Can't anything go right the first time?

Well, we finally got our new Comcast phone service installed today. It has been exactly 1 month since they first called and offered the service to us. I usually don't jump at phone solicitor's offers, but this one saved us some money and we already had Comcast phone service, so I thought, what the heck.

After about 30 minutes of arguing the finer points of my bill with the saleswoman, she finally agreed that she couldn't save me $40 off my current bill. How could she when I pay almost $30 in taxes? That subject, I will leave for another time. Anyway, after deciding to take the new service, the lady setup a date for my install. It made me angry that I needed to take a day off work so they could give me a new phone modem and start charging me $3 per month for it. "I already have a Comcast modem and don't pay a $3 fee, so why should I have to start? Please explain the value added in this new modem that will justify the $3 per month charge?" Yeah, right, I won't bother repeating their answer to that question. Trust me, it was short and didn't actually answer my question.

Hold on, the Comcast guy is here again...

Back now. Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, so I set up the install date and then December 13 came and went with no installer. I called Comcast to ask why no one showed up and they told me that it was because they had no record that I even ordered the service. Ugh. Well, after some arguing, they finally set up an install date for December 23, today.

Now, the day started out well. The installer showed up early and got the phone going in about 15 minutes. They were really only swapping a modem, so it wasn't too bad. All was well until I tried to call Comcast to set up the online piece of everything. The phone just went dead. I called Comcast back on my cell and waited on hold for 35 minutes before talking to someone. The phone rep said he was going to send the technician back out.

About an hour later, the technician showed up and got the phone working again. It was a clerical error on their end. Oh well, everything was fine now, or so I thought. When I tried to setup the voicemail, the phone just rang busy. I had no caller ID either. Grrrr.....it still wasn't right.

Now, I have taken 2 breaks from writing this and I am back at home, on hold with Comcast tech support. Oh well, if you are looking for a funny story, check out this one on Letterman. Found it while on hold.

I just got off the phone with a nice Comcast woman and I am now all set. Or am I????

A few thoughts for a snowy day...

Okay, so I haven’t written in a while. I know, I know, you see a post here every couple of months that read exactly the same way. So sue me! No, really, don’t sue me. A couple of things on my mind and things I have come across below:

For the parents who have a ton of toys that go unused: www.toyswap.com. You can swap your unwanted toys for toys that your kids want. There is a $1 fee per swap, but that is a small price to pay for getting rid of unused toys and clearing up space.

It’s that time of year again as the first real Winter Death Storm of the year is almost upon us. Actually, we kind of had a Death Storm Jr. last week, but it was pretty tame compared to the 5-13 inches predicted today. Add to the snow, a good base of freezing rain and you just cranked up a real sweet storm! Stay tuned because Michigan weather, as everyone knows, could produce a little rain and then nothing. It is a surprise that rivals a kid opening a present on Christmas morning. I can’t wait!

I have been debating on how to drive traffic back to the MacLachlan Family forums . lately. From this, I have come up with a couple of ideas. First, I thought about a reminiscing forum. You know, a forum that you can tell stories and then discuss them. I know that when everyone gets together and tells stories, we all get a lot of laughs. I have been looking for laughs lately, so please, no holding back on the stories. The funnier, the better. Next, well there is no next. That is all I got. Any ideas are welcomed.

From time to time, I hear rumblings about when I am going to update the MacLachlan Family picture gallery. To those people I say, keep your pants on! I will update it soon. Seriously though, I have a vacation coming next week, so I will update everything then.

To Mandy & Chris – Hey, when is the new MacLachlan Family template going to be ready. I have been losing quite a bit of sleep wondering what you are all coming up with. The public is anxiously awaiting the bright new ideas that are to come from the creative department of the MacLachlan Family.

That’s all…out!