MONDAY: Technical problems. Computer keeps dropping off the internet (wonder where it goes). My only solution is plug/unplug. Ventured into the treacherous world of LiveChat - dilemma of how to get to a real, though not of this country, person. The robot is extremely limited and keeps saying "reword your request" or in other words I'm only a robot programmed to frustrate you to the point of giving up. Finally put in representative "Voila" - you're only 5th in line. After techie and I went through the usual, part of which was a commercial for new operations/products; I asked "so have we solved the original problem?" Umm no or I don't know-do you want a live in-person person visit? Yes!
Miracle he showed up at 4:45 in a 5-7 window; did his walk-around and said do you want the good news or the bad news? Hmmm. Easy to diagnose, not so easy to fix. Apparently in the myriad of visits from Comcast no one ever noticed our cable was coming into the wrong side of the house so grounding was sketchy resulting in mucho interference. Geez. So he rewired the whole shooting match through the garage and into the basement furnace room. However there is a cable laying the length of the driveway that they will come back to bury...someday.
Amazing reception. It was either that or wrapping cable around the whole house which, like a lady's stockings, is eventually going to sag. He said some houses were so crowded and badly designed he doesn't even offer the inside route. Finished at 7 with many apologies (not needed) and recommended we trade in our old boxes for new ones as they're charging us for them anyway and might as well have the good ones. Odd they don't rush to tell you that when they merrily bill you every month. Also he asked that we not make any changes for at least 48 hours as management counts it against the technician, regardless of how benign the issue. I hear you brother.
TUESDAY: Does anyone else wonder why lawyers advertise so much about insurance companies not paying for your accident unless you hire a lawyer? Collusion? Keeping both of them in business? Some weird "chicken" game? Speaking of un-lawyers I had the overrated pleasure of meeting Sir Feiger one day as I was bringing him up to meet the Mayor. Just as you would imagine a totally unpleasant character who did not even lower himself to grunt at or acknowledge the underling ushering him up. I knew he was a lower species when we had to defend the City from a wrongful death situ in the jail. He was absolutely disgusting in court and to our witnesses and then on breaks flirted with and asked out one of the female officers. It's all a game to them and, as they're guaranteed a large piece of settlement pie, nothing is off-limits.
Political Rant: Love Mitchie telling corporations to stay out of politics when he was a major supporter of them forming Citizens United (corporations regarded as people which allows them to give scads of money to political campaigns) meaning they have a RIGHT to be involved in politics. It is a-ok to give me money both above and below the table but don't publicly humiliate us. Hypocrisy is the blue plate special with these guys. Counter culture my royal rear. Boycott football, basketball for kneeling; MLB for taking a stand, but a legitimate concern over people's rights is horribly out of bounds. Though to be fair, the media has to stop this love affair with the Biden administration. When they pull a blooper, get the facts wrong, etc. Call them out! Hard to defend a free press when you folks don't do your job and report ALL the facts without prejudice.
Nature Note: While working outside cleaning up the landscaping and fallen branches I kept hearing the various bird songs of the many species inhabiting our land. They seemed to take turns with each bird serenading for a long period of time and then another taking center stage. My only complaint: find another melody! You can only listen to a chorus 26 times before it becomes monotonous. If the "chick" hasn't discovered you after that it ain't happening.
WEDNESDAY: Another poddie in the can. Blooped right in the beginning when I said "thanks for joining me this morning, er, I means this afternoon." Only later did I realize whoever listens doesn't know or care when it was recorded. Though I will try to remember to say "joining me today". The person recording us said ah, bloopers just make you sound human. Well I have been exceedingly human with all these recordings!
A dear friend's Mother passd away today. There are fewer and fewer of that generation left. We are the inheritor's of what they left both finished and unfinished. We attempted to keep our own flames glowing from our radical and world-changing youth but as we become the elders, we realize no one will remember our "plans" to change the world. The seed of love we planted grew no roots leaving a harvest of crooked politicians, climate disaster, never-ending wars, greed, too many hungry and desperate people and a racism that burns brighter the more we try to spread out the coals.
THURSDAY: Had a long talk with one of my podcast contacts and we are becoming more friends than interviewer and interviewee. She leads at times a dangerous but necessary life trying to put out fires around the world created by the friction of people who believe only violence is their way out of unsupportable pain. She said " the more I do this work I just come back to the fact that we are all human beings". There is no difference, ethnicity, color, race, religion that obliterates the fact that we are all the same.
