~ 332/365 Xbox One Day 6 Edition Arrived today ~

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Finally my day 1 edition arrived out of the blue from Microsoft, when UPS had no clue what had happened to it and Microsoft couldn't give me any answers as to what happened to it....all they said is, "we're very sorry..." x a million......guess I can be glad it finally arrive. :) Day 6 edition xbox one. :) -Randy

~ 331/365 R2 D2 ~

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Just a pic of something Random in my office, tired and fighting a cold...hope to be better by the weekend. -Randy

~ 330/365 More Christmas Stuff ~

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CHRISTMAS!!!! :)  I love lights, decoration!
-Randy

~ 329/365 I love Christmas ~

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Christmas decorations always give me a happy feeling.  I love snow, winter and Christmas....just the entire season. :) -Randy

~ 328/365 Galina ~

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Got to shoot it up with Galina Ermakova today out in Vegreville.  Was a short shoot but always an honor to work with her.  :) -Randy

~ 327/365 XBOX ONE ~

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My friend Lloyd Sonny Verreault came out and we got our geek on with his xbox one, since mine is still in Cowtown. :P  Have to say I wasn't impressed with the MASSIVE download time, we had to watch a movie instead and wait until morning before we could play some next gen COD!! But it was worth the wait and I cannot wait for mine to arrive. :) -Randy

~ 326/365 My NEXTGEN Tissue Box ~

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This photo is dedicated to the people at Microsoft that told me they were "sorry to hear that" when I told them my xbox one wasn't arriving when they told me it would.  :)  I am one unhappy gamer/nerd hence the tissue box, for me to wipe my next gen tears.  I had planned to post a sexy nextgen pic of my day one edition xbox.  But thanks to the good people of Microfail it isn't happening today.  -Randy

~ 325/365 Xbox One launches at midnight ~

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At midnight today the Xbox One is released, so in the honor of the NextGen I am taking a pic of a hero from an older gen, no Halo game on this launch line of games.  -Randy

Long time Microsoft Supporter Rant about my Day One Edition Xbox One

I have always been a Microsoft supporter, using their products and when their first console came out I was right on board.  I loved my xbox and was a beta tester for xbox live.  Then preordered the xbox 360 and had it the first day it came out.  Ordered it from EB games and walked right in on release day and grabbed my 360.  Now comes the NEXTGEN hype and I made sure to preorder.  This time I figured I'd order it right from Microsoft.  Good idea?  NOPE!!!!!


My experience with Microsoft has been terrible since I pre-ordered my Day one Edition Xbox One.  Here is a breakdown of events:

• Preordered it long time ago (July 3rd) to be exact

• Received an email telling me to update my credit card from them and then I called them and updated it, to make sure I get my console on Nov.22.  The lady from Microsoft tells me and reassures me that it will be delivered on the release day.  

• Then I get this email:

Dear Randy,
Our Mistake.
You recently got an email from us telling you that your credit card had expired for your Xbox One pre-order. That wasn’t the email we meant to send you, and we’re sorry about the confusion it may have caused.

What we meant to ask you to do was to verify your billing and shipping address. You can do that by checking your order history.

If you’ve checked your billing and shipping address and everything looks OK, you don’t need to do anything else. If you see a problem, then please call us at 866-883-3754.
We’re looking forward to delivering your Xbox One on 22 November.

Thanks for shopping at Microsoft online store. 

• I am not sure what to make of it, but look at them telling me how they are looking forward to delivering my xbox to me on that date, ohhh 22 November.

• So I am all excited thanks to Microsoft!!! I am getting my nextgen system soon....on Sunday, Nov.17th I get an email from them saying it's shipped and it includes a tracking number.  On Thursday I see it shows that the delivery date is end of the day Nov.25th......ummmmmm, huh?

• I have friends going to the midnight release in Edmonton at the Microsoft Store, one preordered and the other didn't.....guess what?  They both got nextgen systems.  A guy that didn't even preorder gets it before me?  Makes no sense.  Microsoft has my $$$$$$$$ and I don't have my console when they told me I would be getting it.  

• Yes, it seems silly to rant about it, but the point is Microsoft is a massive company, they could easily do something to make me a happier customer.  They messed up and I get told "sorry to hear that" from everyone I have spoken with from Microsoft when I called....but they cannot do anything about it.  

• Well Microsoft I am really sorry too, sorry I am a sucker for dealing with you and honestly so disappointed with the direction your company is taking.  After E3 I was ready to go PS4 and forget your console when your strict rules relating to the xbox one were described.  Then you lifted them and I was thrilled and preordered right away.  Honestly saying "sorry to hear that" feels like a slap in my face.  Really feeling like selling it on ebay and getting a PS4.  Not a happy gamer.  

