Winter Daze

It it that time of year when I just "take it one day at a time" as I wait for Spring! Actually, in spite of this being the "worst" (most adverse weather) since I moved to Lakeland, I still have managed to get most of my morning walk and bicycling in (although bicycling does get a little cold at times). I have only missed a few events because of snow and bad weather.

There is even a "good" side. I am wearing clothes I haven't worn for years since it is normally too warm (even during the winter) to wear them and I just hadn't gotten around to giving them away.

I was going through some of my clothes and I have cold weather clothes that go back to at least 1981. That means I have had them for 30 years! I never would have even guessed that 30 years later I would still be wearing them.

Actually the cold doesn't bother me a bit during my walk. My hands get cold while I bike and I never have found a pair of gloves that are warm enough, but thin enough so I can shift gears and maintain control of the bike.

I just switched from biking by "distance" rather than "time". I found I was dogging it to use up time, if I go by the distance, I am more likely to go faster so I can reach my mileage faster!

However, the Winter continues and I wish again I had made arrangements to be somewhere hot and warm sometime this Winter as I wait for Spring to arrive.

One thought keeps me going through the cold winter-Spring is coming and the first little yellow flowers will soon show up!

Best Buy (Mission Accomplished?)

Just to finish the situation with Best Buy.

Our TV was finally taken to the shop and apparently finally fixed. At least it hasn't had a problem yet.

The Tivo has been installed correctly and we are taking our Comcast box back tomorrow.

We haven't paid the $109 for the "service call" that was actually a warranty call, but since we now have proof that it was installed incorrectly (even according to Best Buy) when the Best Buy "Geek Squad" Agent came out and tried to say nothing was wrong and charge us $109. We haven't gotten a letter saying we didn't owe it, but we haven't gotten a bill and I'm sure we won't get one.

My major concern about Best Buy is the absolute total refusal of anyone to respond to my concerns and their refusal to apparently even consider that one of their agents were wrong. Our overall total visits include four for the Tivo, and six for the TV since December 5, 2010.

A major concern is that most of the technicians indicated no sense of accountability for doing the job right and the overall glaring lack of concern and response by Best Buy management. The only person who responded at all was the person on Facebook. Absolutely no one else (in immediate or upper management, including the Presidents office) responded or expressed any concern. I wonder how Best Buy stays in business.

A disturbing experience of defective customer service by a major retailer, although I do want to state that the problem was eventually taken care of. If it hadn't been for the attempt to charge us for a warranty call, I would probably be sitting here with an improperly connected Tivo and a defective TV, so it wasn't all bad.

I do have to praise the Best Buy "front line" representatives who listened and kept dispatching technicians to resolve the problem. They did a super job of listening and trying to respond to my concerns. It is too bad the supervisors and upper management demonstrated such a culture of horrible customer service and response, when many of the front line personnel were excellent.

Birds life "brutish and short"

I recently read that a birds life is "brutish and short" and that only 50 % of birds survive during a season. (This was in a short about the bird's "falling dead out of the sky" in Arkansas.

Makes me feel better about the time and efforts I make in feeding the birds in my backyard!

It was the Best of Days and the Worst of Days

December 21 (first day of Winter) is the worst of days because it is the shortest and darkest day of the year and the best of days because the days start getting longer and Summer is coming!

On the other hand, June 21 (first day of Summer) is the best of days because it is the longest and lightest day of the year and the worst of days because the days start getting shorter and Winter is coming!

Problem Resolved? (Somewhat at least)

After 1 1/2 years of frustration, the problem with the Bestbuy tv etc. may be resolved, or at least mitigated. Of course, there is still the matter of the TiVo which was improperly installed with the Comcast Box etc.

A TV repair company that contracts with Bestbuy came by and knew immediately what was wrong. The tv's required a software upgrade Bustbuy was supposed to do before we purchased them.. He did it (from his vehicle) and we haven't had a problem thus far. This, after a year and 1/2 of fighting Comcast and Bestbuy!

