You might remember my first FFRF: The Valley of the Sun meeting where I was less than thrilled. But I was on the mailing list for their Meetup thingy and was invited to this month’s event. It was held at (and in conjunction with) the Humanist Society of Greater Phoenix… in Mesa. And I have two words:

MUCH BETTER!

Okay, well it wasn’t because of the FFRF people, it was because of the Humanist people. I was engaged in conversation by one woman in front of me (whose name I didn’t get) and the couple behind me, the Lindquists. Very nice people. (Though when I asked them exactly what Humanists stood for they really couldn’t say – other than generalities – but made sure afterward that I got printed information.)

The speaker, Ted Cox, was engaging and funny. The presentation (What I Learned at Straight Camp) was clear and informative. He ended with ways to get involved. There was Q&A with requests to speak to him afterward about specifics. Very cool. Exactly like one would want a presentation to be.

Now this was a good experience.

__________

Now about the secular humanists. According to their pamphlet:

We are secular humanists. We have confidence in scientific knowledge and in people – their collaborative nature, intellectual capacity and desire to improve their lives and the lives of others.

We value freethought. We use evidence and open inquiry to understand our world and add quality to our lives. Our ethical values are informed by science and driven by the desire to meet the needs of the people in the here and now. Being a secular humanist means striving to behave decently without expectation of reward or punishment when life ends.

But in talking to the Lindquists (or Lundquists, I can’t remember which) they mentioned how  some of their members are still one religion or another. Why? If you value scientific reasoning, how can you believe in any of the bible? And without the bible how can you believe in god? I’d like to attend a few more of their meetings to figure that part out.

Maybe I have found a good group after all.

I’ll be the first to admit I haven’t been in Bookmans in what is likely… years. Since the kids are grown and I just don’t have time to read books anymore (or the vision) it just wasn’t on my list. Sure I’d drive by and think I should stop in but I never do.

I will now.

I went today to meet a friend who was having a writer’s group meeting there. Wow has this store gotten so much better. Back in the old days it was kind of dark and smelled like moldy old books but now, wow.

It’s a whole new store.

The same basic principle applies. Gently used books and stuff for sale. But it’s much brighter, cleaner and better organized. And although the children’s section is freezing, they’ve got a ton of kids books and movies, toys and puzzles. There’s a coffee shop with the best damned hot chocolate I’ve ever had. The electronic section is cleaner. And they have albums (remember albums?) and music CDs, VHS movies, entire TV series on both DVD/VHS and old magazines. Even some jewelry and other odds and ends.

And get this, they now have gently used instruments! Which actually made me kind of sad and I don’t know why. A book is a book and you read it and pass it on. But a violin? Someone must have loved that violin and there it is, traded in.

So, if you want a movie – check your local Bookmans.

If you are looking for a specific book, look there first. You want to try to learn guitar? I’ll bet you can find a how-to book, a video AND the guitar right there.

This coming Saturday is all over the radio as buy local day. Go check out Bookmans for your holiday gifting. In fact, go there any time. Take along some of your gently used books or media and get credit towards your purchases.

I have found the worst, tackiest, most horrible “game” show ever.

Repo Games.

Here’s the gist: Your car is being repossessed. It’s on the damned truck. The Host gives you a choice of answering 5 trivia questions (3 out of 5 wins) and if you win they pay off your loan and you keep the car. If you miss three questions, they take the car. They even raise and lower the lift on the truck as you answer.

Who thought this shit was cool? I’ve had a car repossessed. You kinda know it’s coming but suddenly there they are and you have no say. In my case, Buck had the car at work and they just sat there staring at me until he came home. I wasn’t allowed to call him and was forced to sit outside with my two kids in the heat until he came home and handed the car over. This was 20-some years ago, but I still remember how embarrassed and helpless I felt. I was calm and compliant but if those fuckers had turned it into a game show I would have lost my shit and turned into one of those screaming shrews.

Way to prey on people in a tight spot just for fun. Assholes.

