The 12 Days After Christmas

The first day after Christmas, my true love gave to me
Leftovers from Christmas dinner

The second day after Christmas, my true love gave to me
Two unwrapped gifts
And leftovers from Christmas dinner

The third day after Christmas, my true love gave to me
Three gift cards to redeem
Two unwrapped gifts
And leftovers from Christmas dinner

The fourth day after Christmas, my true love gave to me
Four late Christmas cards
Three gift cards to redeem
Two unwrapped gifts
And leftovers from Christmas dinner

The fifth day after Christmas, my true love gave to me
Five rooms to clean
Four late Christmas cards
Three gift cards to redeem
Two unwrapped gifts
And leftovers from Christmas dinner

The sixth day after Christmas, my true love gave to me
Six trash bags to take out
Five rooms to clean
Four late Christmas cards
Three gift cards to redeem
Two unwrapped gifts
And leftovers from Christmas dinner

The seventh day after Christmas, my true love gave to me
Seven shirts - don't fit right
Six trash bags to take out
Five rooms to clean
Four late Christmas cards
Three gift cards to redeem
Two unwrapped gifts
And leftovers from Christmas dinner

The eighth day after Christmas, my true love gave to me
Eight hours back for my employer
Seven shirts - don't fit right
Six trash bags to take out
Five rooms to clean
Four late Christmas cards
Three gift cards to redeem
Two unwrapped gifts
And leftovers from Christmas dinner

The ninth day after Christmas, my true love gave to me
Nine bills from E-Bay
Eight hours back for my employer
Seven shirts - don't fit right
Six trash bags to take out
Five rooms to clean
Four late Christmas cards
Three gift cards to redeem
Two unwrapped gifts
And leftovers from Christmas dinner

The tenth day after Christmas, my true love gave to me
Ten Christmas lights to take down
Nine bills from E-Bay
Eight hours back for my employer
Seven shirts - don't fit right
Six rooms need cleaning
Five bags of trash
Four late Christmas cards
Three gift cards to redeem
Two unwrapped gifts
And leftovers from Christmas dinner

The eleventh day after Christmas, my true love gave to me
Eleven frozen pipes are leaking
Ten Christmas lights to take down
Nine bills from E-Bay
Eight hours work for my employer
Seven shirts - don't fit right
Six trips to return presents
Five bags of trash
Four late Christmas cards
Three gift cards to redeem
Two unwrapped gifts
And leftovers from Christmas dinner

The twelfth day after Christmas, my true love gave to me
Twelve more months till Christmas
Eleven frozen pipes are leaking
Ten decorations to take down
Nine bills from E-Bay
Eight hours work for my employer
Seven shirts - don't fit right
Six trips to exchange presents
Five bags of trash
Four late Christmas cards
Three gift cards to redeem
Two unwrapped gifts
And leftovers from Christmas dinner

The Crisco Kid strikes again!

Christian gave Bekah and me an early Christmas surprise this morning. The ensuing clean up delayed my leaving for work by an hour. For starters, he needed a bath.

One glance in the kitchen provided the first signs of trouble.

I just could not figure it out. What was the white sticky stuff?

Ah, Crisco. That explains it.

I guess it is time to baby proof the kitchen.

Somebody is lying

My wife and I had several complaints about Adelphia. I was hoping that the Time-Warner takeover would be an improvement. Surprisingly, Time-Warner took Adelphia's impossibly bad service and made it worse. The television prices are outrageous, and the channel line-up is mediocre. But the true horrors lie in the customer service. In the first month after we had cable internet installed, there were five major interruptions of service. Extended periods of time with no internet access is torture to a blogger, but detrimental to a student at an on-line college.

My multiple calls into their customer service centers have not improved my opinion. Their pre-recorded messages are near award winning. *"If you are calling about service outage in your area, there is no reason for you to call, we are aware of the problem." and *"Due to the unusually high call volume, your call can not be completed at this time. Please try again later. (click)" The real live customer disservice agents are not much better. They put the resent into representative. *"I can't find you anywhere, you don't exist." *"There is absolutely nothing I can do." *"It's too bad that you have been without service since yesterday afternoon. I'll give you a credit for the inconvenience. (two minutes of dead air later) OK that credit will be two dollars. Have a nice day. (click)" And my personal favorite, *"I have to transfer you. Don't worry, your call will not be disconnected. (click) ....... (dead air) ...... (dial tone)"

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As a DirecTV employee in Boise, I had DTV service, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Bekah however was not a fan (that whole east coast broadcast time confused her). She's always won the cable versus satellite argument, but now Time-Warner has helped me sway her opinion.

This morning's editions of the Spokesman-Review and CDA Press both reported news of the dispute in between Time-Warner and local FOX affiliate, KAYU. A local blogger put it best... Time-Warner sucks. The dispute is much like a playground brawl. The little kid (KAYU) picks a fight with the school bully (Time-Warner) and then complains when he gets his butt kicked.

