Three Down

While listening to a podcast the other day, the interviewer and the interviewee were discussing all the different social networking sites. They discussed the advantages and disadvantages of sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and others.

The -er asked the question, “If people are spending their time on social networking sites, then what AREN’T they spending time doing?”

And the -ee answered, “Human interaction & family time”.

Now, I have to disagree. While I might not spend as much time with friends as I’d like, it’s not because I’m on Facebook. What I am no longer spending as much time doing is watching TV. I don’t know if I’m just getting older, or if the shows are getting dumber, but I’ve already dropped three shows from my evening viewing. Of which I’ve only replaced one.

The first to go was CSI:NY. I think Gary Sinise is great. I liked the show for the New York setting and characters, letting me “go home” for an hour each week. I cannot take the spoon-feeding deliver of this show. I don’t remember it being this bad in the first season. The evidence is gathered and the actor’s lines make sure you do not miss its importance. I also do not like the way show developed into relationship dramas instead of keeping the highlight on the forensics.

The second to go was another CSI. The original one. (I watched CSI:Miami ONCE, but David Caruso was just too much to bare.) I actually stopped watching last year when 3 of the main characters left. First Sara, then Warrick, then Grissom. I decided to give Lawrence Fishbourne a fair chance, and he is great, but it’s just a different show now and I’m not interested. The camaraderie is missing, as is the quirkiness.

The third show I decided to stop watching is Numb3rs. I hate math and I suck at it, but the first years of this show were fascinating. I understand math is the underlying structure to just about everything, but this show, too, started to delve more into the relationship drama and less into the math theorems. I guess the available math theories can only take you so far! And with Peter Macnicol having only a reoccurring role on the show, it is not fun to watch.

I started watching NCIS:Los Angeles only because I’m already sitting in front of the TV when it comes on. I was so disappointed in the season premier of this show. The lead in episode of this show on NCIS looked so good! I’ve liked Chris O’Donnell since I saw Scent of a Woman, but he seems to get the shaft in all his roles. The actor chemistry on this show is HORRENDOUS as is the acting, especially coming directly after NCIS. I tried to give it more than one episode, but the next three were just as bad. To save himself, Mr. O’Donnell needs to go undercover to another show. I’ve started to going to bed early on Tuesday, as I’d rather read.

I was debating if I should give White Collar a shot. It seemed like a combination of “Catch Me If You Can” and “Leverage” and I was not interested in another duplicate show. But with Numb3rs a disappointment, and me being sick, I figured I’d watch at least one episode. Parking my butt in front of the TV, wrapped in a blanket, snuggling with the Fat Dog sounded like a great idea. The show turned out to be great! I was a little nervous at first, when it started out similar to Leverage, but by the end, it was different enough that I can watch both without getting con artist overload.

I have to tell you, though, if Booth and Bones do not get out of their relationship drama soon, it is going to be four down.

La Boda de mi Hermana

My writing has not been keeping up with my life! I have so many stories to tell, I don’t know where to start.

I came down with a cold this weekend. A lousy line to start a story with, but…

The problem with head colds is you do not feel the need to stay in bed, until walking from the bedroom to the living room leaves you feeling like you ran a marathon. Not that I have ever run a marathon. Nor will I ever, head cold or no. You just become thankful that there is a comfortable piece of furniture at the end of the walk.

I was actually looking forward to working on my own home this weekend but those plans went awry when I returned from a short trip to San Diego with a snotty nose and stuffy head. Instead, I watched as many NCIS reruns as I could stand, and read a few of my books. Nothing was grabbing my attention on HGTV and I perused the NY Sunday Times “cover” to cover.

And then it was 10 am.

So, with no energy for anything but storytelling in the form of typing, here’s the latest. Hop aboard my time travel machine all the way back to…August 2009.

My sister was getting married, finally, to the man of my dreams. Not that I dreamed of him, of course, but he was the kind of man you WANT your sister to marry. Not the kind of man you fantasize about burying in a deep hole the back yard filled with quicklime, but the kind of man who can run the backhoe in case you need just such a hole. A man’s man, and all that, but more importantly, someone I trusted with my sister’s and nephews’ welfare.

