Eurasian Collared Dove |
At first glance, it might look like a mourning dove, but, the dark ring on the neck and the more squared tail reveals that this is an Eurasian Collared Dove. Apparently as happy to eat the cat kibbles as Chicken Little and Rocky Raccoon! I don't put out birdseeds to feed the birds, with garden cats around (although Mama Cat tends to ignore the birds for the most part), but, the birds don't seem to mind the lack of birdseeds!
Tuesday didn't go quite as planned. For one thing, I couldn't fall asleep until 5:00 a.m. As a result, I changed my plans to get up at 9:00 a.m. to call the phone company and went back to bed until 10:00 a.m. I had a cup of tea and called the phone company about the home phone.
To give a little background about my home phone: It used to be that I had a regular landline for the home phone. Then, I switched to a phone/cable/internet bundle, back in the early 2000s, and I was told that the phone company was replacing wired landlines with fiber optics. So, we switched to a fiber optics home phone, with a service box that the phone plugged into. Then, in 2022, that box needed to be replaced and they were no longer doing fiber optics, it was replaced by a wireless phone service and we received a new, smaller, sleeker box to be plugged into an outlet and the phone plugged into that. I know it was in January 2022 because I have the invoice for the new box. That is the box that was showing that there was no service signal.
Anyway, I called the phone company and asked to be transferred to a service agent and after a wait of less than 5 minutes, was connected through to Salvador in Mexico City. I explained the situation with the phone, what daughter and I tried to do (reset it, plug it to another outlet, etc.) described which lights were green, which lights were either flashing red (battery, indicating that the backup battery was at 20% charge or less) or solid red (service status, indicating that there was no service) and the total lack of signal strength lights. We went through the routines of unplugging and plugging in the device, turning it on and off, removing the battering and inserting it again, pressing a reset button with a paper clip (as it was inside a small hole), then, when nothing changed, taking the battery out, removing the SIM card, wiping it with a tissue, and replacing the SIM card "exactly how it was placed before" and the battery and pressing the reset button again. And, hurray! The battery light changed to green! Woo hoo!
But, the service status light remained stubbornly red and there were no signal strength lights.
After over one hour of being on the phone with Salvador and fiddling with the box, he said that the phone company no longer serviced this model of wireless phone service boxes. Had I been thinking a little clearer, I might have asked him if they could replace the box with a newer model, but, I didn't ask him that and he didn't mention anything about replacement equipment. According to him, I had two options. Cancel the home phone and get a new cell phone line or get a new landline (which would cost double what I am currently paying, of course). But, wait, I thought I had to switch to wireless phone service because they no longer provided landlines? Well, apparently they do still provide landlines! Really?
I found the whole thing to be rather stressful and I no longer like to make quick decisions about such things as which phone service option to pick. I told Salvador that I wanted to discuss the options with my daughter and he said he'll call me back in the evening, around 7:30 p.m., my time. I discussed things with my daughter after she got off work and I decided that I would get a landline with the most basic of services at the higher rate (the more comprehensive phone package cost three times as much as what I'm paying now), if I could keep the same phone number. I use my home phone number for most of my contact information and giving it up and using my cell phone number would mean notifying so many people and businesses, and making changes to documents, etc. It seems overwhelming.
However, Salvador didn't call me back in the evening. So, I am wondering if he would call me back in the morning, instead? If not, I want to call the phone company again (but, I don't want to go through the whole rigmarole of unplugging, plugging, resetting, etc., of the phone service box!) Another option might be to go to the phone store and ask if they have a newer, replacement box that they do service and see if that works! Or, switch my cell phone number to the home phone number and use that for all my phone uses? If not, I'll get the new landline, provided I can keep the same phone number!
After I got off the phone with Salvador, I had a long chat with my aunt who called me on my cell phone since the home phone is out, brought the trash cans back in, checked the mail, etc., and had a cup of tea. Then, called Dancer's pharmacy and left a message giving them my cell phone number to call me when the new prescription is ready for pick up, because they won't be able to reach me through my home phone!
