Scroll down for the cutest doggy cookies!!!!
I’m going to rant here, which I try not to do because I really want this blog to be a happy place all about the good things in life.
Here goes.
First, let me start with Dish Network.
We resisted/rejected cable t.v. for many many years. Until we were lucky enough to be chosen as a feature for the show “Recipe For Success”. This prompted us to become subscribers back when we lived in South Boston. Naturally, I became addicted to all Food Network, Housewives of the OC and NY, Run’s House, Super Sweet 16, The Hills, Project Runway, Top Chef, all manner of not so great, but oh so great television. So we kept the cable until we moved.
Fast forward to Vermont. We live in the “Snow Belt”, a place with ZERO cell phone reception, and of course NO CABLE, just Satellite t.v. Of course being the t.v. junkie that I am, we NEEDED satellite. Since there are no monopolies in the US, the only cable available here is Dish Network (note sarcasm). We subscribed to the Dish Network for a little over a year, which doesn’t have the capability to supply customers with “On Demand” and whenever there is a storm cloud overhead you lose your t.v. Not the best service, in my opinion. This had been happening for a while, even when the skies were perfectly clear.
Dave calls this Dish Network to see if someone can come and take a look at it because clearly it’s not working properly. Some channels come in while others say that there is no satellite reception, again on perfectly clear days.
They tell him we have to pay for someone to come an look at it. Now we already pay a hefty amount per month for all the premium channels, and Dave isn’t so keen on my watching so much t.v.
When there was ever a problem with our cable back in Boston, we NEVER had to pay for a service call. Well they gave him some line of BS likening the satellite equipment to a leased car. Seriously. I hear this and, I don’t know why, I say, get ready, “tell them to cancel it”. eeek gads, did I really say this? Dave is now the happiest man because he has my approval to cancel the satellite t.v. Now the customer service person says “wha wha what? Oh, now we can make the service call free of charge”, I say “yay! that’s what I hoped for”, Dave says “oh no you go ahead and cancel that sucker, I’m upgrading my Netflix and you, Dish Network can go suck it!”
Yep, that’s how it all went down, that’s how we have no t.v.
Right now we’re waiting for the cable company to come to our little “snow belt”.
As soon as they get here, I’m calling!
So, about that tree up there. I’m talking to Dave, no doubt about some cookie issue, and I see the power lines wiggling like crazy. Upon further investigation, I see this dead tree has fallen on the lines and is now perched dangerously over the road and threatening to tear down our lines. Dave calls 911, they tell him they’ll call Central Vermont Power Service. Ok fine.
A CVPS truck drives by without stopping, then turns around and drives the other way. A couple minutes later we get a call from CVPS, “that’s not our line, we’re not on that pole”. Uhh, excuse me, why are you calling me, didn’t the police call you? I’m just trying to A. be a good citizen and stop the tree from crashing down on some car on the road, B. I can’t afford to lose my power here, and I’m sure my neighbors don’t want to lose their power either.
So I guess now it’s my responsibility to call VermonTel. The phone company, because apparently it’s their pole. This is turning into something way more involved than I had hoped. I call VTel, they’re going to get someone out to look at it. Yeah LOOK AT IT!
Well that was on Thursday at 3pm, it’s now Friday at 6:55am, and I’m LOOKING AT IT!
No phone means no internet. Guess what? Our livelihood kind of depends on the internet, so I hope this tree doesn’t pull down the phone lines, and I hope it doesn’t come crashing down on some hapless driver before they decide to take the tree off the line.
Thanks 911, thanks CVPS, and thank you VTel!
Oh and thanks Dish Network for your stellar customer service.
September 5th, 2008 at 7:57 am
We don’t have cable either and sometimes I really miss it…but I definitely don’t miss having to call the cable company!
Your favorite shows are pretty much my favorite shows too. Nathan likes to contend that the tv I watch does nothing but rot my brain, but I say I’m super smart, have a college degree and have earned the right to watch mindless television.
Also, pumpkin spice cookie dough sounds amazing!
September 5th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Oh God! What a fiasco!! I think I might die without tv, is that disgusting? When companies have pulled that “there is s fee involved” scam I always threaten to pull out and they quickly change their tune. Good Luck!!
September 5th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Hi Laura, my parents had the same problem and when they came out to check their channels, they had gave the same excuse. But guess what girlfriend-my mother was not going to pay a fee. In fact she gave them that look when they came to fix it, as though, “don’t even think about telling me about a fee, because it’s not going to happen.” Hope everything works out-see if you can get your money back-since there was no progress. Stay on them, sometimes it can get on your nerve-but they have to cooporate.