Thursday morning I got stabbed on the way to the airport. Actually, there was a wedged plastic sword in Sheila’s garage and it caught my arm just enough to leave a mark. Flight to Baltimore was uneventful – I sailed through old-fashioned security while Arioch went through the super-sonic x-ray machine and will never have children and Sheila got up close and personal with a TSA agent while Evo recorded it for posterity. Picked up by Rob at the airport in Baltimore for the car ride to the not-Baltimore Balticon. Checked into my hotel-across-the-street and headed to the con.

Immediate hugs from some, not recognized right away from others. People pleased to see me. I was definitely pleased to see them. Especially Bruce and Julie, and A. Thursday evening and Friday day were SiglerFest dedicated to all that is the FD∅™ and Dark Øverlord Media. Siglerfest was cool and I won a Surly! Then we all went to dinner and then back to the hotel for drinking, where I caught up with more old (and new) friends. Donna and A and Sheila and I… never did spend enough time together.

JC Hutchins didn’t recognize me at first and neither did Tee or Mur. I didn’t think I looked that different with this shorter darker hair and new glasses but apparently I do. Also found MAinPA and many many other people I’ve known online and now IRL.

So… lots of drinking, talking, walking, panels, drinking, eating, drinking, laughing (oh the laughing) and just spending quality time with some of the people I like most in the world. Friday night was the awesome George Hrab and Triologic playing (pics and video on my Facebook) and Sunday night was DinerCon after we closed the bar. DinerCon was awesome, though Evo spent most of it over-intoxicated in Donna’s car. There were lots of people providing him with drink all night and he just couldn’t say no. Poor baby. I recorded on my phone but I haven’t had a chance to download it and see if it’s presentable.

Monday morning was full of bittersweet goodbyes and promises of future connections.

The plane ride back wasn’t bad just odd. They didn’t like my name at the curbside, and even after scanning my ticket at the gate, they called my name on the plane to make sure I was there. Then when I got home I found they’d searched my checked bag. And let’s not forget my cankles! For some reason my ankles swelled up so bad I could barely get my shoes on. They’re only this morning back to normal.

Anyhoo, I had a BLAST. My hotel – though across the street and therefore a PITA to get back and forth -  was awesome! The Con was mediocre, but I had so much fun with my friends and new acquaintances.  I can’t wait til next year!

Oh wait, I forgot to mention Phil Rossi’s band Ditched by Kate. Interesting logo, but the band was so not my kind of thing. I escaped almost immediately once they started playing.

No, not Wheaties anymore. I tend to dump sprinkle so much sugar on Wheaties to make them palatable that it kind of takes away from it’s good-for-you-ness.

I’ve been on a steady diet of Oatmeal Crisp Crunchy Almond. I figure it’s also whole-grain, I like almonds and it has more flavor than plain Wheaties. And it’s usually just a bit cheaper. Now I don’t know much about these nutrition labels but I use 1% milk rather than skim (eww yuk) and I dump a crapload of raisins on top. The reason I chose the almond version over the raisin version is raisins are cheaper to add-on than almonds.

Speaking of raisins, I make a special trip to Fresh and Easy to get my raisins. Their raisins are so much better than Sunmaid. Sunmaid, no matter what size packaging you buy, get sticky and hard almost as soon as you open them, But the raisins I get from Fresh and Easy never get sticky and stay soft – all the way to the bottom of the bag. And they’re cheaper than Sunmaid so win-win. Just in case you ever wanted the skinny on raisins.

Sure, I still have to occasional bowl (or two) of Coco-Roos or Lucky Charms – usually as a midnight snack – but for the most part I’ve been sticking to Oatmeal Crisp every morning for about 2 months now.

Unfortunately I’ve also been taking prednisone almost as long, so I have no clue if it’s helping my weight at all. Maybe I’m not getting fatter as quickly. Who knows. But it has to be better for me, right?

Yesterday I took Kira to Sea Life at the mall. I pre-paid for our tickets to save a few bucks, but It was still $28.53 for the two of us – pretty pricey in my book.

