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Super Bowl
Saturday, January 29, 2000 This morning Jack decided he'd had it with the AtHome cable internet access. It's been non-functioning for the last two weeks, he's called them several times, but they never call back to make an appointment, and they always want to make him go through all the steps (unplug all the wires, turn the "modem" on and off, and so on) which he has done multiple times. He knows the problem is somewhere up on the telephone poll, because he lost connectivity after spying a worker up the pole. In the course of giving them one more chance, he had to go through a long time on hold, was redirected to a dead extension, then had to call back again to start the process of cancelling the account. I did offer to hold the phone and listen so he could go do something else -- I think I have more tolerance for that sort of thing than he does. Finally he took me up on it so he could have a bio-break, but of course they picked up as soon as he was in the bathroom! I think the part that especially infuriated him was when they wanted him to take off work so they could retrieve the modem! Their inability to visit when he'd be home (evenings or weekends) was part of the reason he was quitting them, of course! Finally the whole transaction was completed. Unfortunately for me, Jack still wanted to discuss it (yell about it)! Looking back, I think I should have taken a walk during this. I sympathized with his frustration, but now we were at the point where it was all over, finished and done with, and I couldn't do anything to help. A rant on his web page would be a good thing, perhaps?
We drove south towards Seattle in the afternoon. We left earlier than usual on a Sunday, because there was going to be a gathering at my sister's house in honor of my nephew J----'s ninth birthday. I knew that his main present was going to be an electric guitar (my sister must be a saint!), so I'd asked Jack's advice on what a good "go-with" gift would be. He suggested an electronic tuner -- beginner guitarists often have a lot of trouble getting the strings in tune. So we pulled off the highway at a mall north of Seattle, in hopes of finding a music store in the mall. We were in luck! There was a free-standing guitar store before we ever got to the mall. I did feel bad when Jack asked his daughter to wait in the van -- he had stuff there that he didn't want to leave unguarded. We didn't make her wait too long, though. I was able to pick out a cool tuner, and a few picks, in only a few minutes, and I pulled Jack away from the very tempting guitars and amp accessories.
The scene at my sister's house was a bit hectic! but fun. This was really a family gathering, not the real birthday party, but but there were two boys visiting besides my nephews. My movie buddy A--- was there, and a few other friends of the family. The birthday boy J---- was strumming his guitar in the living room. Jack and H--- could only stay around for forty five minutes or so, then Jack had to take H--- to the bus station, and head back home himself. He did get to show off his backpacker's guitar, and jam for a bit with my brother-in-law and another band member. I really appreciated his being there!
The birthday party turned into a Superbowl-watching party. I'm glad it was a good game! The commercials were the most interesting part, though I was glad to see the half-time show. I want to make some of those large puppets sometime! They seem to be modeled after the Minshall Mas band Kings and Queens, from the Trinidad carnival.
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