KISS

Keep it simple stupid, that's been my motto all my life. I'm not stupid but I'm not one of your smart, clever people either. Oh I know how to survive but as for having any special talents, especially technology wise, my brain isn't user friendly to today's technology. I work at it though with plenty of help. 

This morning I returned my Seagate 8 TB hard drive to Staples for a full refund which they gave me. Thank you Staples. 

When I got home I called my Apple computer guru friend Mike and asked his advice. He told me he uses a G-Technology portable hard drive which he purchased from the Apple store. This is what I should have done at first instead of rushing off to Staples yesterday and buying that Seagate hard drive.  That's another problem I've had all my life, impulse buying without doing all my proper research. I've gotten better over the years but I am still susceptible to my first impulse, which is to run out and buy what I need only to find I have bought the wrong thing or duplicated what I've already bought. Oh the woe for not being one of the smartest people on this planet.

Delivery of my new G-Technology portable hard drive from the Apple store is scheduled for tomorrow.  Now if I can grab that off my front porch before a porch pirate does.

Back On The Medical Treadmill

Looks like we're back on the medical treadmill again. 

Thursday my appointment for my semi-annual blood test at the VA Outpatient Clinic in Georgetown. I see my doctor this week on May 1st for the results of that blood test. Always a nervous time because of my past history of prostate cancer. So far since my seed implants a back in 2013 (was it really that long ago?) my PSA score has been down. Hopefully I get the same results this time.

Yesterday I had an appointment with my dermatologist. I had a couple of pre skin cancer spots that had to be burned off. They're scabs now. 
I had a little dustup in the office when I was asked to fill out AGAIN a six page form of my medical history. WHAT?  I just filled that out the last time I was there eight months ago.  I noticed that everyone in the office was new. Guess they threw out all that paper work I filled out last time.  I think I've filled out at least four times paper work in that office. And I didn't even get to see my doctor, saw the physician assistant instead. 

Monday I get an X-ray to make sure my kidney stones haven't returned. 

Tuesday is Bill's appointment with Doogie Howsie to treat his edema.

Today I had additional frustration. I got a notice from my new insurance company that they're cancelling my homeowner's policy because they couldn't do an exterior inspection of my house. WTF?  I suspect they couldn't find my house because when I initially changed insurance companies they got my address wrong. My address is 30231.  They put it down as 302301.  It's been nothing but a nightmare ever since with that old address popping up.  I called but the office was closed today. I left a voice mail. I have to say I am concerned. If they can't get my address right what else are they screwing up?  I don't know, is it me or do things seem to be, uh screwed up lately? First I have to fill out my whole medical history again then my new insurance (Allstate) can't even get my address right.  

At least we finally got a spring like day today. No cold winds and rain, just a nice sunny day. At least something is right.

Have A Great Day!

Robin in my wild cherry tree - I got rid of the tent caterpillars with his/her help!

With the beautiful spring weather we're enjoying here I just can't seem to get it together to post a proper blog entry.  Not that I don't have a lot to post about.  

I had a couple good rants to post.  One being trying to sign on to Bill's former employer's website.  They say he doesn't exist.  Well, he does and I proved it to them by producing a letter head from them with his employee number.  They're "working" on it.  Sure.  

Just yesterday a flap occurred here in our lovely homeowner's development.  At our last homeowner's meeting I suggested that we informed the homeowners not to park on the street at night.  Last month I almost ran into one of these miscreant cars whilst returning from my 3 to 11 PM hotel shift.  Last week a sign appeared at the entrance to our development that said:

Our sign was actually more tasteful.  I would have taken a picture of it but it was taken down after the first threat by a self involved homeowner.

Omigod!  The feathers that got ruffled by that sign. Last night I was reading the stream of invectives from some homeowners, who by the way never deign to actually attend the meetings, that said:

"That sign is tacky!" (actually it wasn't, it was very professional)

"Did a quorum vote on it?"  (actually we can never get a quorum vote because people like them never attend the homeowner's meeting)

Then came the threats and intimidation. 

"You could get in trouble by not following the rules set, etc."  

Oh yeah, whoever put the sign up (and it was one I suggested) could face fines and a jail term.  

GIVE.ME.A.BREAK

Well folks, as you can see I have slipped right into a rant whereas I just mean to highlight the happenings around here.  

Change of tune (so to speak).

What's with the wall to wall coverage of the death of Prince?  What am I missing here?  He's getting more coverage than Princess Di. Sure, he was very talented and a musical genius (some say) but wall to wall coverage? 

Prince

Please, tell me what I'm missing.

