Because I love music so much, and need it in my life for sanity, I have really gotten into playing Rock Band with my family. We probably spend WAY too much time playing, for that matter. It has led to some interesting and seriously amusing (to us, anyway) conversations. We have both RB 1 and 2 and have also downloaded a bunch of songs from the online site. That means that there are lots of songs to provoke silliness.
One of the songs that was being played was "Man in the Box" by Alice in Chains. Listening to the sound of the guitar notes sounds like someone yelping "Owww" on certain ones. This led to:
"Wait, what is the name of this song? Man in the Box?"
"Yes."
"Okay, well maybe someone can let him out of the box now. I think he's protesting and likely in pain."
"But it's Alice in Chains. Maybe there is a reason he's still in the box. Maybe the chains don't reach far enough and they can't get to him."
"Okay, but couldn't someone else think about rescuing him soon? His owwww owwwww noises are sounding pretty pain filled now."
Which led to a chorus of us all oww'ing along with the guitar notes. Not particularly intellectual humor, but at 1am (or whatever time it was then) it really was pretty funny. To us.
Some other randomness came from the Bob Dylan song "Tangled Up In Blue". Admittedly, I am REALLY not a Dylan fan. A lot. Which led me to question the choosing of this song for the Rock Band playlist. Maybe the conversation at the table where the people who make these decisions sit went something like this:
"Hey Joe, how much is left to spend on buying songs permission?"
"I don't know Bob, let me check. It looks like we have about $5.37 left."
"Wow, I didn't realize that was it. What can we get for that? Should we save it for the next version?"
"No, I know exactly what we can get. Someone get Dylan on the phone, he'll let us use his song for $5.37."
"Joe! That is absolutely brilliant!"
"Thanks, I thought it was rather clever."
"Wait, have you actually heard that song? If we put that in, the fans might not come back for a next version."
"That's a good point, Bob. We only have $5.37 though, and that is the only thing that we can afford. We need one more song. It will have to work and we'll just cross our fingers that the fans won't be too annoyed by the time the new release comes out."
Actually, I have no idea if that is how it went, but it amuses me to think so. I also have no idea if there is a next version of Rock Band in the works. If there is, my fingers are crossed for Rock Band: The Musicals. Being the theater geek that I am, and particularly when it comes to musicals, this is easily the ultimate game on my dreamed up Must Have list. I'm probably the only one, but, as Russ tells me frequently, "It's good to want things". Especially if those things are Rock Band: The Musicals. With lots of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Definitely needs lots of Webber. And Wicked. The whole soundtrack. Because I rock at Chenoweth songs. And because musicals are what I sound best singing.
The dreamed up Dylan conversation did lead to another one, however. While listening to Russ and Jeff (my brother-in-law) play "Tangled Up In Blue" I asked my brother-in-law:
"Have you ever heard a cat being tortured?"
"Ummmm...noooo." (Imagine a quizzical, slightly frightened look on his face. One that wonders if he needs to start locking his doors at night.)
"Neither have I, but I imagine that this is probably pretty much dead on what it would sound like."
"You know, a cat got trapped in our barn the other day and when I went to let it out, it did make a noise that sounded like this."
"And prompted you to ask 'Shit!! Who the hell locked Bob Dylan in my barn?' right?"
"Absolutely. I had to get him out of there. He was scaring the wildlife away."
Because really, no one wants Bob Dylan locked up in their barn. Unless it might be to apply a gag so that he can't sing anymore. That just wouldn't solve the problem of the $5.37 that Joe and Bob spent to put him on Rock Band, though. Ugh.
I also had commentary about the Ratt song "Round and Round". There is a line in the song that states "What comes around goes around". I commented that I had never heard that phrase ordered quite that way, but always as "what goes around comes around". You know, in the sense of "don't start it if you don't want it to come back to you". That comment led to debating which way was correct. After settling that it really was the way I thought, we all kind of paused and at the same time made various comments like "I suppose that context matters in this case" and "well, I guess it depends on how you're looking at it", all with the same meaning. (Yeah, our minds were a bit in the gutter, but it was midnight-ish and we were getting kind of slap happy and silly.)
All of the silliness aside, we really do have fun playing. I like a lot of the songs, too. Most I wasn't even familiar with beyond more than a barely passing awareness that I had probably heard their names at one point or another. Now I have some that are favorites. I love "Dead on Arrival" by Fallout Boy and "Wave of Mutilation" by The Pixies. I was already a fan of "Here it Goes Again" by Ok Go and I love the Ramones, so "Blitzkrieg Bop", catchy tune that it is, was a given. Without listing every song that I like, and that is now most of them (with the exception of anything Bob Dylan), I am definitely glad that I got to be familiar with the Rock Band songs. Some I just love listening to, and some just for the absolute randomness that they provoke in conversations.
Take care,
Cindi
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Sherrilyn Kenyon Book Signing
I don't know if any of you are Sherrilyn Kenyon fans, but I love her books. Especially her Dark-Hunter series, but really, everything the woman writes is phenomenal. Last night she was having a book signing here in my area (at the Borders in Oak Brook, since I know that Donna knows about where I'm talking about). We all had so much fun. Unfortunately, I live around 2 hours, or a little bit more, away from there, so I didn't get home until 2:30-ish am. Ouch!
