thanks, jake of xfinity!

"Don't you mean 'Jake of State Farm'? The helpful guy in those 'mercials?"

 

No, my dear. I don't have any insurance with them, though those ads are cute. But I said "Jake of Xfinity" and that's exactly what I meant to say.

 

"Hey, did you finally get the new Wifi router up and running??"

 

Yes, I did! Rather, yes, he and I did. I finally found a phone number for Xfinity support. 1-888-966-7602. Yes, I'm recording it right here so I can find it in the future. I spent almost an hour searching through their website before I found an actual phone number to call. They really want folks to use their AI chat or the app. But I found the AI chat to be fairly useless, as it kept trying to get me to install the app - even though I told it I did not have a smart phone.

 

"I bet it tried to sell you a phone then, didn't it?"

 

Yep, it sure did. Going through the FAQ and watching the youTube video were of no help, either, as they kept referring me back to the app. I started to feel like i was in some new-tech version of "Who's On First". I was so elated to find an old-fashioned phone number for technical support!

 

"That didn't try to get you to download the app?"

 

Of course it did! "Would you like me to send you the link to download the app?" was one of the first things it asked. Jeesh. But I knew to say "agent" and it finally acknowledged that the robot just would not be acceptable. And get this: Jake stayed right there on the phone with me for the 46 minutes it took to get the new router installed. Right there on the phone with me, the entire time! I was very happy with his service!

 

"That sounds like a true service technician! Good for him!"

 

Yep! I'll be taking the old black one back to Xfinity at some point. When they sent me the email that my router needed to be replaced, free of charge, I'd gladly accepted the offer. After all, they were going to send me packaging to return the old equipment to them, too. However, that part didn't happen and the old router is too large to fit into the box the new one came in.

 

"That white model is quite sleek, isn't it? And it doesn't have all the lights on the front that make it look 'techie'. It looks more like a room deodorizer than an internet source. I guess that makes most customers feel more comfortable displaying it."

 

I don't know the reason for the design. I'd prefer having some lights to let me know it's working. The little thing has one little light and I have to be standing right over it to see it. Hey, as long as it lets me access the ether, I really don't care how it looks! Thanks, again, Jake, for your help!

 

sitting in the dark, trying to type...

That's because both of the bulbs in the dining room light fixture are out.

Both of them, at the same time.

Honestly, how did they burn out so quickly?

It's only been a little over a year since they were replaced.

I'll have to see if Smitty or Tony can come by to put in new ones.

Well, when I buy the new ones, I'll have to call my brothers.

How aggravating.

At least I can stop by Home Depot after I leave Wednesday Night Supper tomorrow night, so that will be a good errand for me.

Now, I need to stop typing before the computer glare makes me blind.

i wonder how the first part went?

This afternoon, AARP-GA of Savannah had its second volunteer event of the year.

As with the first one, this had an issue, too, that was out of the control of the volunteers who had arranged it.

Today was the four-part Estate Planning Workshop, with Gabrielle Richardson helping out from her Atlanta office.

I had registered to attend the ZOOMs for three of the four sessions. 

Wanda Lloyd was lead dog for this event, and she had arranged for several on her team to take a turn as the emcee for each session.

I had not registered for the fist session, but I was there on time for the ZOOM for the second, which started at noon.

Titled "Putting Your Wishes In Writing: Essential Estate Documents", it was to be about wills, Power of Attorney documents, and Living Wills.

I thought it might be a nice refresher for me, right?

And it was. 

Harry Singleton, over in Pooler, introduced us to Laurie M. Thomas, who was an attorney with a legal firm in Conyers, Georgia.

I made sure to have a question in the chat, mostly to mark my presence.

I wanted to make sure my fellow volunteers knew I supported them!

"Who should have copies of your will, POA, and other documents?"

Wanda Lloyd was the one to read the questions during the post-talk Q&A, so I know she saw my name.

Good! (smile!) 

