Okay – maybe I'm being a bit dramatic, but dammit, I'm very behind on some of my work because of this past week!

Here is basically what happened:

*WEDNESDAY 4th of July the already dicey digital cable signal got very bad and only worked about 1/4 of the day intermittently – we phoned – they came out FRIDAY.

*Friday the guys came out and said we were in need of a new cable to be run on the outside of our house.  The cable was too long and on a big ol' pole and they'd have to send out somebody with a cherry-picker truck – they would be out within 24-48 hours.  Fine, we were going to be away for the weekend anyway.

MONDAY they don't show – Robert calls and they say they'll be out by Wednesday at the latest.

TUESDAY the storm hits mid-afternoon and it wipes out all of our cable.

WEDNESDAY late afternoon and nobody has showed up, Robert phones and they tell him it will be Thursday.  They were never going to tell us this because they didn't have to come into the house to do anything.  He pointed out this was a bad policy on their part.

THURSDAY afternoon, still no Comcast as far as I had seen.  Robert phones and they say we aren't on the schedule.  Robert demands to speak to a superviser and is told he can't speak to one that one has to phone him back.  He leaves his info and he does not get a call back.  He comes home with steam coming out of his ears.

FRIDAY Robert decides that I need to be the one to phone that maybe my mojo will voo doo them into helping or something.  I phone Comcast and speak with the very helpful Stephen Love in customer service and start with the purchase of the house, digital upgrades and the current situation.  He is apologetic, helpful and gets to the bottom of the matter and phones me back (which Robert didn't think he would do).  It seems they did send out workers, but they were "below ground" workers.  Somebody is out at the house within an hour, but the guy decides he can't get past the brush and string 300ft of cable by himself and comes over to tell me he is a below-ground guy and can't do it.  I'm sure I huffed and rolled my eyes.  He is apologetic and tells me he has told them they need to bring out a cherry-picker truck or bucket truck.

I find out that we need permission from the neighbor so I talked to my neighbor and then to Stephen again and we were all set to have cherry picker trucks and brand new high-end cable strung 300ft – Stephen even talked to the cable/wiring/tech whatever superviser person and RE-TOLD them for what must have been the FOURTH time that they need above ground folks and a cherry picker.  We were all set and they should be out to take care of it Saturday for sure. 

SATURDAY – Some time early afternoon I phoned to make sure that somebody was coming out.  We were job 5 for the day, so they were scheduled to come out.  At about 6pm a comcast truck with a ladder pulls up.  Yessiree – another truck with a ladder and poor Trey comes to the same conclusion as the other guys and explains it to us.  I ask Trey what difference it will make if he tells them that they need to bring out a bucket truck when all the other guys who have come out have told them that and they still keep sending out guys with ladders?  I'm of course polite, but truly curious how it will make one bit of difference.  He gets on the phone with his superviser and explains the situation and the supervisor agrees to come out to "verify."  At one point Trey, trying to be helpful, wants to know who we can talk to and a very un-helpful "1-800-COMCAST" comes out of the phone.  Nice.

Anyway – Trey leaves and comes back later, just before dark, with his supervisor and Jae Villanida – she is contracted by Comcast – her company Communications Unlimited Inc. (FYI) – anyway, she is the Cable GODDESS.  She evidently can climb just about anything.  She came out this morning and worked and hacked at branches and climbed and took care of our cable.  She was polite and helpful and fast.  I wish they had sent her out last week. 

To say the least I am very disappointed in Comast.  I'm sure I'll be talking about this later.  Robert and I felt for the most part that we were treated rather poorly by Comcast overall and some of the employees.  That is not to take away from Stephen, Trey and Jae who helped us and were apologetic.

Also, while I was Panera on Friday catching up through their free wireless – two other Comcast customers were near me – both from Sheffield – both with a Comcast internet outtage. 

SUNDAY – today – we are finally back in business.