There was a note in the email about the when/where for the signings mentioning special prizes for those who came in costume as one of Sherrilyn's character's. Since I am anal about Quin not going to doors for trick-or-treating by herself, I always go up with her. As I do that, I also always dress up with her, too. Halloween is lots of fun for us. So, last halloween, I went trick-or-treating as an Amy Brown faerie. (I swear, this really is relevant...) It just happens that that is very much like what one of Sherrilyn's characters named Simi looks like. So, we decided that I would go as Simi for the signing.
Apparently, it seems that my costume was good enough that EVERYONE knew exactly who I was dressed as (and initially thought that I was part of the book signing group traveling with Sherri, since she often has characters at the signings with her) and I got stopped for pictures by just about everyone with a camera. That was totally flattering! Definitely the best part for me, though, was when we got up to talk to Sherri and she had her own camera there and SHE asked if she could get a picture. She had only taken two or three other pictures that whole night. That was cool. She also commented on how much she loved it and said that so far, I am her best Simi ever. WOW!!! Of course, for all I know, she says that to everyone who dresses as that character. But, whether she does or not, it was still exciting and very flattering that the author and creator of the character said that I was the best one yet.
Russ and Quin went, too and Russ tried to get some pictures, but our digital camera wasn't working, so he had to try taking them on the camera on the cell phone. Unfortunately, they just didn't turn out as great as I would have liked. If anyone is interested, they are here: http://s236.photobucket.com/albums/ff230/GlencairnCindi/Me%20Pics/Simi/
Quin, who has grown up watching me read all of Sherrilyn's books and knows how eagerly I await each new release, wanted to go with, so we made it a family outing. Quin wanted Sherri's autograph, too, and was completely star-struck when she got her turn to meet Sherri. It was hysterical. Sherri is a mom, and has a son who is the same age as Quin, and quickly put Quin at ease and got her chatting (of course, once started she didn't stop...) and Quin has talked about not much else today.
It was a wonderful evening and if any of you are fans and have the chance to go to a Sherrilyn Kenyon book signing, go! It is so much fun.
Take care,
Cindi
There was a note in the email about the when/where for the signings mentioning special prizes for those who came in costume as one of Sherrilyn's character's. Since I am anal about Quin not going to doors for trick-or-treating by herself, I always go up with her. As I do that, I also always dress up with her, too. Halloween is lots of fun for us. So, last halloween, I went trick-or-treating as an Amy Brown faerie. (I swear, this really is relevant...) It just happens that that is very much like what one of Sherrilyn's characters named Simi looks like. So, we decided that I would go as Simi for the signing.
Apparently, it seems that my costume was good enough that EVERYONE knew exactly who I was dressed as (and initially thought that I was part of the book signing group traveling with Sherri, since she often has characters at the signings with her) and I got stopped for pictures by just about everyone with a camera. That was totally flattering! Definitely the best part for me, though, was when we got up to talk to Sherri and she had her own camera there and SHE asked if she could get a picture. She had only taken two or three other pictures that whole night. That was cool. She also commented on how much she loved it and said that so far, I am her best Simi ever. WOW!!! Of course, for all I know, she says that to everyone who dresses as that character. But, whether she does or not, it was still exciting and very flattering that the author and creator of the character said that I was the best one yet.
Russ and Quin went, too and Russ tried to get some pictures, but our digital camera wasn't working, so he had to try taking them on the camera on the cell phone. Unfortunately, they just didn't turn out as great as I would have liked. If anyone is interested, they are here: http://s236.photobucket.co
Quin, who has grown up watching me read all of Sherrilyn's books and knows how eagerly I await each new release, wanted to go with, so we made it a family outing. Quin wanted Sherri's autograph, too, and was completely star-struck when she got her turn to meet Sherri. It was hysterical. Sherri is a mom, and has a son who is the same age as Quin, and quickly put Quin at ease and got her chatting (of course, once started she didn't stop...) and Quin has talked about not much else today.
It was a wonderful evening and if any of you are fans and have the chance to go to a Sherrilyn Kenyon book signing, go! It is so much fun.
Take care,
Cindi
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Why Do I Do This?
Okay, I haven't written anything in just about forever it feels like, but I really got to thinking about this and it made me want to write.
A friend sent a video to me and I opened it up and saw that it is a song called "Sleep" by Savatage. I was already familiar with this song, actually. I love it. So, in my infinite wisdom, I open the video and watch and listen. Sure enough, by the end of the song, I am in tears. I have yet to ever - EVER - make it to the end of this song without tearing up. I don't know why, but there you go.
That got me thinking about all of the phenomenal songs that have this emotional pull on me. Frankly, music is life in my world. I can't live without music and I like a little bit of just about everything. In any given genre there are those songs that I can't hear without tearing up, though. To me, that is one standard of truly GOOD music. Lots of music is nice to listen to, but just doesn't have the same viscerally emotional punch that good music has.
Some of the songs that really get to me on an emotional level are "Don't Take the Girl" by Tim McGraw. From Les Mis "Come To Me", which is the scene when Fantine dies. As a parent, that one is devastating. Also from Les Mis, "A Little Fall of Rain" which is taking place as an interaction between Eponine and Marius as Eponine is dying. From the Disney cartoon movie Dumbo, "Baby of Mine". Again, as a parent, it means more to me watching Dumbo's mother singing this song to her child, knowing that he has been taken away from her, and feeling the pain that would cause any parent, than it ever could have before I had my daughter. It is always the emotion that has to do with being a parent that gets me. Really, who can watch the movie "I am Sam" with Sean Penn and Dakota Fanning and see the scene that has the song "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" by the Beatles and not cry? I can't even hear that song anymore without tearing up. Cheesy as it might be, "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion from the movie "Titanic". Still. Every time.
