Full not Dull Friday

Today, with Jenna's help, the house will transform into a Christmas theme.  Ellen and Martha will likely pitch in but Jenna is the source of the energy (and significant energy is needed based on the volume of trees). Carols will fill the air as we assemble the trees, string the lights, and hang the ornaments.   It is always worth the effort it to get everyone in the Christmas mood. 

The evening event will likely be some viewings of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit as Susan eagerly anticipates the final movie that opens December 17.  Because each of the six movies opened in December, the season melds with a Tolkien mood also.

This time of year reminds us all of family traditions - activities, meals, visual reminders, even stories of holiday's past that are consistent year after year.  A way to ground us and surround us with the comfort of consistency. Full not Dull!

Billing Honor & Minutia

It's been a long time since one of my boring blogs on technology, customer service and billing - but here goes:

Of course, everyone knows (because I verbally tell the story to everyone that will listen) how much I despise Time Warner and their contractual shenanigans.  That is why, I patiently waited and struggled with Cincinnati Bell on DSL with bundled Direct TV .  Well ---- back in September I was able to sign up for a Fioptics bundle (Phone, Internet, and TV) with Cincinnati Bell.

The story of getting the  Cincinnati billing correct is long ... longer .... and even longest of my stories of dealing with technology providers.  Getting the bill to equal the promotional pricing is an exercise in detail auditing. The story ends well (however there is one last credit I will have to verify next month.

The good news is that Cincinnati Bell has consistently met my expectations (even if it requires a large investment of my time with a rep on the phone).  My bundle is $145.37 per month before fees and taxes.  Naturally those add up to nearly $13.75 (another 9.4%) that are the first "got cha".  But then.....  the fine print in this month's billing  (and I mean really fine print) was the price increases effective 12/15/14  -  $1.99 for Home Pak Lite and $3.00 for Fioptics Internet.  But there was hope - "Your promotional and contractual rate will apply until the expiration date. 

Wow - maybe Cincinnati Bell is different from Time Warner in honoring their negotiated deal.  Sure enough,  Michelle the Cincinnati Bell rep verified that my contractual rate was valid until Sept. 2016!

Now there are other details I could quibble with about Cincinnati Bell's customer service stumbles.  But in the end..... and that's what counts - they honored the expectation I had.

However - it requires extreme attention to billing minutia. 

Winsome Bridge

Susan summarized Rick Warren's speech at Humanum Conference (Nov. 17-19 an ecumenical conference on Marriage, Culture and Civil Society) to our Sunday evening share group.  I decided to watch the entire 40 minutes this morning and you can see why he has had such a big impact - this generation's Billy Graham. 

Rick talks about being winsome......   What?  Never heard that word. 

Winsome - generally pleasing and engaging often because of a childlike charm and innocence <  a winsome smile  >  

Fast forward if to 22:27 (Twenty Two Minutes into the speech). "We must face attackers with joy and winsomeness". WOW -  that is quite the weapon.  A smile.   He follows that up with the quote: "You are never persuasive when you are abrasive ....  Are you more interested in making a point or a friend".

So start today - Build a Winsome Bridge with your smile!



 

Strength in Weakness

S.M. gave a heart filled presentation on his personal history at our Vistage meeting.  The testimonial of some of his weaknesses showed how his character turned that same perceived weakness into a strength.  I remember G.G.'s (Accenture Chicago Partner) comment to me about the cruelty of kids when they see something they can use to taunt you into feeling different or weak.  This is especially true of minorities whose physical differences can not be hidden. But even without an easy target to use, kids will find something - height, intellect, glasses, attire as the means to get under your skin.

We all know what "buttons" of vulnerability we have (and some are self inflicted).  However,  how we respond to this vulnerability (e.g. fear) is what will determine our ability to cope.  Self esteem (not pride) is an important emotion to build.  

Acknowledging a weakness is a strength and the first step in building a foundation of self esteem.

First Frost

Saturday Morning (a late blog post 11/1/14) was the first frost and  there were snow flurries in the air.  I consider the transition from fall to winter as the most beautiful time of year.  Today's Bing theme picture is from Vermont's Green Mountain National Forest - Beaver Meadow that demonstrates the beauty. 

Green Mountain National Forest - Beaver Meadow  Vermont

The Indian Hill Green Belt behind my house gives me that same feeling as I wake up in our new Master Bedroom (the renovation is almost complete). 

 

No human can paint a picture like this - year after year.  Proving the non-existence of God is impossible when you  see scenes like this. 

 



 

 

Sure 'n Sure

Insurance is a great concept -pooling risk.  However, I have grown up with an intense dislike for insurance.  In every facet of its use it is too complicated, and rarely has it benefited me.  In fact the very concept of it benefiting me means that someone else paid for the services I have received.

Today I spent the day dealing with health insurance.  First, I started the appeal process as a result of Aetna's denial for Mom's skilled rehabilitation physical therapy. Then it was an evening of reviewing the 2015 Medicare & You guide and the Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan for Mom and Dad.  Then Jenna and I sat down to review her annual enrollment for health care and benefits for her job at Christ Hospital.

I just don't like the concept that health insurance plans incent - "How can you get more services and not pay out of your pocket".  Trying to make it a game of planning your healthcare each year so that you pay the least into the system and get the most out of the system.  You win ..  someone else loses.

Even after you come to equilibrium on what insurance level to pick, you discover when you need it - it's not there. Take the example of Mom in a Skilled Nursing Rehabilitation Facility.  Within a week, the facility and Aetna were denying claims (even when Medicare states you can receive up to 100 days of therapy).  Mom was not performing to "standard" (whatever that means).

This story is long and complicated and has reconfirmed my dislike of insurance - and particularly health insurance.

You can be SURE that your condition will not be inSUREd.

Clock Talk

I've always been fascinated with clocks.  We have several meaningful clocks at our house.  The cuckoo clock in our kitchen pantry, the wall clock as we exit the back entrance, the Peck Wellingborough Antique Grandfather clock at the top of the stairway to the Master Bedroom, and the Howard Miller Graham Bracket Mantel clock that was Walt and Martha's wedding gift to Susan and I (which has been inoperable for the past 14 years).

Well my attempt to lubricate the Grandfather clock resulted in the snap of the 5 3/8 inch pendulum spring. While I thought this would require the expertise and help of an antique clock repair specialist, instead I was able to find the part on the internet ($23).  That gave me the courage to try a "do it yourself" repair of the Howard Miller mantel clock.

 A little lubrication and adjustments to the striker hammers was all the clock needed (tender loving care)  The Key-wound, Westminster chime Kieninger movement plays 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 chimes accordingly with full chime and strike on the hour.

In researching the Westminster chime I discovered an interesting bit of trivia:
The Westminster chime was not originally associated with Big Ben in London, instead it was fitted in the University Church St. Mary's the Great in Cambridge (1793).  The chimes are believed to be saying the simple but beautiful prayer"

"Lord, through this hour
     be thou our guide.
So, by thy power
    No foot shall slide"

And for the tone inclined the notes are permutations of E major:

1st Quarter -  g#  f# e b
Half                e g# f# b     e f# g# e
3rd Quarter -  g# e f# b      b f# g# e    g# f# e b
Full              - e g# f# b     e f# g# e     g# e f# b  b f# g# e
Hour Strike   (three notes together e b g# with g# octave lower) 

For the mathematically inclined there are five sets (combinations above) or maybe called stanzas.  They are played in order 1;  2 and 3; 4, 5 and 1; 2, 3, 4 and 5.

For the rhythmic inclined:

5/4 time -  quarter note, quarter note, quarter note, half

Is that enough Clock talk  :)