“Paul; what are you beyond?”
Embarrassment for one thing, in the past I know my overactive ego would have gone to extremes to cover my mistake. And I used to be pretty good at it. But in the last ten years, I just smile and render crisp Pinoy shoulders a shrug or a smartly delivered head scratch and then grin. I’ll take ownership of it, it‘s mine and I just don’t care about it.
Further, I also stopped pointing out the foibles of others (Well I try not to.). They might not have developed the same attitude as me, and my ability to run fast is hampered by advancing age.
Thursday 27 January, after four day in a row of not being able to download any music, and sending two e-mails to complain to both sites that I use, I called my “Puter Guy”, (Marlon the Magnificent} to come up to the house and set things right. While he was on the way, I checked the settings on my modem (Nokia OVI software) and found out I was connected to Australia and not to Globe Philippines as I should have been. The reason I’d not checked this before was because my E-mail, Facebook and LiP were working fine, it was just the downloading that failed. How it switched itself to our friends down under, I’ll just never know. But I had noticed that the word “MATE” was appearing more often, on my screen.
The problem was solved, and I was swelled with pride as I had solved the problem on my very own. That doesn’t happen very often.
Feel free to comment on just how simple it was to fix, if it had happened to you. But remember the horse is long gone; we really are in no rush to close that barn door. But I’ll oil the hinges, just in case someone is absolutely compelled to explain it to me. But try to remember if it happens again, by then I’ll have forgotten how I fixed it the last time. But I can refer back to this post to freshen my memory, if I can get online?
But Hey! Does anyone remember that Marlon is on his way to my house? Fret not, as I’ll still pay him for the trip, at the same rate as if, he was the one to fix the problem. That’s just my innate sense of fair play kicking in. Why do you think he responds so quickly?
But to save face, or at least wipe the egg off it, I remembered (Well Mayang did) that my car alarm, was going off anytime the mood struck it, an being he (Marlon) was the one to install it, his trip now took on a new purpose. But since we have known each other for a long time, and I know, he’ll still take a few verbal jabs at me. I’ll just smile and tell him, it’s the same wasted effort, as tossing Spit Balls at a Battleship.
But he got the alarm working correctly again; I exceeded Bob’s 500 minimum word count. Now I can take the rest of the week off, with pay! (Beer counts as pay, doesn’t it?) So there it is. Proof positive that that even an event as trivial as this can be made into an article, for this really is my life in the Philippines it’s all I know to write about anyway. As I used to say in my beginning articles here on LIP, I choose to live here, and I’m glad I do.
Congrats on solving the connection prob mate ;o) Nokia builds some solid devices, and I know a few folks who will fight to the death defending their software, but user intuitive they are NOT!
Gary;
“But user intuitive they are NOT!” Yup! That’s me in a nutshell.
Paul T.
Are you sure it wasn’t one of those Duwendes that switched your modem. You just never know. Good article brother
Randy;
I always say Tabi-tabi Po before I log on!
Your are the man Paul. We have a person that lives here in the apartment and times a friend will visit and park on the street. One loud motorcycle goes by and off goes the car alarm. We have lots of loud motorcycles here in Tagum City. Sigh. What does he do about, nothing of course. After all this is the Philippines. What do I do? Nothing, I choose to live here, and I am glad I do. Sorry .. that is your line.
73 de kb0ni
Gary;
Loud motor scooters are becoming less of a problem here in my area, as they a phasing out two stroke engines, and requiring only four stroke on the road. They are letting the two stroke just fad away naturally. Prior to fixing my alarm, I pull the fuse to keep peace in my area, it seemed like the right thing to do.
( I choose to live here, and I am glad I do. Sorry .. that is your line.) My best friend Charlie, who passed many years ago, gave me that saying. I think it belongs now to anyone who feels it fits their life. It would have made Charlie happy, albeit not as happy as a J&B and soda would! (Justerini & Brooks Scotch) Remember; a Scotsman drinks Scotch, but is never called Scotch! Charlie again!
Senior;
Congrats on your technilogical expertise and your Sherlock Holmes sense of logical deduction.
I’m no marvel on on wires and tronics. Heck I usaully used the hit and drop method it didn’t work out that well. Heck I’m a old BT give me a hammer and I can fixxxx anything or at least vent out my frustrations knowing I’ll have to buy a new one because it did not responed to treatment. 🙁
I may hve to ask your help setting up my tronics over there especially the TV/Kareoke machine.
Can I pay you in Beer and BBQ and then we can call an expert to fix our mess.