Unfortunately we arrived at the same time as a large elementary school group. I’ve been the chaperone Mom on many of these types of trips and I know, barring a few real troublemakers, that kids that age CAN behave fairly well if taught and expected to do so. In fact, teachers always seemed to stick me with the worst of the troublemakers because I could get them to behave. There were plenty of adults with these kids from Florence and yet they were the worst bunch of kids I’ve ever come across.

Most – not all – were pushing, shoving smaller children, running, screaming, pounding on the glass tanks, climbing on the exhibits, yanking on the teaching stations… generally acting like loose animals. I saw ONE adult trying to maintain some sense of order with the 5-6 kids apparently under his control. The rest of the adults pretty much stood around smiling and taking pictures using their flash – and it’s posted EVERYWHERE not to use flash photography because it disturbs the real animals.

We tried hiding in a (useless) little theater looping a SpongeBob Squarepants short about a pickle. Kids would run in and jump up and down on the seats and holler and climb over and then run out, only for another bunch of kids to run in and repeat. I kept slipping up and speaking out to these kids – NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY – but it was that bad.

What the fuck people? If kids from my school would have acted like this in public we would have immediately stopped the trip and sent them all back to the bus until they could show some control. It didn’t matter whether the child was male or female, black/white/hispanic/polka-dot, or alone or in sets, almost every kid in that group (easily identified in uniforms) was a wild freaking animal. It’s like the adults fed them sugar on the trip up from Florence and instructed them to treat the aquarium place like their playground. If I knew which school, I’d send them an email. Maybe I’ll look and see how many elementary schools there are in Florence. Can’t be that many.

We barely made it halfway and had skipped a few exhibits when Kira wanted to leave. It was just too overwhelming for her (and me) so we ducked out and went back a little later. Though it was much more enjoyable once the hoard had left, I was already worn out. And at that price, we’ll likely never go back. Oh well.

Jesus Christ Cox, for an Internet provider you sure don’t understand how things should work, do you?

Let’s go back, last month I tried to arrange to MOVE my services to a new address. I went though your step-by-step instructions numerous times and it just pushes you to choose/start new services. I liked what I had and I didn’t want to think about it, I just wanted to MOVE it. Shit.

Ended up having to call in, nope you have to start new service.

That’s just stupid.

Then I had that rigmarole with actually getting my services to work in this new apartment.

That was stupid #2.

So my McAfee “Cox Security Suite” kept popping up the you-need-to-renew thing, and every time I would click on “renew” absolutely NOTHING happened. I’d go to the website and log in and all it shows is my OLD information. I don’t know my new account number until I get a bill. So I wait.

Meanwhile, that renew button just taunts me.

Now your old information doesn’t transfer to your new account, you have to reregister and basically start over. Losing your old email address and not being able to re-use the old login name.

That’s stupid #3.

Here’s how it should work just in case you want to, you know, get it right:

• I should be able to add an account number or change account numbers with my existing user information so I don’t lose email addresses, etc.
• I shouldn’t have to get a new account number if I’m moving my entire package to a new address. You’re flipping switches, it ain’t that hard. Off here, on there, done.
• Your “Cox Security Suite” should renewal should work. Right now that renew button does Jack.
• I shouldn’t have to uninstall and reinstall McAfee. There should be a way to, oh I dunno, simply transfer the old serial number.
• Steps on your website should work. I should NOT have to call in for any of this. I should be able to do it all online and have it work. And there’s too much crap on every page making it difficult to find the exact step you need.

I’m pissed off, Cox. I just want Internet/TV service and you’ve been the most pain-in-the-ass company I’ve dealt with this entire move. Great ISP, one that just doesn’t get it.

I have a friend who loves his I *heart* Cox t-shirt. I think he’s nuts.

So I got this email MONDAY telling me they’d already hooked up the cable and Internet. Swell. I can and have done self-installing. No problems, right?

Then I moved on TUESDAY and that evening tried the self-install thing. The TV tells me I’m disconnected, call the operator. And the Internet, well the Internet came up on the Cox page and after following directions, told me I was ineligible. Fuck off!

