Adventures with Comcast

Several years ago, I purchased a domain name for my personal use. The reasoning behind this was fairly simple. My husband is the type of guy who likes technology and when we first got Internet service at home, he was always looking for a better deal or faster service. Hence, we changed our email addresses on a fairly frequent basis. I decided if I owned my own domain name, I would never have to change my email address again. I have it set up so that when some sends an email to my personal domain (PD), it is automatically forwarded to the address I have set up with my Internet provider (IP). 97% of the time, this works flawlessly. 2 to 3 times a year, however, my IP stops delivering the messages that are being forwarded from my personal domain. No reason, no explanation and no error messages. It always happens over a weekend and I have to call up and get them to “unblock” those messages. The big issue is that they always deny that they have done anything and it makes it hard to get it fixed. We did change Internet providers one time because of this but found the other provider didn’t work as well as a television provider and we switched back.

Anyway, late Saturday evening, I noticed that I had not received many email messages for a couple of days. When I checked the messages I had received, they had all been directed to my email address with the IP and I wasn’t receiving any emails that were on auto forward and addressed to my PD. This is an issue because about 90% of the emails I receive are addressed to my PD address. I checked the IP’s website and noticed that they had “live help” 24/7 and filled out the live help form. My complaint was too long and it got kicked out. Undaunted, I completed the form again to notice that I suddenly had no “submit” button to submit my complaint. Hmmm. I went back to the start and tried again. Still no “submit” button. They obviously didn’t want to hear from me! Ha. I wasn’t going to take that and after digging thru layers of their website, I found a toll free number for assistance. I called and got a real person!!!! She indicated that she would be “able to solve my problem” and then proceeded to show me that she had no idea in the least what the problem was. I explained it a second time (“I am not receiving any messages that are being forwarded from my personal domain address.”) I thought I made it pretty clear but apparently I was wrong as she had me check the settings for my IP mail. I explained (very nicely, I might add) for a third time and she told me that I needed to be transferred to another department. Before she transferred me, she asked if there was anything else she could help me with. I restrained myself from answering that there wasn’t because she hadn’t helped me with the first item. When I was transferred, I got an answering machine indicating that this department was closed until Monday. Now, don’t you think, she should have warned me that she was sending me to someone who wasn’t there and who wouldn’t be there for several days?!? Strike one. I hung up the phone and pondered my next move.

I decided to try the live help avenue again. This time, I was actually able to submit my complaint! I got a new person in Indonesia who, once again, assured me that they would be happy to fix my problem immediately. Once again, I explained my problem. The person then summarized my problem back to me. Imagine my dismay when she had the issue 100% wrong. I explained it again and suggested that perhaps the IP had put a “Spam block” on the forwarded emails because I was receiving so many from that one address. She then asked me if the address from my PD was my IP address. I bit my tongue and didn’t ask her if she noticed that the address after the @ was not the same as the IP. I do have some restraint, after all! She provided a link to a form that I could submit for removing a “Spam block”. When I looked at the form, it had 2 mandatory fields that I was unable to complete. It was pretty clear to me that the form was for someone sending out emails that were blocked. This was not my issue. In addition, when I asked for help completing the form, it was obvious that this help person didn’t really understand my issue or even the issue that the form was supposed to rectify. Strike two. I disconnected and tried to decide what to do next.

At this point, I was getting irritated. I simply wanted to get my email. Every time I checked my emails, I would get the “No New Messages” notice. I knew there were messages waiting for me. I was being mocked by technology.