Of course, in the ultimate stupidity by Bestbuy, they wouldn't let him do the other tv (the very same model bought on the very same day), because it wasn't authorized and they had some kind of weird policy about one repair per day! Aliene even talked to a Supervisor. I called back and of course couldn’t talk with a Supervisor, but was advised they could simply schedule a work repair.

I didn’t have the numbers and when Aliene called back they advised her they would prefer to “walk me through it”. Of course, so they could blame me if anything went wrong. I advised them they should send the same repair company out.

What is really weird is that the very first repair person they asked to do the work on the tv decided it was an electronic card. (This was without looking at it.) However, they advised they wouldn't do the work unless we took the tv down, undid everything and then reinstall everything. I told them that was unacceptable and so they sent out two other tv repair people, one who didn't find anything wrong and the one who immediately knew what was wrong.

However, Bestbuy had apparently approved the first tv repair shop to change out the electronic card and they advised Aliene, even if not needed, they were going to do it and if we didn't let them in, they would cancel out contract!

We have decided Bestbuy has to be the most disorganized and incompetent company in the world.

To make matters worse, I haven’t received a call from the Bestbuy main office where they advised they WOULD call back within 24-48 hours (that was about 65 hours ago) and a representative who I have been dealing with on the incorrect service call commented that “Well, it wasn’t the Tivo installation”.

Maybe that is why I sold all of my Bestbuy stock.

Comcast and Bestbuy: The Saga Continues: Another $130 down the drain, the problem continues

The Comcast service technician came out last night (Tuesday). After charging $130, we discovered he had disconnected the TiVo and, worst yet, the "repairs" did absolutely nothing to help the problem.

(These were the "repairs" that two Bestbuy reps and one tv technician said were Comcast's responsibility and "they would fix the problem and Comcast shouldn't charge us for them".

After he left, Aliene called Comcast. The Representative tried some things and then said she'd call back in 30 minutes. Guess what!!! Of course, she never called back.

When I got home, (this was several hours later after the 30 minutes had long expired), I called Comcast and was basically advised, "get over it, we are Comcast". She let me know that Comcast could absolutely care less about my problem and their incompetent inability to fix the problem.

After this, I got with TiVo and discovered that three Bestbuy service technicians and two Comcast technicians had us using the cable box when we didn't need it (which saves us about $15 per month, or $180 per year!).

To be continued.

Bestbuy "warranty" is worthless

The Bestbuy "warranty" is worthless, since the "service tech" can apparently decide to charge whatever he wants and say the service call isn't part of the warranty.

I spent over three hours on the phone with Bestbuy over the weekend and all they will say is that the Service Tech (who I am sure makes more money on a non-warranty service call) is the one who decides! A strange way to run a business.

Less that two weeks after the installation, the item I purchased is not working properly again! So, who do I call when I know that the "Geek Squad"member is financially motivated to call it a non-warranty call and it apparently is not reviewable by anyone?

Obviously, I will never again purchase an item from Bestbuy where he warranty is important! They just flat don't honor it and, what is worse, charge an extremely high fee for the call!

John Berry

I watched a video of John Berry this morning signing "O Holy Night" and was amazed at his magnificent singing voice. I don't recall ever hearing him before, but when I checked Google, I found he had a number of albums and is well known.

I checked with iTunes, found the "O Holy Night" album on sale for $4.99 and downloaded it! Some days things just work our right! I probably will download other of his albums in the future. I really enjoy listening to his voice. I even am becoming a member of his Fan Club in the event I am ever close enough to see him perform in person!

Bestbuy: An example of Corporate arrogance and fees

Over the past several weeks especially, and the past 1 1/2 years in general, I have discovered that Bestbuy does not honor its "protection plan", has extremely poor "customer service" and is interested mainly in sticking it's customers with additional fees and charges. In addition Bestbuy does not honor it's installation guarantee.

Just yesterday, at attempt was made to charge a $109 "service fee" in spite of the fact the service call was necessary due to improper installation by Bestbuy.

