LISSA’S: Catching you up!

This is for our friends that actually care... LOL!

YES! We're finally here and settled in.. snug as a bug in a rug! We have our tiny little one bedroom apartment on NASA Pkwy in Webster now, and I'm so high on life! Life, it's so wonderful.. I never knew it could be so worth living. In fact, we hardly ever stay home anymore. I've had people in the past say they don't watch much tv, and I never understood that, seeing how that's all I had to do in Texoma. Now that I have a million and one things to do all around me, I can't even find time to watch our regular programs recorded on our DVR anymore. It constantly stays 90 to 98% full.

I've done so much, and there's plenty more to do and see. My FAVORITE hobby is now clubbing! There is an awesome club just a block away from home called Eden... (they are in the top of my friends' list if you wanna check it out.) There is only one thing I don't really like there... the smoking. Everyone smokes inside, and me being a non-smoker, it's really hard to breathe. Other than that, it's really great! They have what's called Friday night "suds", where the dance floor is covered (floor to almost ceiling) in sud bubbles. I've never seen anything like it.. so clever. I've only got to go to this club once, but I am DYING to go back!!

Another club that is friggin' awesome is called South Beach (again, you can find it in my top friends' list). It's located downtown. Luckily it's a non-smoking club, so it's so much easier to breathe. On their dancefloor, there is a strong fog machine that blows out so much COLD fog, the temperature drops at least 20 (or more) degrees and you cannot see anything! Not even your hand in front of your face! The music is so awesome and loud!

Another thing that I am so thankful for down here is my in-laws. I never thought I could be so close to them. Mom and Dad Hill have really opened up to us, and my sis-in-law Jenny has really included me into her life and family.. like I was a real blood sister. I couldn't ask for anything more. Her husband Ray is a whole other story... GOOD story. He has really helped me open up and not be so afraid of life. He introduced us to the clubs and entertainment around here and Houston. He is so playful, sweet and caring. I've adopted him as my "real" brother.. not bro-in-law. Sadly, his work calls him off to Egypt for about 5 weeks at a time, so I don't get to see him as often.

For those of you that know my phobia... I've forced myself to drive around this CROWDED place. I think I do pretty damn good for someone that has that phobia! LOL!!!!

The apartments that we live in are pretty decent. Yeah, you got some people that are kinda questionable, but overall they leave you alone. It's kinda sad though... I wish we could get together more often with our direct neighbors, Mirissa and Petrina. We did find their MySpace page and added them! YAY! Sadly we've only said 'hi' in passing with everyone's busy lives. They are moving next month and I hate that we could never get together to know each other better. If Mirissa or Petrina is reading this, maybe we could all 4 get together and hang out sometime at South Beach or Eden?

That's about it... you can check out all the pictures in our "Hangin' Out At Home" album on MySpace. (Nice) comments welcomed!

LISSA’S: Confessions of an abused Wal-Mart customer

We've recently added a person to our friend's list that has been (repeatedly) abused by the Wal-Mart system and its associates. It all started out that she posted a bulletin in anger about her bad experience at her local Wal-Mart. Here's the bulletin:

