So the problem with our Internet connectivity seems to be resolved. Comcast did show up and repair the box out front and we have had Internet connectivity all day. Its been lovely.
A good thing too since between the wind (gusts up to 48 mph) and the cold (30s), it was definitely a day to stay inside and surf the net. It was also a very lazy day. I watched some TV and devoured a Cinnamon bun along with my morning Coke in the morning before jumping on the erg for a 30 minute row. Not a great amount of meters, but I got through it and can build on it. I hope to add another row tomorrow to welcome in the new year. Ann and I did watch Nicholas Cage in National Treasure - Book of Secrets. It was highly entertaining and fit our mood for the day.
We have no real plans to welcome in the New Year. We are way past the time where a night of boozing it up sounds like a good idea. We do have a bottle of bubbly chilly in the refrigerator though. So to all of you, I hope you have have a wonderful 2009 as we usher out 2008.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
The Cable Guy - Round 2
As I mentioned in yesterday's post, as part of the service call from yesterday, We (Comcast technician and myself) forgot to test the signal coming from the cable box located out on the street by our house and as happens these days, we lost our Internet connection around 9 in the morning. So we called Comcast and arranged for another service call. This time between noon and 3:00. Since someone here, either Ann or myself, works from home on any given day, the Internet is not a luxury. It's something we need in order to work from home.
While we waited the phone rang and much to our surprise it was a Comcast representative calling from Philadelphia. He mentioned that he had read my blog post and wanted to make sure everything was taken care of to our satisfaction. That sound you heard this morning was my jaw dropping. First off, my blog has no real regular readership other than the two daughters. People that happen upon my blog usually come via searches for white bean chili recipes or searching for the Eagles Nest restaurant, which by the way has changed ownership and is now called something else or people searching on erg topics. Anyway we told him of the problems we were still having and he promised to call the local office and make sure things got done on time and correctly. So score one for Comcast. Although you have to wonder who is taking the time to scour the Internet for Comcast postings. Around Noon we got a call from the local office saying that they too had read the blog entry (I think maybe the Philly people made them read it, but whatever), that they had one of their top technicians on the call and he would be out when promised and the would also give me a $35 courtesy refund. Ok. Score another point for Comcast.
As it got to be 2:30, I was wondering if indeed the technician would show up on time. He did indeed. He introduced himself (Jaime), shook hands all around and petted our dog. We showed him to the computer and he confirmed that there was no Internet and also made the comment that out Comcast provided Gateway (Netgear) was an antique and he would replace it. I wonder if he would also replace the Linksys USB wireless antennas we have on our other computers as they are even older than the Gateway. After he checked our computer, he went outside to check the signal. He was gone only a short while before reporting back. It was indeed a bad signal. According to Jaime, the signal strength reaching the Gateway INSIDE the house should be at least 50. The signal coming out of the cable box on the street coming to the house was only at 46. By the time the signal routed through the house to the Gateway, he estimated that the signal strength was practically nil and hence our lack of Internet connectivity. He placed a work order for someone to come fix the cable box out on the street to get the signal up to snuff. He thought they would either be out later today or no later than tomorrow. He left his number and advised us to call him if the problem was not corrected by tomorrow afternoon. So the problem has been identified and, hopefully, will be resolved quickly. The last time we had signal problems it took about a month before the cable box on the street was actually fixed despite at least two separate work orders for the repair being put in by the Internet techs (the second request obviously corrected the problem, but he knew there was an outstanding work order when he came to the house). So I'll give Comcast high marks for the follow-up, the refund and the promise of a new Gateway (Jaime didn't install it since there would have been no way to test it to see that it was working properly). Now we'll see how they do with the follow through. (To be continued).
While we waited the phone rang and much to our surprise it was a Comcast representative calling from Philadelphia. He mentioned that he had read my blog post and wanted to make sure everything was taken care of to our satisfaction. That sound you heard this morning was my jaw dropping. First off, my blog has no real regular readership other than the two daughters. People that happen upon my blog usually come via searches for white bean chili recipes or searching for the Eagles Nest restaurant, which by the way has changed ownership and is now called something else or people searching on erg topics. Anyway we told him of the problems we were still having and he promised to call the local office and make sure things got done on time and correctly. So score one for Comcast. Although you have to wonder who is taking the time to scour the Internet for Comcast postings. Around Noon we got a call from the local office saying that they too had read the blog entry (I think maybe the Philly people made them read it, but whatever), that they had one of their top technicians on the call and he would be out when promised and the would also give me a $35 courtesy refund. Ok. Score another point for Comcast.