Barring Time-Warner's last minute realization "I'm an idiot," FOX programming will be removed from the cable line up in North Idaho at midnight tonight. This is not the first time Time-Warner has found themselves in this type of dispute with a FOX affiliate. A few FOX stations in New York recently battled with Time-Warner.

Even if Time-Warner fixes their rectum-cranium inversion and makes a deal with KAYU, it is too late for us. Bekah ordered DirecTV today. Hooray!

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Here is an interesting snippet from Time-Warner's website, funny how deceptive those cable companies can be.

KAYU SAYS ITS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY

(He started it)
NO; IT'S ALL ABOUT WHAT'S RIGHT FOR TIME WARNER CABLE CUSTOMERS

(What would be right is for Time-Warner to pull their head out of the sand)

Notice to Our (not so) Valued Customers
It is possible that local Fox affiliate Kayu will no longer give Time Warner Cable permission to carry its channel after December 14, 2006.

KAYU is asking for Time Warner Cable to pay for its signal (just like they charge Dish Network and DirecTV); a signal they give away for free over the air (as long as you don't mind fuzzy lines and static interference during all of your favorite shows). Time Warner Cable's position is that cable customers should not be penalized for KAYU's insistence on getting paid to stay on our cable system. (Instead cable customers should be punished with our astronomical prices and inept customer service.) Time Warner Cable made good faith counter offers (good faith means you do it our way or else...) to KAYU during these (non) negotiations; however, KAYU has rejected them all. (We haven't given them much)

We are working hard (doing nothing) to keep this channel on your lineup.
In order to ensure you continue to receive KAYU no matter what, Time Warner Cable is providing customers with a free A/B switch*. The equipment will allow you to continue to receive KAYU off-air with a flip of a switch (because everybody loves bunny ears).

Technicians are standing by

call 888-###-#### (You may have to wait a while)

For updates on this situation, go to www.twc-northwest.com.
It's not too late! (JK) Time Warner Cable encourages you to call KAYU directly at (509) 448-2828 (they can probably explain this mess better than we can) or email KAYU at www.fox28spokane.com under the contact section to tell them they should negotiate (provided we participate) in good faith (remember, do it our way or else) with Time Warner Cable in order to keep the channel on your lineup.

My grown up Christmas List: Strings attatched part 4

Prices are as marked at Guitar Center.

Epiphone MM-30E Mandolin

$169.99

_______________________

Dean Playmate EABC Cutaway acoustic bass guitar

$199.99

_______________________

Dean BW6 Backwoods 6-string banjo
$249.99
_______________________

Martin S-O ukulele
$299.99
_______________________

My grown up Christmas List: Strings attatched part 3

Prices are as marked at Guitar Center.

Gretch Electromatic lap steel guitar
$329.99

_______________________

Dean Boca 12-string guitar
$349.99

_______________________

Ibanez AX7221 7-string guitar
$349.99

_______________________

My grown up Christmas List: Strings attatched part 2

Prices are as advertised at Guitar Center.

_______________________________

Fender® FR-50 resonator

$349.99

_______________________________

Ibanez Artcore AFS75T semi-hollow guitar
$399.99
_______________________________

Schecter Stilletto Custom bass guitar

$499.99

_______________________________

Dean Rhapsody "8" 8-string bass guitar
$549.99
_______________________________

Michael KellyDragonfly 5-string fretless acoustic bass guitar

$549.99

_______________________________

My grown up Christmas List: Strings attatched part 1

Prices are as advertised at Guitar Center.

________________________________

Ibanez MMM1 Mike Mushok Signature baritone guitar
$799.99
______________________________

Taylor 455 Jumbo 12 string acoustic guitar

$1549.99

______________________________

Warwick Thumb BO fretless guitar
$1919.99
______________________________

Ovation Adamas 30th Aneversry acoustic guitar
$2099.99
______________________________

Yamaha Silent Electric bass guitar
$2799.99
______________________________

Warwick Infinity neck-through 5-string bass guitar
$4719.99
_______________________________

Footprints in the Sand: the rest of the story

Once Jesus finished explaining the meaning of the first two sets of footprints, I inquired about the third set.

"So," I asked, "the dual set of prints are from when we walked side by side?"

"Yes." Jesus answered.

"And the single set of footprints are not my walking with out you, but those are your footprints from the times that you carried me?"

"That is correct." Jesus said.

"Then, what about that third set?" I asked. "The footprints are sideways and partially obscured by deep cuts in the sand. And it looks like that part of the beach has been torn up with sand thrown indiscriminately. What happened there?"

"My dear son," Jesus said, with an amused smile and a hint of laughter in his voice. "That is when I had to drag you, kicking and screaming."