ATT&T fun, pt.3

Finally, at long last, our high speed internet connection is *actually* high speed.

Slight apologies for making this into multiple posts. For some reason it made sense at the time, as if people were keeping up with this blog in real time. I was treating it a little like Twitter, but without the character limit.

Til next time! See ya!

more ATT fun

Sooo.....apparently the solution is to wait a few more days while the system optimizes.

Once again, online with a different department of tech support.

And to provide some reference of how slow our speeds are, we should be getting around 1.5 to 3 Mbs downloading. Tests are showing 0.3 to 0.6 Mbs. Not even half of what we ought to be getting.

Broadband tech associate has (hopefully) found a probable cause and is contacting the responsible department. She informed me that our upgrade was recorded in one system, but the ISP was still listing us at our old speed. Sounds like the billing and accounts department was getting theirs.

Thank you AT&T for your wonderful customer service.

'Net issues

Although most people I've talked to have made mention of the fantastic *ahem* customer service they've had with AT&T, I've not yet had the personal pleasure of interacting with their automated menu system, minutes upon minutes of cheesy hold muzak, the looping track telling me I can get support online, or the CSA's wanting to "ensure that I am extremely satisfied."

40 minutes has passed so far (on hold now) and I've only talked to one actual person for a total of about 5 minutes. The last bout of holding has lasted 20 minutes.

At last a very profession lady has answered and is going to try to help me.

Updates in a little bit! Wish me luck! 

Long day off!

All day today, baby! Was up early for some unfathomable reason, and finally almost 4 hours later, I think my brain and body have sync'd up and are up to full speed.

I've been intending on biking out to a local biking trail that I've heard was pretty good, even if a little on the short side.

Then, after either a dip in the local pool or a shower back at the house, I shall continue with some cleaning around the house, and some artsy work that I'm taking to long to complete.

Not planning on spending much more time on the computer this morning. It's so anti-productive and addicting.

Zoooooom! I'm off!

Birthdays and workdays

Over the past few weeks, several of my friends have had birthdays and decided to celebrate with a gathering of friends. Both parties were fun even though there were several differences.

First was the picnic party which started at the park down the road. In the middle of the seek we gathered at a picnic table in the shade, splaying out around us, food, sodas aplenty, some card/board games, and a hula hoop. Everyone had shown up by 6pm and after the food and drink and been consumed ( to include a delicious cake) the games started. We started with Crainium, and moved to Apples to Apples. The sun had started to set partway through Apples to Apples so we moved the game to our house. The party continued until just after midnight before the multitude of attendees decided to call it quits. Mainly because most of us had to work int he morning. Only after arriving at the house was alcohol consumed, and not overly much. Speaking for myself, a great time was had and the next day I woke up in good health and spirits.

This past weekend was the celebration of another birthday. Before the actual party a grew of us had convened at our house, watch a bit of a movie and started of with some wine we'd purchased on the way home. Not a necessity of our shopping trip, but seriously, how can you go wrong with boxed wine (four bottles worth) for only ten dollars? A few hours later, the winebox and some leftover watermelon was taken to my friend's apartment where hot wings were cooking on the stove and a cake waiting on the table. Throughout the night the wings were consumed heartily, half of a couple of movies were watched, cake was devoured, Lemon Drop shots were served, music was danced to, and the box of wine was finished off. Although not related, at least I don't think, the party ended shortly after the last of the wine had been drunk. The bulk of people still standing at the party left our friends' apartment approximately midnight. A great time was had and i was home and in bed within half hour, after preparing clothes for the next day and setting alarms. Although I would not have considered myself drunk by any means, the next morning, I dragged myself out of bed, took 3 naps before work, and definitely was not in the best of spirits for most of the day.

Getting older sucks, mainly because it sneaks up on you. Just the other day (read a few years ago) I was closing out the bar at two and getting up at five or six, feeling good and cheery all day, and repeating for three nights running.

*sigh* I don't like being snuck up on...

Out on Lake Woodlands today for the second time in my li'l boat. It doesn't move fast, but it keeps me above the water.

As I was cruising my bicycle along the sidewalk at the park, I was espied by a teenage boy and his friend, both named Eric. They approached and asked simply, "Are you Hippie Chris?" I said yes, as I've been called versions of that by many for years. Kid told me he'd met me a few years ago when he was around 13; maybe I remembered his friend Dave with the long hair? I think he may have been one of the kids that used to cheer when they saw me drive by in my VW bus.

Strange little world we wander.

Then, while packing up after my boat ride I get sucked into conversation with some gal about religion and such, inspired by a question about my tattoo. Eventually it gets too hot sitting in the sun and I'm eager to get home and shower off, so we draw the conversation to a close and I enjoy the short ride home.