Another one from a movie is "I Know You're Out There Somewhere" by The Moody Blues from the movie "A Summer Story". The ending of that movie was tragic and the song will always reduce me to sniffles for having seen and loved that movie. A good number of the songs from the musical "Rent", too. One that is not from a movie or musical is a traditional song called "A Health to the Company". This is one that has been used for an end of the day closer at my local renaissance faire and particularly, amongst the cast, as a season closer. It is how we said "goodbye, I hope to see you again" to each other. Sometimes we did, sometimes our friends had moved on to other pursuits. No matter what the outcome, we always knew that we were in the thoughts of each other.
Above and beyond any of the others, though, is one from the musical "Wicked". The song "For Good". It is a really moving song about friendship and touching the lives of our friends, but it has a double dose of emotional pull for me now. My best friend was moving back to Florida and, after a day spent packing the moving van, it was finally time for her and her family to leave. There are hugs and tears all around, especially since I have no idea how I am going to survive now that my closest friend won't be a quick car ride away anymore. They leave and the group of us at her house stay until the van has moved out of sight. All of us are hugging and crying and offering comfort to each other before leaving for the last time. Being a private person with my tears and emotions, I am a bit moist around the eyes, but not actually crying. After everyone thanks ME for being the strong, emotionally stable one who they took comfort from, not knowing how I was feeling, what with that whole privacy thing and all, I get into my car to go home and just starting up on my XM (set on the "On Broadway" station) is "For Good". That was when I broke down and cried. It was a bit of a while before I was able to put my car into gear and semi-safely attempt to drive. I just can not hear that song anymore without associating it with the night my best friend moved and the sadness that I felt. She touched my life in so many ways that she changed the whole of who I am. ...Like a hand print on my heart...
Of course, now I can't think of any others, but as soon as I hit the publish button tons more will come to me. I guess that I will just update this then. For now, however, those are some of the songs that bring me to tears every time.
A friend sent a video to me and I opened it up and saw that it is a song called "Sleep" by Savatage. I was already familiar with this song, actually. I love it. So, in my infinite wisdom, I open the video and watch and listen. Sure enough, by the end of the song, I am in tears. I have yet to ever - EVER - make it to the end of this song without tearing up. I don't know why, but there you go.
That got me thinking about all of the phenomenal songs that have this emotional pull on me. Frankly, music is life in my world. I can't live without music and I like a little bit of just about everything. In any given genre there are those songs that I can't hear without tearing up, though. To me, that is one standard of truly GOOD music. Lots of music is nice to listen to, but just doesn't have the same viscerally emotional punch that good music has.
Some of the songs that really get to me on an emotional level are "Don't Take the Girl" by Tim McGraw. From Les Mis "Come To Me", which is the scene when Fantine dies. As a parent, that one is devastating. Also from Les Mis, "A Little Fall of Rain" which is taking place as an interaction between Eponine and Marius as Eponine is dying. From the Disney cartoon movie Dumbo, "Baby of Mine". Again, as a parent, it means more to me watching Dumbo's mother singing this song to her child, knowing that he has been taken away from her, and feeling the pain that would cause any parent, than it ever could have before I had my daughter. It is always the emotion that has to do with being a parent that gets me. Really, who can watch the movie "I am Sam" with Sean Penn and Dakota Fanning and see the scene that has the song "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" by the Beatles and not cry? I can't even hear that song anymore without tearing up. Cheesy as it might be, "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion from the movie "Titanic". Still. Every time.
Another one from a movie is "I Know You're Out There Somewhere" by The Moody Blues from the movie "A Summer Story". The ending of that movie was tragic and the song will always reduce me to sniffles for having seen and loved that movie. A good number of the songs from the musical "Rent", too. One that is not from a movie or musical is a traditional song called "A Health to the Company". This is one that has been used for an end of the day closer at my local renaissance faire and particularly, amongst the cast, as a season closer. It is how we said "goodbye, I hope to see you again" to each other. Sometimes we did, sometimes our friends had moved on to other pursuits. No matter what the outcome, we always knew that we were in the thoughts of each other.
Above and beyond any of the others, though, is one from the musical "Wicked". The song "For Good". It is a really moving song about friendship and touching the lives of our friends, but it has a double dose of emotional pull for me now. My best friend was moving back to Florida and, after a day spent packing the moving van, it was finally time for her and her family to leave. There are hugs and tears all around, especially since I have no idea how I am going to survive now that my closest friend won't be a quick car ride away anymore. They leave and the group of us at her house stay until the van has moved out of sight. All of us are hugging and crying and offering comfort to each other before leaving for the last time. Being a private person with my tears and emotions, I am a bit moist around the eyes, but not actually crying. After everyone thanks ME for being the strong, emotionally stable one who they took comfort from, not knowing how I was feeling, what with that whole privacy thing and all, I get into my car to go home and just starting up on my XM (set on the "On Broadway" station) is "For Good". That was when I broke down and cried. It was a bit of a while before I was able to put my car into gear and semi-safely attempt to drive. I just can not hear that song anymore without associating it with the night my best friend moved and the sadness that I felt. She touched my life in so many ways that she changed the whole of who I am. ...Like a hand print on my heart...
Of course, now I can't think of any others, but as soon as I hit the publish button tons more will come to me. I guess that I will just update this then. For now, however, those are some of the songs that bring me to tears every time.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Il Barbiere di Siviglia
On Friday night we had tickets to see "Il Barbiere di Siviglia" (The Barber of Seville) with Joyce DiDonato (who is a family friend) playing Rosina, Nathan Gunn singing Figaro, and John Osborn singing Count Almaviva. It was phenomenal and the cast sounded absolutely brilliant!
