Fluctuating Certainty

I’m not here right now…..

gerbmom — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 18:28:00 +0000

Still not sure if I wanna keep this blog or not. It has features I do like, but blogger has some things that are easier. Bah! For now, until I REALLY, truly decide, I will be going back to http://fluctuatingcertainty.blogspot.com/ for my blogging…..

See you there!

They’re walking the talk….

gerbmom — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 20:10:59 +0000

This is another example of why I am thrilled with Gordon college and their faculty and staff. Every time we have been on campus we have come away more and more impressed. They put their actions where their mouth is. They walk the talk…. Social Justice is a big deal at Gordon. I love to see events like this…..

Gordon Features Faculty and Alumni Artists In “To The Least of These”

Christmas is for sharing…..

gerbmom — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:09:04 +0000

I like THIS.
I like the fact that this wonderful college where my daughter goes, shares.
With the whole North Shore.
Instead of turning inward and celebrating as a closed community of specific members, they open their doors and arms wide and bring blessing to an entire community.
They offer a tree lighting, an evening of caroling and story telling. And two different concerts – something for everyone. Family friendly. Some events are free. And not only that, they invite participants to bring gifts, gifts that will be taken to five service organizations in the community of Lynn, MA.
They are specifically requesting toys for children, warm winter clothing for children and their parents, art supplies and school supplies. What a neat opportunity to bless their community – as well as an opportunity for parents to teach children about sharing…..

Here’s what they are offering:

“Christmas at Gordon” Schedule Of Events:

Christmas Tree Lighting:Thursday, December 6, 6 p.m. Pedestrian Mall. *Free

Christmas Film: Elf, Thursday, December 6, 7 p.m. in the A. J. Gordon Memorial Chapel. *Free

“Come All Ye and Sing”: A first-ever North Shore community carol-sing interwoven with story-telling by Jan Carlberg, Friday, December 7, 7:30 p.m. in the A. J. Gordon Memorial Chapel. *Free

Holiday Bookstore Sale: 20% off clothing, gifts, supplies and trade publications, Friday, December 7 and Saturday, December 8, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Lane Student Center.

Family Christmas Concert: A special Christmas celebration for children and families with a special visit from Saint Nicholas and other popular Christmas characters. Saturday, December 8, 4 p.m. in the A. J. Gordon Memorial Chapel. Tickets: $16; $10 group rate (four or more)

The Christmas Gala: A festival of Christmas featuring music of the season performed by the Gordon Wind Ensemble, College Choir and Women’s Choir, Saturday, December 8, 7:30 p.m., in the A. J. Gordon Memorial Chapel. Tickets:$16

AVOID COMCAST at ALL COST!!!

gerbmom — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:07:48 +0000

For three years, off and on we have had trouble _ MAJOR TROUBLE with COMCAST – our local cable service provider in West Chicago. We have had a good 15 or more people out here, each one claiming he has fixed it. Usually he just undoes what the previous guy did and pronounces it fixed.
On Thanksgiving day, we went down at 4:00. No internet. That sucked. So, when it hadn’t returned by eight, we called service. They set up an appointment for Monday, the 26th. The internet remained down on Friday and on Saturday.
On Sunday they called us (computer, not live) and said a problem in our area had been resolved, and we should be fine. If not, press 1.
Which I did. And got sent into cyberspace purgatory. Elevator music and annoying announcements for a half hour. At which time it promptly hung up. I called dispatch and sure enough, we no longer had an appointment for Monday, but they could reschedule me. For Wednesday.
On Monday night we got a call from Comcast – just like before: said a problem in our area had been resolved, and we should be fine. If not, press 1.
And, silly me, I did.
Same results.
Really angry I called service, insisted on talking to a supervisor, and went through 3 years of stories. He, BTW, was very nice, and very helpful. That’s all he can be from Canada……
He set up an appointment for 1:00 pm on Tuesday. This time the cancellation had worked in our favor.
Until the technician showed up at 10. I was at work. I rushed home and to this guys credit he was wonderful, and he replaced the cable to our house, and reconfigured the inside to with a heavier duty cable. When he left our throughput was 17,000. Not the 1,000 it had been earlier when it had arbitrarily chosen to work.
Yeah!
By 4:00 through-put was 3,000. I chalked it up to Internet congestion. Cuz a tech had just been there. Oh – and I forgot to say, they STILL attempted to keep the 1-3 appointment and blasted me on the phone for not being there after the third attempt to reach me. How was I to know that when Roy was there in the morning he didn’t cancel the afternoon call – that was the same call…..duh.
By 9:00 pm, we were down. DOWN. Hubby spent an hour with service. No luck. Scheduled an appointment for today between 4 and 6 after I said if I missed anymore work I’d lose my job….
Well, you guessed it. This morning we got a call from COMCAST: a problem in our area had been resolved, and we should be fine. If not, press 1.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!!!
I immediately hung up and called Comcast. Sure enough we no longer have an open ticket. After pitching a royal fit (because they said all they can do is reschedule….) and two supervisors later they are supposedly investigating this whole situation, and are going to get back to me. Sure.
I’m not holding my breath.
But at $129.00 a month I think I deserve better than this!
IF YOU HAVE A CHOICE…..DO NOT CHOOSE COMCAST!
BTW – the service center actually had the gall to ask if I wanted to switch my phone service to Comcast…….

