Spatter

Another Day Without

Still without phone line, and so...still without internet.  I called ATT again this morning from a friend's house and was able to get the repair order moved to tomorrow morning.  Tuesday is a far cry from Saturday!  I've got my fingers crossed that all will be restored by this time tomorrow.  In the meantime, I'm having dinner at Whole Foods again...

The Aggravation Continues

My restored phone service was short lived.  Woke up to find my phone line dead again.  Now  it will be a week before ATT sends someone out.  A week!  They didn't seem to care about 911 emergencies that could happen in the interim.  Pointing out our possibly leaving ATT didn't seem to phase them either.  There's definitely something wrong with this picture! 

While here at Whole Foods I've looked at Verizon plans that would have enough minutes to use as a way to replace ATT service.  I never had wanted to give up phone service with a line before because of tower outages during hurricanes.  But now that we're not here during hurricanes, it's something I might now consider.  

It'll be interesting to see if I get DSL/internet Monday with the new modem that I've purchased.  Sure hope so...a week without phone service is one thing, but a week without internet...oh noooooooooo! 

Off Line

Just wanted to check in to advise that I've made it to Florida safe and sound but  I've no internet service at home.  I spent my 24 hours here dealing with AT&T...trying to get both phone and internet service restored.

After many calls, much frustration, and $95, our phones are working again.  Internet service is another matter.  Coincidentally...conveniently...my modem has died.  At least that's what they told me.  After what I've gone through, I'm not sure I believe them, but it seems I have to since I'm not going back to Comcast internet service. So, I paid for a new modem and it's supposed to arrive Monday.  More money. 

In the meantime, I'm checking in via Panera's or Whole Foods when I can. 

Wise Words

A few thoughts to remember...they're all saying the same thing, but one may suit you more than another.

• All meaningful change starts from the inside and works its way out.

• We have been conditioned by the world around us – so decisions are made based upon not what we can do or can be, but upon what has happened to us before

• Motto of losers: if at first you don’t succeed, fix the blame fast

• We get what we think we deserve

• Change the way you think and you change the way you act

• We behave not in accordance with reality, but with reality as we perceive it to be

• As I think, I am

• I move toward and become that which I think about

• My present thoughts determine my future

Bye For Now

It's that time again...heading south for a spell.  We've decided to make the trip in two days vs one this time.  It's just gotten too long to do in one day with Shaynee stops.  Will check in when I can.

Witch Mountain

Company's Coming

I'm going to Roanoke later today to pick up a photographer buddy from Florida who's flying in for a week's visit.  I'm looking forward to the time...

Time & Space

"Life is a coin. You can spend it anyway you wish, but you can only spend it once."  This quote by Lillian Dickson made it to my mailbox once again.  It usually comes as part of one of those emails you get from friends...you know the ones that talk about friendship and life and instruct you to send it on to others, including the one who sent it to you.

Each time it comes it strikes home.  If there's been one constant in my life, it's the frustration that I have at having just one space, one time, one body to experience life with. The resulting boundaries mean that I'm either one place or the other...I'm either doing this or that. I can't live multiple lives.  I can't experience everything.   By being "here" I can't be "there".  My idea of a heaven? A state where I am released from these limitations. 

I'm so grateful that I have the means and the health to travel. It gives me the illusion of transcendence and feeds my spirit by filling my senses.  But even this requires  a choice: where to go and how to do it: movement or stillness...taking in everything there is to see or staying in one place and getting to really know it...going to new places or returning to places I love.  I know...these are nice dilemmas to have.

Another quote...this by Danny Kaye... is how I usually end up approaching it all: "Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint you can on it."  I'm not sure of the picture I'm drawing on my canvas, but I'm definitely trying to make it colorful!

 

Big Lick Blues Festival

Today the sky was bright blue, the temperature was mild, and there wasn't an ounce of humidity...a perfect day for an outdoor event.  How lucky, since today we just happened to have tickets for an outside event: Roanoke's Big Lick Blues Festival.

A nice crowd turned out for music, ribs, and spirits.

There were several performers, but my favorite of the bunch had to be Stacy Brooks...

She reminded me of Diane Schuur. See what you think.  Here's a clip of Diane...

And here's one of Stacy...

On Vacation

I'm leaving tomorrow for my trip to the Grand Tetons/Yellowstone.  I'll first head to Marblehead, Ohio to pick up my travel companion...a woman I met on my Utah trip last year.  From there the two of us will head west on Interstate 80.  Our first day will take us through Indiana, Illinois, and Iowa.  Day 2 will have us in Nebraska and we'll end up somewhere in Wyoming.  Day 3 we'll mosey into our final destination: Alta, Wyoming...on the west side of the Tetons.

We spend six days exploring the Tetons with Elder Hostel, then the two of us will go into Yellowstone for a couple of days on our own.  Unfortunately, that'll be Labor Day Weekend, so it's likely to be very crowded.  Oh well...it is what it is. 

We'll then head back east via Interstate 90...a more northern route...just to see different scenery.  We'll stop to see Mt. Rushmore and The Badlands.

All in all I'll be gone just around three weeks.  Posting and visiting will be sporadic until my return.