Odds, Ends, and the Family...ie Rambling...

If you never pray for government leaders, this would be a good time to start. Pray for wisdom, insight, unity, and Gods will to come through. I'm in financial services, and last week we almost had the system stop...that means you can't get your money, no joke...That would have been terrible. It may have stayed like that for a week or more. Can you imagine? Even in college, we learned that the banking system is a house of cards, it always has been. So some day it may unravel...but we should not invite that scenario...I'm not defending anyone on Wall Street either. I'm just thinking about all of us living our lives in peace, and dignity...

So, on to happier subjects! Max is into paint ball now...and he wants gear (expensive!) I told him to wait and see if he stays interested for more than a month...I have an object lesson I can point to so he understands. It's a set of drums. He wanted those drums sooo badly. He drummed on everything, all the time. "Dad, I just love to drum...it's who I am." Wow...so we got the drum set, which was cool since I learned to play (nothing complicated). I've always wanted to do that. Max, however, lost interest with in a few weeks. So, now the drums are mine...I'll keep them for awhile. But Max is not that way in everything. He stayed with Wu Shu for over a year now.

This has been an extremely stressful year. My worst ever, stress wise. I think that is true for a lot of people. So I am trying to adapt, as when these kind of patterns set in they usually remain for some time. So, I have decided to drink more wine...kidding. No, I exercise, walk the dog, read, pray, and try to prioritize (work is off the hook busy).
I am close to breaking my "return all phone calls" rule. There is just not enough time in the day. I know people who don't return calls because they think it's "executive", I think it's "inconsiderate", so I need to find a solution which lets people know the reason is time...ideas anyone?

I don't know about anyone else but I'm sick of politics...it's funny, for all the comments I've made (all throughly thought out in my melancholy mind) I have not once had someone say "Hey, you make a good point."...that is, unless they agreed with me in the first place. (Hey, I've told people I disagree with I think they have a good point when they do...Really!) So...I guess we all develop our ideologies over a long period of time, and they are based not only in our intellect, but also our emotions. So, it's a tough nut to crack.

I'm thinking of ways to get involved in my local church again. I see so many get involved, then lead, then get frustrated, then quit. So, I'm a little timid about doing anything; however, it's on my mind.

Jen is working on "character"...this is her own project. She has been much easier to get along with since she started. Luke is doing lots with his music...two bands, lessons, and may go to work at a music store...I told him today that a friend of his is going into engineering...he replied that he had a level 54 Paladin....HAHA...He kills me.

Last Sydney and I...we are taking a pottery class together...wheel...she is the best in class...I am not.
We really want to take a trip...but the logistics! :-)

If you read all the way through this blather, thanks for listening!

Most IMPORTANT Point EVER Made by Bill Maher!!!

I don't necessarily agree with the title of this video, but it is a good point. Why don't more people complain? Do you know that in the Wall Street bailout that they have written in the law that it cannot be subject to overview?
Yea, I'll get a link for you

More of the same...there is socialism, then there s fascism.

Isn't it ironic?

First, the notion that Democrats will tax, and regulate our country into a socialistic disaster are clearly not true. Look at the Clinton Presidency...higher taxes, but not crushing taxes. A budget surplus, and no socialism.
Now isn't it ironic that in the last 8 years we have not only eroded our civil rights (Patriot Act, Military Tribunal Act, Warrantless wire taps, etc.) We regulate education more than ever, (No Child Left Behind)...And now we have now socialized the banking system! (Freddy Mac, Fannie Mae, AIG, and massive oversight to come.) It will affect us all, trust me on that one. It is also ironic that minimum oversight, and regulation might have averted this melt down. So, who brought us big government, and socialism? Not to mention that after over 20 years have still not delivered on Roe v Wade. The Republicans. I've heard the counter arguments, and they are weak as Ohio State Buckeye football teams in high profile games. The Republicans brought us socialism either because they have a false ideology, they can't govern, are lying about the "small government" platform, or a combination of all three.
I hope we wake up.

COX Cable...an epilogue...