posted by gerbmom at 9:44 AM

If it’s Wednesday, it must be Prince Spaghetti Day!

gerbmom — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:06:15 +0000

If it’s Wednesday, it must be Prince Spaghetti Day!

I need some inspiration. Serious inspiration. I need some wonderful recipes that I will enjoy cooking. I’m tired of eating the same old stuff. But, where to start? Trying to find recipes on line just gives me a headache. And how inspiring is the Food Network when all they show is road tripping around the world eating in places I will never get to? Suddenly instead of food I get travel? Huh. I want to eat healthier and more responsibly. Good luck with that. Where are the ideas? The recipes? HELP!!
Interesting vegetarian? Hearty stews? Exotic twists on chicken?
I can’t face the grocery aisle one more day without some inspiration.
Ideas?

posted by gerbmom at 10:15 AM

Happy Thanksgiving!!

gerbmom — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 21:35:59 +0000

Pink Elephant…..

gerbmom — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 22:45:12 +0000

For all two of you that were waiting….
Dana posted day 4 of our trip. Enjoy!

gerbmom — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:05:27 +0000

The old grey donkey, Eeyore stood by himself in a thistly corner of the Forest, his front feet well apart, his head on one side, and thought about things. Sometimes he thought sadly to himself, “Why?” and sometimes he thought, “Wherefore?” and sometimes he thought, “Inasmuch as which?” and sometimes he didn’t quite know what he was thinking about.

Knot today….

gerbmom — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:38:59 +0000

Well, thanks for continuing to stop by despite my lack of meaningful posts. It’s one of those cycles. Sorry. Lots of stuff whirling in my brain, but nothing that my fingers seem to want to type. It’s like there’s a block between brain and fingertips. Besides, the stuff I am processing is so random and I’m not sure how I feel, or what I think, or what I can even say that won’t frustrate me more… It’s just that there are a multitude of things to deal with – and I can’t seem to sort them out, because they all seem to be knotted together. It’s much easier not to deal with them at all. And we all know how that works; the more you ignore a snarl, the knottier it becomes….
I’ll do it tomorrow.

A little insight, and a quiz

gerbmom — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:58:13 +0000

About me…..

Trait		Percentage
Openness		94%
Conscientiousness		63%
Extraversion		13%
Agreeableness		63%
Neuroticism		56%

What’s your Ecological Footprint???


	CATEGORY	ACRES

	FOOD	5.9

	MOBILITY	2

	SHELTER	3.5

	GOODS/SERVICES	4.9

	TOTAL FOOTPRINT	16

IN COMPARISON, THE AVERAGE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT IN YOUR COUNTRY IS 24 ACRES PER PERSON.WORLDWIDE, THERE EXIST 4.5 BIOLOGICALLY PRODUCTIVE ACRES PER PERSON.

IF EVERYONE LIVED LIKE YOU, WE WOULD NEED 3.7 PLANETS.

Take the Quiz

Fluctuating Certainty

I’m not here right now…..

They’re walking the talk….

Christmas is for sharing…..

AVOID COMCAST at ALL COST!!!

If it’s Wednesday, it must be Prince Spaghetti Day!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Pink Elephant…..

Knot today….

A little insight, and a quiz

About me…..

Trait Explanations

Openness

Conscientiousness

Extraversion

Agreeableness

Neuroticism

What’s your Ecological Footprint???