As it got to be 2:30, I was wondering if indeed the technician would show up on time. He did indeed. He introduced himself (Jaime), shook hands all around and petted our dog. We showed him to the computer and he confirmed that there was no Internet and also made the comment that out Comcast provided Gateway (Netgear) was an antique and he would replace it. I wonder if he would also replace the Linksys USB wireless antennas we have on our other computers as they are even older than the Gateway. After he checked our computer, he went outside to check the signal. He was gone only a short while before reporting back. It was indeed a bad signal. According to Jaime, the signal strength reaching the Gateway INSIDE the house should be at least 50. The signal coming out of the cable box on the street coming to the house was only at 46. By the time the signal routed through the house to the Gateway, he estimated that the signal strength was practically nil and hence our lack of Internet connectivity. He placed a work order for someone to come fix the cable box out on the street to get the signal up to snuff. He thought they would either be out later today or no later than tomorrow. He left his number and advised us to call him if the problem was not corrected by tomorrow afternoon. So the problem has been identified and, hopefully, will be resolved quickly. The last time we had signal problems it took about a month before the cable box on the street was actually fixed despite at least two separate work orders for the repair being put in by the Internet techs (the second request obviously corrected the problem, but he knew there was an outstanding work order when he came to the house). So I'll give Comcast high marks for the follow-up, the refund and the promise of a new Gateway (Jaime didn't install it since there would have been no way to test it to see that it was working properly). Now we'll see how they do with the follow through. (To be continued).
Monday, December 29, 2008
The Cable Guy
Today was just a total waste. The kind of day where you want to reach through the Ethernet and strangle the cable company. Our gateway (combination cable modem and wireless router) has been giving us trouble over the past week or so. Our connectivity has been on and off. Off mostly during the day and on at night. I figured it was time for a service call. When I called, the person at Comcast could tell that the signal to the gateway was much weaker than it should be and we set up a service call for today between 9:00 AM and Noon. Noon came and went and no technician. I called Comcast at 12:30 and asked when I might expect the technician. Apologies were made and I was told that I was "next in line" for the technician assigned for my call and that the technician or a dispatcher would call me within 15 to 20 minutes. No call was forthcoming. meanwhile Daughter#2, who had driven up to Washington the night before to see some friends dropped by on her way home. She wanted to go for a bike ride so I could try out my new bike, but I was shackled to the house waiting for the service call. More time passed and no technician. By 2;30 Daughter#2 was gone and I was dialing Comcast again when the knock finally came. Of course as these things go, our Internet, which had been down all day was now working when he sat down at our computer. Great. He did, after a few calls back and forth to the main office, get our wireless network back up and running so that was something at least. In the rush of it all, I forgot to ask him to check the signal coming to the house so I might need to go through this yet again. It just sort of wasted my whole day. Grrrrrr.
After that debacle, I decided to watch one of my Netflix movies. I chose the documentary "Who Killed The Electric Car?" Considering GM is now hat in hand it just makes you sick what they did to kill it off, their own car, going so far as to recall all the electric cars (they would only lease them - not sell them) they had built and marketed and crushing them all. It also calls into serious question the whole hydrogen car crap the Bush administration signed us up for. January 20th can't come fast enough.
After that debacle, I decided to watch one of my Netflix movies. I chose the documentary "Who Killed The Electric Car?" Considering GM is now hat in hand it just makes you sick what they did to kill it off, their own car, going so far as to recall all the electric cars (they would only lease them - not sell them) they had built and marketed and crushing them all. It also calls into serious question the whole hydrogen car crap the Bush administration signed us up for. January 20th can't come fast enough.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
An Official Red Ryder, Carbine Action, Two-Hundred Shot Range Model Air Rifle!
Well not exactly, but I do feel like Ralphie in "A Christmas Story" and how he feels about his very special Christmas present. To quote Ralphie: (it was) The greatest Christmas gift I had ever received, or would ever receive. I felt like that this Christmas as my family presented me with this:
A Felt F75 Road Bike complete with bike shoes.
While Santa delivered it, it was up to Daughter#2 to make the arrangements and her poor husband was dealt the hand of putting it together. To both and Santa (Ann) I can only say "Thank you, Thank you, Thank you". I had been coveting this bike for about two years now and I can't wait to give it a spin. I have to admit though I am a bit intimidated about the clip in shoes. I've never ridden with them before and I'm sure there are a few falls in my future until getting my feet in and out of the pedals becomes automatic. Daughter#2 is dropping by tomorrow and we're hoping to get in a short ride. I'm looking forward to it.