FRIDAY: Fun day. After waiting the requisite 48 hours or so as instructed by the service tech (see Monday) went to the Xfinity store to get updated goodies. Silly No. 1- made an appt then watched the multitudes just enter and leave the store as we sit in the car. Soooo check in online and go into store. When I pointed out we were early but people seemed to go in and out at will, she said well as soon as you check in you can come in. Ok. Silly No. 2- turns out my old modem is not Xfinity so no freebie exchange. Silly No. 3 -hope you don't mind but I'm going to have you work with a trainee but don't worry I'll be right here. New emp had been on board since Monday so no problem. Then the trainer kept dealing with customers instead of training so newbie kept apologizing for her speed and errors. No problem; retired people learn patience first as it could be the most exciting thing that happens all day. And wow someone sees me and is talking to me Yay!
On to Best Buy to find wireless head phones or ear buds so I can enjoy my virtual conference next week which opens with my recorded rah-rah Welcome. Silly No 1-how does wireless work? With bluetooth he says so how old is your 'puter. Older than yesterday and younger than God. Probably no bluetooth he says (NOTE: apparently I do have bluetooth when I go to settings). Silly me No. 2 Also do you have buds that don't go into the ears (major wax problems) and I don't want Mickey Mouses' (head phones). Saw a cool set that go behind the ears but Silly No. 3- they're wireless... needing bluetooth... So settled on el cheapo Mickey Mouses.
With trepidation we approached the install of the new modem and new TV boxes. Last time we needed the assistance of the daughter, son-in-law and several techies on the phone and a lot of shouted instructions. This time figured it out ourselves with a modicum of personnel, instructions and shouting. Apparently they have made many improvements in the past several years on install so even I can do it. I was so proud until I tried to use my cheapie head phones. Apparently just plugging them into the hole does not do it. Shitski. I am not even going to anticipate any success when I try to print something on my cheapo printer.
SATURDAY: While running errands today it happened to come up in a particular stop that we had been married almost 50 years. This is followed usually by a, badly hidden, intake of breath from the hearer. The OH said later "I'm going to start telling people I married you when you were twelve". Oddly enough I did not come from a broken home and Dad wasn't all that eager to let me go I guess as he told the OH that first year "don't try claiming her on your income tax this year". (I guess my 8 months of deduction was worth something). 😊
Politics is gettin weirder by the day. Opposing everything and never working together on anything with the other side keeps you you loyal to Trump? Really. How does he fit into any sane equation. Apparently bettering the life of your constituents like approving a stimulus check, help for the poor and getting vaccines is secondary to Mr. T boot licking. But oh my goodness the party that opposes government control regarding sensible gun rules, vaccine passports (not pushed by gov't. but business BTW), and shut-downs but they think it's ok to go against physicians, parents and patients (the 3 p's) in not allowing trans-gender treatment for those under 18. Apparently suicide is a personal issue.
But in the interest of giving equal time, CBS totally screwed up this week. Creative editing made DeSantis, Florida, look to be in cahoots with Publix for the vax roll-out. They out and out lied and changed the story to try to make up for their first deliberate faux pas. When the democrats call foul on a republican, you know you went way over the line. A lot of journalists (legitimate ones) and news outlets lean decidedly left. But don't panic there are definitely right wing media outlets and, have you checked out facing book? It is definitely on the conservative/crazy conspiracy side of the blanket.Which just behooves us to check MORE than one source when something is "jucily" too good or bizarre to be true.
SUNDAY: Finally. My sister is acting like a bride. First panic - she couldn't find her fancy shoes, belt and jewelry purchased last year before our covid buddy cancelled all things of importance, tradition or fun. Then she was concerned the flower shop was still in business. I tried to explain that I believed her fiancee had already been in contact with them, but after another flurry of "everything's crazy here right now" I said I would follow up-no worries. She also said she would be honored if our oldest male and her "brother" for 50+ years (Burt) would walk her into the ceremony How weird is that? My husband walking my sister to me as the presider. Only presenting, not giving her away. We're all a bunch of feminists - we choose 👸 who we share our crown with....
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