As a followup to my post from a couple of days ago, I'd like to add that the tech support people for the PalmOne Bluetooth GPS solution that I gave my wife for Christmas have still not contacted us for activation. It's simply ridiculous to be put off until it is convenient for TomTom to get in touch with us -- I mean, I have to go back to work soon, and since I am the tech-head in the family, I won't be able to work on the problem until my schedule is in-sync with their tech support bozos. So, again, I'm cautioning potential buyers of the PalmOne GPS solution and the TomTom software NOT to buy into it, because you will not be able to get to tech support via the web or by phone!

The stress was relatively low, even though we had some surprises with which to cope before the holiday even got going. Last Thursday evening, my son became sick out both ends, spewing chunks over his wall and carpet before he was able to walk twelve feet to the toilet. This process repeated itself a couple more times, without subsequent major spillage. He wasn't able to dig in to the fabulous meal my wife prepared until Sunday night. To add to it all, my head is still swishing with phlegm from that head cold that I've written so many reviews about. It was wonderful getting to see some of my wife's family that we never get to see. Her grandmother from Oklahoma made the trip, but was a little incapacitated by a fall that she took before she left home. So, we were a little on the injured side of things when it came time to unwrap presents. The kids found new LazerTag taggers dropped off by one of Santa's helpers at the front door on Saturday afternoon. I received a mother of a toolbox, a new Palm T|X (that I unwrapped a few weeks early), and my wife has a few more gadgets, as well. Which brings me to the next topic: customer service and tech support for the PalmOne Bluetopth GPS solution that they promoted with an instant rebate. Being a sucker for GPS and BT devices, I decided to get it for her. Well, the activation keys are not working, so I called the long-distance customer support line, waited on-hold for thirty minutes, and was finally told that my call would be returned in about 24-hours. That's got to be the sorriest excuse for customer service that I've ever experienced -- worse even than the epic saga of my struggles with AT&T Wireless back in the day. My plan is to start the return/refund process and see who wins the race of getting the problem solved by refund or solution to the key code mess. So, this is my attempt to strike back at Palm and their Bluetooth GPS (in conjunction with TomTom -- a European company with a name that's too cute to stomach). No one warned me that I'd be at-risk of falling into a situation in which I cannot operate the gift I gave my wife, and would have to wait until the company tech reps dug themselves out of the mess that they've made to get back to me.

Okay, that was a bit of a rant, but I've earned the right, after going over and over the instructions to check that I didn't miss something important. Also -- this might be worth noting: the knowledge base says that the software cannot be installed with a Mac, but the packaging says that it is Mac OS compatible. If this is indeed the problem, then I am going to see that they get their story straight.

The reality show that I'm AC-ing on is on break for a few days, giving me some time to recouperate from a nagging head cold that I've contracted. Many of the crew have also been plagued by the same or similar ailment -- lots of coughing, sneezing, loss of sleep. The cough is still waking me a couple of times each night, but now that I'm able to sleep-in at times, I'm able to catch-up on rest.

It's been a pretty good gig, especially when I consider that the gig has come to the city where I live. It's great to be able to work as a local and truly be a local. I get to go home every night and sleep in my own bed, which has not been the case with the gigs I typically get. So, I can't really complain at all, even if the day rate is a little on the puny side. I've managed to meet some good people, who just might help me get the next big gig. We'll see.

Last week we finally had a cable modem and wireless router combo installed at home, meaning that I can now blog from the comfort of my couch, which is more conducive to honest, in depth blogging, I suppose. Now, I can use my time at the studio to concentrate on purely creative and work-related efforts, which is nice. I'm now less likely to blow most of the day in a windowless room surfing the web for the geek gear that protects me from the perilous world.

More people are buying my t-shirt designs that say "Migrant Filmmaker", and "Live to Shoot, Shoot to Live". Maybe someday I'll be on-set and have the pleasure of seeing a crew member walking around wearing on of my designs.

We won't be traveling for Christmas. Instead, we're getting visitors here at the house. I suppose that it'll be less stress than traveling, but because the house is not huge, it'll also mean that the claustrophobia may kick-in. Maybe I'll spend more time in the backyard with my wi-fi laptop...