A Felt F75 Road Bike complete with bike shoes.While Santa delivered it, it was up to Daughter#2 to make the arrangements and her poor husband was dealt the hand of putting it together. To both and Santa (Ann) I can only say "Thank you, Thank you, Thank you". I had been coveting this bike for about two years now and I can't wait to give it a spin. I have to admit though I am a bit intimidated about the clip in shoes. I've never ridden with them before and I'm sure there are a few falls in my future until getting my feet in and out of the pedals becomes automatic. Daughter#2 is dropping by tomorrow and we're hoping to get in a short ride. I'm looking forward to it.Saturday, December 27, 2008
The Silence Is Deafening
Today we went from a full house back to just Ann and I. Daughter#1 and The fiance were the first to leave. They flew back to Connecticut this morning. After getting back from dropping them off at National Airport, Ann and Daughter#2 went out to do some shopping. Upon their return, Daughter#2 and The Son In Law loaded up their truck with their Christmas presents and Gracie, their lab mix, and headed to Richmond for a Christmas celebration with his side of the family. After the girls had left, The Son called and asked about our plans for lunch. We decided on pizza and met him for lunch. I think The Son has had about as much family time as he could stand over the past few days an opted to go back to his condo rather than drop by our house. After Ann and I returned from lunch, I intended to watch some of the bowl games that were on TV. Instead, I promptly fell asleep on the couch for a much needed nap.
We did enjoy some turkey leftovers after Saturday evening Mass, but after having a full table over the last few days, it seemed rather strange and all too quiet with just the two of us. It's true what they say about family making a Christmas. I hope yours was as good as ours.
We did enjoy some turkey leftovers after Saturday evening Mass, but after having a full table over the last few days, it seemed rather strange and all too quiet with just the two of us. It's true what they say about family making a Christmas. I hope yours was as good as ours.
Friday, December 26, 2008
A Christmas Recap in Pictures
I thought I'd give a short recap of our Christmas to date through pictures. On Tuesday evening, Daughter#2 and The Son-In-Law rolled in from Harrisonburg with Gracie,their lab mix, dropped her off and rolled back out to visit a friend in downtown Washington. On Wednesday morning, after much drama in New York trying to find the right Delta terminal and not miss their flight, Daughter#1 and The Fiance arrived at Washington National Airport.
After their arrival and Daughter#2 arriving back home, we ventured out to have lunch at Daks Grill here in Woodbridge. I have no idea what we did for dinner. We did dig out some old home videos to show The Son-In-Law and The Fiance. A few good laughs were had by all. Christmas morning we discovered our camera was missing (it was later found in Ann's purse) so we'll have to wait for Christmas present pictures are downloaded from Daughter#1's camera. After we opened presents we had a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs , bacon, some fake bacon for Daughter#2, toast and OJ. After breakfast everyone went off to clean up and prep for dinner. Daughter#2 fired up the crock pot to make some hot cider with mulling spices.
By 4:00 the turkey was ready to be carved.
A family picture before we say grace and dig into the turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, stuffing, gravy, peas and rolls
After dinner and desert of apple pie a la mode and pumpkin pie with Cool Whip, most of us retired to the family room with groans a plenty. The two daughters gave a preview of the bridesmaid dress for the up coming wedding of Daughter#1 and The Fiance.
We watched the movie "Maid of Honor" before turning in for a long winter's nap. 
After lunch we walked around Old Town for a bit and dropped by the Torpedo Factory. This converted Navy building, where they did indeed manufacture torpedoes during WWII, is an art center featuring studios of many different artists. Here Daughter#1 and The Fiance pose in front of some sculpture.
Before heading home, we walked along the waterfront. At this point it was getting a bit chilly so we didn't linger long.
After we arrived home the daughters and the Husband/fiance went their separate ways to meet old friends while The Son treated his parents to some Thai food for dinner. Then it was time to come home and crash, except for this entry. Merry Day After Christmas.
After their arrival and Daughter#2 arriving back home, we ventured out to have lunch at Daks Grill here in Woodbridge. I have no idea what we did for dinner. We did dig out some old home videos to show The Son-In-Law and The Fiance. A few good laughs were had by all. Christmas morning we discovered our camera was missing (it was later found in Ann's purse) so we'll have to wait for Christmas present pictures are downloaded from Daughter#1's camera. After we opened presents we had a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs , bacon, some fake bacon for Daughter#2, toast and OJ. After breakfast everyone went off to clean up and prep for dinner. Daughter#2 fired up the crock pot to make some hot cider with mulling spices.By 4:00 the turkey was ready to be carved.A family picture before we say grace and dig into the turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, stuffing, gravy, peas and rollsAfter dinner and desert of apple pie a la mode and pumpkin pie with Cool Whip, most of us retired to the family room with groans a plenty. The two daughters gave a preview of the bridesmaid dress for the up coming wedding of Daughter#1 and The Fiance.We watched the movie "Maid of Honor" before turning in for a long winter's nap. Today we kept breakfast simple with just some bagels and pumpkin bread muffins. We also discovered that the minivan's battery was dead due to the lights being left on inside the van while charging Ann's new Garmin Nuvi. I put it on the battery charger and all was well until I tried to turn on the radio and it asked for the security code. Now I understand the whole security code as an anti-theft deterrent. However, the van is over 3 years old and I have no idea where the security code might be written down, if we ever got it at all. I quick look through our owners manual and other paperwork didn't turn anything up. I guess we'll have to contact the dealer and see if they can help. What a pain.