I spent 45 minutes on the phone and was advised different items such as "the computer was down" to "they aren't answering" (other departments in Bestbuy). Finally they advised I would be on hold for at least another 15 minutes and I advised them to call me. Of course, that is what they wanted and they never called back.

On the Service Fee, I called Friday and advised of the problem. In this case, we are covered both by their "protection plan" and their "installation guarantee" of one year (both I found are worthless).

I carefully explained that both Bestbuy and Comcast have charged nuisance "service calls" in the past and I wanted to know if there was going to be a service charge. She advised 'the service tech would ADVISE ME IN ADVANCE of any charges. Of course, at the end of the call the service tech gave me a bill for $109 and is now harassing me for payment. Of course, I will pay it and immediately protest the charge as fraud.

I am also planning on notifying the Tennessee Attorney General of the lack of Bestbuy to honor its "protection plan" and "installation guarantee" and asking if this violates consumer protection laws.

Bestbuy was also very misleading when we bought the items. We excused it as us not asking the right questions, but now I feel like it was deliberate misleading and it is a part of their corporate culture.

Another lesson learned. We actually purchase most of our appliances etc. from Sears just because we are pleased with their warranty performance. We should have done so this time also!

#?*! Motor Trend's Stereotyping of Older People (AKA "Your Grandfathers Car"!)

I used to read/scan Car and Driver and enjoy it. The writing was good and entertaining and they didn’t take themselves too seriously. For whatever reason (probably the blizzard of renewals you get to the point that I just give up to wait for the final offer, or maybe a lack of time), I quit receiving it.

So, in a weak moment, I accepted a offer from Motor Trend that was extremely low cost. From the first issue, I was disappointed in Motor Trend, the writing was poor, the magazine was disorganized.

I realized I had “gotten what I paid for”, which wasn’t much except another magazine to give to the Library after it sat round unread for a month.

A reference to “your Grandfathers car” and “This car is for people who are too old to enjoy a good car” (or something to that nature-I tossed the magazine in the trash in disgust) infuriated me.

I have never liked the term “your Grandfathers/Grandmothers (fill in the blank)” at any age, even when I was a teenager, much less now that I am a Grandfather. (I also hate the term “Dude” for other reasons.)

I am surprised in this day that such a stereotypical term is used to denigrate older people as uncreative, liking plain items, and, by extension, being dull and boring.

Probably I am all the more edgy about this when, within the last two weeks I encountered two people who are probably in their 50’s and early 60’s who were “downsized” and now can’t even get an interview, much less a job. They both are about to lose their house.

THEN, i see a reference stereotyping a car as a “your Grandfathers car” to boring, unimaginative and “good enough” for older people who of course, according to the writer, aren’t interested in any innovative cars. Of course, I know “Grandfathers and Grandmothers” who drive Corvettes, experimental cars, innovative cars as well as the “reasonable” cars!

Of course, I canceled my subscription to Motor Trend, but, more important, I do not intend to let the stereotyping of older people as uninteresting, unimaginative, uncreative etc. who only deserve or want the most boring of anything. I will protest any use of that term I see it.

I think such stereotyped images of older people is one reason I see so many older people out of jobs, desperate for work and, in many cases about ready to lose their houses and become homeless.

Now how I will respond to “Dude” is another posting. (Another term I truly hate is “pimping a (whatever)”, but that is also for the future!

Thoughts on a Rainy Morning

Veterans Day in 1985 I purchased my first “true” computer, an IBM clone (as it was known at the time). I was advised I could purchase a hard drive later “when I was ready for it”. I did purchase one a short time later, a, at the time, massive 10 mg hard drive (mg, not gb). I actually used it until I skipped several generations to a “486” as it was known.

I actually purchased my first computer a “Vic 20” for $83 around Christmas of 1981. I had a lot of fun with it, and still have two Vic 20’s and a Commodore 64 stored away.

For some reason, I always seem to get my computers around holidays (although my recent ones and my iPad have been on “tax free holidays”!).