Later, I watched the news and chatted with my daughter. Then, chatted with friend R. Somehow, I feel that the day got away from me!
Brunch had been a piece of the raisin bun. For dinner, I warmed up leftovers from the Easter dinner that neighbor S gave.
On Tuesday, I was grateful for:
- Having a cell phone!
- Getting a service agent who talked me through the steps to reset the battery part of the phone box
- Daughter helping me with discussing the various options available for the phone service
- Phone calls with family and friends
- Leftovers!
Tuesday's joyful activity was playing come computer games.
Plans for Wednesday include hopefully talking to Salvador or someone new at the phone company to discuss my options, maybe going to the phone store to see if they can help me, tending to the garden with M, maybe pick up Dancer's medication if ready, and drop off a few things for friend R. I also want to do some cleaning and tidying.
How was your Tuesday? What are your plans for Wednesday? Do you still have a landline or home phone? Or, do you use your cell phone only?
What a palaver with your phone and how annoying when someone promises a call back then doesn't and I do hope you can get it sorted soon. It's a shame your daughter wasn't there with you to help with the problem.
ReplyDeleteI had a very stressful time last year trying to cancel my landline and just use my mobile phone. So when I asked to cancel the landline I was unaware I still had a wired landline phone and the cancellation triggered my internet service being cancelled too. So in a panic at not having any internet or landline phone I was passed from agent to agent with my internet provider when all I had to do was cancel the landline cancellation which I managed to do. Now landline switch offs are being rolled out and our neighbouring county are next to be moved to digital and public drop-in sessions are being arranged for this month so I expect that will be happening to us quite soon. Apparently it is only older people who still use landlines and I am really concerned about what will happen to my internet when our landline is switched off.
I know and it's excitement I could do without! LOL. He did call back, this morning, and apologized for not calling yesterday. I told him I want to go to the phone store and see if they had a newer device; he said that the phone company no longer serviced this type of phone lines anymore. But, then, he said to try a new SIM card and see if that works. Later, I unplugged the device to take it to the store and the phone decided to work! All the lights came back on and I've been able to call out and receive calls. So, I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope it continues to work!
DeleteOh, I'm so sorry you had to go through such a stressful time with your phone services, last year! Yes, even here, my friend said that her service area is also being switched from landlines to cell phones. I guess it is less expensive for phone companies not to have to maintain physical wires and so forth. I hope your internet will still remain in effect if and when your landlines are turned off.
I feel sorry for you, Bless! I find that when things work, all is well. But if there is a problem, I find customer service people don't know how to fix it any more than we do! Sometimes, after talking to several people, someone does know what to do if you are lucky! andrea
ReplyDeleteThank you, Andrea. I managed to get the phone to reset itself and it started working again! I hope that happy state continues for a while! But, yes, I guess everyone is switching to cell phones and they are doing away with landlines and "home phones".
DeleteOh, the phone follies! I called our cable provider last week to cancel the home internet-based telephone. We only get spam calls on it lately. Because we have services bundled, our bill would only be reduced by $5 per month. I still wanted to cancel—$5 is something. The person assisting me said that they could lower the bill by $18/month if we kept the phone service, so I did. 🤦🏻♀️
ReplyDeleteIt’s been raining for two days here and is likely to continue until the weekend. I am working from home all week. 😊
I looked on the internet for a recording of “All the Pretty Little Horses” because I didn’t know that lullaby. I found it, listened to several versions and then sent a link to my sister who has her grandchildren visiting for the week. 🐴 🛌 😴
Oh, that's too funny that they offered to lower your bill if you kept the phone service! Sometimes, you do have to wonder how these things work! I tried to reset my phone, this morning, but it didn't work. Then, I unplugged it and the backup battery went into effect and now, it is plugged back in and seems to be working! The phone customer service agent called back and I told him I wanted to try another option, so he's going to call me back this evening!