• This is what UPS says on the tracking link: 

Scheduled Delivery:Monday, 11/25/2013, By End of Day
Well guess I have until Monday to decide if I sell it, return it and go PS4.....I most likely stick with xbox one, I am just sickened to see how a customer gets treated like this.  When a company is making as much money as they are you think they'd try harder to make a customer happy that is pouring a LOT of $$$ toward them.
END RANT! :)

~ 324/365 Movember Day 20 ~

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Day 20 of Movember.  Hoping to raise some more before it is over.  Please donate here: mobro.co/randypond and THANKS for your support!!!  This is a picture of my Mo!!  My kitty Nahla is NOT impressed by my Mo!!! -Randy

~ 323/365 MOVEMBER DAY 19 ~

© Randy Pond Photography - www.randypond.ca
MOVEMBER DAY: 19
MONEY RAISED: $190
Would love to raise my total in the last part of Movember.  It means a lot to me to raise money for this.....thanks to the people that have supported me over the years.  mobro.co/randypond is my page....you can donate or go and RANK me. :) -Randy

~ 322/365 Mr.Originality ~

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Fat Finny kitty decided to steal Nahla's spot by my computer.....wasn't going to shoot another cat picture but this picture sums up how I feel this week.  TIRED!!!! Burned out and not very original!! :) -Randy

~ 321/365 Scully ~

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Scully in her typical spot near the kitchen begging for human food. -Randy

~ 320/365 Caturday ~

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Caturday, love my cats.....without them I would have prob failed my 365.  Today had a BAD headache all day, didn't feel like taking a picture or doing much at all.  Thanks to Nahla I got to shoot my pic of the day.  :)
-Randy

~ 319/365 Christmas Vibe ~

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Christmas vibe around the house.  I love this time of year, snow, winter, Christmas....it's all good!!! -Randy

~ 318/365 Kitty ~

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Got photo bombed by my BIG man cat tonight doing a photo shoot.  :)  So decided to shoot him as he lay basking in the warm glow of my ring light.  Wish I could show the subject of my shoot tonight but those pictures are classified. :) -Randy

~ 317/365 Candace ~

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Warm winter day and they say global warming is fake, but yet we keep getting warmer winters and more ice than ever.......did a shoot with my good friend Candace and we found a natural water fall of melting snow coming off a rooftop. :) -Randy

 

~ 316/365 Night Shooting in Edm ~

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Went and tried some night time shooting on Whyte Ave with Destiny Kash after she had finished work.  She was awesome on short notice to meet up for some photos. -Randy

~ 315/365 Remembrance Day 2013 ~

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One thing that stands out about Canada is that when the guest speaker from the Canadian Forces came to our school to speak to the students about Remembrance Day he was introduced and his military record was mentioned. He served overseas fighting for peace but he also served in many Canadian Disasters helping us here. Our forces are more than just soldiers fighting against an enemy, they help and that is what makes Canada such an awesome place to live. So proud of the Men and Women of the Armed Forces that help where ever they are needed. Nov.11 is a day to thank and remember those that paid the ultimate price for us. -Randy

~ 313/365 Family Photo Session in the Snow ~

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Got to do a photo shoot with a former teaching pal from my days at Lamont Elementary School.  Time sure goes by quick.  Their adorable daughter is turning two and I was there to shoot some winter pics, love the snow!!! :) -Randy

~ 314/365 Walking Dead and Kitty Cuddles ~

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A Caturday like Sunday, cuddling kittens and watching Walking Dead and chilling with the family. -Randy

~ 312/365 CLOCK ~

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My awesome clock!! A gift from my super wifey!!  I was tired from a long week so went around looking for something random to shoot.  I get a week off, but I'm still so busy!!! Trying to finish some work.  -Randy

~ 311/365 MO BRO UPDATE ~

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So here is a MOBRO update.....my MO is slowly coming in, I admit my inner wookie is slowing down.  Today we had our Remembrance Day Ceremony so I was all suited up.  This shot is a tad out of focus but I think I look better out of focus anyway, har har.  -Randy

~ 310/365 Sand Trooper ~

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More fun with my macro tubes....gotta say it's cool to get close to stuff and take pics. :) -Randy

~ 309/365 Art Supplies are Awesome ~

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Art supplies are my fave thing in the world....yes, even rank higher than camera supplies I must say.  -Randy

~ 308/365 Boba Fett ~

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Got a new macro extension tube from ebay.....pretty cool.  allowed me to get nice and close to some of my nerd toys....here is an example. :)  -Randy

~ 307/365 Winter Sunday ~

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Winter arrived in Vegreville for another year......lovely winter day, warm, snow melting on the street.  I am pumped for some winter weather. :)
-Randy

~ 306/365 SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ~

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So tonight we finally greet the first snow!!! People that suck and don't love it's true name call it "the white stuff", but whatever you call it, it's awesome and a part of being Canadian and I LOVE it!!!!  Not gonna be a snow hater ever.  It's part of life in the north.....deal with it. -Randy 

~ 305/365 Fall ~

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Counting down to 365 now.....getting closer and closer to the end of my 365.  Started Movember and excited for the finish to this year.  So much on the go.  -Randy