Then to top everything else off, yesterday our garbage disposal spring a leak.  Heck, I hardly use it.  Must be one of those MADE IN CHINA cheapies that Ryan homes installed when this house was built ten years ago.  Just last year we replaced the HVAC system (to the tune of $10,000).  Now THIS.  Bill's installing a new one now.  Maybe this one will last us until our demise. Hopefully.  We lived in our Pennsylvania house twenty five years and didn't have anything fail us like we're having here.  Sometimes it seems like a race as to what is going to fail first, us or the house and what runs it.

One good piece of news, in a week my Travel Buddy Pat From Toronto is making his quarterly visit to the US (actually I visit him at the end of August in Toronto so it's not quite a quarterly visit for him).  Pat will be here for a few days and then we'll spend a week in our favorite town, Philadelphia, PA.  It'll be refreshing to get away from the daily frustrations here, that's for sure.

Me and Travel Buddy (Pat) in Philly (on Broad Street) this past November -The Intrepid Duo

Have a great day!

Another "What a Morning!"

Early this morning I was again awoken by a power outage.  I always know when there is a power outage because my white noise air filter machine cuts off.  Folks, this is the SECOND DAY IN A ROW I've been jarred out of my deep rim sleep by a local power outage.

Remember yesterday?  At around 4:12 AM , nine time the power flipped on and off.  NINE TIMES FOLKS.  

This morning the power flipped on and off then back on again then off for 40 MINUTES.  Yep, over a half and hour the power was off.  As I lay in my bed, wide awake, wondering if I'm living in a Third World country, I have to remind myself I'm actually living in Lower Slower Delaware, or "LSD" to those of you in the know.

The power finally came back on about half past 5 am only to go on and off again twice before finally coming back on permanently, or until tomorrow when they do it all over again.  I don't know what's going on. 

Another drunk or drug addled Sussex County native slamming his/her car into a utility pole?  
Or more likely, the local power company repairing switching stations (their usual explanation).  

So, I went back to sleep and (thank goodness) was able to get back into my deep rim (unconscious state of sleep) for another few hours.  I got up at 9:03 am, well rested but my eating schedule seriously disrupted for the whole day.

After breakfast I my goal was to make a call to my favorite (said with a great deal of sarcasm) monopoly Internet service ("service" being an oxymoron in this case) to ask about the $19.95 charge for a "Self install service kit" I received from them to replace my RENTED modem from them.  Folks, this has to be a new path we're traveling here.  My Internet service company is charging me for replacing their defective equipment.  Unbelievable.  You have to give Comcast props for gall.  What?  Are they taking lessons from our medical industry by charging the patient for everything from tissues to compression socks?  Honest to God, their chutzpah is breathtaking.

So I called this morning knowing full well it would be fruitless exercise in getting them to take that charge back.  

After spending ten minutes going through the usual automated menu options I finally get a real person whose voice I can hardly hear.  Now folks, you know this is on purpose.  You just know it.  Anything to discourage the customer. 

I tell "Teresa" I can hardly hear her.  She amps up the volume a teeny weeny bit.  I can still hardly hear her.  

I whine again about being able to hardly hear her.  Finally she increases the decibel volume to the level where she sounds like I'm talking to her from the house across the street.  

I tell her that I was without service for a week and then when I get the new modem/router, which I had to install myself because the service person never came which, by the way is why I rent a router so I won't have to pay for a service person to service (and I know I'm overusing the word "service" in the context of Comcast).  She says "That is the charge sir."  Uh huh.  $10 for the equipment and $9.95 for "handling and processing."  Folks, I'm the one doing the "handling and processing." 

Alright, so a strike out on this one.  I could rant and rave and threaten to take my business elsewhere but the only problem there is I have no "elsewhere" to take my business because Comcast is a monopoly in this area where I live (and thrive).

My next move is to address the fact I was without service for a week and I want credit for that service.  I was willing to let that go but since Comcast is going to charge me for sending their replacement equipment to me, I'm going to get a credit.  And I got it.  It was $18.94, almost a wash.

And that folks is how I'm staring out my day.  

Tomorrow I have a dental appointment.

Friday I get my haircut.

Saturday and Sunday I veg out and get ready for my trip to La La Land Los Angeles. 

Me and Pat with our California Friend Nadege

I'm ready for that ten day sojourn in sunny Californina, especially now with the newly frigid temperatures around here.  And I do so need a break from the trials and tribulations of just everyday living.  That's why personal holidays like this are so important to me now.  Four times a year, Pat and I get together for more adventure.  

Life is good folks.