I decided to take the jump of switching Comcast telephone service with their triple play package. We’ve been using Verizon for years, much to my dismay, and we’ve had a foreign exchange number, which basically means a number out of our area. I think my dad originally got that because when I was living with my mother, his number was long distance to call me, so he switched to a foreign number that wasn’t.

Right now our phone bill with Verizon ranges from $65-$85 per month.

Our internet/digital cable is about $80 per month. Making a total for all three about $155 per month.

When switching to the triple play package, I’ll have all three for $130 per month, which is a savings of at least $25 per month, sometimes closer to $40 per month depending. Definitely worth the switch, even if the service isn’t -as- reliable, because we have cellphones as well.

A lot of people seem to get rid of a land line completely and just use cellphones, which I would actually be very comfortable with doing if I were living alone. But my dad likes having the additional phone, and I don’t really keep many minutes on his cellphone, just enough for him (I think 300 anytime, 1000 nights/weekends).

I also look at it as, the lesser of two evils. I really hate Verizon, but I hate Comcast a little less. Their service isn’t bad (still not as good as Adelphia), it’s their customer service organization that’s pretty crappy. But thankfully I haven’t had any additional billing errors since the fall. Perhaps it is the sleeping dragon.

They even gave me an appointment as early as 7-10am tomorrow to get things switched over. Of course appointments to add service are always easier to get than appointments to complain about service. Unfortunately we won’t be able to keep our number because of the foreign exchange thing.

These are the types of things I do when bored at work.

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After calling 3 separate times.

He reiterated his letter that he could not go below $175k, because we have to “satisfy” all of the relatives on the estate. I’m guessing the 3 million that was offered for the other two properties was not enough to satisfy them.

I can swing $175k if I can get a decent rate. It will be tough, but I’m willing to give it a try. Right now I just need to get a mortgage researched and settled, and work on getting my car paid off.

The sweetheart and I had originally saved up $1300 or so to put towards one of my dads bills for fathers day, but I may instead put this money towards the car to get it paid off even sooner. Instead I may give my dad something small but appreciated.

I’m also considering limiting holiday gifts this year to 1 gift each, and putting that excess money towards the car as well.

The lawyer did say that he would not be doing anything with the property until he talks to me first. While that alleviates some stress, it is obviously not a sound guarantee.

My aunts boss bid on the two other farms that my former landlord owned. He tried to hide it from my aunt, not entirely sure why. I don’t even know how he found out about it, but apparently he’s bid 3 million for both of them.

Still no word on our property though. I’m going to call the lawyer on Monday and see what I can find out. I hope that the nieces/nephews of the estate will be satisfied with the 3 million they could get fro the other two properties and let us have our little one for the $150k.

Here’s hoping.

Another beautiful spring day.

I really wanted to pick some Lilacs and Violets for my room and the living room, but in order to do that I had to clean out the tiny glass bottles on my windowsills. Once I got to those I realized I needed to dust all the rocks and stones and crystals hanging in the windows. But when I tried to pull some of them down I pulled down the whole curtain-rod with it. They needed washing/cleaning so I ripped them off both windows for good since I hate them anyway. After I ripped those off I saw the old blinds from the 1970’s that were tucked under the curtains at the top of the window, so I ripped those off the window as well and threw them out.

A lot of work for a couple of damn lilacs.

But now some things are dusted, cleaned up, washed, thrown out, and I now have fresh Lilacs, a few dandelions, some violets and Forget-me-nots, all from our own garden. Makes the house smell very nice.

I don’t have any window coverings now, but I’ve been wanting to get some bamboo blinds anyway at some point. I’ll just live without until that happens.

One thing I definitely will invest in once we own this house is new windows. These windows are the original ones, are drafty, and it’s hard to get them clean. Not to mention they are old and falling apart. They are also impossible to clean because they have two panels and you can’t reach the other side without a lot of effort.

I also scrubbed the bathroom with some grapefruit and salt, but I’m having difficulty with the porcelain tub and sink. I need a better scrubber and may try to find a better mixture for scrubbing such a porous surface.

The Stimulus Payments are schedule to arrive early due to better efficiency of the computer program used to process records daily rather than weekly. Instead of arriving after May 2nd, they will now start arriving April 28th.

The Government will give more than $110 billion to 130 million taxpayers, and according to the article on CNN Money:

“The program calls for rebates of up to $600 for single filers making less than $75,000. Couples making less than $150,000 would receive rebates of up to $1,200. In addition, parents would receive $300 rebates per child. Filers who do not owe income taxes but have at least $3,000 in income would get a $300 payment.”

What should you do with this money?

1. Pay down debt.

2. Save it.

If you want to buy yourself something small, fine, but the idea of spending that much money just for the fun of it when you aren’t really in a position to throw away money like that is ludicrous.

Mine will be going into a principal payment on my car, bringing it down almost $1000 from the principal alone.

CNN had a small video on its site this morning about people who are picking their own produce due to the food crisis.

I was actually glad to see this video this morning, because obviously it’s promoting CSA activity and supporting your local farmers. People don’t realize that with sites like LocalHarvest.org let you search your area for organic farms in your area.

One of the things I’d like to do sometime in the near future is harvest my own chicken since we already have our own egg business. I don’t think I could cater to a huge egg request which is why I don’t advertise anywhere. At least not anytime soon. But chicken is a food staple for us right now, especially since I’ve removed 99% of the red meat from my diet, and I’m not at a point where I can eat a mostly vegetarian diet yet.

One thing they mention in the video is that the food is seasonal, so obviously you aren’t going to find oranges in January. But they fail to mention that people should adjust their diets to seasonal eating as well.

- The John Deere is working now, after being down for about a year. Dad is really happy, as am I.

- Dad is starting his lawn mowing, which gives him extra spending money. He has about 3 or 4 lawns he mows around the neighborhood and charges them a fair wage each month.

- There was a sinkhole on Rt 70 this morning which caused me and a few other co-workers to be late to work. It was beautiful weather to be stuck in though. I just sat back and drifted in the sun while listening to the radio.

- I’m being treated to dinner by a co-worker Friday night.

- I was invited to someone’s personal ritual Saturday, which I am still deciding on whether or not I am going. I still don’t have directions.

- We’re having a Greek ritual at the Grove on Sunday.

- Economic Stimulus payment should be coming soon

- The new restaurant that we just had sign a lease to be put in on the first floor at work has started remodeling. I asked the construction foreman if I could dig all the excess wood and stuff out of the dumpster and he said yes. They even have a couple doors in there. Dad and I will probably come up in the pick-up this weekend and load up on free wood. The restaurant looks like it’s going to be pretty cool too, all local ingredients.

- I’ll be doing another Sweatlodge next month.

- I’m probably going to switch over to VOIP soon since it’s cheaper.