Being a glutton for punishment, I decided to try the toll free number to get a real person. I called and got someone to talk to. Once again, I was assured that she would solve my problem in mere moments. Ha. I wasn’t falling for that again. I explained my problem to her. After a few questions and a few more times explaining the issue, I got the impression that a miracle was happening. She UNDERSTOOD. Perhaps her promise of help was not a false promise. Could it be? Alas, I was too optimistic. She did understand what I was saying but told me that it wasn’t an issue by the IP. She claimed it was a problem on the end of the host of my personal domain. Now, I had been thru this the past three or four times this problem has occurred and the IP always said that. I was able to tell them that we had confirmed that the host of the personal domain wasn’t the issue as emails could be forwarded to other addresses. Anyway, she refused to even consider that it was an issue with the IP. I asked if I could take this problem to the next level and she indicated that she would fill out the paperwork to do this and that someone would call me within 2 hours. At that point, it was after midnight and I indicated that I wasn’t interested in a call within 2 hours, as I would be sleeping. She said OK. Two minutes later, she told me that I would be receiving a follow up call “within 2 hours”. I pointed out (very nicely) again that it was late and I did not want a follow up call until Sunday. She said she understood but, once again, a few minutes later referenced that I would be receiving a follow up call “within 2 hours”. At that point, I strongly said, “It is after midnight here. I do NOT want a call back tonight as I will be asleep at 2:00 am.” She did indicate that she understood after the third time. Strike three. I am supposed to receive a follow up call from them sometime today. So far, no calls. While I was talking to this third person, I attempted to send the IP an email from the help section of their website. Once again, I did not get a submit button to send the complaint. I am getting paranoid. No one wants to help me!

In the meantime, I set up a new gmail email account. I went into the host of my personal domain and changed the forwarding address to my gmail address. We went into the gmail account and had that account forward mail to my IP address. Lo and behold, I am now getting my mail again. However, all of the emails that were sent to me from Friday to after midnight on Saturday are sitting somewhere in email limbo at the IP. Assuming I don’t get a call tonight, I will be on the telephone tomorrow desperately seeking assistance. If you read in the paper about a woman’s head exploding in Southern Maine, you will be able to say, “I read her blog and know what caused it.”

UPDATE: I called them on Monday afternoon. Once again, I got the "It is nothing we are doing." answer. The customer service agent put in a repair "ticket". I asked about the previous two repair tickets that had been put in. Both of those had been closed without action. No explanation why. She also told me that no one would be calling to confirm that any solution had been found but that I could call back and check. Interesting method of customer service. However, when I returned home later last evening, lo and behold, I had all of my messages from over the weekend. Someone had done something! I had set up a work around Saturday night and I plan on keeping that in place to see if, perhaps, we can avoid this situation happening again in another few months.

Here's to solving problems and keeping your sanity.

Fragmented Friday once again

It is Friday and you know what that means! It is another edition of Friday Fragments. This event is hosted by the fun-loving Mrs. 4444 over at http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/ You know all those half thoughts that zoom around in your brain looking for a place to land? Friday Fragments is where they all join together and end up. It is a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Make sure you check out Mrs. 444's site to see what random thoughts are racing around inside of everyone else.



I have mentioned a time or two (OK, OK, I have whined about) a project at work that we have literally been working on for 3 1/2 months. This past Monday, my entire department (commercial lines in a small insurance agency) traveled 45 minutes to present our proposal. We got there early to look around and let the woman we were presenting to know we arrived early. Right before we presented, she informed us that she had another meeting and could only give us 15 minutes. Fifteen - freakin' - minutes to summarize 3 1/2 months of work? In addition, she had the four of us join her in her itsy-bitsy goldfish bowl of an office. We sat around her desk on very uncomfortable chairs attempting to balance our materials on our laps. Needless to say, the presentation did.not.go.well. Our salesperson and the agency president are returning this coming Monday to give it another shot. What does this mean to moi? You got it. I get to do more work! We are re-tooling our presentation to add in more information to counteract her concerns. Once again, the salesperson is NOT GOING TO BE IN THE OFFICE TODAY! Yup. He is going to be at his vacation home while I get to do all the work. He will come in Monday morning to review and give me the revisions so I get to work all day today just to be able to run around frantically Monday morning to re-do it because he is NOT GOING TO BE IN THE OFFICE TODAY to give me guidance. Not that it bothers me that he is NOT GOING TO BE IN THE OFFICE TODAY. Nope, not one little bit. Not at all.

Tonight, after work, hubby and I are hitting the road and heading north to Gorham, ME to see our son perform in a "band camp" concert. I gave up a ticket to go to a gala event tonight. I am a little disappointed because I really would have enjoyed the opening night of our local designer show house and the ticket was free. Oh well, there is always next year and I know that Evan won't be going to band camp for much longer since he is going to be (gulp) a sophomore in high school this fall. The other benefit is that I don't have to dress up for the concert and today is casual day at work!

