The Starbucks Internet Plan

Settling in New Orleans has not been the easiest thing in the world to do. And still, that sentence may be the understatement of the young year. I have been in the area for one and a half months and have not been able to move into an apartment. I have electricity and water at the apartment (now, both in my name), but I cannot move into the place because it still lacks carpet. Any day now I should be able to move in.

Another thing that has been difficult is setting up those services that are essential to life, like electricity, water, and internet. To do these things, one must wait on the phone for up to an hour and a half on hold, and then be given the run-around. It is

After establishing electric service and transferring the water into my name, I next attempted to establish internet access. First I attempted the traditional routes of cable and DSL. When that failed (because where I will live was flooded and is in what is called a “Katrina Work Zone”), I attempted two alternatives: satellite internet (expensive and slow) and cellular internet. Long story short, I am out of a lot of money and still have no internet.

So, I decided to think a little outside of the box and my plan, at least for a little while is what I have termed the Starbucks Internet Plan. I will go to Starbucks a couple of times a week and use their hot-spot to access the internet. And all it will cost is a cup of coffee. Can you say “venti white chocolate mocha, please.” I just did. I estimate that it might just be a little less than cable or DSL internet, with no long term commitments!

Well, people, that will be how I will keep in touch with you, at least until I get my internet set up at my apartment. This reminds me, I have not had any offers to help me move my stuff into the apartment. What is wrong with you people? Give a brother a hand. You can reach me at 867-5309!

I Have the Best Parents in the World

This was the weekend that I made the big move to New Orleans. The apartment is still not ready, which meant that I simply packed my stuff into the moving van at home and emptied the van in the garage below the apartment. The landlord is certain that the carpet (the only thing holding up the apartment) will be in this week and I should be able to move in (actually stay in the apartment!) by the end of the week.

Since you have had the update, let me brag on my parents for a little while. I would not have been able to move anything this weekend without them. For the past couple of weeks, they have been working hard to arrange the moving van, helping sew-up many loose ends, and doing just about everything I could not do since I was not near their house. This weekend, they had their own commitments, but they worked around their schedule to help me pack, pick-up the van (and drop it off, too), load my belongings, and just do about anything that I needed to be done. Then, they made the trip with me this morning to bring my stuff to New Orleans.

That is not the half of it. My mom has been sick for a couple of days and her illness got a little worse today, but she fought through it. My parents are GREAT!

P.S. My parents were originally going to help me unpack my stuff. Well, since the apartment is not ready, I will have to settle in on my own; unless I have any friends out there who are willing to come down and help me unpack lots of boxes. You can call me if you would like to help (I won’t stay up late waiting for your call).