T-Day in TR

This was no ordinary Thanksgiving day, but maybe it's time to start new traditions.  The town of Medora literally cleared out when all seven other people we know living here scattered to other parts of the region. 

I thought I might be able to catch an online broadcast of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in the morning.  However, it appears NBC has not fully entered the 21st century, so your only option for online viewing is EarthCam's eight webcams placed strategically along the parade route, streaming the parade.  No commentary, which is not too shabby if you already abhor Al Roker's every word.

Just a couple mishaps this year:

1. Nathan is sick and couldn't eat most of his food until 2:30pm - after a piece of pie made him feel better.
2. I learned how to carve a turkey, but couldn't get the darn legs off until I grabbed one and twisted.  That works pretty well, but makes you feel like you had a much bigger role in the turkey's death than you wish you had.
   
3. I discovered our thermometer is not "oven-ready".

Mishap #3

 Roarrrr!  Carving Destruction!

Despite those, it's been a pretty good day.  I am thankful for a lot of things, but most of all, the internet and its role in bringing me under the same roof as Nathan - FINALLY!  So, once again, I guess that means I am thankful for Al Gore.

Last but not least, I want to share an internet discovery fitting of the day.  Bon Appetite & Happy Thanksgiving!  This is why you're fat.

Home Sweet Home

The title of this blog post is ironic because as of Saturday, I am officially a nomad.  Or maybe I'm the opposite of a nomad since I technically have two places to live.  Whatever the case may be, I am currently in Medora, North Dakota basking in the intense sun, breathing in the incredibly dry air, and watching yellowed corn husks cross the road by the hundreds wishing they were tumbleweeds.

All of the familiar giant animals and roadside attractions (Salem Sue, Jamestown's Buffalo, Geese In Flight, etc), seem to be welcoming me home, which it already feels like around here.  Today, we put down our first real roots - we joined the West River Community Center in Dickinson for the next three months.  Now, that's what I call commitment! 

Geese In Flight near sunset, which is 4pm here!

I have to admit I'm not entirely ready to give up Rochester, though.  I got a couple of very awesome parting gifts that only served to remind me how much I'm giving up.  A Dinner Club cookbook complete with photos and the word BACON always in caps serves as a reminder that I will REALLY miss my friends back home.  From my department, I got a web cam, so I can always feel like I'm closer than I really am.  I can't say it's not comforting and can't say that I won't miss the people and won't miss being "home".

Our very first webcam photo!

Bye, Rochester!

The Qwest is Over

It may be easier to quit being a Qwest customer than to be one!  Ever since we started getting our phone, internet, and Direct TV from Qwest, I've wanted to triumphantly call them up and end my services.  There had been hardly a time when I called them and had a good experience: starting with getting our service a week late to trying to switch my credit card number in their files so they could actually continue charging me after I closed my old credit card (do you want my money or not?), I hate dealing with Qwest.

So, I braced myself for a fight when I called to cancel my service this Friday.  Nothing!  I got a person online who gave me the right phone number to call over instant message, then a cheerful young man who set-up my closeout date quickly.  AMAZING!  Maybe I've been far too quick to judge.  There is one transaction that Qwest does well.  Go ahead, try it; close out your Qwest account, it's fantastic!

The only thing they don't do is close out Direct TV for you, but they did correctly connect me with DTV's personnel.  Here's where the goodness ends.  The DTV guy that answered the phone sounded like a 60-year-old drunken techie who transferred me to a woman who couldn't understand why I wanted my TV to continue until the day I leave and the boxes to return the remote control to arrive before that date, so I could actually pack up the equipment before I leave.  This is not possible with Direct TV!  They absolutely cannot sway from their automated system, whose return boxes do not arrive until 3-5 days after your official TV end date.

That's fine, they're losing a week's worth of revenue from me now that I'm quitting early to get my boxes.  Although I requested the service be shut off this morning, it's still turned on.  Perfect, since I'm excited to watch my last live episode of The Amazing Race tonight.  From here on out, it'll be hulu and day-old internet-based episodes of The Office for me.  A small price to pay for my emancipation from Qwest.