Why is it that the people I work with who are always crying poverty are the first ones who order out lunch or breakfast or ice cream? One of my co-workers in particular is always saying she can't afford this or that but she often spends $50. a week or more on ordering out. I always have to bite my tongue when she says she is poor because "she has the worse luck". No, sweetie, maybe you are poor because you made bad decisions. Saying you can't afford for your son to take his SATs ($40.) the same week you buy him a $50. Rock Band game just doesn't make sense. You all have coworkers like this, right? Please tell me. I hate to think I am the only one.

It has been so nice that it hasn't been raining this week. Hubby and I have been able to take our dog for a walk a couple of evenings. It is so enjoyable to get out and enjoy the weather and the quiet time together. An added benefit is that the dog sleeps better at night. In our house, if the dog isn't happy, nobody is happy!

I am in my second term as president of a local professional organization. Our executive board met last night to plan out the up-coming year. Oh my, what a great group of women. They are professional, educated and nice people. Last year, I arranged for all of the monthly speakers. This year, we brainstormed ideas and everyone grabbed a topic and volunteered to contact a speaker. I don't have to do a thing. That's right. I don't have to do a thing. How cool is that? Well, nothing beyond do the monthly newsletter, arrange for the locations and run the meetings. Still it is a lot less work than last year!

What random thoughts are rattling around in your brain today?

Here's to Friday Fragments!

I am thankful it is Thursday

Do we really take the time we should to reflect on the things that we are thankful for? I know I don't, so on Thursdays, I am going to think about the things in my life that I should appreciate more. I am thankful for the big things - a loving family, relatively good health and a job in this tough economy but I also want to focus on the little things that we often overlook.

I am thankful that the weather here in Maine has been beautiful this week! It has been sunny, not too hot and NOT RAINING.

I am thankful that I live close to Portsmouth, NH. It is a lovely small city and my hubby and I often go there to walk our dog. It has lots of little shops, great places to get coffee and it is safe.

I am thankful that I am sleeping better at night. A good night's sleep makes it so much easier to face the next work day.

I am thankful that I was able to see someone reach a goal this week. Hallie put together a raffle with the heartfelt hope that she would raise $5,000. for the United Network for Organ Sharing in honor of her father and his donor family. She did it! However, there is no reason to stop now. You can still donate over at http://www.firstgiving.com/hallietwomey. Not only is it a fantastic cause, but you can win lots of really cool prizes.



I am thankful that my son is apparently having a great time at his band camp. At least it appears so from the very few text messages I have received from him.



I am thankful that it looks like my lunchtime walking program can return to normal and I can start listening to my audio books again. I have really missed that.



I am thankful that the Boston Red Sox return from the All Star break and play Toronto tomorrow night. I haven't known what to do with my evenings this week without a ball game to watch!



I am thankful that in 36 days I will be in a car heading towards Baltimore and my cruise vacation. I can't wait!



I am thankful that I have had a great week with hubby this week while our son has been gone. We have had fun and gotten some chores accomplished.

I am thankful that I lost weight at my first official weigh-in!


What are you thankful for today?

Here's to appreciating the little things!

Mostly Wordless Wednesday

The awesome Sara over at http://www.ordinaryandawesome.com/ hosts Mostly Wordless Wednesday where participants post a photo with a brief explanation. Check out all the other great photos. The bloggie world really has some talented photographers!

I chose the above photo simply because it makes me smile and it makes me remember a wonderful family vacation.

I am my mother's daughter....

I have recently reconnected with several high school friends on Facebook and we have all done the "what have you been up to since the good old days in 50 words or less" updates. Condensing the past into just a few words has made me realize something - I have turned into my mother.

Perhaps I should have noticed this earlier but I honestly never thought about it. I was always close to my mother and I never was one who said "I want to have a different life than my mother" but I always assumed that I would. As a youth growing up in a small town in Maine, I always assumed that there was more out there and I assumed I would find it.

However, I have realized:


My priority is my family. My mother's priority was her family. She was the youngest child and I am the youngest child. In many ways, she was the child who made the effort to keep the family connected after her parents passed away and I find that I have adopted that role also. She was at every performance and every show that I ever participated in. I knew she was behind me and I hope that my son feels the same way. My mother was always the parent who made sure that everything got accomplished that needed to be accomplished. While my hubby is a wonderful dad, it something needs to get done, everyone in the family looks to me to make sure it happens.

