Yes, “Me and AT&T”. Sounds kind of like a song title, doesn’t it?

It’s 1410, and 99 degrees out, and I’ve been chatting with various AT&T employees for the past 2 hours trying to get my bill squared away. You don’t want to hear all the details but don’t be surprised if I forget where I am and head down that road.

We’re on a long trip. That’s long in time, not so much in distance. I wanted a mobile hotspot for us to use because wi-fi in RV parks isn’t always very reliable or it’s difficult to keep it going. So, I wanted our very own and was willing to pay for it. Sadly, I couldn’t buy the unit I wanted from an AT&T store in Imperial Beach, CA because they couldn’t verify my identity.

OK. Now it’s getting detailed so buckle up. . .

I got deep into a chat session with AT&T. Almost had my desired solution of getting rid of the number for which we had no phone. I may have touched on that previously. The phone was returned and accepted. While waiting for a response from the lady chatter, I apparently touched my computer in the wrong way that caused my chat session to just disappear. I got logged back in to AT&T just in time to see her check out. Buoyed with confidence from the first session, I initiated another one and made it all the way to the end when the lady chatter admitted she couldn’t help me, gave me a phone number to call, and ended our session. You can imagine how happy that made me.

So, with a chip on my shoulder I called the number and put myself in a que for a callback that would happen between 49 mins to 1 hr 1 min. Odd times, I thought, but at least I didn’t have to hang on to the phone all that time.

Got the call back and talked with Mac for about an hour. We hit it off nicely and he filled me with all kinds of confidence. He gave me a military discount, which no other AT&T employee ever did. He also whittled down my bill to a reasonable number and educated me at length about how the system worked from his end. It was nice to hear what he had to say. He explained that yes, the phone number with no phone was mine because I paid $35 to activate it. No take backs. So, I should dwell on what I could do with the number before the next bill comes due in November. The solution I felt more strongly about was to get Diane a new iPad to replace the bent one I kneeled on and make it a 5G wi-fi unit instead of just wi-fi. Yes, I really bent it and gave it a nice curl, but it still works.

After all was said and done, we parted ways and promised to write often. There was no talk of a reunion but I’m sure if I ever met Mac in person, we would get along nicely.

Shortly after the successful end to my tech call, Diane buzzed off to the base commissary. On the way she dropped Max and me at the fenced dog park so Max could run free if he wanted to. It was 99 degrees, and he wasn’t interested in running anywhere.

There was a drinking fountain inside the fenced area so he got a drink and looked around a little,

then we just picked up and walked slowly back to the bus. Slowly because sniffing things on a hot day is just fine. No running, though.

Near the fenced dog run, there’s a dog wash. Pretty nifty. Max can’t wait to try it out.

This is where we live. Our rig is behind those trees on this side of the road, just above the sign. Max had to check it out to make sure we’re in the right place.

Back at the bus our neighbors were out so I stopped and visited with them a bit. He’s Leroy, retired Army, and his granddaughter is Katy. I can’t remember Leroy’s wife’s name. I told him that was a distinct possibility.

Once in the bus I turned on the TV in time to catch the #3 Oregon vs. #2 Ohio football game. At the half its Oregon 22, Ohio 21. Interesting game.

The view looking east from our patio. I’d tell you what those hills are, but I don’t know them.

This is the view looking west. This is a good place in early morning – 7-ish.

Unless you haven’t already figured it out, they don’t waste a lot of money on lawn mowers. Everything is covered in gravel.

See you later.