One good thing I learned during that session: I got a real deal from SmithBarid on my new trust.

Apparently, most people pay $5,000 to $10,000 for those documents, with some paying considerably more.

One thing that was stressed by the attorney today was the need to have the trust funded, so that it could be enacted after death.

At least I've had that done since about 2010. 

At 1 PM, I was there on a different Zoom link, this time to hear about "Trusts 101: Understanding How Trusts Work".

This time, Lillian Sykes was the one who introduced the speaker!

Well, rather, she talked about Lester B. Johnson, who was the attorney selected, but he never showed up.

Lillian tried to buy him some time, chatting about how the folks in the audience could become AARP volunteers, talking up the AARP Fitness Fridays and the various programs available for free on the AARP website.

But time ticked by without the attorney... ten minutes... another ten minutes, when it seemed that Gabrielle could hear him, but no one else could see or hear him. 

I even asked at 1:26 PM, "Are we still waiting for him to connect?"
Finally at 1:32 PM, Wanda announced that the session was cancelled and would have to be rescheduled for another time.

There had been folks in the audience from Oregon, Illinois, and a few other states, according to the chat.

I guess it was good that the attorney in the second session had spoken so much about trusts, even though that wasn't the focus of her talk.

 

Finally, at 2 PM, I tuned in on the final ZOOM link for the session titled "Preparing Those You Love: Creating A Family Plan For Survivors".

I'd almost not registered for this one, as I thought its focus to be for families who would leave behind grown children with special needs, or other family members who would need perpetual care.

Nope, it wasn't about that at all!

Well, there was one point where the topic was broached in terms of the different types of wills that could be used to handle such situations.

Mostly, though, it was about how to talk about death with your family members so they would know your wishes and know what steps you were going to take in light of that assured future event.

Really somber stuff, that.

However, their approach was fabulous!

"Very nice to have it in small steps. Just getting started is somewhat overwhelming, as I found out several years ago. I like the smaller steps."

That's what I wrote for Moya Campbell of Lighthouse Financial Group, who'd been introduced by the event hostess, Wanda Lloyd.

Get this: they're even located in Savannah!

Moreover, she and Wendy Wallace left us with access to a workbook to walk us through the steps we would need!

That was most generous of them, and something the others had not done.

The 12-page "My Family Plan Workbook" reminds me of the Five Wishes Living Will that I'd done with Ronnie a decade ago.

I'll have to pass that link around to others!

I'm so glad I was there for this session!

I do hope Wanda will regard this total event as a 'win', even with the third session being a complete bust.

Technical issues are beyond our control, as I'd learned at my event.

As long as it ends on a good note, that's a 'win', not just for me or her, but for AARP-GA in Savannah and AARP nationally.

Good work! 

birthday dinner with two celebrants!

Happy 66th birthday to Marcia!

She was there with her daughter, Amanda, as well as her eldest grand-daughter, Batsheva.

Nice to have their company again for this happy occasion!

Happy 70th birthday to Kathy!

Having the celebration at Wang's II was her choice, and what a good one it was!

I haven't been there in years and they've recently reopened.

As well as the free snacks on the turntable, they also gave us free donuts for dessert!

Kathy treated us to freshly-made cupcakes, from her very own oven! 

Duncan Hines lent her a hand... but we all agreed the spice cake was excellent and moist!

Sandy and Elissa agreed that flavor was perfect for autumn.

So nice to continue to be surrounded by friends on a Monday evening!

So nice to know warmer evenings will soon be back, too.

Thanks, Pat Prokop, for the extended forecast to reassure me.

I have two outdoors parties coming up on the weekend and I'd rather not have to dress with a jacket, right?

I'm so spoiled by life at this latitude!

two gob services on one day!

Ah, the magic of youTube and the Asbury Memorial channel there!

This morning, I caught the live streaming of the God On Broadway service on fb, sharing the experience with Kimmi and Deborah in Costa Rica, plus Ryan and Katie in New York City.