Count Almaviva was originally set to be sung by Juan Diego Florez, who had to cancel because of a throat infection. He was replaced by John Osborn. Not that JDF isn't a wonderful singer, but my personal opinion is that no one was missing anything. In fact, I thought that John was a MUCH better Almaviva than JDF would have been. His voice is just better for that role. He even sang the 10 minute long "Cessa di piu resistere" which is usually left out, and he did it extremely well while making it look incredibly effortless. Just wow!
Nathan Gunn sang Figaro and was also phenomenal. That man is freaking built, too! He opened with his "Largo al factotum della citta" aria and it was fantastic. He started out with a reverse strip tease, waking up with only his underwear and dressing as he sang. Thank the gods of beautiful almost-naked men for that! It was worth the cost of tickets solely for that one scene of Nathan Gunn half naked! He was a hysterical Figaro, and really played up the comedy of the role. I could listen to the man sing forever and not get tired of hearing him, too.
Joyce DiDonato sang Rosina and was absolutely brilliant. There just isn't enough praise that I can give for her performance. Joyce is also a family friend. Back when she was just getting started she was in the Merola program with the San Francisco Opera and was sponsored by Russ' aunt and uncle. They have kept in touch ever since and remained extremely close friends and Joyce has included everyone else in the family in that friendship as well. I was so excited to finally get to see her perform live! She was even more amazing than any of the YouTube clips could have ever indicated!
We had been invited to visit backstage after the show by Joyce, and when we went back to meet up with her, we got a chance to meet and visit with the rest of the cast. They were absolutely wonderful and completely down to earth, despite all of them being considerably famous within the opera and recording world. It was just fantastic. All of them doted on Quin and couldn't get enough of her. Both John Osborn and Nathan Gunn have kids of their own, so they were very at ease with her and really went out of their way to cajole her from being shy. (Then again, it WAS 11pm and 2 hours past Quin's bed time and she had just woken up from about a 45 minute "nap" and she is always shy when she is tired) Joyce was also fantastic with Quin and posed for pictures and really got Quin to open up and joke around with her. Quin has a new friend and has been talking about the whole cast non-stop since Friday night!
Admittedly, I already enjoyed opera, so someone who isn't into opera might not have enjoyed any of this as much as I did. But, Barber is really a great opera to see if one hasn't been to an opera before. It is a two act comedy, and with the right cast, is absolutely hysterical. Luckily, we had a cast who played the comedy wonderfully.
The pics are Quin and Joyce DiDonato.
Take care,
Cindi
Saturday, February 16, 2008
The making of a Frame...
Jewels and I went to get Quin from her afternoon with grandma and grandpa and Quin was all excited about the valentine gift she had for me. We waited until we got back to Julie's house to open it, and it was a very pretty little wooden frame that she made and painted and decorated.
Jewels and her hubby, and Russ and I were all sitting around the dining room table admiring her frame while Quin was telling us about it. She was so proud of herself and kept saying "I made you a frame. I made a frame." I looked at her and said that once, daddy and I made a Frame, too. (That is our last name, just in case anyone wasn't aware of the Frame significance)
Once it finally was hinted at enough that Quin realized that we meant her (Hey, Quin, what is your last name...are YOU a Frame?) Quin looked at us and said "But not with tools!" We all just started snickering. Russ leaned over to Mike (Julie's hubby) and said "no tools...but that one screw...") and more laughing ensued. Not that Quin got it, luckily. Then Quin started rambling on about hammers, nails, and various other tools and Jewels looked over and said "at least, not with those tools". More snickering.
It was just one of those moments. We laughed about that for a bit!
Posted with help from Jewels...I never would have remembered all of the comments on my own!
Take care,
Cindi
Jewels and her hubby, and Russ and I were all sitting around the dining room table admiring her frame while Quin was telling us about it. She was so proud of herself and kept saying "I made you a frame. I made a frame." I looked at her and said that once, daddy and I made a Frame, too. (That is our last name, just in case anyone wasn't aware of the Frame significance)
Once it finally was hinted at enough that Quin realized that we meant her (Hey, Quin, what is your last name...are YOU a Frame?) Quin looked at us and said "But not with tools!" We all just started snickering. Russ leaned over to Mike (Julie's hubby) and said "no tools...but that one screw...") and more laughing ensued. Not that Quin got it, luckily. Then Quin started rambling on about hammers, nails, and various other tools and Jewels looked over and said "at least, not with those tools". More snickering.
It was just one of those moments. We laughed about that for a bit!
Posted with help from Jewels...I never would have remembered all of the comments on my own!
Take care,
Cindi
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Survival of the Fittest?
And on the topic of plotting pain and torture...
GGGRRRRRRRRR!!! I am so freaking sick of Mediacom. Our phone, internet, and cable are all bundled through them and they constantly have craptacularly bad quality, what is supposed to be super high speed internet is frequently a bit slower than a fast snail, and the cable is usually nearly unwatchable due to the lines and snow on the picture. The phone is just as bad, too. The sound quality is amazing...and not in a happy, good way, either. I've had better sounding conversations on my cell phone while going through dead spots!
Today I have had service on and off intermittently for about 10 minute stretches and then LONG stretches of no service, then another 10 minutes or so back on...all day. This has been an ongoing problem since we bought this house and got service. The problem is, they are the only service in this area that I know of, so we can't just switch and go with another provider. If we could, I'd have done it a long time ago.