Date: Feb 15, 2008 6:25 PM

I recently bought a tv for my bedroom for Walmart. I am barely in the bedroom and mostly use the tv in the living room which is a larger tv but I wanted something cheap for the bedroom that I could watch sometimes before going to bed or when waking up or cleaning, etc.. Well the tv that I bought is an Emerson 20" Flat screen sdtv that was on sale for $130 at Walmart. It only worked for two weeks and died, I only used it maybe 100-200 minutes in the ENTIRE two weeks. I mostly use my living room televsion. I felt so stupid because I somehow lost the receipt but kept the box. I had it folded down in my walk in closet just taking extra space but I knew that I better keep the box for a while just in case something bad happened and well it did. On day 14, yesterday I called Walmart and talked to a manager who said without the receipt I could not return or exchange it. The night manager didn't even want to exchange it at all or even deal with me which was a nightmare and scared me because I thought I had lost all that money! I was about it tears, I was so upset about it. Especially since everyone knows me by name at this Walmart, I shop there sooooo much! I was so upset because I had the box and the tv was barely used and broken, I felt robbed. The next day which is this morning btw.. I called the same Walmart and talked to a different manager who said that they can look the serial number up from the box and return it that way but I HAD to know the exact day that I bought it in order for them to look it up in the computer. I knew that I bought it on FEB1 and so they looked it up and found it in the computer register. I was allowed to exchange it for another one just like it. I had bought the last one two weeks ago but LUCKILY they got more stock in a few days ago. I was so thankful that I was able to return it! They said that I got lucky because TODAY WAS THE LAST DAY that I can return it because they only give a 15 day return on computers and TV's.. I am sooooo thankful but also nervous because I hope that this tv will last longer then two weeks. I am testing the tv heavily right now, even though I am not using it to make sure that it will not break in a few weeks.. I guess you pay for what you get but I have bought some good Emerson products before. Also btw Emerson states on the box and manual that it is a manufatures 1 YR warranty but when I called Emerson they were not wanting to issue that warranty. I had called them after I was turned down by Walmart the first time so that is not good that they were not going to honor it. Right now I have 15 days to see if this NEW tv is going to work for me and not go out.. I hope so! The tv scared me because it was making a loud popping noise and the picture was blinking on and off and getting faster and faster.. That is really strange! I called Walmart just a few minutes ago to ask a different manager because I was so curious why I was being told different information. I asked about the return policy on TV's and this lady said that they cannot return it at all without the receipt. It is driving me crazy that NO ONE from Walmart seems to know what they are talking about. The first manager said that they couldn't look the serial online which was a blunt lie because I was able to exchange my tv today with talking to a different manager. I wish that they were all trained to know what they are talking about but no one seems to have the right answer. I guess all managers are different, if one turns you down then you should try a different one. I really thank God for being able to get this replacement just in time.. I know that it is only $140 total but that is still a lot of money for a barely used tv and a lot of work with me having to lift it down stairs by myself and drive it back to the store. I just don't think that there employees nor managers are trained to know what they are talking about. Even customer service associates have to look on there wall to see return info and when asking them you would think that it is there first day there. I know more about Walmart's products and return info then most or all of the employees and that is quite rediculous... Has anyone else had a similar story? I know so many people that refuse to step foot in Walmart and I also know several people who love Walmart because of there low low prices.. I like it because I can shop there at night when everything else is closed. Everyone at night knows me at my local Walmart... I also like it because there carry the Lucy barbies! Sometimes I think that I really like Walmart but then other times I get fed up with there employees because they don't know anything and don't seem trained right and that makes me not want to shop there. I guess you have to sacrifce service for low prices.. What do you guys think..

Just so you know, she is being lied to. I know first hand the way Wal-Mart works. If they scan a tv out by using a serial number, you can look it up by serial number. It doesn't matter which store you bought it at. Any store can look it up. You don't even have to have a date. You look it up by manufacturer and serial number. It is stored on the Wal-Mart corporate computer for one year. For them to tell her that is just a plain lie.

Also, the Wal-Mart policy for returns in Electronics: 15 days for MP3 players, computers and anything with internal memory. 30 days for cameras and camcorders. 45 days for computer parts. 90 days for televsions, dvd players and all other electronics. The only exception is a Sanyo brand television. Sanyo has a deal with Wal-Mart that their televisions have a 365 day return policy. You can return any Sanyo tv to ANY Wal-mart up to a year after purchase.

Again another lie to her.

The only time they need a date, they need the date, time and register. That is so they can pull up the receipt for the purchase.

Third lie to her was that you needed a receipt. Wal-Mart corporate policy does not make you have to have a receipt. They know many people get mad at Target because of their strict return policies. So, Wal-Mart maintains a policy that is far more simplified. No receipts are necessary. It goes with their "The customer is always right" motto. Therefore a customer can return anything with just their signature and driver's license. I have personally seen things come back to Wal-Mart with K-Mart logos on it. I have seen generic food from other local grocery stores returned to Wal-Mart. How can you have a receipt if you bought it at a different store?

On returning items, your first mistake is going in when the service desk is closed. This makes it a manager's decision on whether or not to accept the item. Managers are trained to always have a scapegoat. They rarely make a final decision when it comes to a customer. They want an associate to do it. Then if a problem arises from the transaction, they can blame the associate, covering their tail.

Well the story for this lady doesn't stop there! She posts a second bulletin:

I have now received two very very nasty messages about my last post about Walmart. I absolutely had no intentions of hurting or offending anyone when I decided to place that bulletin. I had no clue that people could be so cruel and judgemental. Those messages were just totally un called for and not fair. Please do not email me threats and hurtful messages because I do care about all of my friends and it upsets me that those people took it so personally. I was just posting my experience it was not to hurt anyone nor employees of Walmart so I do apologize if I did offend anyone but again those messages were so un called for.

Curious about this situation (and knowing how rude Wal Mart associates can get), I emailed her and asked her about the threats. This is what she had to say:

I had one girl that emailed me and with some very rude comments.. Gosh I did not think my bulletin would be that harmful! A girl who claims to work at Walmart who btw is 20 years old just really cursed me and told me that Walmart does not need my business, etc.. I have fowarded the message below. I have begged people not to critisize me for my opinions because I am not trying to hurt anyone. Why do people have to be so cruel.... Here is the message below..