As you said I’ll take ownership of it ,because it really doesn’t matter. Heck what are they going to do make me retire and Live in the Philippines and drink SMB the rest of my life. As DR. Smith would say “OH The Pain Will Robinson the Pain. 🙂
Bruce,
You will not need any help with that as the Pinoy’s no how to hook that up even if they don’t know about a computer. I think most Pinoy’s know how to hook up the Videoreoke, just my thought about that. 🙂
Paul, Bruce, Bill -Filipinos can hook almost anything.. he he. Too ingenious sometimes. Imagine, those who doesn’t have cable connection, magically appears to have one. It’s called illegal tapping or wiring of cable lines. 🙂
Sugar;
You are sure right about that, but once in a while I surprise them. My daughter’s suitor years ago, his car wouldn’t start. He fooled with awhile, just knowing the Kano would be no help. Then I remembered my 1951 Mercury (That’s a car BTW), I picked my Stanley hammer from my tool box, tapped his starter motor twice, and his car fired right up. He scratched his head and looked at me in awe. Then I gave him the hammer and told him; “My daughter WILL be home on time, debar!”
He he and if something happened to your daughter… the hammer can certainly do damage to the car and not just merely stopping the motor.. good. Heh.
Sugar;
The young man did not fear me, but he had a healthy respect. They’ve been married a long while now, and I also respect him. He’s been a great husband and father. I couldn’t ask for anything more.
Hi Paul – That ’51 Merc of yours, was it lowered 2 inches off the ground, chopped, decked, had a ’53 Chevy grille with extra “teeth” for its grille, spotlights on either side of the windshield, had glasspack mufflers, Edelbrock manifolds, and dual four-barrel Holly carbs, and painted candy apple red? I’ll bet!
Ricardo;
Channeled over the frame, V-8, twin two barreled Holly carbs, leaded in seams and black primed, rag top. No grille, and of course “Glasspack’s” and that damnable 6 volt system, which made it hard to “BORROW” batteries. Chromed head covers, and wire looms. I never finished the body as I went into the Navy and sold it.
The Massachusetts Highway Patrol must have breathed a sigh of relief to see one less hot rod on its turnpike, huh, Paul?
Ricardo;
The Big Hats (Mass, State Troopers) stopped me twice for Swifting in a none swifting zone.
Bill;
One small correction: ALL Filipino’s know how to hook up a Karaoke machine, and can do it quicker if a case of Red Horse is involved.
Mike;
Expertise my left foot, (Was I really thinking about the word foot? lol) I just kept clicking on stuff until it appeared.
But I agree with the “Bigger Hammer Theory” as a means to repair some items. Well, they might not get repaired, but I sure feel good about it when I’m done.
Senior;
Did you get my last e-mail? It’s a good one.
Yes Mike, I did. The shock must have shook the house’s foundation!
Senior
You just don’t know it was like the wall of Jericho crumbleing to the sounds of trumphets.
Mike;
It’s the culture shock of having to support yourself that’s the hardest to take. Oh the constant wailing and gnashing of teeth, the pain of a job and paying rent. Heartless I say, just plain heartless!!!
Michael
Sounds like somebody is not too happy about having to support themselves hahaha.
Randy W;
Always a trama shock when Mom and Dad sell the house and move to a smaller apt for transition to the Philippines. I think the most trama for them is the bank and daycare facilities are now closed due to personnel endeavours. (OH yea your not on the lease. OH DARN!!)
The only problem I’m going to have is setting up the tv and dvd player and AHH Heck all the tronics in my house. Gotta get the hammer Boys!!!
Bruce
If thats the only problem you have, life is good. Just get a few SMB’s in you and you will be surprised what you can do. I had to tell my oldest son the ATM Machine is stopping for his college. He better be done by the end of the year. He’s 26 years old. He’s on the extended plan.
Randy;
my 2nd son took 5 yrs to finish college and had a hard time had to help himout . He waited tables at Outback Steakhouse so he was not muching off the oldman. Now he works for Lockeed Martin making outstanding money. Do you think he would ever think of paying to oldman back or at least pay for a dinner NOPE!!! Darn can’t take him out to dinner lost the atm card.
Hi Paul – Ahh, your life in the Philippines. It’s cool.. I think I once made a comment and said you’re actually busy w/o being busy.. he he. For men, it’s called retirement. For women (in the US)..isn’t that being a socialite? Ha ha ha 🙂
Sugar;
In the states women just feel that they are entitled even if their husband is unemployed, but that comes from sitting on their very large posterior portion watching “The Young and the Useless” or “As My stomach Turns” wondering why they don’t have drama like that in their life. Or as we Yanks like to call them, “A socialite without means”.
I told Mayang, that she retired when I did, she’ll sometimes ask if she should do something or other that day, My answer is always: “It’s up to you mahal.
Ha ha, those titles makes me laugh. 🙂
Sugar;
But do you knoe their correct names?
Paul, I heard that these daytime soaps are offered as a course in some U.S. universities, like the University of Maryland, College Park. My wife should get a straight A on this course as she has been watching them – OLTL, GH, AMC, TYATR, ATWT, etc. – for as long as I remember.
Ricardo;
I believe my ex-wife teaches the course, and then complains about me!
