We are seven weeks into our bout with Suddenlink. Still, no phone service. I can't believe their management condones the way the people we have dealt with, do business. They make promises, schedule service, cancel without calling, and reschedule and reschedule and reschedule. Initially Oscar seemed to hold the most promise, but I have come to believe he can talk the talk but only enough to keep his job. Yesterday he told Krl he didn't know why we were so upset.

My biggest complaint is no one listens. About a month ago a technician came by and changed some wiring where every phone jack in the house is wired to our fax number. This works for out going calls, but it is a hassle for incoming calls. I had told Oscar and Daryl that they couldn't just port the number, the wiring in the house had to be restored to prior to CYA wiring. Yesterday they supposedly got the number ported, yet the service does not work.

Guess what, they are sending a technician today. Hello?

Crazy thing is, we got another AT & T bill yesterday.

Throughout our entire ordeal I have called our number repeatedly. Until last week it had been a working number and would continue ringing. Last week was when the number was supposed to be ported and when I called it I got a message saying the number I had called was no longer in service. Yesterday I called it and and it rang and rang and rang.

I think we have been victims of Suddenlink personnel trying to decide for us what we wanted. Oscar has repeatedly told us we would have to change our number. I don't know how I could make it any clearer to him that was not an option. He doesn't want to talk with me. Daryl doesn't want to talk with Krl. The e-mail address for the West Region VP apparently is bogus (I received this on a questionnaire about our experience with Suddenlink. I may have to redo it when our experience is over). I also have prepared a multi-page letter to send to Suddenlink's main office in St. Louis.

With luck, we should have our number working. But I am not holding my breath.

I think Suddenlink's new advertising campaign should be, "We're not good, but we are the lesser of the evils".

Truth in advertising.

Texas weather.

Monday morning I went to help K.O.. I loaded a load of bales mid-morning wearing a zippered sweatshirt and my usual work clothes. By the time I was finished and got in the truck to deliver the load I was beginning to get chilled. It is fifty miles westward to where we deliver the bales. Thirteen miles from the delivery location, it was almost like you flipped a switch. Wet roadways, drizzle, ice on the fences and on the grass in the ditches and on the trees in the pastures. Treacherous.

When I returned it was once again like throwing a switch the other way, although it was much colder.

Second trip was almost exactly the same as the first.

It has always amazed me how fifty miles from Abilene, weather can be so different!

Actually what was going on over there on Monday was what we woke to in Abilene on Tuesday!

And Tuesday, what a mix of weather. Cold, foggy, slick. Followed by wind which rapidly cleared the fog and drizzle. Bright sunshine, warming temperatures, and a red tint to the skies reminiscent of spring sand storms.

I talked with Rian in Lubbock late int he day and he said they experienced everything we did plus a heavy rainstorm and the actual sandstorm! In fact when I talked to Rian he said he was going home and battening down the hatches from the ugly day!

Fortunately, the remainder of the week is supposed to be better weather!

I am almost positive I dislike technology. Yes, I have been influenced by Oscar and Suddenlink, but I think how simple life was growing up. I can remember telephone party lines where everyone had their particular ring. I can remember "pre" computers, cell phones, e-mail and text messages. I can remember when there were only two television channels and how they would sign off with the National anthem each evening prior to the "test pattern".

And that brings me to my last thought in today's post.

Our oldest grand daughter, Lrn, has had the same boy friend for almost seven years. They have almost been inseparable. If there was a family function, you could bet Lrn and her beau would show up together. Their relationship has been pretty stable although not without difficult patches. Yesterday, Lrn's beau broke up with her. In a text message. Talk about gutless!

Technology sucks!

Have a day!

FATHER, help us to be all YOU want us to be!