Did anyone read my Cable Company post last week (see below)? I have rather limited readership of this blog. However, it just so happened that a COX Cable employee read that post, and left an anonymous comment! They offered to get me in touch with someone who could resolve my problem. My first reaction was that I was getting punked in some way, or that someone might be after personal information. It's not that I have trust issues, or am paranoid. It's just that, although it's a fantastic tool, you have to keep your guard up on the internet. After all, it was an anonymous comment (under the name "Will")! I responded that I was skeptical; however, they could leave contact info in the comments if they wanted to do so, and that I would follow up. The next day I had someone to contact by email (Christine). We set up a time for a phone call in order to go over my problems. We had that call today. Christine is in "communications" (I think thats it). I believe the first COX employee to leave the anonymous comment (Will) was also in communications. First of all, Christine made sure she understood me. I tend to ramble...to say the least...it's something I try to keep in check...however, it happens...Anyhow, she repeated what I was trying to explain to be sure we were on the same page...she showed great personal skills...and told me where she would go for a solution, and that I would hear from her colleague (Jennifer) later today... I did. Jennifer had my problem outlined in detail, and had ALL the issues resolved. She left me with direct contact information in the event I have any further problems. Amazing. So, I'm glad I stayed with COX! I asked Will how on earth he stumbled upon my web blog. Although he didn't come right out and say so; however, I got the impression that he and other COX employees search the web for this kind of thing! That sounds like forward, proactive thinking. Anyhow, I am quite impressed.

The Big Game

Well, Ohio St. got clobbered (understatement, I know) by USC. With most of last years team returning, the talent is not in question. But what about coaching? In my opinion, Jim Tressel, although a great coach in many respects, does not get his teams prepared enough for big games. It's as simple as that.
It was an embarrassing loss. I'll be getting a lot of abuse about it at work tomorrow!
"Hey, It's just a game"...that's what I'll tell em...

Matt Damon Rips Sarah Palin

I'm not hearing a celebrity here, but rather a citizen who is asking the right questions.
Check it out...

The Cable Company...a personal memoir...

AT&T came by a couple weeks ago and offered me U-verse (or the name sounds like that), which is their new internet access service. They also offered to upgrade equipment on the TV, and phone if we bought a package deal. We could even save money! I told them I had good luck with the cable company (COX Communications) and that I was probably not interested.

I called COX and told them what I was offered, and asked them to upgrade our equipment and extend a price break. They quickly agreed. So they set up what was to be one free installation. We would get a new DVR for the TV, and a new router, which would put us on Cox Home Network,(that is their wireless internet service). They even worked out a price cut. Everything sounded good.

Next, what unfolded and might still be unfolding is unbelievable! The installer came out, installed the DVR, and said that was all that he had on his work order. He knocked our router out of its configuration, so we had no internet access.
This was only the beginning...of my spending my entire Labor Day weekend on hold with COX, and/or waiting for technicians to show up (three separate appointments). No one could fix the internet. I spent literally hours of my weekend on the phone, or waiting for techs to show up.

What I learned is that no one at COX can communicate with anyone else. Technicians cannot communicate with an in house rep. if I want to verify something. Supervisors only handle one aspect of a problem (billing is separate from, tech help, which is separate from scheduling, and no one knows each other either, apparently). For instance I was told I would have no installation charges at all, then I was told I would be charged. (separate sides of the issue (charge/credits) are handled by different supervisors...what?? You're kidding, right? Nope.) I never did get the In Home Network. We finally reconfigured the router ourselves with the help of a computer geek friend. (I mean geek in the most positive way.) But now COX shows on their records that I DO have In Home Network anyhow (trust me, I don't). At the start I got the names and extensions of the people who initially set up the "upgrade". However, no one can contact them either! The name and extension "don't help" them find anyone. So why did they give me that information? I think I know why.

The fact is no one at the cable company working in "customer service" (they should call it something else, it's not "service") has any accountability, or ownership in what happens to customers! They can do whatever they like. No one knows what the hell is going on!

For all I know the first tech did have the router install on his work order but decided to leave after he screwed up my router configuration. The other tech who tried unsuccessfully to install In Home NW, and promised to get me a call from a supervisor, ( I never got one) just turned in his work order as "finished". So now COX thinks I have In Home Network. Great...

I am now waiting on my bill. I can only hope that I have not racked up huge expenses on this disaster. The original rep told me there would be no charges. As I noted, that seems to be a worthless promise. I'll post what happens with the bill. Maybe I'll get lucky.

Another tech called to come out and give the router install another try (however, this time they showed it as a "warranty call"...ugh)...for an In Home NW install that never happened. Since we had fixed our old router ourselves, we told him that we wanted to cancel. I wonder what he turned in to his supervisor? Maybe he said that he ran new cable over the whole house, and added ten new TVs...and to charge us accordingly... :-) crazy...

The hell of it is more and more customer service is getting run this way. No ownership, and no accountability...which makes it nearly impossible to get a problem solved. I considered sending a letter to COX, but who would care? Any suggestions?

Barack Obama on O'Reilly Factor 09-04-08

Obama goes on FOX w/O'Reilly! Wow, and when will the opposition go on and interview with anyone? This says a lot about him right here. He is smart, and quick, and philosophical. Wouldn't that be great to see in a President?
I will try to watch the whole interview. I love this stuff.