Well, I promised myself that I wouldn’t blog again until I finished up my new template, and, here I am!

It only took me TWO YEARS to figure out how to put PHP onto a static content pages (the above links, which lead to the archives page and the blogroll page). Well, two years is rounded up…slightly.

The only thing that I couldn’t find a pretty home for is the counter, which I have unceremoniously dumped at the bottom at the side. Poor thing, please go down and visit it once in awhile so it doesn’t get lonely!

Also, I couldn’t think of a banner idea that wouldn’t clash with my sidebar banner that goes with the rest of the website, so, I just ditched all my ideas and did simple text instead.

And finally, Wordpress has been SEVERELY hacked up, so, if anything doesn’t work please don’t hesitate to e-mail me: hello[at]byjillian[dot]com -

I watch as the rain streaks slowly down my window.  It’s a dark, cloudy day, the rain is pouring down in sheets.  Inside the building, I can see shadowy figures moving about.  I check the clock, 5:10PM.  I’ve been sitting in my car for the past 20 minutes in the parking lot.  Earlier, I drove around to the ATM, but I couldn’t do it.

I look at the check that has my name in the “To” field.  Signed, Cupcakes Anonymous.  For 135 dollars.  In case you didn’t read that entry (click here for it), a few weeks ago I received a rebate check for 135 dollars.  I cashed it in, and not a week later I received another rebate check, for the same amount.  If I were to cash it in, I would practically be stealing the…cupcake from the company “Cupcakes Anonymous”.

I’ve been tapping the check on the steering wheel absentmindedly for the past 10 minutes.

I can’t do it.

I turn off my car, deciding I’ve looked like a bank robber long enough.  I flip open my phone, the contact info printed on the check; I call them up.

“Cupcakes Anonymous this is Michael, how may I help you?”  I hear a male’s voice answer.

I explain my situation to him.

“I’m sorry, you said that you received two checks for the same rebate amount?”

“That is correct.”

“I’m…going to have to get my manager for this,” He says, sighing.  “Can I put you on hold?”

“Of course.”

I’m on hold for about a minute, and another male’s voice answers.

“Yes this is Dan, I hear you received two rebate checks?”  He asks, as if hardly believing his ears.

“Yes,”  I say.

“Wow, well, thank you for calling, we will be cancelling that second check,”  Dan says happily.

“Of course,”  I say.

“Alright well, have a good day, and please tear up the check and put throw it away, we are going to cancel it,”  He says, about to hang up.

“Hey, can I get some sort of coupon or something?”  I ask, crunching the check in my hand.  “I’m starting to think I should’ve kept it.”

“You did the right thing by calling in,”  He says immediately, but I can hear something else behind his voice; maybe it is doubt in his own words?

“Right, of course,”  I say, not at all reassured.  I can hear typing in the background now.

“Well, here, let me send you a few things, coupons,”  He says, before adding, “You’ll get them in 1 to 2 weeks.”

“Thank you,”  I say.

“We appreciate your call here at Cupcakes Anonymous, is there anything else I can help you with today?”  He says, sounding suddenly like a robot.

“No, that’s it,”  I say.  He wishes me a good day, and we both hang up shortly afterwards.  I smooth out the check and tuck it in my pocket;  I decide I’ll shred it when I get home.

I’m starting to think I should’ve kept it.