Road Apples, #163

First World Problems...I've been having Internet issues, on and off (literally, the Internet would come on and then off) over the past two weeks.  Sadly, it's getting worse.  I know, "#firstworldproblems", but it is a major P.I.T.A. for a few reasons, including the fact that it makes working from home more difficult and I have my next graduate class starting on the 24th.  Fortunately it's working now, so maybe I'll have just enough time to complain about it not working.

For the record:

• Yes, I did call Comcast.
• Yes, the technical support person I spoke to was not a native English speaker.  I asked her to repeat her name, as I like to note such things, but she only said it unintelligibly a second time.  So I gave up on that front.
• No, she actually tried to help me.
• No, she didn't try to sell me on some kind of upgrade, which apparently Comcast is (in)famous for whenever you call them.

In the end, about an hours worth of work yielded an appointment with a service technician for next week.  In fairness, most of the Comcast service technicians I've met have been pretty good.  Here's to hoping the streak continues.

The American Way...Okay, I realize that complaining isn't going to solve any problems.  Heck, it doesn't even make me feel better, truth be told.  Being an American though, I feel compelled to at least try to complain.  It's kind of what we do.  See Donald Trump.

Off the Grid...All of the above does make me wonder if, one day, I'd consider ditching some of this modern technology I've become so reliant upon.  I'm not talking going full-throttle Thoreau, but still, a simpler lifestyle is pretty appealing at times.  Maybe, one day.

Car Shopping...For a variety of reasons, Ms Rivers had been thinking about getting a new (well new for her) car.  Neither one of us are fans of actual "new" cars; the economics don't work out really well for a truly new vehicle, and in fact I think buying a new vehicle is more of an emotional than a practical solution.  New cars depreciate tremendously once they leave the dealership.  The better solution, at least for me (& Ms Rivers) has been to buy a vehicle that is a year or so old with low milage.  In any event, after much researching, contemplation, window shopping and a test drive or two, she settled on a 2014 Nissan Maxima.

We've had good luck with my Nissan Rogue and this is just an incredible comfortable, powerful and well handling vehicle.  A bit more car than Ms Rivers was looking for, but I assured her that she works hard enough as to deserve a bit of a vehicular pampering.

Marital Philosophy...It's interesting when two older folks get married and decisions have to be made about assets, insurance, etc.  When we were buying our house in 2013 we made the decision to jointly own all of our financial assets.  It made sense in that if something terrible should happen, in the absence of actually being married, the other would have the financial means to carry on.  We haven't though decided to have a joint car insurance policy.  Part of this is practical in the sense that I cover the car insurance for one of my daughters and she has a son that she does as well.  Maybe one day, when all of the kids are older we'll combine things.  It would be interesting to learn what folks in similar situations do.