Hell Week, Phones, LJ Idol, and Internet Friends

It's Hell Week, and my phones are still iffy. For some reason, when DH uses his phone to call me, it comes through as a 218 area code. We live in a 651 area code, with Minneapolis as 612. Either of those would be acceptable. However, 218, which is the northern part of the state, is NOT. I'll be contacting the phone people today. They need to get moving on getting our phones fully operational, AND the incorrect area code HAS to be fixed. Quickly. 

The 218 area code takes up most of the northern portion 
of the state. The 651 and 612 area codes are for the 
Twin Cities only, and they barely appear on the map because 
the Cities are a very small part of the greater state. 

So that's one PITA. The fact that this is Thanksgiving Day week, and it's a week later than last year is also a serious problem. It cuts a full week off the Christmas holiday shopping days, and that's going to hurt our bottom line. Just what we DON't need right now. I have my Black Friday email ready to send, the same as it's been for the past two years or so. However, DH is making changes, and I don't have them yet. I need to get that out, and he's sitting on it. ARGH!!! 

I won't get my Friday off this week, and we'll also be 
working Sundays for several week (restricted hours, 
but still, another day at the shop *sigh*). In many ways 
I hate the holiday season, but we really need the added 
business and dollars. Now if the phones could just be 
operational. I have to get my email sent out too - TODAY. 

Posting for the latest stories in LJ Idol ends tonight, and only two of us from the six remaining have posted our stories. Tinnean pointed out that I switched from third person into first person. A stupid mistake, but it's out there now and I can't do anything about it. I don't think it harms the story, but grammatically, I certainly know better. It's a clear indication that I only had a few short hours to pull this together before diving back into the maelstrom of my current life. *sigh* I'll let everyone know the links for reading and voting when I can, and as usual, I'd REALLY appreciate your votes. I'd LOVE to make it into the FINAL FOUR! Wow! Wouldn't that be awesome! 

Internet friends - I treasure each and every one of you! 

So, I'm off to the pool. Every electronic item I carry with me is recharging right now - my phone and my watch. It's rather silly how attached we've all become to electronic items. I still remember (and own) watches that had to be wound, and my phones at home are still hard wired (that will be changing next year). Progress keeps progressing, but I'm not so sure it's always progress that we're dealing with. Sometimes it's a bad idea gone viral. Still, the Electronic World has allowed me to meet and interact with all of you, my friends and readers, so I'm grateful for that. Be well and enjoy your Tuesday, I'll be back tomorrow. Slava Ukraini. 

The Dance of Equipment Starts Today - ARGH

Today starts out with one phone person moving our security alarm system from the main phone line to a different phone line. Tomorrow the new digital phones will be installed and two of the three land line phone lines we have will become redundant because we'll be on VOIP instead of a hard-wired land line. If this is all confusing to you ... yeah. I'm living in technology hell right now. If I survive the next week or so, maybe I'll be able to breathe a bit. But I'm going to have just as much of a possibility of hanging up on a customer by mistake as talking to a robo call I don't want to receive in the first place. 

VoIP means Voice over Internet Protocol. It 
means our phone systems will be internet based 
instead of hard wired. That will eliminate some 
problems and probably open up some others. 
*sigh* I'll be very glad when this installation 
is complete, although we're just doing the 
first stage today. 

But today's guy is super important. We are getting an upgrade on the security system too, but we don't have a firm install date for the digital monitoring yet, so we need to stay on a land line for our security system. Fortunately, we have a third phone line available and will get everything piggybacked onto that for as long as it takes before the new digital box can be installed. 

I'm working with an alarm company which I've been 
using for home and shop for more than twenty 
years. When I started with them, their President was 
one of my customers for artwork and collectibles. 
He wired our first shop, our Mall of America shop, 
and our new location. It's an old system, but it works 
just fine. I'm nervous about replacing it, but it's 
mandatory. 

Why do we have to do this? Because the Federal Government in their infinite wisdom, has declared that businesses must move their phones to the internet (no copper wiring) by the end of the year, and homes by the end of next year. Haven't heard about this? Neither had I, but DH saw something about it on one of his financial stations, I checked it out and it seemed to be legitimate, so I got the ball rolling. It's really too bad that we couldn't have pushed off for a year or so, but it never hurts to have good security, and since homes are the next thing to go, and we use the same alarm company for our home, we might just switch the "new" system to our house when we upgrade (or downgrade) to digital for the home next year. 

I'm hoping that when we close the shop, we can simply 
transfer the new security equipment over to our home 
instead, allowing us to spend for labor and some 
materials, but to not have to purchase an entirely new 
security system for our home. At least, that's the hope. 

I suspect there will be a lot of ARGH's in my future, so I might just as well swim out some of my general frustration. Hopefully I'll have a productive time in the pool today. I'm not going to waste any more of your time today. I'm off to swim off endorphins and meet the day with a bit more optimism. *sigh* I'll be back tomorrow. Slava Ukraini. 