They were high school friends, having lost touch over the years because of time and circumstance. She moved to Florida while he finished school. They were reacquainted at, of all places, their high school. My sister accompanied our cousin to her 20^th reunion and just like that, it was 20 years earlier. I won’t bore you with all the dating details, because frankly, they’re boring. We’ll just fast forward 4 years to the best part.

Me.

And my first vacation since 2006.

They decided on a “destination” wedding, which was fine with me because I was ready for a destination. Their destination of choice was Cancun, Mexico. A perfect destination as any and to one I had never been. The resort of choice was the Moon Place Golf and Spa Resort. It was wonderful! It is an all-inclusive resort where all the food you want, all the drinks you want, and most of the attractions you want, plus tips, are included in the room price. The only thing not included is the Older-Sister-Always-a-Bridesmaid-never-the-Bride-have-to-share-with-Mom discount. But for a week in paradise with my family, I could deal.

Besides me, my sister and her two boys, our mother and my (future) brother in law and his two children, a few assorted friends and family members were making the trek down to share in the big day. I tell you, if the whole party can get along, these group vacations are a blast! All told, there were 21 of us at the wedding. We spent most of the week lounging poolside where it was easier to keep the heat at bay. We did take advantage of a few tours offered by the hotel but Mexico in August is best spent in the pool, cool drink in hand, laughing, splashing and chatting, building a lifetime of memories with good friends and family.

Vonage Sucks!

What is it with me and utility companies?

In May, I signed up for Vonage’s VoIP service when AT&T decided to replace their plan with another. For some reason I still can’t understand, I was unable to sign up for AT&T’s new plan because I wasn’t in their area anymore. I do not know, maybe I moved.

I had no interest in signing up with the company who did cover my area, therefore, I signed up with Vonage. It was a two-year contract, with an early termination fee. I was able to port my number over which was the number I was using for my business. It was a decent service. I had some echoing in the phone on occasion, some dropped calls, but on the whole, it worked well.

Then, the invitation I had been waiting 6 months for arrived. Google Voice was finally here. I signed up for their FREE VoIP. I picked a number that I liked then set my Vonage number to roll to voicemail. There a message could be heard, “This number has been changed. Please make a note of it.” I figured I’d hang onto Vonage until my contract ran out or the point where the monthly payments were more than the disconnect fee. Then I would cancel it.

One day, when looking over my cell phone and VoIP bills, I discovered I was using my cell phone more than my VoIP phone. I decided to check the cancellation fee. If the cancellation fee was less than paying for 18 more months of service, I’d cancel. Scanning Vonage’s website, I found that canceling my service was going to cost me $40. Yes, $40. The service over the next 18 months was going to cost me $450. That was an easy decision.

I hoped that canceling with Vonage was not going to turn into another Charter Communications termination of service fiasco.

The call started well enough. But, just as I was ready to give my account number, I was disconnected. I called a second time and that call went smoother.

Until he wanted to know if he could offer me a cheaper plan. Fortunately, he accepted my first “No Thanks, just cancel the service”. THEN, he told me I owed $115 in early termination fees.

I could feel the anger building.

I said to him, “Your website says $40.”

“Yes,” he replied, “but you have the modem and that’s an additional $75.”

“I have to pay for the modem? I can’t return it?”

“Nope!”

“Can I use this modem for anything else?” I inquired. “Another service? Anything, other than Vonage VoIP?”

“Nope!”

“So I have to BUY a piece of hardware that has no practical purpose whatsoever?” I questioned with barely contained fury.

“Yep!”

I asked to speak to a manager, and got the same information. This time, I lost neither my cool, nor my temper. Instead, I decided to write a complaint to the Consumer Protection Agency of California. And the Better Business Bureau. And of course, all my loyal readers!

So if you’re in the market for another VoIP service stay away from Vonage unless you’re ready to commit. Otherwise you’ll be the proud owner of a $75 paperweight.