chalk perfection always wins as AT&T mixes cement in matchboxes
Naturally, seeing such delightful creativity tickled an artistic gene in our grandchildren. Encouraged by this, we acquired a set of 24 individual pieces of (very colorful) chalk. Then we unleashed Tiger (and Nazy) on our driveway. The fact that the previous year’s i Madonnari work at The Mission took more than a year to fade away led Tom, Tiger’s Dad, to feel something less than complete enthusiasm about the chalk being within, say, four miles of their house.
Tiger wrote his name, and then drew some circles and squares on the driveway. Nazy was a bit more creative — drawing pictures that Arrow identified as ‘Mama’ and ‘Tigah’. (See at left.)
At Tiger’s recent eye exam, they were using Red/Green glasses while playing a card game that had similarly colored cards. The idea was to see how well Tiger could read through the filters. They played the game of “War” — or highest card wins. Things went fine until Tiger discovered that he was not winning…
“He is very competitive,” the doctor observed.
“Ah — yes,” I replied. “That’s like saying that Kim Kardashian is fond of publicity,” I thought.
On the drive home, I decided to explore the issue with Tiger.
“You don’t have to win every time you play a game.” I claimed.
“Yes! I do.” Tiger replied. Thoughtfully.
“If you win every game, Tiger, then your friends may not want to play with you.”
“I want to win every game.” Tiger retorted. Forcefully.
“But Tiger: sometimes, Mamon is at my house playing a game with me while you are at your house sleeping. When we play that game, I will win or Mamon will win.” I explained. “Probably me,” I thought aware that I shared a gene or two with Tiger.
“I should win,” Tiger responded.
“But, Tiger, you are not even playing. So how can you..”
“I have to win every time, Dan.”
“I see,” I replied. “No ‘participation’ medals for you,” I thought.
On the vision front, Tiger is also practicing with a ‘cool’ eye patch.
A few months ago, in a fit of disgust, I cancelled TV cable service with Cox — the monopoly supplier in Santa Barbara. I switched to Roku and DirectTVNow, an ATT service that delivers (parts of) it’s satellite TV via the Internet. In order to get local news, I installed an actual TV antenna which was capable of scooping up exactly one station. (A station, by the way, that is located in Santa Maria rather than Santa Barbara.) I entered (far too many) user names and passwords for several (premium) channels. And, although promised:
“You only have to do this one time”
I entered my DirectTVNow username and password twice. Everything (sort of) worked for a short time. The free movie channel inserted a five minute commercial that not only interrupted the only movie that we (tried to) watch, but also was repeated every four minutes. At one point, they replayed the four minutes of ‘movie’ that we’d just seen and then, after yet another five minute advertisement, they started a completely different movie. We decided to shun the free ‘movie’ channels.
We finally settled in. We learned how to juggle multiple remotes. We found Sesame Street for the grandchildren. And then DirectTV asked me to enter my username and password. Reluctantly, I complied and was informed that …
“ … we don’t exist, Nazy.” I explained. “I’m completely flummoxed.”
“I’m not surprised,” Nazy replied. “Flummoxed?” Nazy thought.
I called ATT, where I had bought the service to complain. They sent me to Direct TV. After a 22 minutes wait listening to mindless blather (“Your call is important to us&rdquo
, I finally spoke with a technician.“Why do I have to reenter my username and password?” I asked.
“We’ve upgraded the system,” He replied.
“Upgraded?”
“It’s a much better service now.”
“But it forgot who I am.”
“We can fix that. What’s your account number?”
“I don’t know my account number. I always use my phone number for access.”
“Ah .. there was a synchronization issue with ATT. What’s your phone number?”
He couldn’t find our account using my phone number, address, birthdate, last four digits of my social security number, the name of my first grade teacher, the city where I met Nazy, my actual username or 8 digits that I created using a random number generator on my MacBook.
“You simply don’t have an account with us,” the technician concluded.
“I won’t have shortly,” I thought. “Then why did you deduct a payment from my bank account?” I retorted. “How can I even cancel your (stupid) ‘service’ if you insist that I don’t have it?”
In the end, I had to go to an ATT Store which somehow (I hope) cancelled the ‘service’ and the automatic bank deduction. We slinked into Cox and reestablished cable TV services.
Tiger's Birthday at home with cake, his family and the monkey
We also celebrated Tiger’s 4th birthday this week. He had an extended celebration. His Mom and Dad took him to Disneyland the weekend before. Then he took many mini cupcakes to school to celebrate with his friends. (Arrow, who will start at the school in a week or so, came along for the party.) Then Nazy baked a chocolate “car cake” for birthday celebration at home.
Note; He wanted the cake to have a ’20’ on it because he likes that number.
As Tiger opened his presents, I couldn’t help notice that his ‘cars’ obsession has (literally) grown. He started with matchbox cars (about 1.5 in/4cm), but has graduated to Bruder Cement Mixer trucks and giant excavators roughly the size of our living room. (Note small matchbox car — last year's toy next to excavator — this week's toy.)
As if all of this wasn’t exciting enough, Tom and Melika arranged a father, sons, grandfather(s) visit to Alaska beginning the day after Tiger’s birthday. I joined them on the trip to Ketchikan. More on this trip in the next letter, but, for now, I can report that it was a most memorable and exciting excursion involving cars, buses, limos, vans, ferry boats, jets, trains, fishing boats, humpback whales, Orcas, bald eagles (bald grandfather), mountain goats and a seaplane. And a variety of fish.
Newsflash: Because of this situation, there is a very good chance (100%) that Nazy and I will move. Nazy, concerned by events of the winter, also wants to move from the wildfire/mudflow part of town to the tsunami/earthquake zone. More on this and Alaska in the next issue of The Weekly Letter.
For last week's letter, please click here.
Tiger's 4th birthday at school