christmas

  • Media Darling?

    Update: Here’s the link to the Wall Street Journal article I was interviewed for as referenced below. They  got a few facts wrong, but there’s no such thing as bad publicity, right?

    Every three to six months, when his most recent promotional deal expires, Carey Anthony blocks out an hour of his day to negotiate with his cable company. Each time, the president of a software company in Los Angeles says he can knock $20 to $30 off his monthly bill.

    “Negotiating works every time,” says Mr. Anthony,46, who estimates he has saved more than $350 a year over the past decade.”Sometimes you have to threaten to cancel service, or switch to another provider, or sit on hold for an hour, but I’ve never failed to get a discount,” he says. “You just have to be diligent.”

    As prices for cable services have surged over the past 10years and the faltering economy has pressured household incomes, a growing number of cable customers face skyrocketing bills. Read more…

    Also here are some photos from Christmas. I’m leaving today for San Francisco to spend New Year’s Eve with the GLY gang and look forward to more sunsets on the shore like this. Happy New Year everyone!


    Best of the rest!


    Video from Christmas Morning


    December 19, 2011
    Got the following email this morning. I called the reporter at lunch and did the interview. The piece should be in the Wall Street Journal late this week or early next. She said I was an amazing consumer advocate with a LOT to say. LOL, that’s an understatement. This is what I love about the age we live in. Power of the people truly exists. Tweets and blog posts can change policies. Keep up the good fight folks!!

    Gmail Carey Anthony

    Wall Street Journal Interview Request

    Schuker, Lauren  Mon, Dec 19, 2011 at 9:34 AM
    To:Carey Anthony

    Hi Carey,

    I’m a reporter for The Wall Street Journal. I was writing because I’d love to interview you for a story about cable service– I saw your post on Yelp and thought you’d be a great person for the piece.

    I’m at (212) 416-xxxx or on my cell (below) if you see this – please call me as soon as you can.

    Thank you so much, and I look forward to talking further with you.

    Lauren

    Lauren A. E. Schuker

    The Wall Street Journal

    office. (212) xxx-xxxx

    cell. (617) xxx-xxxx


    Here’s the full post she was referring to. Long, but worth the read:

      -  Sep 12, 2011  Public
    My Online Chat With Time Warner Customer Service Today:
    User Carey has entered room
    Analyst Serena has entered room

