Sometimes, you just gotta laugh.

Back on June 2nd, a landscaping crew working on my neighbor’s yard cut through my cable television line. I knew the cable company wouldn’t be out anytime soon, so - being a bit of a techie - I went ahead and fixed the break.  However, there were enough nicks in the cable that I figured I’d call the cable company and ask to have it re-run.

I called and talked to a girl who was very nice and a lot of fun. She scheduled a service call for Thursday, the 4th, two days away. About an hour later, a different representative called to tell me they couldn’t let a cable break go that long and that someone would be out the NEXT morning. Wednesday came and went. As did Thursday and most of Friday.

Late Friday, the 5th, I called the cable company, again. The man who took my call proceeded to inform me that there was no record of my problem and that he could schedule a new service call that would take place in two weeks. When I informed him that really wasn’t what I had in mind, he put me on hold and the call eventually disconnected.

That Sunday morning, we awoke to find a cable contractor in the yard replacing the patch job I’d done.  I figured that was it. Nope. While I was in Nashville, someone came out, ripped out the old cable and ran a whole new line from the curb to my house… but they didn’t bury the cable. It’s strung all over the lawn.

So, I called them again. The woman who took my call assured me the cable would be buried within two days. Today, some guy in a pickup truck with the cable company logo on it came out, parked in front of the house for about 20 minutes, got out, stretched his legs, got back in …and left.

So, here it is the middle of the month and I still have cable strewn over my yard. My wife has to hold it up so I can mow under it. But, hey, the picture is still good, the internet still works and the bill arrives right on time every month.

If you want to share your experiences, click on the word “comments” below and type away.

You have GOT to watch this. The baby is in the nest getting ready to fledge: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/Hummingbir…

UPDATE: The baby hummingbird fell out of the nest, today (Wed). Apparently, someone called the owner of the camera at work and he drove home to put the little bird back in its nest. Mom is still feeding it. I CAN’T STOP WATCHING THIS CAM.

I don’t know about you, but I’m hooked. Spencer Pratt’s tirade about how big of a star he is compared to the rest of the cast is gold. And his temper tantrum over Tori touching Heidi’s hair care products is the stuff he’s really going to hate seeing when he gets back to civilization. Honestly, it’s a train wreck you have to watch even though half of the “celebrities” don’t even make the D-list. And what the &*^%l did Sanjaya do to his hair? Though, honestly, I like him better on this show than I did on Idol. And when are they going to let Stephen Baldwin host a reality show? He’s got enough experience. Actually, he should host this one. I fast-forwarded through all of the segments with the terrible co-hosts. Going to be interesting to see if the show can remain any good now that the Pratts have quit..

Thanks to sharp-eyed listener Deb Baird for finding and sending along this little gem:

Best “Out of Office” Automatic Email Replies

1.      I am currently out at a job interview and will reply to you if I fail to get the position.  I may be a little moody so be prepared.

 2.      You are receiving this automatic notification because I am out of the office.  If I was in, chances are you wouldn’t have received anything at all.

 3.      Sorry to have missed you, but I am at the doctor’s having my brain removed so I can be promoted to our management team.

 4.      I will be unable to delete all the unread, worthless emails you send me until I return from vacation.  Please be patient, and your mail will be deleted in the order it was received.

5.      Thank you for your email. Your credit card has been charged $4.99 for the first 10 words and $1.99 for each additional word in your message.

6.      The e-mail server is unable to verify your server connection and is unable to deliver this message.  Please restart your computer and try sending again. (The beauty of this is that when you return, you can see how many in-duh-viduals did this over and over.)

7.      Thank you for your message, which has been added to a queuing system.  You are currently in 352nd place, and can expect to receive a reply in approximately 19 weeks.

8.      Hi, I’m thinking about what you’ve just sent me.  Please wait by your PC for my response.

9.      I’ve run away to join a different circus.

10.     I will be out of the office for the next 2 weeks for medical reasons.  When I return, please refer to me as “Sharon” instead of “Steve”.