"... you're very rude and inconsiderate. I work @ Wal*Mart and am very good at my job and what I do. & I have a feeling that everyone at night that knows you at your local Wal*Mart would wish that they did not know you after the things that you wrote. If ya know more about the return information then people that actually work at Wal*Mart then ya should have known to keep your receipt. Especially4an expensive purchase come on that is common knowledge. It workz that way at most storez not just Wal*Mart. & trust me Wal*Mart employees do not care if people like you take your business elsewhere. We have plenty of smart customerz that we can afford to not have the dumb onez shopping there."

Okay, as a former Wal Mart Associate, I know the policy "The Customer is Always Right". This "associate" that just down talked this customer is very typical. This is the kind of Customer Service that Wal-Mart is now known for. Wal-Mart has brought in so much money, they could care less about customer service, which is why the associate told this customer "Wal*Mart employees do not care if people like you take your business elsewhere. We have plenty of smart customerz that we can afford to not have the dumb onez shopping there."

Let's think about this phrase the next time we step into a Wal-Mart!

LISSA’S: Visiting an old friend..

My husband and I drove out to my old home town of Pilot Point. While I was there, I went to an old friend's house. His name is Jon Acello and I miss him dearly. He is looking and doing very well!





He was always like a brother to me. There had always been a strong connection between the two of us. The visit yesterday prooved that the strong connection is still there! Love Ya Jon!!!

LISSA’S: Proving Stupidity

once again youre proving how stupid you are.

These are the words that a "friend" wrote me. The same one Bill's story is about. It made me curious about why she was mad at me, and after a few words, I get into some interesting facts. Now that I am not so pissed off, it is actually funny to read.

i got pissed off from all the lies in your stupid blog.

In a previous letter, it was this:

half your "anti-walmart" bullshit is just that- shit. no one comments your blog because no one really cares, and half the stuff you write is stupid and a gaint lie. which btw, you can be sued for slander.

First of all, I am flattered that she kept coming back to my page, and forced herself to read the words that I posted. I can only imagine how traumatic it was for her to keep coming back when every word pissed her off so bad. The one question that comes to mind, is her home life similar to "A Clockwork Orange"? For some reason I have visions of her arriving at home, being strapped to a chair, her eyelids peeled back, and she was forced to read the things she didn't want to read. All I know is that I didn't make her come to my page and read my blog. I didn't take control of her computer and direct her here.

Secondly, if she thinks it was all bullshit, why even bother? Why even get mad? I am not trying to convert. I am only trying to educate. When something appears in the news everyday, it is easy to overlook it when it is surrounded by hundreds of stories. I pull out the news on one subject and post it. If you don't agree, fine. If you want to hide your head, it is your choice. So, why get mad at me? I hope her kids turn out like angels, because if not, I am sure she will sue the video game industry saying "Raymond's Raving Rabbids" destroyed her homelife.

I think this is funny. All my information comes from the news, everything is documented. There are even times that I have provided links back to County websites giving the information. So, I guess I have been wrong all this time. The Grayson County Sherriff's office posts lies on their website. And I am the one who can be sued for slander? Why don't they sue the Sherriff's office? I am sure they could get a bigger settlement from the city and county than one ex-Wal-Mart associate. And all this time I thought Wall Street Journal and the evening news was truthful. Nope, I just found out that if it didn't exist in the Harry Potter stories then it was all lies. I gave my references. I can't help it if the people who are supposed to "tell the truth" like NBC, CBS, and ABC officials are just putting out propoganda. I guess lies are just a matter of perspective. To some people lies are truth, and to some, they can't figure out when they are lying themselves.

I mean just looking at her first letter:

i only apologized to bill so that things would be so heated at work. but since i got the "fuck off" response, i take it back.

The "fuck off" response was his blog that she was again forced to read. And just a little bit later, she replied back:

and the shit at work (which has nothing to do with you) is not personal.... so no anger was taking out on bill.

If there was no anger taken out on Bill, why did she apologize in the first place? Oh, I forgot, truth only exists as you make it up.

i know enough about keeping personal stuff personal, so my feelings about your family wont interfere working with bill.

It's good to know that this person can keep personal stuff personal, but didn't she just say it wasn't personal? Okay, I am confused.

And speaking of writing the truth as it flows from the mind. Here is another lovely statement:

you teling me i cant use my open door policy? ill be damned if you try to do that.