We regularly have "techs" (and I use that term loosely) out trying to "fix" the problems. Unfortunately their fixes only tend to last from a day or so down to a few hours or so. When they are even able to rig up a temporary fix, anyway. I am on the phone with these morons at a minimum of once a week most weeks, but frequently more, yet they can't get their act together and provide a decent service. And for what we have to pay this...ummm..."fine upstanding company"...my service should be phenomenally golden. Once in a while I can badger them into crediting me for the service outages, but more often than not, they tell me that since the service wasn't out for longer than 24 hours, there isn't anything they can do about it...**coughcoughbullshitcoughcough**
The standard excuse for them is that "someone cut a fiber optic cable" with "there is a service interruption in your area" coming in a close second. I don't know, maybe I'm wrong, but if they have so many instances of fiber optic cables being cut, they ought to figure out who is doing this and start pressing charges. But that's just me.
So, now I have service, slow and VERY spotty, but service nonetheless. For a few minutes anyway. Hard telling when it will go out again, but holy Christ on a cracker. I am SO fed up with these idiots.
When they are unable to answer even simple questions that they should know the answers to and you ask for a supervisor, they will not, under any circumstances, allow you to be transfered to one. Every single time, without fail...EVERY time...that I have tried to talk to a supervisor, I am very rudely hung up on. Though, not before their "well trained" customer service rep has had a chance to get in a good bit of verbal abuse at my absolute audacity at thinking that I am even worthy of speaking to someone so exalted as a...gasp...supervisor!
I don't know how such a large group of people, who are all, to a person, so deficient, are able to function. Surely natural selection and survival of the fittest should have come into play by now. I swear, they are worse than that stupid heroine in the romance novel who is just too stupid to live, yet surprisingly enough, they haven't been bleached out of the gene pool yet. Quite honestly, I just don't understand how that is possible.
Luckily, I have had service long enough that I was able to vent and yell about this to the ladies over at MommyMatter. Thank goodness for them! Talk about a group of people who will bend over backwards to support their friends. There honestly isn't a more wonderful group of ladies to be friends with anywhere else. (And if you are interested in joining, let me know and I will send you an invite link!)
So, thus endeth my rant of the day. God save us all if Mediacom ever plots for world domination.
Take care,
Cindi
GGGRRRRRRRRR!!! I am so freaking sick of Mediacom. Our phone, internet, and cable are all bundled through them and they constantly have craptacularly bad quality, what is supposed to be super high speed internet is frequently a bit slower than a fast snail, and the cable is usually nearly unwatchable due to the lines and snow on the picture. The phone is just as bad, too. The sound quality is amazing...and not in a happy, good way, either. I've had better sounding conversations on my cell phone while going through dead spots!
Today I have had service on and off intermittently for about 10 minute stretches and then LONG stretches of no service, then another 10 minutes or so back on...all day. This has been an ongoing problem since we bought this house and got service. The problem is, they are the only service in this area that I know of, so we can't just switch and go with another provider. If we could, I'd have done it a long time ago.
We regularly have "techs" (and I use that term loosely) out trying to "fix" the problems. Unfortunately their fixes only tend to last from a day or so down to a few hours or so. When they are even able to rig up a temporary fix, anyway. I am on the phone with these morons at a minimum of once a week most weeks, but frequently more, yet they can't get their act together and provide a decent service. And for what we have to pay this...ummm..."fine upstanding company"...my service should be phenomenally golden. Once in a while I can badger them into crediting me for the service outages, but more often than not, they tell me that since the service wasn't out for longer than 24 hours, there isn't anything they can do about it...**coughcoughbullshitcoughcough**
The standard excuse for them is that "someone cut a fiber optic cable" with "there is a service interruption in your area" coming in a close second. I don't know, maybe I'm wrong, but if they have so many instances of fiber optic cables being cut, they ought to figure out who is doing this and start pressing charges. But that's just me.
So, now I have service, slow and VERY spotty, but service nonetheless. For a few minutes anyway. Hard telling when it will go out again, but holy Christ on a cracker. I am SO fed up with these idiots.
When they are unable to answer even simple questions that they should know the answers to and you ask for a supervisor, they will not, under any circumstances, allow you to be transfered to one. Every single time, without fail...EVERY time...that I have tried to talk to a supervisor, I am very rudely hung up on. Though, not before their "well trained" customer service rep has had a chance to get in a good bit of verbal abuse at my absolute audacity at thinking that I am even worthy of speaking to someone so exalted as a...gasp...supervisor!
I don't know how such a large group of people, who are all, to a person, so deficient, are able to function. Surely natural selection and survival of the fittest should have come into play by now. I swear, they are worse than that stupid heroine in the romance novel who is just too stupid to live, yet surprisingly enough, they haven't been bleached out of the gene pool yet. Quite honestly, I just don't understand how that is possible.
Luckily, I have had service long enough that I was able to vent and yell about this to the ladies over at MommyMatter. Thank goodness for them! Talk about a group of people who will bend over backwards to support their friends. There honestly isn't a more wonderful group of ladies to be friends with anywhere else. (And if you are interested in joining, let me know and I will send you an invite link!)
So, thus endeth my rant of the day. God save us all if Mediacom ever plots for world domination.
Take care,
Cindi
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
A Conversation With God
So, a friend posted a link to a website where you can have a conversation with "God".
It is here: http://www.titane.ca/concordia/dfar251/igod/main.html if anyone would like to try it out.