Last I checked, she doesn’t teach there anymore. I heard she was heartbroken over her husband leaving her. That didn’t stop her from complaining about her ex, though…
Ricardo;
One must process a heart first, in order for it to be broken! So I’m safe there!
Hmmm, wonder if Marlon the Magnificent can get me connected in Pita? I’ll be back in August for some more fun in the sun. We’ll hook up then…..Mate!
Hi Mike;
Marlon, can hook up anything, but two hours in a hot jeepney on the way to Pita, could put him off his game. Your place isn’t as easy as finding Bugtussle Arkansas. (LOL)
Hey Paul,
So, You came up with a plan “B” for Marlon…ingenious! I remember my high school shop teacher telling us “Everybody makes mistakes, but it takes a true craftsman to hide it”. Wise words from a man that drove a DeSoto.
Hudson;
I had 1961 DeSoto (Electric Push Button Automatic Transmission and a 413 Cubic Inch V-8)
So a very wise man indeed, he made an impression on you, as you still remember his car! Gotcha Buddy, and least we forget that car behind you! (LOL)
Gudday Mate,hows life down under,ha ha,lol.
Sometimes those PCs seem to have a mind of their own,then i have to get the manual out,but trawling through it can be time consuming.I sometimes call my expert (nieces husband) but he is always so busy building Airbus’s.
regards,Chas.
Chas;
If I was down under, I’ll bet I’d have DSL even if I was in the Outback. Getting the Manual out is not easy, ask the Border Patrol, and then a really brave guy would just start pushing buttons until something happens. Then as a last resort we call Marlon or the Nieces Husband, and hope they can unscrew the pooch for us.
Paul
I can relate to the “shrug the shoulders” routine based on an incident with my computer monitor . Kept going blank screen on me and here i was checking wires , settings , going on line for “technical” help and generally resigning myself to having to replace something .
Lo , the wife solves the problem and when i ask how she just pushes one of the buttons on the monitor to reset despite knowing next to nothing about electronics . Come to think of it , never dawned on me to actually download and read the monitor manual .. 🙂
Alan;
That’s when you’d say; “Honey, how did you know that I was going to push that button next?”
But, being faithful to my artical above, I was just showing you how I used to do it. (LOL) Now I’ll grin and say; “Thank you, Mahal.”
But that guy Manual, I’ll never resort to that.
Hi mate! hahahaha telstra have there it hq in manila when my internet went down i spke to three different philipinos so maybe that had something to do with it i dont know ,dont try to get aussie internet it is a b,,,,dy fortune around 70..au a month for adsl2 but it is quick i rkon it should be free but then how would they justify there enormous profits ?
chris maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttttttttttttttttttteeeeeeeeeeeee!
Chris;
Ya see what I mean about the word “Mate”? On the ships we had a 1st, 2nd and a 3rd “Mate”.
Plus all of our Shipmates. And now our mate from Australia has lost his internet connection in Manila, I never did ask GLOBE Philippines is I had to pay Aussie rates, then the bill came in, and it looked normal. But 70 Aussie Dollars per month? That’s high!
yes it is thats how the ceo gets such a good wage !
chris
Chris;
They deserve the high pay, Let’s take a look at their accomplishments just in the US,
Run your company into the ground with bad investments
Get a few billion in bailout money from a group of your best buddies, that you helped send to Washington.
Give yourself a nice raise, and a 10 million dollar bonus, lay off half your workforce, give a couple of million back to your buddies in congress that helped you out.
Meet with your Washington buddies at a high end resort, and sit around and laugh about how stupid the tax payers are, and wonder how long it will be before you can pull that trick again. (Oh bill the tax payers for the trip) And people think the Philippines are corrupt.
I wish I could say life there but I am not at that point yet ,retirement will have to wait for another day. Congrasts on the puter fix sounds to high tech for me I would have to ask your son in law for his hammer to fix it and then I would need a new puter and still had the problem. Well its still winter here but it is going to be a warm 50 degrees on sunday just to remind us spring is on its way, so here is me wishing I could be there .
Eric;
When I was growing up in New England, 50 degrees was short sleeve shirt weather, we’d be over at the Garvey Park baseball diamond, playing a game, until our mother’s showed up with our coats. We knew they cared, but didn’t know you couldn’t hit a ball with a coat on. It would insult us, that the Red Sox and the Boston Braves, (It was a few years ago) had to go to Florida for spring training.
Here’s hoping you get here soon!
Paul T.
Pitchers and Catchers report next week for spring training. Sox picked to win the East.
Randy;
Sox picked to win the East has been the cry for a hundred years, it’s like saying the Yankees have the highest paid players in the American league (Or the combined National League salary) But I still follow them either victory or defeat I’m a soldier of the Red Sox Nation. Have you noticed when you say “The Sox” people always think of Boston, and never Chicago?