For this GOB3 service, the musical was one Reverend Billy Hester has used before: 'The Sound Of Music", the 1965 film.

He has a personal link with that, through his sister.

The Townsends - Mickie and Bob - have a personal link with that, too, and so the timing of this service with their 59th wedding anniversary was probably more than fortuitous!

Right place, right time! 

 

The service led off with the entrance of the Benedictine nuns, singing "Allelujah"...

what a lovely chorus from the women in the Asbury Memorial choir!

Then came 'Maria' (portrayed by Rebecca Flaherty) with several members of the SING! Children's Choral performing "Do Re Mi" all together.

That was followed by five of the children singing "Edelweiss" for us while she strummed the guitar. 

As I told the others on fb, I do so love that song!

Then, after another interlude for church announcements, 'Maria' and the children gave us "A Few Of My Favorite Things"... which so happens to be one of my favorite things!

Later, the children were back for two more songs!!!

"The Trees Of The Field" is not part of the musical, but I love that SING! was part of this traditional favorite!

Then they closed out the GOB3 performance with "So Long, Farewell"...

and appropriately so!

I do wish I could have been there in person to cheer for them!

I would have liked to have been part of the Swiss Treats Coffee Hour, too.

I actually considered just showing up for the food... but talked myself out of that Dang move.

I didn't want to be mistaken for the barefoot hobo!

(smile!)

The day was a bit chilly, too, with a high only to be in the mid-60's F.

That's because some northern winds knocked our lows down to the high 40's for this weekend, perhaps to mimic the weather in Vermont, the home of the Von Trapp family.

Not the type of temperatures I choose to be out in, for sure. 

 

So, after catching up on other matters, I decided to catch up with last week's service, courtesy of youTube.

I'd missed it, somehow sleeping in until after noon because of a restless night with multiple trips out of bed.

That featured another musical, "Guys And Dolls", that has appeared in the October GOB sermons before, notably in 2019. 

What I like most, I do believe, is Danny Beam reprising his role as 'Nicely' and telling everyone to "Sit Down You're Rocking The Boat"!

It's really quite humorous!!!

That first photo, by the way, is for "Can Do", about betting on horses.

The next one is for "First Fold", and then there's "Adelaide's Lament", where she bemoans her lover's inability to comment.

The only other song they performed from the musical was the title song, "Guys And Dolls", with Chuck Eyler, Steven Reed, and another guy taking the leads as the 'Salvation Army' singers accompanied them.

 

Oh, wait, I forgot about "Onward, Christian Soldiers"!

That was sung as the choir filed out to man the soup station in Holliday Hall!

I would have liked to have been there for the chicken noodle soup and sandwiches, but, as I said, I woke up far too late to have done that.

Maybe I'll be able to get there next Sunday... but likely I'll watch on fb.

Guess I'll wait and see!

Meanwhile, soup sounds good for this chilly day.

Lucky for me I have the fixings for Mama's Tuna Chowder!

i thank You, God!

'noids do not have sex with doodles

"Wow. Has the chill in the air frozen your brain, dear?"

Oh, ha ha ha. No, that's the one rule that cannot be broken in Ralph Bakshi's movie that combines live action with cartoons, a la "Bedknobs And Broomsticks" or "Who Framed Roger Rabbit". "Cool World" is one that I somehow missed, but, in my defense, 1992 was a bit busy for me. I was finishing my doctoral research, sewing my wedding dress, going off to Michigan for a wedding shower with his mom and friends, getting married, and driving back and forth to Savannah from Tallahassee on a frequent basis. So, going to the cinema was a tad low on my list of things to do. (smile!)

"I remember. Being retired has really amped up your movie-going, that's for sure. So, what was this Bakshi movie? I recall that you discovered his work when you were in Panama."