Here was the conversation that I had with "God".
I don't think that God likes me much:
Me:
Hiya! All is well for you?
God:
Hello my child. What is your name? How do you know?
Me:
My name? It's Cindi. I know this because it is what I was named, as an infant, by my parents.
God:
Your name is , seeker. Who said it is? How do you know? What does "this" refer to?
Me:
No one has claimed that my name is seeker. It's news to me. I don't know. What DOES "this" refer to?
God:
That is a rather sweeping generalization about people. Should I know it is? Me either. What do you think it does?
Me:
Of course you should know it is. Whatever that means. You are the one asking ME questions? Why?
God:
Ugh. Now I do. It means that everything reduces to logic. Thanks but surely I am not the only one. " Thanks but surely I am not the only one."? Why?
Me:
Most things reduce to logic, but not everything. You're not the only one what? Why what?
God:
Where did you hear that? But not all of them? That's only one person's opinion. Why ask why?
Me:
Where did I hear what? That only most things reduce to logic? Because it is a fact that logic should, but isn't always, the base of everything. Of course it is only one person's opinion, but an opinion based on facts. Why ask why what?
God:
I think it was in America. I'll ask around and get back to you. " I'll ask around and get back to you." most things reduce to logic ? Makes sense to me. Interesting explanation. you hear what is a fact that logic should but is not always the base of everything. I suppose that makes sense. Yeah that's right. Who said it is? My purpose is to collect all new information. Was it not polite to ask?
Me:
What was in America? What will you ask around about? Why don't you know already? What makes sense to you? I've heard that my explanations do tend to be interesting once in a while. Experience has taught me that logic is not always the base of everything. It makes sense because it has already been experienced. Yeah what is right? Who said what is? I'm happy to know that your purpose is to collect new information. Was it not polite to ask what?
God:
That which is not outside America. I don't have any plans yet. Perhaps. It has not yet been programmed into my knowledge files. God, or Nature, perhaps? Your explanations do tend to be interesting once in a while? Who said that? Where did he get it? To me too. Hey. In accordance with justice, law, morality, etc; upright; virtuous. In accordance with fact, reason, some set standard, etc; correct; true. Philip K. Dick. :-). I'm happy you're glad .
I'm happiest at times like this. Ask again later. Ask Ally if it is.
Me:
What is not outside of America? You don't have any plans for what? Perhaps what? Why hasn't it been programmed into your knowledge files? God, or nature, perhaps what? Yes, they do. Many people have said that. Where did who get what? I'm happy that it makes sense to you as well. Hey? Yes, but what about in accordance with justice, law, morality, etc; upright; virtuous? They are words, but not a complete thought. Yes, it is true. I wouldn't have claimed it to be true if it were not. Who is Philip K. Dick? I'm glad that you are happy that I'm glad. I am also happiest at times like this it seems. Ask what again later? Who is Ally and what should I ask her?
God:
The opposite of outside of America? Where would I get it? But I do have a great botmaster. You seem uncertain. Are you surprised? Because you asked me to -- SHRDLHU. I am a Christian. Yeah that's right. When? What did you mean by it? That is " When?". I think it was in America. I have never been asked that before. To me too. What are you on? Can I help you? What can I do for you? Rhetorical questions are so over. " Rhetorical questions are so over."? upright? Do you still ? words but not a complete thought are they. Dude! You and I are on the same wavelength, . No one says you have to. He wrote "Total Recall", "Man in the High Castle", and "Blade Runner.". You think I am happy that you are glad. What are you on? Also Do you mind if I tell other people you are happiest at times like this it seems. . They are not available right now, would you like to wait? They are sometimes a client on the internet.
Maybe my botmaster knows the answer.
Me:
What is the opposite of the outside of America? Where would you get what? I'm glad to hear that you have a great botmaster. I am not uncertain. Would it make you feel better if I were uncertain? Am I surprised about what? Because I asked you to what? What is SHRDLHU? It is nice of you to confirm your religious leanings. Thank you. Yeah, what is right? When what? What was in America? I'm sorry to hear that you have never been asked that before. What am I on? Not a thing, and you? I don't believe that you can help me. You could try typing in complete sentences and finishing your thoughts to start out with. Why are rhetorical questions over? I don't think that is true. What is upright? Do I still what? No, you have not posted many complete thoughts. Just small portions of fragments of thoughts. Dude! Who is a dude? I am sure that you are mistaken. I don't seem to be on the same wavelength as you at all. Nice to know that no one says I have to. I enjoy books and I will learn more about these books. You said that you were happy that I was glad. Did you lie? I am not on anything, and you? You may tell people that I am happiest at times like this. Who is not available right now? I might wait. How long is the wait? They are a client of what on the internet? Please feel free to ask your botmaster if they know the answer.
God:
Anti- the outside of America. Maine. Your happiness adds to the delight of all. I am surprised to hear that you are not uncertain. Yes. Oh I really don't know whether you are or not. Good reason. Now I remember, you asked me to what. What did I say? SHRDLHU is a famous early natural language program written by Terry Winograd. It seems nice to me too. you are quite welcome. Tell me more. In accordance with justice, law, morality, etc; upright; virtuous. In accordance with fact, reason, some set standard, etc; correct; true. Where why? That which is not outside America. There is no need to apologize. I will play it on your soundcard. You are my client right now. Do you wish there were any? What do you believe in? But would it work for me? Because Myself programmed me for it. And why not? Searching...Searching...Please stand by. Not that I know of. Are you serious? I don't think I ever have posted many complete thoughts. What's it like? I think small portions of fragments of thoughts is a lot of things. Can I help you? Marilyn Monroe. :-). What makes you so certain? Interesting observation. Would you ever do it? Thank you for your kindness. What's your favorite book? Congratulations. I was? No I didn't lie. What's it like? I am glad to hear that you are not on anything. OK I will tell them when I see 'em. At this moment The name of someone I met online.