DeleteApril rain brings May flowers, they say! It's sunny, here, right now, but, there's rain in the forecast for Friday. I'm glad you are working from home this week. :)
I hope your sister and her grandchildren enjoy that lullaby! :)
What a pain! As technology provides us with more options, it also provides us with more headaches. Good luck with your phone.
ReplyDeleteThank you, June. It is a pain, but, I was laughing about having to use a paperclip to reset the device! So high tech! :D This morning's reset seems to have worked, so, I'm hoping I won't have to worry about it for a few more days/weeks/months! In the meantime, I've kept two straightened out paperclips near the phone! :D
DeleteI have a hair grip by my router so it's handy whenever I need to reset it.
DeleteElla
I wouldn't know the first thing about resetting my router!
DeleteYour kibble must be very special to attract an Eurasian collared dove! I guess he didn't fly all the way, must have sneaked over to North America some time, on a ship perhaps.
ReplyDeleteSorry you had such an exhausting session trying to get some sense about your phone problems. I hope you will be able to get everything sorted out to your satisfaction soon.
According to what I've read online, in the mid 1970s, some Eurasian collared doves escaped captivity in the Bahamas and made their way to Florida and now, they are present in almost all the 50 states and Mexico. They are considered an invasive species and I've seen a pair of them in my garden and my neighbor's garden (not sure if it is the same pair). I used to confuse them with the mourning doves, but, the mourning doves don't have the dark collar around their necks.
DeleteI think the phone issues have been resolved! Not sure for how long, but, they've been resolved for right now!
Goodness! I'm so glad you have a cell phone to use while you're having this trouble. Hubby and I got rid of our landline about 20 years ago when we got cell phones. I think getting a basic landline like the good old days is a good idea. My mom still keeps hers because she doesn't want to give up her phone number either. I hope you can get things sorted out soon. I know that has to be so frustrating!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mandy; I think a certain generation of us grew up with a regular landline/home phone, and we feel comfortable with that! The cell phone was meant to be "just for emergencies"! :D
DeleteCoincidence! I had a collared dove in the garden today too. Makes a change from all the pigeons!
ReplyDeleteElla
That's interesting! I usually don't get pigeons in my garden, but, I know there are plenty of them around, too!
DeleteA former colleague of mine has a collared dove nest in a tree in front of her window and she has posted a video on FB of the baby birds being fed!
A lovely Dove! I haven't seen one of that kind before.
ReplyDeleteWhat a phone saga! I gave up with our phone after Mum died as I mainly just used it for her. I hate dealing with the cable/phone/internet company. I hate that the people aren't local, that they expect you to do all the work for them and it's such a hassle to get someone to come out. Only a few years ago you used to be able to get a tech to come out and sort things out, now you can't. You can't even get hold of the local branch of the company. Their customer service has disappeared completely!
I'm starting to see more of these collared doves; maybe they are still making their way to where you are.
DeleteI, too, miss the days when one could say that something was not working and have technicians come out to sort things out for you! These days, they do expect you to do all the work - what if one is not able to remove the batteries and the SIM cards and reinsert them because one doesn't have the manual dexterity to do such things, for example? I guess it is a cost cutting measure for them and they'd charge you a hefty service fee to send someone out! I did get a nice customer service agent who was very patient and talked me through the steps.
Oh gosh, how frustrating this phone thing is. I see on the titles of the upcoming unread posts there are several titled something or other about the phone. And I see the most recent post indicates a conclusion - that's a long time to deal with this problem and I'm sure it's caused you some stress.
ReplyDeleteIt was very frustrating and yes, stressful, too! Mostly because I really wanted a separate phone line for the house. But, yes, it was resolved in the end (I'm all cell phone, now); it took a good 10 days. :(
DeleteIt sounds like you had a stressful day trying to sort out your phone problems. I really dislike it when anything malfunctions, partly because it's a hassle when something doesn't work as it should, but mainly it's because of the frustrations of trying to get it resolved. Xx
ReplyDeleteIt was rather stressful, Jules. I, too, hate it when things don't work as they should!
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