I checked back on my blog, and please I beg everyone to do the same, just in case I overlooked something. I mentioned the Open Door Policy at Wal-Mart three times:

First and Second time was in the blog LISSA'S: Wal-Mart: Home of Favoritism and Popularity, dated on November 28, 2007. In those two statements, I said, "I was told that there was no Open Door Policy. The Open Door Policy that Wal-Mart is so willing to throw into their associates faces is only there when they can use the information against someone. It is not there when an associate needs it." This was my personal experience with the Open Door Policy. This was an actual event that happened to me, and this was my opinion on how the management uses Open Door Policy. I never once said anyone could not use the Open Door Policy.

Maybe it was in the third time I tried to take away their rights. It was in LISSA'S: Attention Wal Mart Associates: Do YOU get YOUR breaks? dated December 7, 2007. I said, "So you Communist pricks up in home office have NO idea what's REALLY going on at store level. Your so-called Grass Roots meetings and your Open Door Policy is a crock." This was my response to an article in St. Paul Pioneer Press (Minnesota), 10/30/07. I took their article and put what happened to me with it showing that it was a commonplace in Wal-Mart. The message actual means that the corporate level should actually be more aware of the happenings at the store level. Again, nope, this was not directed at one person in Texoma, trying to take away something from her.

I guess it was another one of those subliminal "A Clockwork Orange" moments again. But this time they used Fall Out Boy instead of Beethoven.

oh, and you can be banned from myspace (and if that happens your lazy ass wont know what to do, will you?), bill can be fired, you can be sued.

I am thinking about making a poll. Is it true that I am the only one on MySpace who has an opinion? Am I the only one of the millions on here that still has free will? I read the Terms & Conditions of MySpace. I haven't broken any of them. And even on MySpace, it is still a free country. As shocking as it sounds. I wonder if she read the Terms & Conditions? Or could it be making them up as she goes? And as far as Bill getting fired. These are my words. That is why LISSA is at the beginning of the blog. When Bill talks, you see BILL at the front. So, is what is being said here that Wal-Mart can fire someone over something someone else says? If that is true, watch out, President Bush is going to say something soon, no telling what the fallout could be. Or is this a threat, that this person is going to try to get Bill fired?

first of all:
ive never liked you. it was strictly to make working near you less hard.

i want nothing to do with you. dont message, me, dont talk to me. dont ever mention me -by name or otherwise- in your blog. when your ship blows up and sinks, i want no connection.

It kinda sounds like a threat now. That's why I am making sure her words are here.

so leave me alone.

there are so many things i want to say you, but ive narrowed it done to two (2) words:

fuck off!

Eloquently said, back at 'cha sweetie. But I don't understand. Who's the stupid one? Who's the one with the closed mind? This is a prime example of Texoma and Texomites at it's finest.

you dont know nothing about me, you that shit about "figuring me out?" im not even from around here bitch.

Just goes to show, some are born here, some are transplanted. But ignorance rubs off and you become a true Texomite.

LISSA’S: Some people just can’t handle it...

This blog is strictly dedicated to those (ex) friends that do not believe in the freedom of speech for others. The ones that think they are simply forced to read everything that is posted on the internet. The ones that call themselves a "friend", but at the same time lie to your face and threaten to take away your Constitutional Freedom.

Let me start by saying first and foremost. The definition of a "friend" is someone who will stand by you, not lie to you and definately not judge you for your choices. No, they do NOT have to like the choices the other makes, and yes, may give their opinion every now and then. That's just life. But a true "friend" does NOT call their other friends names, lie to their face, threaten them and get them into trouble on their job. These are the "friends" that this blog is dedicated to. This is for the "friends" that threatened me not to post anymore blogs. I have news for you, "friends".. this is MY page, not yours. This is MY blog, not yours. These are my words, not yours. I have never (and never would) email my blog to you (if you have a MySpace account). The most I ever do is post a bulletin saying that I have created a new blog. Then the choice is 100% totally yours if YOU choose to come to MY page and read it. No one is forcing you to come read MY words. Who are you to tell me what I can and cannot do? If you feel so strongly about these blogs, then PLEASE save yourself (and me) grief and time and just simply click that little grey button that says "DELETE" friend. You will not hurt my feelings. I had to grow up being bullied and was afraid to speak my mind. I refuse to be like that again, especially in Texoma.

Contrary to your belief (and I'm sure the rumors that will be started by you few immature ex-friends) there are some of you that I like. Not all you I consider bad. So not all of you should take my blogs so personally. If you do, I'm sorry, that is your decision.

Now.. for the finale..

Dear Ex-Friends that betrayed me, threatened me and told me that I better not post anymore blogs.... this is for YOU:

Oh yeah, and