So I called. Waited 17 minutes for a human. Human A and I went through every step known to man and there is NO signal coming to my TV. Colored static. Scheduled a technician for WEDNESDAY afternoon. Transferred me to the Internet department. Waited 8 minutes on hold.

Human B in the Internet department was on a roll when my phone died, and I had to call back to get Human C – another 12 minute wait. Human C and I got it figured out after a while. Score on the Internet!

WEDNESDAY afternoon gets here and I get a call from Technician A, sitting at the old (wrong) address. He said he’d call me back and never did. WEDNESDAY night I started all over again with the phone waiting (8 minutes) and Human D did all the same stuff that Human A did – even though I told her exactly what we’d ALREADY done and I only wanted to schedule another technician, who is here now. Jared is stumped at what the problem is but hasn’t stopped trying.

I HATE having to repeat myself. If you have a problem, you should get ONE person to communicate with. I cannot tell you how many times I repeated “I just moved and am self-installing” and “I’ve double checked all the connections and turned everything off and on again multiple times.” Especially the second night, I told Human D I just wanted to know what happened to the technician and she made me go through every step Human A did. They have a script and will not venture from it.

They should not call themselves Cox Communications because they don’t actually, you know, communicate.

Well, here it is. Jared tells me the cable in the walls is faulty causing a couple of channels to spaz out. And Cox will charge me to run a new line outside because the issue is inside the building. And because the apartment manager isn’t in until tomorrow, I dunno if they’ll reimburse me so I said screw it. I’ll deal with not watching TMC and Cspan. Oh well. Every other channel is fine so far.

Grrrrrrrrr.

And I haven’t even started on the issues I have with my new apartment, which are not that bad but I’m already frustrated as shit over the Cox thing.

Great!

Better than great?

You know, I didn’t learn a damned thing (again this year) but that’s not because the material presented wasn’t top-notch and varied. Mostly it was either stuff I didn’t need to know, like multi-site and business or non-profit big site stuff, or completely and utterly over my head.

So what makes it great? Because there were multiple days full of multiple presentations and classes for people where it does matter. I watched many attendees around me learning and asking questions, working together on some new thing and generally getting so much information.

The event was so well organized with excellent sponsors, food provided on site (again, not anything for me eww-yuk genuine Mexican) and the best after-party I think I’ve ever attended. I’m so glad I got the opportunity to hang around these people.

In fact, I want to volunteer to work the next one. Just because… maybe because it’s not for me yet I believe it’s an excellent and important event for those people who do benefit from it. If you want to learn more about WordPress you should really go to a WordCamp.

The thing is you know me, I’m Ms. Negativity. And the fact that I didn’t personally get anything out of WordCamp and I still recommend it, it just has to be THE SHIT, right?

You can check out some picture of the fantastic after-party here. The official Phoenix WordCamp site. And I can’t remember who (or even if it was mentioned) designed the western logos and t-shirts and jackets, but I LOVE my t-shirt.

No, I’m not talking about anything dirty this time.

A couple of my friends are in love with their shoes. Or rather, un-shoes. They talk about these un-shoes on their blog, MyFiveFingers. Tyler has worn these for practically as long as I’ve known him, and Corey is a more recent convert. Another friend (Dani) has just started wearing them for her running, too.

No, I’m not going to take up running. But they’ve all mentioned that after the break-in period (several months) they have less pain in their knees and back. Once your body gets used to going virtually barefoot, all those misalignments from regular shoes goes away. That’s why I’m interested.

But they’re a little out of my budget. That’s why I got excited… well maybe not excited, but I perked up this morning when I read that MyFiveFingers is giving away a free pair every month for 2011. I’d like to try just wearing them for everyday wear, when I leave the house and stuff. I hate shoes and I hate walking – not just because of the breathing thing – because my back and knees ache when I have to walk any distance at all. I wonder/hope these will help.

These are the ones I want. They look like you can adjust around the heel and I have narrow heels. Sure would be nice to win a pair.