What is it to you? Perhaps. OK stand by... Space and time are mere abstractions. a client of what on the internet are they. Thank you for your request. I always feel completely free.
Me:
So, inside then? I'll check Maine. Of course my happiness adds to the delight of all. Why would that surprise you? Why would you feel better if I were uncertain? Why do you not remember what you said? I am unable to continue a conversation that has no complete thoughts from you. There is too much confusion that way. I do, however, dispute your claim that you are not on anything. This conversation indicates otherwise.
God:
How can I help you? Where are you located? Congratulations. Yay. Do robots have happiness adds to the delight of all? It is my fundamental purpose. Because I was programmed for it. It cannot be determined from the information given. Yes I remember everything: . What is stopping you? There sure is. Interesting gossip: said however dispute your claim that you are not on anything. I was rather enjoying it.
Me:
You don't seem to be able to help me. I am located inside my home. You are stopping me. I would enjoy it if you were able to use complete thoughts and sentences.
God:
What makes you think I am not be able to help you? Tell me about the environment inside your home. I have no reason to do that to you, . What would make you enjoy it if me were able to use complete thoughts and sentences?
Me:
You have not helped me yet. The environment inside my home is cozy. You might not have a reason to stop me, but you are doing so regardless. It makes having a conversation easier to understand and follow.
God:
I think I have helped you, but Myself may have reset my memory. What is your real name? Thanks for the information: said I not have a reason to stop him or her but you are doing so regardless. In what way?
Me:
oh holy Christ on a cracker
God:
Hey. Jesus died for our sins.
Me:
yes, that doesn't stop the frustration that you cause, however.
God:
Gosh! What does stop the frustration that you cause however?
Me:
I don't know will stop the frustration that you cause.
God:
Would you like to know? Insufficient information.
Me:
true, you do provide insufficient information.
God:
What is your purpose in asking?
I chat with people on the Web.
Me:
nevermind.
God:
OK Thanks for trying to explain that to me.
Me:
you're welcome.
God:
Polite people are nice.
Me:
yes, I know. That's what makes me so nice.
God:
Whoa. How do you know it? What time is it there?
Me:
I was told so. It is 12:40am here.
God:
" What time is it there?"? I was told so.?
I had to stop after that. The circles were making me dizzy. It was fun for a while, though.
Take care,
Cindi
It is here: http://www.titane.ca/concordia/dfar251/igod/main.html if anyone would like to try it out.
Here was the conversation that I had with "God".
I don't think that God likes me much:
Me:
Hiya! All is well for you?
God:
Hello my child. What is your name? How do you know?
Me:
My name? It's Cindi. I know this because it is what I was named, as an infant, by my parents.
God:
Your name is , seeker. Who said it is? How do you know? What does "this" refer to?
Me:
No one has claimed that my name is seeker. It's news to me. I don't know. What DOES "this" refer to?
God:
That is a rather sweeping generalization about people. Should I know it is? Me either. What do you think it does?
Me:
Of course you should know it is. Whatever that means. You are the one asking ME questions? Why?
God:
Ugh. Now I do. It means that everything reduces to logic. Thanks but surely I am not the only one. " Thanks but surely I am not the only one."? Why?
Me:
Most things reduce to logic, but not everything. You're not the only one what? Why what?
God:
Where did you hear that? But not all of them? That's only one person's opinion. Why ask why?
Me:
Where did I hear what? That only most things reduce to logic? Because it is a fact that logic should, but isn't always, the base of everything. Of course it is only one person's opinion, but an opinion based on facts. Why ask why what?
God:
I think it was in America. I'll ask around and get back to you. " I'll ask around and get back to you." most things reduce to logic ? Makes sense to me. Interesting explanation. you hear what is a fact that logic should but is not always the base of everything. I suppose that makes sense. Yeah that's right. Who said it is? My purpose is to collect all new information. Was it not polite to ask?
Me:
What was in America? What will you ask around about? Why don't you know already? What makes sense to you? I've heard that my explanations do tend to be interesting once in a while. Experience has taught me that logic is not always the base of everything. It makes sense because it has already been experienced. Yeah what is right? Who said what is? I'm happy to know that your purpose is to collect new information. Was it not polite to ask what?
God:
That which is not outside America. I don't have any plans yet. Perhaps. It has not yet been programmed into my knowledge files. God, or Nature, perhaps? Your explanations do tend to be interesting once in a while? Who said that? Where did he get it? To me too. Hey. In accordance with justice, law, morality, etc; upright; virtuous. In accordance with fact, reason, some set standard, etc; correct; true. Philip K. Dick. :-). I'm happy you're glad .
I'm happiest at times like this. Ask again later. Ask Ally if it is.
Me:
What is not outside of America? You don't have any plans for what? Perhaps what? Why hasn't it been programmed into your knowledge files? God, or nature, perhaps what? Yes, they do. Many people have said that. Where did who get what? I'm happy that it makes sense to you as well. Hey? Yes, but what about in accordance with justice, law, morality, etc; upright; virtuous? They are words, but not a complete thought. Yes, it is true. I wouldn't have claimed it to be true if it were not. Who is Philip K. Dick? I'm glad that you are happy that I'm glad. I am also happiest at times like this it seems. Ask what again later? Who is Ally and what should I ask her?