Ok, I’m a little biased in that I’m a “Star Trek” fan. No, I’m not one of those geeks who has a Starfleet uniform and can quote lines from any episode. I simply thought it was a cool TV show.

But this movie is even better. In fact, I think the cast of this “Star Trek” movie perform the roles better than the original actors did. Honestly, Chris Pine is a better Kirk than William Shatner. There. I’ve said it. Trekkies will hate me for that. Karl Urban’s take on a young Dr McCoy is fabulous. But the best has to be Simon Pegg as Scotty. There just wasn’t enough of him in this film.  Unfortunately, there is no better Spock than Leonard Nimoy, but Zachary Quinto (”Heroes’” Sylar) comes as close as anyone ever will.

If you’ve never seen the TV show, you will still enjoy the movie. Everything is explained as if they’re starting over from the beginning ..which they ARE. If you’re a fan of the TV shows, there’s enough in-jokes and references to keep you quite happy. Enough to make you forgive director JJ Abrams for the liberties he took in changing Trek history.

Best moment of the movie: Kirk looking at Spock as Spock says goodbye to Lt Uhura from the transporter pad. Watch for it.

Look for the cameo by the actress who plays Cameron on “House.” And the late wife of creator Gene Roddenberry, Majel Barrett, is back as the voice of Enterprise’s computer.

Didja see it? Then post a comment, below.

From the home office in Mexico City, here are the top five new names for the Swine Flu:

#5.  Smallporks

#4.  Sowmanella

#3. The Other White Flu

#2.  Baconic Plague

And the number one new name for the swine flu:

HAMTHRAX!!!!!!

Happened earlier in the week. Bruce tracked down a mint-condition, 2003 Mustang in Texas..  drove it back home to Tulsa ..where it was promptly totaled. Another driver ran a red light and t-boned him. Bruce spent the night in the hospital. He’s sore, but he’ll be okay. Meanwhile, if you know where he can find another low-mileage, 2003 Mustang, let me know. If YOU’ve ever wrecked a car you JUST GOT, hit the comment button below and tell me your story.

Here’s my first cocktail recipe of the summer. Got the idea when I spotted this at the grocery store:

LifeSavers Wild Berries fruit sherbet. I’d been looking for a wildberry mix and this is actually better. The recipe is rather simple and makes about 2 drinks:

2 Scoops of the sherbet

3 - 4 ounces of rum. I used Bacardi Silver

Splash of cocunut rum

Let the sherbet sit out until it’s pretty soft. Add all the ingredients and blend until smooth. You can probably garnish with something, but I never bother. Give it a try and leave your comments below

Just finished reading “The Host” by Stephenie Meyer. I’m guessing Stephenie is as big of a science fiction fan as I am. There are elements of things from Star Trek, Invasion of the Body Snatchers and a lot more in this book. It’s completely different from the “Twilight” series. This isn’t a coming-of-age love story though there is a romance or sorts. A bit slow through the middle of the book, which is kind of typical of Stephenie’s other works, but still very enjoyable. I couldn’t put it down.

Imagine being trapped in your own body which has been taken over by an alien from another planet. You see what the alien sees and feel what she feels ..even hear what she thinks. But you can’t do anything. Or CAN you? Pick up this book and see how one such woman deals with the stranger controlling her body.

If you’ve read it, feel free to comment. If you know the girl they photographed for the cover of the book, send me a link to her full picture. That eye is mesmerising.

From Kim Soroka:

Dear Dr Don..

Let me tell you that the morning show just made my daughter’s day!! We were on our way to school when she heard Josh Gracin is going to be in the line up again this year for the hoedown. We have gone every year since she was three and she will be seven this year! She is so excited! She has only met him once but, she would like to meet him again to update the picture on her bedroom wall. Thanks for all that you guys do!! See you at the hoedown!