She loved the small town lifestyle of where we lived and I love the small town lifestyle of where I live. We both enjoy "neighbors helping neighbors". My mother always baked for bake sales, supported the youth organizations we participated in and "mothered" way beyond the family ties. I like to think that I have followed in her footsteps with my support of our community.

I work in the same industry as my mother. She worked in a small family owned insurance agency in claims and I work in a small insurance agency handling commercial accounts. I left a higher paying job in a bigger city about 10 years ago because I wanted to be closer to home and my family. I really enjoy helping out my neighbors with their business insurance and going into local businesses and knowing people. I know my mother enjoyed that part of the job also.

Is there more out there? Perhaps but the life I lead is a perfect fit for me. I can think of no better woman to be like than my mother. I miss her every day.

Who are you most like?

Here's to family ties and being my mother's daughter!

Framented Friday

It is Friday and you know what that means! It is another edition of Friday Fragments. This party is hosted by the one. the only Mrs. 4444 over at http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/. Check her out as she always makes me smile and she has links to all of the party goers and their personal fragments.


I have been working on a big project at work for a new salesperson for the past several months. His presentation is due on Monday. This week has been challenging because we have been in the "finish up" mode - and he has decided to be out of the office for 3 days. The week before your biggest presentation since you have worked somewhere is probably not the best time to be out of the office that much. At least, not if you want to keep the rest of the staff happy. Just sayin'.

It is our second day in a row of sunny weather. It is supposed to be 78 degrees today. It is helping my mood improve - which is a very good thing if you read the above paragraph.

The downside of the two days of sunny weather is that the pollen is back and my allergies are acting up quite badly. I am popping decongestant like they are m&m's to try to get rid of this sinus headache.


My son is going away to band camp for a week starting tomorrow morning. I love the fact that he can go because he is very passionate about music. I will admit, however, that I am going to miss him. Our house always seems so quiet when he is gone for any period of time. It is hard to believe that in just a few years, he will be gone away to college.


Tomorrow is hubby's birthday and he is going to be as old as me! One benefit of our son, the vegetarian, being away is that we can go out to a rib place for his birthday dinner. Yum! There is this little (and I mean little!) rib place in Portsmouth, NH that has amazing ribs. We are BBQ people and it is a lip smackin', finger lickin' type of place.

My hubby and I met when we were both college students at the University of Maine. We were shocked to find out that our fathers were both from Mississippi. They were both in the Navy and met Maine women during their tours of duty. The women won the "where should we live" battles and both of these southern boys with wonderful drawls settled in the cold climate of Maine. In all of my growing up years in Maine, I had never met someone else who had been from Mississippi until I met my husband and his father. Strangely enough, our fathers even grew up about 30 miles apart. Talk about a small world! I have never been to Mississippi and I hope to travel there sometime in the future.

I work in insurance and that is obviously not a creative industry. I am trying to expand my creativity and that is one reason that I have started this blog. I am also thinking about starting to make jewelry. I think it would be creative but also my love for symmetry would be a benefit. I love to give "made-with-love" gifts for Christmas and I think jewelry would be great for my nieces. Someone just pointed me in the direction of Youtube for help on how to make it so I am hoping to be on my way soon.

Here's to Fragmented Thoughts!

Thankful Thursday

Do we really take the time we should to reflect on the things that we are thankful for? I know I don't, so on Thursdays, I am going to think about the things in my life that I should appreciate more.

I am happy that the sun is shining this morning. I don't know how long it will last but I am thankful it is here right now.

I am thankful that the summer activities that I planned for our Boy Scout troop seem to be going very well. The smiles on their faces last night were great to see.

I am thankful that I have a wonderful karate sensei who is patient with this "almost 50 year old out of shape" woman and makes me believe that, yes, I can do it!

I am thankful for my dog, Katy. No matter how bad a day I have had, she always makes me happy.

I am thankful that my vacation is only 43 days away!

I am thankful that tonight is my dinner and a play with a friend evening. That is always a great time.

I am thankful that the project at work I have been working on for what seems like forever is almost done.

I am thankful that my hubby's birthday is on Saturday and his birthday present is already purchased. He is hard to buy for!

I am thankful for all of the people who take the time to comment on my blog.

What are you thankful for today?