Great Day For My Dad

My dad tells a dirty joke   YouTube

My father is impressed with his own accomplishment, which actually is pretty darned impressive. Last night his dirty joke on YouTube passed the million viewer mark! It’s heady stuff for a guy who predates video.

It’s not just the numbers, it’s the comments. To summarize, a lot of the commenters want to be like him when they’re 89.

Why not? He’s sharp. He’s funny. His obvious (and less obvious) physical infirmities, though part of him, don’t define him.

Being Harold Fox at 89 is a good thing.

I get a chance to put more on the hard drive soon. He’s coming to visit in a few weeks.

When I write about my dad, people always say I should cherish the time with him. I do. But my dad’s not coming because this is some final roundup. He’s coming because we enjoy his company and he ours.

It’s also a little warmer here than Milwaukee.

My Dad Was In The Navy (Video)

Even as a kid I enjoyed listening to my dad talk about the Navy. He served in the Pacific mostly during WWII. His ships never saw enemy fire. It doesn’t matter. The stories are good.

He is part of Brokaw’s “Greatest Generation.” He went to war on his 18th birthday. It was October.

Right now he’s got his hands full with my mom. That’s quite the task at 86.

A few weeks ago I asked him to talk about his naval service. I’ll be posting short (minute or so) clips over the next few weeks.

Getting Set To Leave Florida

The effect is whenever the doorbell rings it’s like being at St. Patricks’s Cathedral as mass is called on Christmas Eve!

The sky is blue. The sun is warm. It’s still early spring and the humidity isn’t here. Florida is perfect today. Not nearly perfect–perfect!

My mom is doing very well. She’s still medicated to help her pain, but she’s functioning and walking around a little. She has begun to wrap her hand around soft objects like a towel and squeeze her fingers. It’s important for her to stretch her tendons.

This was my scheduled day to leave and the schedule holds. I’ll be on the 6:15 PM flight to Tampa then another flight from there to Hartford. I should be home before midnight.

I am exhausted. This is not a good place to rest! My parents are LOUD. My dad wears hearing aids in both ears which seem to be totally non-functional based on my observation.

They started talking to each other, which translates to yelling at each other, early this morning. By nine the phone and doorbell had made their presence known. The day after surgery the phone started ringing in the morning and continued non-stop all day long.

In order to make sure the doorbell is heard there is a repeater chime inside the house. The effect is whenever the doorbell rings it’s like being at St. Patrick’s Cathedral as mass is called on Christmas Eve!

The phone rings in three or four different places calling out the name of the caller after the second ring. “Katz Miriam” is a favorite as the phone speaks last name first.

My parents seem to be in good health. They’re in their 80s so expectations are different, but they got around nicely until this mishap and will again beyond the next few days. My mother will continue to wear her big slap of foam rubber until she revisits the surgeon Tuesday.

Regardless of circumstances it’s great to see them. I’ll miss them when I go.

More Boynton Beach Birds

My dad said it would make a nice picture if they were flying. He walked in their direction until – poof – they were flying!

Two more photos from the birds of Boynton Beach.

True story–a group of birds were sitting near the bank of a small lake. My dad said it would make a nice picture if they were flying. He walked in their direction until – poof – they were flying! He’s got the magic touch.

Harold Fox–King Of All Media

Comcast And My Parent’s HDTV

My parents are still watching standard definition TV, even after a visit from a Comcast installer. It’s frustrating enough to require an email from me to Comcast’s corner office.

Dear Mr. Roberts,

I am writing as both a shareholder and customer, but mostly as a son on behalf of my parents, Harold and Betty Fox of (redacted), FL.

Recently, my folks ordered HD DVR service from Comcast. Today, your Comcast installer told them the proper way to use the system was by tuning their TV to Channel 3. In other words, they were told to use the internal modulator in the DVR and the internal tuner on their TV. This method is only capable of delivering standard definition television, not HDTV. Only by using a DVI cable or 3 composite video cables, could they have actually received an HDTV picture.

They didn’t know this, but your installer surely should have.

I am disappointed for my parents, who have not gotten what they paid for. I am disappointed as a shareholder that installers aren’t better trained. Considering the fierce competition from satellite, I would have expected a better outcome on what should be a high priority product.

Any assistance from Comcast to correct this problem will be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Geoff Fox

ps – Comcast’s system prevents me from sending this directly to the proper department. I hope you can forward it on my behalf.

I’ll let you know if anyone responds.

Blogger’s note – Comcast to the rescue. Here’s the follow-up.