Scheduling, Treadmill, VOIP and a Dehydrator - Lots of This and That

I'm off schedule today, so quite late with this post. My apologies. I'm trying to get into the habit of getting onto the treadmill first thing in the morning on the days that I work on that equipment (Friday, Saturday and Monday). I had decided to try something different today, so I took my phone and earbuds and set up my favorite listening music on Sirius. There's nothing like hard rock to get things moving in the morning. I had a much more productive "run" because of the sound that accompanied the virtual screen, and managed to get in 2-1/2 miles before calling it done for the day. I'm very happy with the treadmill - it's quiet, it works perfectly, and (so far) it's all mine. I'm happy to share with DH, but there are some ground rules he'll have to follow, or he'll be banned. (Cleanliness is prominent in those ground rules.) 

I'm used to the gym where people are really good about 
cleaning their machines when they're finished using them. 
DH, on the other hand, isn't so good about that. I'll 
have to insist - I don't want my treadmill to be scuzzy. 

After a shower, I settled down for a bite to eat, then remembered I hadn't done my blog yet. OOPS! So, you're getting this almost an hour later than you normally would. Far from the end of the world, but definitely different. 

I have a rather generic smart watch, similar 
to this one. It's perfect for my swimming. 
Looking at the measurements it can do, it will 
also do my pulse rate monitoring and of 
course, count my steps. I love it when I don't 
have to purchase another piece of equipment. 

I also wasted some time trying to see about a portable heart rate monitor, not realizing that my smart watch does that function for me without having to buy/wear another piece of equipment. Yippee! At least one good thing today. 

Our new phones are similar to this one - larger 
than what we've had in the past, but also much 
easier for DH to actually hear through, and for 
my shop people to handle. Going wireless will 
be a big switch for us, but it's time to go with 
the flow (and the Federal mandate - LOL). 

I'm in the middle of a "negotiation" with my phone company and my security alarm people at the shop. We are upgrading to wireless for our phone system (actually mandated for businesses by the end of the year). I found a company I liked for that, and signed a contract with them. They, in turn, sent me two phones at no charge (and they're REALLY nice VOIP phones), and are giving me two months free while we arrange to get our security alarm system ready to move to wireless as well. THAT's been like pulling the whole camel through the eye of the needle. 

VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) phones, or 
other wireless types, are required for businesses 
by the end of this year, and for homes by the 
end of next year. They're trying to eliminate 
copper wiring all-around. Not a bad idea, actually. 
But it's an expense we hadn't planned on. 

The original quote from my alarm company was almost $1200! and I totally balked at that. I drilled down and talked to a lot of people, finally finding out in detail exactly what was required to do the switchover, talked with the person who had generated that quote, and he came back to me yesterday with one closer to $900. It's still pricey, but it's better. He also broke down the costs, and almost half ot that $900 is the new equipment box that will be necessary to get everything wireless. The remainder is installation and labor. I guess I can live with that, so now to herd the cats so that everyone is doing their installation/switchover within the same 24 hour period. I don't want to be without my security alarm for longer than that. 

Dehydrated pineapple is one of my favorite treats from 
my dehydrator. I have a pineapple that's perfectly ripe, and 
I set up the dehydrator this morning. I'll have a lovely snack 
by this time tomorrow. 

I'll be trying to work out all of the details today, making lots of phone calls and trying to get things scheduled between the two different companies. In between all of that, I also have other things on my agenda that have to happen, and I set up the dehydrator to make one of my absolute favorite things - dried pineapple chunks. SO GOOD! So I'll be busy today - nothing unusual about that - LOL. Have an excellent Friday, I'll be back tomorrow to wrap up the week. Be kind, make someone smile today, and Slava Ukraini. 

I'm Herding Cats and Begging for LJ Idol Votes

Trying to get things organized at the shop for our VOIP switchover is rather like herding cats. There's no problem on the phone end. I have a signed contract, I have two phones that they sent me at N/C, I have two free months to get everything switched over before we start getting charged for it. So far, no problem. The problem is coming in with our security system. According to the quotation that the security company gave me, it's going to cost us more than $1000 to get the security system changed from a land line to a VOIP line. I look at that and shake my head in disbelief. It's NOT that big of a deal - at least that's what Tech Services at the alarm company has told me. 

A VOIP system is Voice Over Internet 
Protocol system - a digital phone system. 
We've always had land lines here, but 
they're getting phased out and copper lines 
are being phased out. The VOIP phones are 
more environmentally friendly, and are a 
legal phone (as opposed to our land line). 

So I actually put in a call for a tech to come out and even though what I called them about is rather bogus, I'm hoping that the tech responding can answer a few questions about our system and getting things onto VOIP and even whether the system will be able to function on VOIP. I'm perfectly willing to go a SINGLE night without a security alarm at the shop, but no more than that. One night means DH will probably have to sleep in his chair there - it's been done before when we've had attempted break ins, but it's uncomfortable and in this case, I feel it's unnecessary. 

One mountain conquered, a mountain range yet 
to climb. It's a never-ending saga just keeping our 
heads in the game with changing regulations and 
laws. 

Still, one mountain conquered, an entire mountain range still remaining. *sigh* I'm off to the pool today. I need to work off some of this tension. 

