Archive for the ‘Nonclassified Nonsense’ Category

Berck called our cable company Adelphia as soon as we discovered that the server in our apartment was inaccessible. We have a dynamic IP address (which means it moves around) with our cable plan, because to get a static IP address would have cost a ridiculous amount of money. However, our IP address hadn’t changed since we moved into the apartment.

That all changed when Comcast aquired Adelphia sometime last week. When Berck call up Adelphia and asked for our new IP address, they told him, “Just a moment, sir; I’ll look that right up for you,” followed by, “Uh, it appears I can’t access it.” Berck kept calling until he got someone who explained it. Our IP address information was stuck in a netherworld between Adelphia and Comcast, and customer service reps from each couldn’t access it. BUT… one day the transition would be complete, and someone at Comcast should be able to figure it out. In the meantime, we would keep calling each day.

Berck decided that I should perform this task. I called on Thursday night and got the same response. “I’ll be happy to look that up for you, ma’am. Uh, it looks like I can’t access it.” I pressed my luck and asked the fellow helping me if there was anyone there who might be able to. He put me on hold for while and then came back and assured me that he had asked everyone.

Yesterday, Berck said, “Well, is it time to call Adelphia again?” This time there was a different greeting that said a name other than Adelphia. I waited while different hold music played until a chipper young lady answered with the same strange name that I couldn’t quite catch. I wondered if I had selected the wrong 800 number out of Berck’s call history. I asked her if this was Adelphia.

“Well, this is the number for several companies, including Adelphia and Comcast.” I explained what I needed, and she said she would transfer me to the proper department. More hold music and then a fellow answered and said I had been transfered to sales and he would transfer me to technical support. I then ended up talking to someone in Birmingham, who said I needed to be transfered to someone who dealt with Colorado subscribers. Transfered yet again, I was talking to a young lady who sounded East Indian and who I could barely understand. I told her I needed my IP address. She asked me what kind of Windows I used and told me I could access it from my computer. I explained again that I was on the other side of the country and I didn’t even use Windows. She put me on hold for a while and then came back with a number. Berck punched it into a browswer window, and Our Dumb Blog popped up! It was no longer stuck in its netherworld.

And so here we are.

We each have Amazon wish lists, so check those out. You have to use “Brenner” to find mine.

For Joanna:

A lint shaver (like this one), preferably one I can plug in.

A nicely writing fountain pen with a fine point, one that’s easy to hold.

Sweaters (A cotton, x-large, black one would be great. I especially like cardigans.)

Airplane cross stitch patterns (or a computer program to make them)

Some BDU pants, size Large-Regular or inseam 29 1/2 to 32 in., waist 35 to 39. I prefer solid black or blue, but any color or design would be fine.

A Dutch oven

A Camelbak

SmartWool socks

Thick cotton boot socks

For Berck:

Yet more books

Berck also wants BDU pants, X-Large-Regular, inseam 29-32 1/2, waist 39 to 43, but they HAVE to be ripstop (you can tell because the fabricmakes little squares). He doesn’t particularly want camo colored. Solid colors are fine.

He could always use some more SmartWool socks.

For both:

Amazingly, our Amazon wedding registry is still active. As is the one at Cooking.com (Berck is especially keen about knives).

Actual Fact: Cardigan sweaters are named after James Thomas Brudenell, 7th Earl of Cardigan, whose other claim to fame was leading the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War.

I took this picture of my cat when I lived in Greece.