Odds and Ends

An odd way to begin a new year I suppose, but this has been an uneventful week, if you discount, cracking two teeth, breaking the router, losing our Tivo network, and freezing my backside off every few hours, while spending time outside, keeping the wolf from the door, with a tiny cold hound. I feel as though I am with Apsley Cherry-Garrard on "The Worst Journey in the World".

If you are unfamiliar with the book,in a week or so we'll discuss it. Perfect cold weather reading, and probably the best travel book ever written in English.

All has finally ended well, except for the outside part, but soon Charlie will grow, and laugh at me for the time I spent freezing.

1. The year in pictures.
I am not alone in having used any number of photos liberated from sites not my own. I am struggling to credit the original authors, and promise to use renewed vigor in crediting the artist. However, of the pics I have seen this year of people and places each more sublime than the other, one clearly sticks out. From Man of the 50's



Somehow this nitwit, to me, sums up a viable vision of the American future.

2. The Cable Company
I think everyone has one recurring bill they simply despise paying. Mine is the cable bill. Our cable company is no better or worse than anyone else's. They have no hesitancy in lying to you, if it gets you off the phone quicker, and aren't especially good at training or retaining quality employees. Cable like telephone service either works or it doesn't. When it doesn't it suddenly your problem.

I know what's going on in the back of your mind. If you don't like it get satellite, you are thinking. I tried that once. The installer told me we might have service in January. That was in October. Left unsaid was that when the trees grew, or leafed, we hadn't a prayer.

In sheer desperation I called the cable company late Sunday evening. I had a network problem and hoped if I caught them off guard I might get some help. Not surprisingly, since they are headquartered in Mayberry, our cable company has set up a customer service center in a community which they do not provide service. Although I am grateful it was in America, and I was speaking to someone who was a native English speaker.

The man was a godsend. Quick, helpful and knowing no one was listening offered a number of worthwhile tips on preventing the problem in the future. This month I don't mind paying the bill.

On a side note, let us give thanks. The Bachelor and American Idol begin this week and next, so finally, I get a couple of free evening hours alone at home. I've a got a pile of books to catch up on.

3. And Finally
To my old friends who have stopped here regularly over time thank you once again for your trust, and for your blogs. You make my life sweet as rain water. To the new kids, welcome. I hope you linger a while, catch up on the archives , and especially check out the blogs of the many contributors here. Many of the best bloggers in the world stop here regularly.

Lastly, by morning, I'm through with the dentist, and related aches and pains, may kick my lingering cold, as well as mother nature's and shall return in full vigor on the morrow. Just in time for our first lingering snowfall of the season.

Toad


lead photo from press.exploratorium