Back Already

Okay so it didn't take nearly as long as I'd anticipated. Sorry. I still can't tell you anything about it because it's not set in stone yet. And even when it is you'll probably sit around, scratching your heads and saying "Huh? What's the fuss about? What's wrong with her?" Simple. It's something new that I haven't done before and I'm excited.

Speaking of new things...I've recently encountered an individual that captains ships on a for hire basis. This is something I know absolutely nothing about so I'm behaving like a four-year-old asking a gazillion questions. Fortunately, he's a very patient person and is used to the fascination factor. Currently, he's piloting a freighter to a South American country with a shipment of art for a museum. Did you know they send exhibits back and forth by ship? I never really thought about how they get from place to place before so I find that very interesting. I requested pics along the way. Imagine, he won't have much time to take them for me at the really cool places! I have so many questions I don't even know where to begin, which just makes him laugh, but by the time he reaches his home port I'm determined to know all things ship-related.

A follow up, I got my Direct TV hooked up...by the Tweedledee and Tweedledum of satelite installers. Surprisingly, it works. I have my three channels and all is well in the home entertainment facet of my life.

March Madness and the Berks Jazz Fest - Personally, I have no interest in the basketball tournament but many do and that's fine. As for the Jazz Fest, it's a great event in Reading. There are venues scattered throughout the city and always a slew of quality entertainers. Only problem, the bar on the corner. It's a cool place, upgraded several times over the years I've lived here and no longer anything like the dive it was when I moved in. Not to mention the yummy food they now serve. But they have 32 big screen tv's which makes it a very popular destination this time of year. On top of that, they've slowly increased the number of Jazz Fest events they host. Great if I want to go to one, not so great if I need to go anywhere else. How is it a corner bar that's only three row homes wide fills not only the 100+ space parking lot they recently built but also takes up every available spot on the street in a 2 block radius? No wonder there are occasional lines with people milling about, waiting to get it.

Ooh, too much rambling today. I was going to post a preview of Beyond Meddling, the new story I just submitted but that'll have to wait until tomorrow. Whatever your weekend holds, I hope you're enjoying it.

Saturday This & That

I did some research today and made my decision. Yep, Direct TV it is...for less than half the price. There's still not going to be anything much to watch other than the few shows I like but I'll have them plus the Hallmark channel which has an occasional good movie. It's being installed next Saturday during a time slot that is actually convenient for me.

Funny, Spring began Thursday. All winter I've been complaining about the lack of snow in Reading. You guessed it. I woke up today to big, fat, fluffy flakes. The really pretty ones. Oh, it didn't lay. It could have though. One of the worst snowstorms I remember as a kid was on an early Easter. Our car wouldn't make it up the last hill before home. No big deal. It rarely did and our wonderful neighbors never minded my dad leaving it in their driveway. That day I remember hiking the equivalent of a few blocks to our house and the snow blowing like heck, stinging my face. It was deep enough to cover the tops of my boots. As the storm was unexpected, in the days before the Weather Channel, I had on my Easter dress, no tights. Talk about cold! What made it worse was that since it was so nasty I had to leave my Easter basket from my grandmother, where we had been, in the car and all my candy froze. It's just not the same after that, or it wasn't to seven year old me.

Yesterday, in the car, I got a nice chunk of writing accomplished. I'm working on something I'm calling Beyond Meddling. I've been struggling because the grumpy ghost in it has been too busy muttering to do much narrating as he's supposed to. He's finally taken pity on me and has decided to be helpful instead of conterproductive so back to work for me.

What are you up to today?

TV or Not TV?

I called my cable company yesterday. Why? Because I sat down and thought about it and realized that I am paying $86.58/month to watch 12 hours of television during months when shows aren’t repeats. I watch Dr. Who and Torchwood on BBC America and Monk on USA. Oh I do watch other things, repeats of the Gilmore Girls, old movies and the Graham Norton Show but none are things I seek out or worry about missing if I’m busy doing something else.

Okay so back to the cable company. I called them because that’s a ridiculous amount of money for next to nothing. I reached a very pleasant woman after only 8 levels of automatic nonsense. I explained my quandary and then asked what I could eliminate to decrease the cost while keeping the two channels I watch. Her answer, nothing. To have cable at all basic service is required. Standard cable, the next level up includes USA Network. The third tier, digital preferred contains BBC America. I then asked about true ala carte service, wanting to pay only for the shows I actually watch. Nope, not available. This I think is bogus. The whole system is computerized. There is an on demand function with a gazillion movies and specials available at the touch of a button. I think it’s more likely that they’d lose too much money on people like me if they charged by the program.

This was when I listed my three options. One, I could stop paying my cable bill in protest like many people I know. I’m told it takes about three months for them to get around to disconnecting cable service. Two, I can switch to direct TV. The slightly less pleasant woman pointed out that the channels I watch may not be available. They are. I asked a friend at work who has it. Also, the alternate service in my area may not be any cheaper. It is per the same friend. Three, I can get rid of TV altogether. I spent the first two years after I purchased my home without it and I survived quite nicely. I’m sure I could again. Besides, the shows I watch are available on DVD eventually. Also I can watch them a day later on the Internet if I don’t mind my smaller computer screen. Moderately disgruntled customer service woman didn’t champion any of the above.

Yes, definitely something to consider before the next bill is due.

BTW, luncheon with my great aunt was very nice. She’s the same sweetie as always but with a cold this visit. We went to Olive Garden. Great food but overly efficient service to the point of rushing us. Our meals were brought after the second bite of soup/salad. I decided to forego my delicious creamy potato/sausage/kale soup in favor of my asiago steak with cheese filled tortellini while it was still hot. Yummy, which I did make sure to mention as I informed the manager of the excessive speed of the servers on the way out when he stopped us to ask.