Holy Comcast!

So, I had this little trouble with my modem. It seems that the beautiful RCA cable modem I was using (in all its beige-ness) had a flaw with the power cable that made it short out periodically. Now, before, I would have just propped it up so it would work, but even if I touched it, it would short out, sending me into a frustrating cave man-like frenzy of hooting and hollering.

So, after a year or two of rigging the sucker, I decided to finally delve into the dark underworld known as Comcast Customer Support.

Swapping the modem was actually the easiest part. We (Sean - my new roommate, more on that later) went to the comcast place to swap the cable box for a High Definition box, which Sean's HDTV can accomidate, and the upcoming Football Season demands. I figured that I'd just swap the modem at the same time. No problem, did just that, and learned from the lady at the counter (who was very helpful, btw) that the short it my power cord was not unique, apparently everyone was returning these craple modems, because RCA sucks. So far so good. Lady gives me a "registration code" that I'm to enter in my browser when I connect the new sleek looking black motorola "Surfboard" standard modem, and Boom! I should be back in business.

Now, I can assemble a computer with my eyes closed, and it'd probably boot up too, but networking has never really been my strong suit. Basically, before, I would just plug away at the settings until something works, then never tweak with it. I figured that I was up to the task of installing it. Hooked it up, turned it all on, nothing worked.

No biggie, nothing ever works the first time. So, I checked my settings, power cycled the modem, rebooted the computer, cut out the router, and just went with the basic bare-bones internet hook up. Nothing. (more caveman like hooting and hollering)

Turns out, after repeated attempts, that I had to obtain a MAC address for the modem (which looks something like this: BL:AH:BL:AH:BL:AH:7 ) then enter my account number, then my registration code, then tweak my settings, then power cycle the modem, then reboot, THEN power cycle again, and finally I am back in the realm of the internet. Sweet, Beautiful, Internet.

Overall, I wonder if the world is becoming a bit too dependent on internet. I spent a couple of weeks without it, and I felt as if I was missing a limb.

So, now that I've explained my lame excuse for missing said limb, on to other news....

So, In case there's actually someone else who reads this other than family and close friends, here's whats been going on:

Moving - Back to California. Need a change, and to get back closer with my and E's families.
The full scoop on the current progress is this: Moved in a roommate into my 1 bedroom apartment here, my buddy Sean, who is going to take over the place when I move (bought the landlord lunch the other day and already put it in her head) Hopefully this arangement will help me free up some money to put away ($275 rent). Erin is currently in Calfornia on "vacation" to look for jobs and housing. Right now she has 2 or 3 strong references in Sacramento, jobs that she actually wants to do, rather than has to do. Other places she's checking out include: San Francisco, Santa Rosa, and everything in between. Today she was meeting with a friend of her Grandfather's to drop of resumes for a couple of places, so right now Sacramento is strong in the running.

Now, just in case it is Sacramento, then I can uses my strongest reference. Opening in November 2006 is McCormick and Schmick's Sacaramento. Coincidence, maybe, but fortunately my meager network of blue collar bastards extends even there. Chef Ray (don't ask me his last name) made his bones at the seattle restaurants (especially harborside) and is transferring to Executive Chef. At work, most people don't like Ray, in fact most everyone hates him. Although he and I have exchanged words before, we have a very professional work relationship. As I blaze by him on the floor carrying 4 heavy lead plates and tell him to "Move, You fucking Leprechaun or else I'm gonna step over you!" He merely smiles, slaps me on the ass, and tells me to "Go get 'em tiger". Total appropriate restaurant etiquite. (and he would be a leprechaun too, if he were irish-guy's like 5 foot nothing)

Now, just in case that reference isn't strong enough (being back-of-the-house and all) I went ahead and secured a few more. In talking to our RM, I learned that's a new restaurant in his region, (along with SF, Santa Rosa, Berkely, San Jose, in fact almost all of them except the LA area). He told me to just "let him know where I land" and he'd get me hired on. I then talked to my GM (my seattle mother) who was sad to hear I was going, but asked me about transfering insurance and the like, saying "They'll really need you at the new store to get the rest of the staff up to snuff, and you'll probably go straight to dinners." She too, told me to just let her know.

So, Sacramento is my re-entry point at this phase.

Of course, that was Erin's first day of "vacation", and she's taking 2 and 1/2 weeks away. I don't underestimate her G.S.D. ability.

SDOT STRIKES BACK!
only other interesting thing other than packing up my apartment is that I got a parking ticket, my first, in the Westlake lot 2 hour zone on Friday (35 bucks!). I couldn't get away from my tables to move my car a second time during my shift, and the bastards got me. As far as the parking meter saga, the community raised enough of a voice to delay the meters. The SDOT had to hire a mediator to meet with the westlake business owners and residents and to further implement the plan, but given that my situation has changed, they'll be installed after I'm moving, so I guess I walk away with a small victory all to myself. At least I escaped.