So long home, screw you Time Warner

Well this is it. The final post from the first home (condo) I ever purchased. Definitely excited about moving to the new one but like other things, you never forget your first.

So tonight the truck gets packed up and tomorrow the movers come and unload it all. A few hours later I should be up and running ready to fire off blog entry #1 from the new pad. If only I had internet service ready to go. Ok, so the Fourth of July holiday is coming up. I guess I can go until the week after that before having internet access. If only I had internet service ready to go then. Nope, not until July 16 and to that I say "screw you Time Warner."

What a fiasco. It started with the dude that is buying my place. He wanted to set up a transfer service but apparently I had to call TW to give them the "ok" to go ahead and schedule it. Fine. Even though that guy was a tool while we negotiated price on the condo, I'll take care of that. So I call up, give TW the ok and think while we're at it, I'll have them schedule my new place. Nope, can't do that because people still live there. Soooo can I have them call and say it's ok? Nope. How is that different than what I'm doing right now?? Back and forth going no where I say forget it. I'll call back.

Last week I call up and they say "no problem" we'll schedule you in. How about July 6? Fine, I can go without internet for a few days. Case closed. The next day I get a frantic call from our realtor. "I'm so sorry to bother you, but Time Warner has shut off the service to your new place and now the people there don't have a phone!" Apparently TW can't turn it back on because due to my July 6 appointment, I'm the "owner" of that address now.

Back on the phone I go. "Please turn their service back on [you freaking idiots]."

"No problem sir, but to do that we need to cancel your reservation on July 6 and you'll have to call back to reschedule." WTF? How does their screw up lose my place in line?! Bastards. Long story short[er] my new appointment is for July 16. Ridiculous.

I hate you Time Warner.

(I'm just kidding. Please don't turn off my service because I said that)

Bonnaroo Take Too: Part 1

Once the lineup was announced for Bonnaroo this year, Kirsten and I quickly decided we should take full advantage of getting back there at least one more time before the possibility of the pitter patter of a little Derek or Derekette running around.

Which honestly could be a while. I don't have a very potent feeling running through my bones but that's another post.

So we scooped up some tickets the day they went on sale and February and I immediately fired up the Razr and sent a text message off to "Bonnaroo Randy" our camping neighbor from last year to see if he was in for this year and, like a good Bonnaroo enthusiast, he was. Excellent. Plans were made to camp together which meant unlike last year, we'll be heading in on Thursday instead of Friday. One more day of camping which is good (fun, beer) and bad (90+ degree heat).

Wednesday we made the familiar drive down I-65 to Nashville where we met up with Randy, Joe (from last year), and Randy's lady friend Cheri, a newcomer. Handshakes and hugs ensued and the giddiness to hit up the Roo one more time was palpable in the room.

Thursday morning we set up our 3-car caravan and started to make our way in.If you look closely, you can see Randy giving the "peace" sign from the Saturn. Also, you know it's a big deal when the festival has it's own exit sign on the interstate in town of like 8000 people.

We made it into the grounds and parked at around noon on Thursday and set up camp and prepared for the day making sure we were lathered up in sunscreen and got the big shade tarp up. Key at Bonnaroo which we figured out last year.

After some snacks and beers, Kirsten and I headed in to Centeroo to catch the sights and see what had changed from last year. The answer: not much, but enough to let you know it you it was a different year and to be excited about it!

We only caught a couple bands, The Little Ones and The National on Thursday. It's a pretty slow day since everyone is arriving. The rest of the weekend however was full of great music...

Bonnaroo

We're back from Bonnaroo 2007 and it definitely didn't disappoint! A couple recap posts and pictures coming soon as soon as I catch up on some rest.

Pretty Funny

Being a pug owner, especially of this model, I found this to be pretty funny.


From The Onion:"We apologize wholeheartedly to any and all owners of the 2007 pug," APBA director Betty McAndrews said at a press conference, standing before a table where 10 defective pugs were displayed. "While pug owners are accustomed to dog malfunction, the latest animals are prone to more problems than just the usual joint failures, overheating, seizures, chronic respiratory defects, and inability to breed without assistance. The latest model pug is simply not in any way a viable dog."

The article goes on to say that there is something we can do about having such a poor product: "In order to ensure that all '07 pugs are taken out of circulation, the organization is also providing a complimentary on-site disposal service to pug owners who are otherwise unable to participate in the recall."

Enjoy the whole article here.

birthday, dining, moving

A big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sister Gina today! Hope you have a good day and we'll see you in a few hours with Olive in toe. She is very excited to come up and see you and wish you a happy birthday herself and maybe even leave a "present" for you on your floor. :)

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Yesterday marked the beginning of Milwaukee Downtown Dining Week which goes through Thursday, June 7. Every year, ok last year and now this year, roughly 30 restaurants or so provide a special three course meal menu for lunch and dinner for $10 and $20 respectively for everyone to enjoy. Since we're always looking for an excuse to eat out, Kirsten and I headed over to Rock Bottom to see what they had to offer.

Rock Bottom is a place that has come back on my radar as a tasty place to eat. I had gone there a few times a handful of years ago but was never impressed with anything about it. Their beer was watery, their food was average, and the service was terrible. They must have received some complaints because Kirsten and I have been there a bunch of times over the past few months and it's been really good. The food has been great, they have been brewing some beers other than their standards (a new dark lager was tapped yesterday that I liked) which have been good and with one exception the food has been great.

For appetizers we both got the Spicy Spinach Cheese Dip which was great. It was so tasty that I'm going to have to find the recipe and just make it to put on burgers and stuff. For the entrees, Kirsten ordered the Lemon Chicken and I got the grilled Mahi Mahi. Both were very good and came with White Cheddar Mashed Potatoes. Yum. By this point I had moved on to the Scottish Ale beer which was tasty. Finally for desert, I ordered the raspberry brownie and Kirsten got the Stout Creme Brulee. I really liked mine but Kirsten didn't care for hers. It wasn't what either of us had expected so a word of caution there.

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On the moving front, yesterday we set our close time and I lined up the movers. I'm very excited about this. I HATE moving with an absolute passion. I don't mind helping people move some things but when it comes to a full move, forget it. That's why there's professionals. They can A) do it in half the time B) they're insured and C) know all the tricks to defy the laws of physics to get couches through doorways. I'm thinking they'll be worth every penny. Busy times between now and the end of the month.

Have a good weekend!