I bought my first laptop at Radio Shack on Christmas Eve, 1988, a nice Christmas present to to myself.

We bought our first Apple, an iMac G5, five years ago around Thanksgiving. It definitely changed the way I related to computers, especially when I discovered the “1 to 1” program at Apple Computers. It may not be for everyone, but it really hit a spot with me.

I have never felt I really use a computer to even a small amount of it’s true capacity. I enjoy working with the computer on web sites, photos, music etc., but it takes a lot of time. The Apple 1-1 program on “personal projects” is good, since I can work on a project with an “expert” nearby to help. Instead of just becoming frustrated, I can get assistance to get me past my blocking point.

I mentioned to someone the other day, I don’t have a problem with growing older as such, but I am really sorry computers like this weren’t around when I was a child and going to school!

My first experience with a computer was actually in the Air Force, where I worked with an IBM something, a big massive machine that we fed information on punch cards. In graduate school, i could use a central computer for some purposes, although it was an extremely complicated and limited process.

I watched computers develop. I recently read an biography about Steve Jobs and an autobiography by Steve Wozniak. It was fascinating how the personal computer developed.

When I read this I think about a teacher in high school who said “the individual person isn’t able to start a business anymore”. At the time I thought she was wrong, and obviously she was. Of course I always thought I would be one to make a fortune and I was wrong in that case, not that I found it really matters.

I am surprised at the lack of progress in other areas. For example, basically cars are the same as when they are invented. I remember when I was a child seeing an ad with a car driving itself and the passengers playing cards etc. as the car went down the road.

Also, I thought by the time was this age, I would be traveling by backpacks or some type of personal aircraft. I am vaguely disappointed that cars, houses, appliances etc. are basically the same as when I was a child, although there have been major advances in the basic design.

I can’t even imagine where we would be if other items in our life-cars, houses, appliances, etc. had advanced like the computer where we would be now.

Raining a slow cold rain out. I will start waiting for Spring flowers to appear!

Weeding Books

I look at all my books and know I have to "weed" my book collection sometime. It is difficult, since each one (even the ones I haven't read) shout out their own story to me as I try to find one to throw away.

Yes, one, I have tried in the past to weed one book per week, but I can't bring myself to weed the first one even. I try to think that the book will enjoy being read by someone, but.... I even made a rule that anytime I add a book, I need to "weed" a book, I can't always bring myself to do it.

I look at them and see the potential in them, especially the ones I haven't read.

I can't believe I will ever feel about "e-books" the way I feel about physical books. It just isn't the same. Of course, I will be able to save all of my e-books without worrying about space.

It is starting to get cold, 46 degrees this morning, after being 78 degrees just several days ago. I don't mind the cool weather as knowing that it is going to be cool for the next six months or so!

The Answer?

Well, we may have several answers.

The easy one. I disconnected the electric connection AND took out the battery from the smoke alarm and it gave several whimpers and was quiet. When we bought the house, we assumed it had a fire alarm tied into the alarm system (so the fire department was automatically notified). We found out we didn't, so we had new alarms installed that tied in directly to the alarm system that notified the dispatcher so the fire department would automatically be called in the event the smoke alarm went off. They left the "old" smoke alarms (wired with a backup battery).

Aliene now has TWO answers to her problem. The Internist thinks she has Lymphocyte Colitis and that a shot he gave her stopped the diarrhea. The Gastrologist thinks she has has a Gluten allergy. In any event, her diarrhea has (somewhat stopped) and all she wants to do is have it stop and get out of the hospital!

She actually got hungry today, for the first time in four weeks. She is seeing a Nutritionist tomorrow and hopefully will be out by Friday. Of course, we have thought before she was getting out and been disappointed, so... We are hoping!

We'll keep you advised!

The Tell-Tale Alarm

Slowly, I am going insane from the "beeping" of the "dead" fire alarm! I now understand Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart".