Upon the ride home, thanks to my backpack, I notice my upper arms are a little tender from the sun. Life is wonderful now that summer is here. I've missed it over the many cold snaps we had this past winter/spring.

Out tonight to get-together over dinner with a few oldish friends, and meeting some newish ones possibly. Then, who knows? Maybe a late night out; maybe a late night in. Either way life is good.

I love life.

To the boat!

After work today , I'm riding my bike out to the Lake again with my boat in a bag for an afternoon of sun and laziness. Exactly how lazy biking out to a lake and inflating a boat to paddle around in is, I'm not sure but that's how my mind works it out. Later this evening theres a dinner get-together in the plans so I'll probably be either too tired or too busy to get back here before tomorrow morning and post anything else.

I'm short on time at the moment. Still have to pack the boat and oars.

See ya!

Chris

Good morning....

A discussion was held last night, trying to figure out exactly which night I took my last shower. The running joke is "once a week whether I need it or not" but it actually tends to hold pretty true. We thought back over the week, tying events to days, and landed on Friday. 5 days since my last washing. I went on a boat trip out on the lake and sweated a storm up on the rubber raft. As I took my shower that night, I remembered I had gone boating on Thursday. Up that count to 6. Although I can say it's been a busy week, I don't think that really makes a difference. I just don't sweat that profusely. I wasn't reeking; I didn't feel grimy; I wasn't all covered in paint/ink stains.

The annoying thing is *now* that I've showered, my head and face itch like mad.

To digress, the hole in the kitchen wall is no longer a hole. It is a reinforced patch with 3 coats of drywall mud waiting on primer and paint. Thought s had passed through my mind about sanding it before painting it, however, even though it doesn't match the rest of the wall, I like the texture the patched area has at the moment.

I'm not a fan of textured walls. Nor of drywall in particular, even though I'm sure it has it's many benefits. I miss wood and paneling. Why? Just because.

Once again, off to work I go. It's "truck day" up at Sears. Ugh. My one guaranteed long day, and by long I mean a full 8 hours.

See ya when I see ya!

Chris

Untitled, but on purpose...

Once again, I say that I am going to try to update more often. My new resolution (of sorts) is to post nearly daily - even if it isn't actually eventful or relevant; mainly just want to get into the routine of it.

So, it's Wednesday and I've a morning off - although the morning is behind me and afternoon i has started.

Overslept, sort of. The only thing I had going on early in the morning was fresh coffee. The extra hours I missed out on means I didn't go on a mike/boat trip, however I did get some laundry done. It feels good hanging clothes out on the line to dry again and not worrying so much about rain.

Also, found out that a hole in our kitchen drywall wasn't caused by any leaks. Seems to be a patch job from years gone by that could have been done a little better. We were hanging a hook set up, and the pressure of pushing in the screw anchors caved in a bit o' the wall. I was worried of a leak as the water heater and the washer are behind that wall, although nowhere near the hole. Thank goodness it was just a hole.

Hmm...laundry on the line, holes soon to be not holes, and reheated coffee...I think that about does it for now. I'm off to finish tasks before biking to work (4-9). Tonight, while at work, I'll be missing Darbi and a couple of friends practicing Tool's "Schism" for church service in a couple of weeks. There are other songs included to be practiced, as well, but I'm super stoked about "Schism." Should be fun!

'Til life brings me this way again (hopefully tomorrow), "Toodles and oodles of smiles!"

~Chris

At last, I'm back on Blogger for a few minutes. It's been a little longer than the week I expected it to take me to update here.

A year later, after leaving Greek Tony's delivering pizzas, and filling the majority of the year renovating properties with my landlord, I am currently working at Sears Hardware as their "Receiving Associate." Mainly, my job is to sit/stand in the back and count the products that get delivered to our store. January is apparently slow each year and employee hours are limited. Being one of the part-time employees, I was only scheduled one day last week, and two days this week. It's the way it goes, I guess.

Darbi and I are still living up in the Woodlands north of Houston. Still renting the same house, too, although we've collected another roommate since Hurricane Ike blew through. He spends most of is time in his room, or at his parents down the road, so it's almost like not having a roommate, sort-of.

Although I know there's plenty that's happened that I should be saying on here to keep everyone informed, I can't think of anything to say.

I do, however, look forward to consistently warmer weather. These 30-40 degree days every couple of weeks is really annoying....

I've got to go finish laundry and call a friend about installing some security lights. Take care everyone, and until next time...big hugs to all.

Chris

Just a heads up....

...that I'll be posting later this week. Tomorrow we're getting DSL hooked up instead of using a mobile PC adapter thingy. I'll be home all day probably, and all week, seeing as I was only scheduled for one day of work up at Sears. Yay retail.

Til next time...**hugs** !!