That's because we had a theatre lounge in an old Army officer's house in Coco Solo. SOmeone would get us a few reels of movies and we'd watch them on the old projector when we were off duty. "Wizards" drew me in with its title, of course, and I fell in love with the story of good versus evil! That was in 1978. "Cool World" was written a good decade later, then rewritten by two other people when the producer didn't like it. My guess is Mancuso wanted a happy ending on this live-action animated fantasy, so that's what he got.

"And that's what you chose for this $1 Movie Night reward from Comcast?"

Yep! I'm glad I've seen it, too, even though it was a far cry from "Wizards" or some of his later works, like "Fire And Ice" or "American Pop". For one thing, the 28-year-old Brad Pitt couldn't seem to get his body language in sync with the cartoons he interacted with, so those scenes came off as awkward. He played 'Frank Harris', a veteran who got transported into the fantasy realm when his motorcycle crashed, killing his mom. That was in 1945, and 47 years later, he's still there, serving as the head of the Police Department. He has a girlfriend there, 'Lonette', but they've never had sex. See, that would violate the one law: Humanoids do not have sex with Doodles.

"Oh, okay. I get the post title now. So, let me guess, someone is going to violate that law and cause mayhem, is that it?"

Absolutely! And that someone is 'Holli Would', a curvy blonde Doodle who wants to follow in the footsteps of the mythical 'Vegas Vinnie', a Doodle that supposedly became human and struck it rich in Las Vegas. To that end, she enlists the aid of 'Jack Deebs', a cartoonist who thinks he created that realm, and her, while he was in prison. As soon as he's released, 'Holli' zaps him into her realm, knowing he will gladly have sex with her and make her "real".

"And of course he does and mayhem does result..."

Oh, you betcha! That Doodle is portrayed by a giggly 39-year-old Kim Basinger, with the ex-con cartoonist played by 41-year-old Gabriel Byrne. They were well-versed in making contact with imaginary folks. (smile!) 

"And there you were, dining on your version of your Mama's Salmon Stew."

Absolutely. That tuna chowder nourished my body and my soul tonight. Who could ask for anything more? Not I. Now, I'm going to wind down and get ready for my nice, warm, bedroom. I'm so glad I set up the space heater earlier!

me watching football???

Yes, yes, I was right there, at Marcia's request, watching the Georgia Bulldogs have their first loss of the season.

Not that the team has anyone but their defensive lineup to blame.

I'd arrived at Midtown Sports Grill during the second quarter and the game was tied up at 14-14 as they headed into half-time.

Marcia had called me in because Elissa was going to be out of town and she wanted some company.

She wound up with me and Sandy both on this chilly Saturday. 

As I'd told Cheri last night, the temperature at 7 AM was going to be the highest we would get all day.

In fact, as the WSAV weather song shows, there's a 20-degree difference between the high on Friday and the one today.

All next week is not going to be much better.

I've already put the blanket on the bed a couple of weeks ago.

Tonight, I'll put a heater in the bedroom, too.

I won't worry about the rest of the house, but that one room is going to be my haven against the autumn chill.

So, what was that about the Bulldog's defense?

The score says it all.

With only two minutes left to play, the Auburn Tigers was still matching the # 1 team on the scoreboard.

That's because both teams only scored when they had the ball, because both teams had poor defensive plays.

At this point in the game, Georgia had put on an offensive drive that was beautiful to watch, getting repeated first downs before scoring a touchdown.

Honestly, it was the best they'd played all day!

Auburn's offense couldn't seem to get down the field, so they ended up kicking the ball back to Georgia.

Everyone else thought the Bulldogs would put on another show for us... but not me.

Sure enough, they fumbled the ball and the Tigers grabbed it!

The Tigers held onto it, too, as they jostled down the field, seeking to get within range of a field goal... and they did get within range... and they scored with that kick, placing them three points in the lead.

The Tigers won, 27 to 24, in a Bulldogs' home game in Sanford Stadium, on the Georgia State University campus in Athens, with thousands of red shirts in the stands.

I wonder what the football equivalent is of baseball's "the mighty Casey has struck out"?