"The Tell-Tale Heart" was in the literature books I read when I was a child. Actually I probably read it numerous times before I finally understood it, like the store "Alas Babylon" (about nuclear disaster, but I didn't realize what it was about until I was an adult. I found the literature books several years ago and purchased them for my library. I started reading Vincent, John and Mary Anne's high school literature books when I was in the 4th grade because I was bored and I read them numerous times (The Tell-Tale Heart", "The Hitchhiker", "O Captain", "Our Town", "Mary White" the one about the telegraph boy who delivers the telegram of death, the kidnappers who end up paying to get rid the child they kidnapped, ("the Ransom of Red Chief") the "Gift of the Magi" the "War of the Worlds", "Outcasts of Poker Flats," , Rendezvous with Death" etc. still stick in my mind from the numerous readings. That was over 50 years ago! I'm going to have to take the time to pull them out and read them again. I especially enjoyed the American Literature.

Actually, I used the "Rendezvous with Death" idea in a speech about my experience of being charged by a buffalo on a hike up Elk Mountain in Oklahoma years ago.

I am composing an e-mail to the alarm manufacturer in my head and it is not a nice e-mail or letter!

Actually, since Aliene is still in the hospital I'm not spending a lot of time here right now and if I really concentrate I can ignore it and I can get a motel room if I actually have to. It would be cheaper than repairing the fire alarm, wall and electrical damage I would cause by doing what I really want to.

Summer is truly over, report on weight

64 Degrees this morning, so I know summer is truly over, not just officially over! I wore a long sleeve shirt and still needed to add more clothes! I realize there will be more warm weather before Winter, but it just isn't the same as the "endless Summer".

I weigh myself once a week, in accordance with Weight Watcher instructions. I had lost 19 lbs last week, I'll weigh tomorrow morning and see if I lost anymore. If not, I'll just keep on trying!

Summer of 2010

The Summer of 2010 has officially ended! I consider it to have been a wonderful Summer, mostly hot and dry! I enjoyed it! I realize the seasons have to change, but I hate to see Summer go. The cold of Winter seems to last so long before the Summer heat comes back.

Every year, around February, I start thinking I need to take a short vacation someplace warm, but I never have. Maybe this year....

Aliene is doing better, the Doctors have found the cause of the problem and hopefully can treat it. I am pleased to find that the Saint Francis of Bartlett is so nice. The Emergency Room was quick and almost all of the personnel are dedicated and customer oriented. We are pleased to have the hospital so close. (The other hospitals are good also, but it is good to have one about 5 miles away! What is strange is that I thought the hospital wasn't in our insurance plan,

Watching my Weight

After the Family Reunion in early August, I decided to get serious about my weight and start "watching what I eat". I had subscribed to the "On-line Weight Watchers" web sites/program for almost a year and hadn't really been following it consistently, so I decided this was it! If I didn't use it, I'd cancel the program as a waste of money. The iPhone App that allowed me to sign in and record what I ate from anywhere was a real help.

I decided I wasn't going to "diet", but I was going to "change my way of eating".

I was shocked at the amount of calories, fat and sodium in restaurant and other food, so it has been fairly simple to identify why I was gaining weight. Controlling my eating will always be a problem for me I expect. Fortunately, I have kept up my exercise even as I kept up my eating!

Thus far I have been fairly successful at controlling my eating. Peanut Butter is what I miss most, although I do allow myself to eat it within the "point" system of Weightwatchers.

One good thing about the Weightwatchers Plan is that it allows some additional "weekly" points and it also provides "points" (Points equal additional food!) for exercise, so I have even extended my exercise to get an additional point or two?

The bottom line is a 14 1/2 pound loss. I realize the "easy pounds" are off and it will be much harder from now on, but at least is is encouraging!

First sign Summer of 2010 is ending

Sitting out on my back patio this morning, enjoying my backyard, but I feel the first chill of the end of summer. To me that is the first sign that Summer is ending, when it is too cool to comfortably sit in my backyard and work/read/think.

To me the Summer of 2010 will be remembered as one of the best Summers, since I like hot, dry summers! I will miss my early morning patio sessions when I finally give up and move my early morning sessions inside.