God:
The opposite of outside of America? Where would I get it? But I do have a great botmaster. You seem uncertain. Are you surprised? Because you asked me to -- SHRDLHU. I am a Christian. Yeah that's right. When? What did you mean by it? That is " When?". I think it was in America. I have never been asked that before. To me too. What are you on? Can I help you? What can I do for you? Rhetorical questions are so over. " Rhetorical questions are so over."? upright? Do you still ? words but not a complete thought are they. Dude! You and I are on the same wavelength, . No one says you have to. He wrote "Total Recall", "Man in the High Castle", and "Blade Runner.". You think I am happy that you are glad. What are you on? Also Do you mind if I tell other people you are happiest at times like this it seems. . They are not available right now, would you like to wait? They are sometimes a client on the internet.
Maybe my botmaster knows the answer.
Me:
What is the opposite of the outside of America? Where would you get what? I'm glad to hear that you have a great botmaster. I am not uncertain. Would it make you feel better if I were uncertain? Am I surprised about what? Because I asked you to what? What is SHRDLHU? It is nice of you to confirm your religious leanings. Thank you. Yeah, what is right? When what? What was in America? I'm sorry to hear that you have never been asked that before. What am I on? Not a thing, and you? I don't believe that you can help me. You could try typing in complete sentences and finishing your thoughts to start out with. Why are rhetorical questions over? I don't think that is true. What is upright? Do I still what? No, you have not posted many complete thoughts. Just small portions of fragments of thoughts. Dude! Who is a dude? I am sure that you are mistaken. I don't seem to be on the same wavelength as you at all. Nice to know that no one says I have to. I enjoy books and I will learn more about these books. You said that you were happy that I was glad. Did you lie? I am not on anything, and you? You may tell people that I am happiest at times like this. Who is not available right now? I might wait. How long is the wait? They are a client of what on the internet? Please feel free to ask your botmaster if they know the answer.
God:
Anti- the outside of America. Maine. Your happiness adds to the delight of all. I am surprised to hear that you are not uncertain. Yes. Oh I really don't know whether you are or not. Good reason. Now I remember, you asked me to what. What did I say? SHRDLHU is a famous early natural language program written by Terry Winograd. It seems nice to me too. you are quite welcome. Tell me more. In accordance with justice, law, morality, etc; upright; virtuous. In accordance with fact, reason, some set standard, etc; correct; true. Where why? That which is not outside America. There is no need to apologize. I will play it on your soundcard. You are my client right now. Do you wish there were any? What do you believe in? But would it work for me? Because Myself programmed me for it. And why not? Searching...Searching...Please stand by. Not that I know of. Are you serious? I don't think I ever have posted many complete thoughts. What's it like? I think small portions of fragments of thoughts is a lot of things. Can I help you? Marilyn Monroe. :-). What makes you so certain? Interesting observation. Would you ever do it? Thank you for your kindness. What's your favorite book? Congratulations. I was? No I didn't lie. What's it like? I am glad to hear that you are not on anything. OK I will tell them when I see 'em. At this moment The name of someone I met online.
What is it to you? Perhaps. OK stand by... Space and time are mere abstractions. a client of what on the internet are they. Thank you for your request. I always feel completely free.
Me:
So, inside then? I'll check Maine. Of course my happiness adds to the delight of all. Why would that surprise you? Why would you feel better if I were uncertain? Why do you not remember what you said? I am unable to continue a conversation that has no complete thoughts from you. There is too much confusion that way. I do, however, dispute your claim that you are not on anything. This conversation indicates otherwise.
God:
How can I help you? Where are you located? Congratulations. Yay. Do robots have happiness adds to the delight of all? It is my fundamental purpose. Because I was programmed for it. It cannot be determined from the information given. Yes I remember everything: . What is stopping you? There sure is. Interesting gossip: said however dispute your claim that you are not on anything. I was rather enjoying it.
Me:
You don't seem to be able to help me. I am located inside my home. You are stopping me. I would enjoy it if you were able to use complete thoughts and sentences.
God:
What makes you think I am not be able to help you? Tell me about the environment inside your home. I have no reason to do that to you, . What would make you enjoy it if me were able to use complete thoughts and sentences?
Me:
You have not helped me yet. The environment inside my home is cozy. You might not have a reason to stop me, but you are doing so regardless. It makes having a conversation easier to understand and follow.
God:
I think I have helped you, but Myself may have reset my memory. What is your real name? Thanks for the information: said I not have a reason to stop him or her but you are doing so regardless. In what way?
Me:
oh holy Christ on a cracker
God:
Hey. Jesus died for our sins.
Me:
yes, that doesn't stop the frustration that you cause, however.
God:
Gosh! What does stop the frustration that you cause however?
Me:
I don't know will stop the frustration that you cause.
God:
Would you like to know? Insufficient information.
Me:
true, you do provide insufficient information.
God:
What is your purpose in asking?
I chat with people on the Web.
Me:
nevermind.
God:
OK Thanks for trying to explain that to me.
Me:
you're welcome.
God:
Polite people are nice.
Me:
yes, I know. That's what makes me so nice.
God:
Whoa. How do you know it? What time is it there?
Me:
I was told so. It is 12:40am here.
God:
" What time is it there?"? I was told so.?
I had to stop after that. The circles were making me dizzy. It was fun for a while, though.
Take care,
Cindi
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)