Redemption

Today I received the most unbelievable call in my life. I was painting Billy's room when the phone rang and when I got it, the person on the other end was a representative from Verizon. She called to say that the person I talked to yesterday made a mistake and that I am entitled to a $150 gift card. Not only that, but she said that they would give us 3 months of HBO and Cinemax to make up for the troubles that I went through yesterday.

All I can say is WOW!!

TV Troubles

Well, here we are in July and we have still not received my $150 Visa card I was promised with my upgrade to Fios TV. Not only have we not received the $150 yet, but they charged us for installation on the first couple of bills during May and June.

Today I finally decided to call and find out what was up with the deal I was promised. After about one hour on the phone I learned that I will not get the $150 card. The person who signed me up for this service lied to me when they told me I was eligible for the $150 reward card. I already had a Verizon Double Play and switching to a Triple Play would not allow me to get the $150 gift card.

I was also informed that only the activation fee was waived, not the installation fee. So I was going to be charged $54 for them to run 5 meters of coax cable to my tv. I fought this because they used my EXISTING coax cable. The operator tried to call the installer to verify this. When she couldn't get a hold of the installer, she credited for the $54 installation cost.

Finally, I asked her about activating the DVR features on my HD box. She said it would cost $15.99. I asked, "one time fee". She responded, "No, each month". What planet are people on that pay these prices? I already have the hardware on the box....they want me to pay $16 a month to use it.

I am looking forward to March 19, 2010. That is the day my contract expires and I return to full over the air tv.

A quick storms rolls through Glassboro

Today a quick storm rolled through Glassboro and I was able to capture its approach on film.

Philly comes to Billy

This wednesday we got to see the Philly Phanatic, the Phillies Ball Girls and the Eagles' Mascot (Swoop). They all came out to community day in Pitman and we had a great time.

TV Times

After one year using only an antenna for my television service, I am once again getting paid tv. The good thing is that I am the one who is getting paid to have the tv service. Last year we signed on to a two year deal with Verizon that gave us phone and internet for $75 a month and we didn't want to pay the extra money for TV.

Recently, we signed onto a promotion that will actually raise or monthly bill by $10 a month and will allow us to also get tv. The offer also comes with a $150 Visa card and $30 off the first bill. So over the course of the one year left on our contract we will pay $90 extra dollars and get $150 dollars back. So they are paying us $5 a month to have the tv.

We didn't want to have pay for any boxes or other equipment so we are only getting the service on one tv and the other tvs will stay on the antenna.

Even though I haven't watched anything during the week or more that we have had the new service, I am looking forward to the hockey playoffs and the start of baseball season.

Carolers on Christmas Eve Eve

Last night a few very special former students stopped over to sing Christmas carols for us.  They have been doing this for the past few years and it really helps to make the Christmas very special for us.  I wanted to share this special time with everyone I know, so I am putting up a three minute video of some of the songs they sang for us.

Weekly Grind

I haven't been posting that often lately because Billy and I have been in a pretty regular weekly pattern without many new things happening.

On mondays Billy has been doing Tumble Times for the last couple of months.  After a couple of accidents over the summer with Billy falling up steps I figured we better get him some coordination practice and therefore I signed him up for the gym.  He goes about one hour a week and he practices balancing activities, tumbling activities and other gymnastic activities.  He really enjoys going, but I am not sure how much it has helped.

On Tuesday we have hockey practice and on Saturday we have hockey games at the YMCA.  He does really well for part of the game, but he doesn't make it through all three periods.  By some point in the third period he becomes a statue on ice and seems totally oblivious to what is happening around him.

Finally, on Sundays we go to Rowan for swim lessons.  He has been taking swim lessons now at the Y and now at Rowan for almost two years and still he is not really swimming.  He has a great time at Swim lessons but I think he still doesn't quite get that he is there to learn to swim and not just to have fun.

This monday if the weather is good we are going to skip out on tumble times and instead go to Rowan for a chance to see the moon and some planets through the telescope.