After rounding up The Son, we headed in to Old Town Alexandria for the afternoon. We decided to try out Zandrias's favorite bar and have lunch at O'Connell's. It was very cozy and we got seated close to the fireplace. Their O'Connell's Ale was outstanding. This picture of us all was taken by a gentleman wearing an Auburn sweatshirt so we exchanged "War Eagle's". He was very generous to offer to take a picture of the seven of us. I had the Shepard's Pie, which was quite yummy.
After lunch we walked around Old Town for a bit and dropped by the Torpedo Factory. This converted Navy building, where they did indeed manufacture torpedoes during WWII, is an art center featuring studios of many different artists. Here Daughter#1 and The Fiance pose in front of some sculpture.Before heading home, we walked along the waterfront. At this point it was getting a bit chilly so we didn't linger long.
After we arrived home the daughters and the Husband/fiance went their separate ways to meet old friends while The Son treated his parents to some Thai food for dinner. Then it was time to come home and crash, except for this entry. Merry Day After Christmas.Thursday, December 25, 2008
Merry Christmas!
I missed posting last night, Christmas Eve, due to no Internet service. Thank you Comcast. I hope you and yours had a wonderful Christmas. We did here in Virginia despite the lack of snow. There is nothing like having family around you when you celebrate Christmas. I will have a detail wrap up later on this week, but it's late and its been a busy day so I'm going to keep it short and sweet tonight and leave you with a few Christmas quotes - the ones I used last year plus one.
"Perhaps Christmas doesn't come from a store. Perhaps Christmas means a little bit more." - How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Suess. '
From "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. The meaning of Christmas as told by Scrooge's nephew Fred:
There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say,' returned the nephew. 'Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round -apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that- as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!'
And from Dr Suess and the Whos, the lyric from the song "Welcome, Christmas":
Welcome, Welcome
Fah who rah-moose
Welcome, Welcome
Dah who dah-moose
Christmas day is in our grasp
So long as we have hands to clasp
Fah who for-aze!
Dah who dor-aze!
Welcome Christmas,
Come this way!
Fah who for-aze!
Dah who dor-aze!
Welcome Christmas,
Christmas Day.
Welcome, Welcome
Fah who rah-moose
Welcome, Welcome
Dah who dah-moose
Christmas day is in our grasp
So long as we have hands to clasp
Fah who for-aze!
Dah who dor-aze!
Welcome Christmas
Bring your cheer
Fah who for-aze!
Dah who dor-aze!
Welcome all Who's
Far and near
Welcome Christmas, fah who rah-moose
Welcome Christmas, dah who dah-moose
Christmas day will always be
Just so long as we have we
Fah who for-aze
Dah who dor-aze
Welcome Christmas
Bring your light
Welcome Christmas
Fah who rah-moose!
Welcome Christmas
Dah who dah-moose!
Welcome Christmas
While we stand
Heart to heart
And hand in hand
Fah who for-aze
Dah who dor-aze
Welcome welcome
Christmas
Christmas
Day
So to one and all a Very Merry Christmas and God Bless Us every one.
"Perhaps Christmas doesn't come from a store. Perhaps Christmas means a little bit more." - How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Suess. '
From "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. The meaning of Christmas as told by Scrooge's nephew Fred:
There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say,' returned the nephew. 'Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round -apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that- as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!'
And from Dr Suess and the Whos, the lyric from the song "Welcome, Christmas":
Welcome, Welcome
Fah who rah-moose
Welcome, Welcome
Dah who dah-moose
Christmas day is in our grasp
So long as we have hands to clasp
Fah who for-aze!
Dah who dor-aze!
Welcome Christmas,
Come this way!
Fah who for-aze!
Dah who dor-aze!
Welcome Christmas,
Christmas Day.
Welcome, Welcome
Fah who rah-moose
Welcome, Welcome
Dah who dah-moose
Christmas day is in our grasp
So long as we have hands to clasp
Fah who for-aze!
Dah who dor-aze!
Welcome Christmas
Bring your cheer
Fah who for-aze!
Dah who dor-aze!
Welcome all Who's
Far and near
Welcome Christmas, fah who rah-moose
Welcome Christmas, dah who dah-moose
Christmas day will always be
Just so long as we have we
Fah who for-aze
Dah who dor-aze
Welcome Christmas
Bring your light
Welcome Christmas
Fah who rah-moose!
Welcome Christmas
Dah who dah-moose!
Welcome Christmas
While we stand
Heart to heart
And hand in hand
Fah who for-aze
Dah who dor-aze
Welcome welcome
Christmas
Christmas
Day
So to one and all a Very Merry Christmas and God Bless Us every one.
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