery. 

There are two entrances to RantWoman's building. People making deliveries to the better entrance can phone residents to be buzzed in. However, driving directions to the exact street address in some GPS point people to the back door. Deliveries to the back entrance are difficult for everyone because someone has to know to come meet the driver. This means deliveries get dropped outside the door, stolen... RantWoman gave the Amazon Logistics person precise reliable driving directions. 

RantWoman's account repeats the driving directions and also makes clear her preference to have deliveries brought all the way to her apartment. At this point, RantWoman simply reports that the delivery was great when these directions are followed. We will not discuss the poor unfortunate drivers who deserve scorn from multiple customers when several packages all get dumped in a heap in the mail room.

Recently a number of neighbors have complained that they are having issues with drivers coming to the back door rather than to the front where there is a keypad and options to let the drivers in. Is there some way that Amazon can standardize the driving directions for all drivers? Or is the expectation that drivers will do whatever the GPS says and individual customers will just have to complain every time a new driver goofs up?  RantWoman would SO appreciate being able to help her neighbors out.

Teriyaki pizza? MUST Try soon.

It was a bright and sunny day and RantWoman...ALMOST...stayed on the bus to the Pagliacci in Columbia City to buy a slice of this month's seasonal pie, The "Waji." 

Look: Promo blurbs 

So here it is: The Waji features teriyaki chicken, pineapple roasted in chili crisp, pickled red onions, and mozzarella over an olive oil base, finished after the bake with green onions, furikake, and a drizzle of teriyaki mayo. It hits that sweet-savory balance, with some tang and heat, plus a little extra crunch and savoriness on top 

And from the Pagliacci blog:

This collab with Uwajimaya started with a simple question: what if we made an Asian-inspired pizza together? For Pagliacci co-owner Michelle Akiyama Galvin, the idea has roots that go way back. Growing up, Asian groceries were scarce in her town, so trips to Uwajimaya were youthful highlights. Later, as an adult, she found herself back in those aisles much more often, kids in tow. A few years ago she met Denise Moriguchi, Uwajimaya’s president and CEO, who mentioned how much her family loves Pagliacci, and that was the little spark. What if we built a pizza around that shared love of food?

Turns out, it was one of the quickest seasonals we’ve ever brought from idea to reality. And the best test panel we know came through fast: the kids in both families gave it an enthusiastic thumbs up.

“We are huge fans of Denise and Uwajimaya and are proud to collab with them,” says Matt Galvin.

And the toppings

Teriyaki chicken, pineapple roasted in chili crisp, pickled red onions, and mozzarella over an olive oil base, finished after bake with green onions, furikake, and a drizzle of teriyaki mayo. (Ingredients feature soy, sesame, wheat and egg.)

LONG ago during graduate school in another state, RantWoman had a disagreeable experience with chicken teriyaki pizza. The crust was much pastier than at Pagliacci. There was BROCCOLI, which in RantWoman's mind really does not belong with anything too sweet. Basically, as fusion cuisine, that long ago pizza was not it.

Still, RantWoman is intrigued by the Waji. Roasted pineapple on anything makes RantWoman happy. RantWoman had to look up Furikake - Wikipedia. So far, yum.

But why the bus trip and one slice at a time? RantWoman often orders a whole pizza for delivery, the large seems tempting for leftovers. There are plenty of leftovers. It's just that the slices are too big. RantWoman's budget can live with just ordering one small pizza at a time for now. But it hit RantWoman: RantWoman is not sure about buying a whole pie because of the bad teriyaki chicken pizza experience long ago so RantWoman WILL just try a slice SOON.

Line 2 OPENS!

RantWoman is very excited about the opening of the Sound Transit 2 line!

The 23rd Avenue entrance to the new Judkins Park station is easily walkable for rantWoman. RantWoman used to do it all the time to visit Little Sister until she fled impending construction and moved to the U District.  RantWoman is acutely aware of a need to walk more and is definitely looking forward to this new option.

Urk. RantWoman realizes it is also Metro route shakeup and there are a couple routes RantWoman REALLY needs to look up. Fun.

First thing on the #NoKingsDay is head out to the Judkins Park station, and take a spin across the lake and back.

But will RantWoman actually join a march?

RantWoman will not be bringing any signs but is pondering T-shirt options.