I get an iPad

I got an iPad during the Tennessee "Sales Tax Holiday". It is WONDERFUL! I am still learning it, but it, at least thus far, is well worth the money!

Thoughts during an early morning drive

Back to Lakeland from Cookeville, Tennessee to Lakeland. Headed out early morning while still dark (4:30 a.m.).

Cookeville is midway between Nashville and Knoxville on I-40. I never think of Cookeville as being so big. I always think of it as a tiny little town, but it has a huge variety of restaurants, including my favorites Steak n Shake and Starbucks. They also have a Sams and a number of hotels. I mentally think of it as 5 or 6,000, while it is actually 25,000 or so.

I always forget how hilly this part of Tennessee is. I'm not sure if they are considered mountains for not, but when you grow up in Kansas, I consider this mountains!

There is an early morning fog that gives an eerily dream like quality to the drive as cars and trucks speed down the road. Makes me wonder where everyone is going this time of day!

I listen to XM channel 80 early this morning. Later I will switch. Frequently I like classical during drives like this, but this morning it is electronic music. Several years ago, I finally got fed up with commercial radio and just quit listening to any commercial radio stations. Between XM and iPods, iPhones etc., I can do without the constant talking, smutty stories , "jokes" that are really vicious attacks, and dj's who seem to think I care what they think or who laugh for long periods. Anyway, I decided XM is worth the money and I enjoy the non-talking music. It has many channels of non-talking music, and when the talking starts, I switch. XM Channel 80 is one of those channels that I may love what is playing and I may hate it, but this morning I enjoy the selections.

I like to listen to the news also, but not in early morning to the "news" shows, which is nothing but a lot of self serving talk news about "entertainment" etc. Later in the day they can be be better. Anyway, I start off listening to electronic music as I speed through the early morning fog in the hills (mountains) of eastern Tennessee.

As the sun comes up, I switch to classical and start to worry about the rush hour going through Nashville, which can be really bad. Except for a few "bully's" who think I should move over when they come within a foot of my bumper, the drive has been good. (Sometimes I move, sometimes I don't. I've learned not to worry about it.)

Traffic increases as I approach Nashville, heavy, speeding well over the speed limit, but overall courteous and it keeps moving.

I was concerned it would be like the stretch or I-40 between Little Rock and Conway, Arkansas, which has the most stupid, discourteous, aggressive, angry and bad drivers I have ever seen. That stretch is horrible, especially during rush hour. It is truly unbelievable to drive that stretch and I wish there was a way to avoid it.

Strangely enough, there is no problem going through Nashville, maybe I"m early enough to miss the true rush hour. I give a sigh of relief as I get past downtown Nashville, since I know it won't be bad from here.

Stop at McDonalds for breakfast and try to use their wi fi, but can't get on. I thought about stopping at someplace where I could try something different and local, but decide time is of the essence as is a good cup of coffee. Also, I wanted to browse the computer. Thanks to Blackberry and iPhones, I don't have to worry about checking for e-mail. (McDonlds does make good cup of coffee early in the morning.) I read the USA Today I picked up before I left the hotel and eat my burritos and apple pie and coffee. (It is strange at McDonalds, one apple pie is .99, two apple pies is $1.00) I don't eat at McDonalds often, so it qualifies as something different.

As the sun comes up and I start towards western Tennessee, I switch to Country Music and occasionally try a news show. (I used to like "car talk", but it has turned into just a bunch of strange "jokes" and very little information. They must be burned out on it, but just can't stop.)

We know the rest stops (and all the McDonalds and Loves County Store locations) by heart from Nashville to Oklahoma City on I-40. I stop and take a 5 minute nap. I am on a "driving jag", where it seems like I could drive forever without stopping, but I have a bad habit of getting sleepy and found a 5 minute nap every few hours is good, whether I think I need it or not.

I arrive in Lakeland without incident. Of course, then I wonder what my hurry was. Off to work and the thoughts of my early morning drive are over.