Votes for our current stories closes this afternoon, and 
once again I'm in the bottom. If you haven't put in a vote 
for my story, I'd really appreciate it if you'd consider doing so. 
https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1167166.html

Votes close this afternoon for my current LJ Idol tale. If you haven't voted, I'd REALLY appreciate your vote. I'm always near the bottom and today is no exception. I'd love to live to write another chapter in this Idol, but if not, it's been a really fun challenge. We'll see. The link for voting is here ( https://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org/1167166.html ) and as I said, votes close in about 12 hours from when I post the blog. 

I'm off to the pool. I have a new skin suit (they do stretch out, and I had one that developed a tear in the fabric that caused me to toss the entire suit). On average, my skin suits last 6-9 months. When I can get a full year out of them, that's fabulous, but it's also rather rare. Still, I love wearing that type of suit, and for the outdoors, with my skin, it's essential. I'm off and out of here, the chlorine water is calling my name. Have a wonderful Tuesday and I'll be back tomorrow. Slava Ukraini. 

Phones and Communication - How It Has Changed (and Continues To Change)

DH and I had a rather nice true Anniversary day (Mondays, being a work day with other errands does not make for a romantic day). We dropped his truck off for a six-month checkup in the early morning, then drove to work. After work we picked up the truck, decided that I would pick up Chipotle for dinner, and then, shortly afterward, the drama began. 

We usually get Chipotle burrito bowls. I've been getting 
him beef and myself chicken forever, but suddenly he's 
now decided that he's supposed to get chicken too. *sigh* 
I wish he had informed me. I'll have to remember to ask him 
what meat he wants before I get it again. 

I was in line at Chipotle, picking out exactly what I wanted for my two portions, when my cell phone rang. Now, it's noisy at the restaurant, and even though I have the phone's volume at max, I'm barely hearing him. After some obviously incorrect answers to questions and a complete inability of me to hear him at all. I told him I'd phone him back after I was out of the restaurant. For some odd reason he was at the shop, and I was thinking maybe the alarm went off or something. 

It's rather remarkable how dependent we've all become 
on our cell phones. I've had a cell for MA NY years. 
I was traveling and also attending various bead 
shows, and I had to be accessible to my staff at the 
various stores I had. A cell phone was a necessity then, 
and it's still necessary now. I love my Google phone. 
Chickie and DH have Samsung phones and they're 
pretty happy with them, too. 

I got out into the parking lot, called him back, only to find out that apparently he was missing his cell phone and had driven back to the shop to see if maybe he had forgotten it there. No luck. So, I called his cell phone and it was ringing - from somewhere in my car. After a serious search (black phone, black upholstery and framework of my car), I finally found it almost buried in the flooring between his seat and the door frame. I called him back at the shop and told him. He was EXTREMELY relieved. Telling him I'd meet him at home, I headed back with the food while he went North towards home from the shop. 

It would have actually been fairly easy to find if it had 
dropped onto the car floor, or onto the left passenger side. 
But no, it was on the right passenger side, and wedged into 
a small space between the door and the seat. He's lucky 
it wasn't damaged in any way, and also wasn't lying 
on the tarmac at the car dealership. 

Apparently, since I don't have two holders in my car (I really don't need two holders, and my cup holders were filled with my travel mug and his travel mug), he had placed the phone between his legs. That only worked until he came into the Toyota dealership with me, to pay for the truck and retrieve my key (I used my key since getting his off his group of keys would have been a total PITA). He must have let the phone slide when he was getting out of the car. He was damned lucky it wasn't lying on the tarmac at the dealership. 

DH used to have a "portable" phone similar to this one 
for his car. He'd be on buying trips for the store, but he also 
needed to be available for consultation if we got an 
emergency issue cropping up with his own business. This 
truly was a brick - we could have seriously damaged 
someone's home if we had tossed it at a window. LOL

It's funny how attached we've gotten to our cell phones. And I'm including you, dear reader, in that large "we". I've had a portable phone for as long as they were available because I love technology. DH even had one of the very old traveling sat phones because he needed to be on call for an AOG (aircraft on ground) situation that might need one of his parts to get back into the air. So we've embraced portable phones for a long time. But we use them more to play games on, than to actually communicate. Still, I'd hate to go back to the old situation before cell phones, when we were all tied to physical, wired telephones. 

Getting everyone scheduled between my new VOIP carrier 
and my security alarm people will be like managing a 
dog and pony show. *sigh* With Chickie being on vacation 
next week, I'm not scheduling anyone until after she's 
back at the shop so that I have someone who can be on the 
sales floor while I'm busy overseeing the switch-over. 

And speaking of phones, my new VOIP phones were delivered to the shop yesterday. Now to get everyone scheduled so that we can get these installed. I think I'll have to wait for the actual switch over until Chickie is back from her vacation. I'll need someone dependable on the sales floor, and I also suspect it will take a bit to coordinate the install people from both the phone company and my security alarm company. I'll start working on that scheduling today. *sigh* Oh joy! LOLOL. Have an excellent Tuesday. I'm off to swim. I survived this week's vote and am still writing, just got my new topic last night. "Synesthesia". Time to do a little research and see what I can come up with. Slava Ukraini.