Or will RantWoman participate via social media?

Or will RantWoman declare the day an excellent time to do battle with floor grime, herd a first draft into a suitable obituary for RantMom or pen assorted other screeds percolating in her head.

Stay tuned.

Sound Transit to make history with new line opening Saturday

Crosslake Connection marks historic light rail opening | Special coverage

And in the meantime, assuming anyone reading this is tempted to steal copper wire from Sound Transit locations, DON'T. Just DON'T.

A ray of Electoral Light in Europe

 RantWoman would SO prefer that the US have a president who is not a global laughingstock.

That said, if the President shooting himself in the foot all over the world inspires people vigorously to vote down the proliferation of voices like him on the world stage, perhaps he has earned some kind of PRIZE. 

Perhaps.

RantWoman never advises taking anything for granted, but RantWoman also appreciates literate, concise political commentary.

The Loo Review and a mumble test announcement

 which sound transit stations have public restrooms - Google Search

RantWoman is feeling lazy about boring more deeply into the question of which SoundTransit stations have public restrooms. RantWoman does think that if hundreds of thousands of visitors are going to pour into town for the world cup or even for the upcoming opening of cross-lake service THIS SATURDAY, maybe a concise list somewhere with tips would be desirable.

RantWoman is also perplexed because the search results claim there is a restroom at Tukwila International Boulevard station and RantWoman has never found it. A fast skim also yielded no info about restrooms on the 2 line. Assuming people will come to opening day for cross lake service, and / or will ride transit to No Kings Day events RantWoman would be THRILLED to get info systemwide in one easy query, not just relying on Gemini, especially when Gemini might not have complete information to work with.

RantWoman digresses. RantWoman's THRILL of the day was to find not just one public restroom at the North end of the mezzanine as previously but TWO. RantWoman managed to locate the directions for how to gain entry. 

The directions lacked one piece of info: both restrooms were occupied. RantWoman would not have minded some kind of more explicit audio cue about this. However, just as RantWoman was about to press a button to have security try again about unlocking, someone emerged and RantWoman was able just to walk in. One judge of the need and public appreciation for this amenity: someone was waiting when RantWoman emerged.

What does one walk into? An almost palatial space with room for a whole family and whatever mobility device or baggage one is traveling with.

Truly, RantWoman was so excited to be able to enjoy this amenity, she ALMOST forgot to find anything to complain about. Two small grumbles.

The toilet is COLD. The design is the same one used in many Seattle Parks, so one can live with it, but it is noticeable.

--There are no hooks or places to put one's bags anywhere but on the floor. This is less than ideal. Transit riders nearly always carry some kind of bag. And floor storage is not preferable on rainy days. RantWoman is determined just to COPE.

But while RantWoman is going on about "Rider experience," at one point recently, RantWoman was listening to announcements about the 2 line. There was the usual English voice. There was a female voice that was pure mumble test, and there was a male voice definitely in a language RantWoman does not understand.  By mumble test, RantWoman means the kind of real-life situations where travelers or aspiring interpreters need to make sense of something like train announcements in a foreign language through bad audio in a noisy space. RantWoman could not tell whether the female voice was speaking English or something else. RantWoman will simply leave that here as a concern.

The BS Ballroom is NOT AN OFFICIAL ACT

RantWoman has decided several times not to go to law school, but RantWoman has, in the comment rant below the video, RantWoman would like to propose a project for a fresh aspiring lawyer. 

Time to test the #SCOTUS concept of "official acts?" What is the emergency??? Has the local #StableGenius violated so many laws, architectural and construction standards, procedures, constrains on bribery... that SOMEONE can make a case that immunity does not apply? I assume there is no chance the current DoJ would do it, but who might have standing to sue???? If President #StableGenius did not like the White House, why did he run for re-election??? Surely he can afford to live somewhere else and build his own dang ballroom. Besides, what's one more civil judgment for the #StableGenius to ignore??? When he finally slouches off this mortal coil, probate for his estate could be SO much fun....

Moscow melts down without internet: forward to yesterday

 Roman telling it!

Update:

Something INSANE is Happening in Moscow Right Now - YouTube

Russia borrowing the Iran playbook

Interesting that Roman seems not to have connected with a lot of RUMORS...