    Serena> Hello! Thank you for choosing Road Runner Internet Technical Chat Support. My name is Serena, How may I assist you?
    Carey> Fix my internet & phone service
    Serena> Hi Carey! May I know what is the issue with the service?
    Carey> We don’t have much time…it will probably go down again in the next 5 minutes
    Carey> It’s been going up and down for a week. Internet and phone
    Serena> I see, okay.
    Carey> If it goes down again you’ll have to call me on my cell which I entered in the chat intro.
    Serena> I apologize for the inconvenience.
    Serena> Let me run line test on your device.
    Carey> I have had no phone or internet already today at least 12 times…this is unacceptable
    Serena> I see, I understand your frustration.
    Serena> For all services down issue, we need to escalate the problem to our Cable Services Specialist.
    Serena> To fix the problem right away.
    Serena> Let me create a case id number for you here, okay?
    Carey> ok
    Serena> Please give me a minute.
    Serena> I just want to check, have you reset your modem recently?
    Carey> many many times
    Serena> I see, okay. 
    Carey> this has been going up and down for a week. Sometimes it stays down 20 minutes sometimes it’s back in 5
    Carey> crap, there it goes again
    Carey> call me on my cell…my phone just cut off
    Carey> internet will be next
    Carey> it’s back….are you still there?
    Serena> Do not worry everything we’ve discussed is documented.
    Carey> did you see that it just went down?
    Carey> crap, it’s doing it again
    Carey> Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
    rrrrrggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
    Carey> I can’t live like this
    User Carey has entered room
    Serena> Yes, I am still here, I am waiting for you to enter the session again.
    Carey> I’m back
    Carey> but it will likely go down again soon. What do I do?
    Serena> Great!
    Carey> I can’t live like this
    Carey> I rely on my phone and internet
    Serena> I am now completing all the line test and I will create a case number for you.
    Carey> what’s the problem??
    Carey> now it’s down again
    Serena> I understand Carey, this will be fixed as soon as we can,
    Serena> Yes, I can see it.
    Carey> now it’s up
    Carey> so what is the problem?
    Serena> We are currently checking what is causing of the disconnection.
    Serena> Please make sure all cables hooked up to your modem is securely connected.
    Carey> they are
    Serena> Okay.
    Serena> Thank you!
    Serena> I am now creating the case number for you.
    Serena> Here is your case number is: 7221706. 
    Carey> what do I do with that?
    Carey> I see a Time Warner truck outside. Should I give him that case #?
    Serena> That is for your reference.
    Serena> I just want to check, is your cable service goes down as well, correct?
    Carey> not my tv…just my phone and internet
    Serena> I see.
    Serena> Thank you mentioning the Time Warner Cable Truck, let me check our maintenance dashboard if there are on going outages,
    Serena> I see.
    Carey> This has been going on for a week though. I called last week and was put on hold for 40 minutes then cut off
    Serena> There is an outage in the area.
    Serena> I understand.
    Serena>The description of the outage is Multiple node outages affecting phone and Internet services.
    Carey> When will it be fixed? I’m this close to calling Verizon. I can’t live like this.
    Serena> Our Top Technical Engineers are currently fixing the problem.
    Carey> What are there names and emails? I’d like to write them.
    Carey> now it’s down again
    Carey> I’m back
    Serena> Good.
    Serena> I apologize Carey, I am not authorized to disclose the information you’re requesting.
    Carey> I assume this whole week will be taken off my bill.
    Serena> I understand you.
    Serena> For that you may contact our customer care to raise your concern.
    Carey> I CAN’T EVEN CALL OUT ON MY PHONE HALF THE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Carey> and I was on hold for 40 minutes last week before getting cut off!
    Carey> I am NOT calling customer care to raise my concern.
    Carey> I’ve just spent the last 40 minutes raising my concern with you
    Carey> and in that time, my service has gone down 6 times
    Serena> I understand your frustration, we need to wait until our field technicians fix the problem outside.
    Carey> If you can’t have somebody fix my bill, then just cancel the whole service3
    Carey> I’ve wasted enough time.
    Carey> 10 years as a customer and this is how I get treated??
    Carey> I am going on Twitter now to tell everyone to cancel Time Warner if this is the way I’m going to be treated after 10 years of loyalty
    Serena> To fix your bill, I’m glad to get you a billing specialist right now, for your service, we really need to wait until the technicians done with the maintenance.
    Carey> It’s been doing this for a week….just fix the bill! I shouldn’t have to waste any more time with your company
    Carey> Who’s the chairman of Time Warner?
    Serena> I’m afraid I am not authorized to disclose that information Carey.
    Carey> You’re not authorized to tell me who your boss is???????????????
    Carey> http://www.timewarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/2011/03/TIME_WARNER_CHAIRMAN_38_CEO_JEFF_BEWKES_TO_PARTICIPATE_03-03-2011.php
    Serena> Yes I am not in the position. I apologize.
    Carey> there, I saved you the trouble…I’m getting his email address too
    Carey> that’s absurd
    Carey> when will this be fixed?
    Serena> I understand Ma’am.
    Carey> It’s SIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Carey> 10 years as a customer and you don’t even know my gender?
    Serena> I am sorry.
    Carey> This whole transcript will be posted on my blog and on facebook, to show how absurd this is. Watch for it.
    Carey> What’s the number for Verizon?
    Serena> We do not have the number for Verizon Carey.
    Serena> Let me hand you over to Billing people to take care of your possible credits caused by this trouble on your end,
    Carey> it would save your ex customers time if you just transferred us to them…it’s the least you can do
    Carey> Fine, but when will this be fixed and how will I know? I’d like Jeff Bewkes to call me when it’s resolved.
    Serena> I understand, I will do it for you now.
    Serena> Please hold on to your case id number.
    Serena> I apologize again for all the inconvenience Carey.
    Serena> That is noted Carey.
    Carey> apologies mean nothing…you don’t even know my gender. I’m a human being you know. You work for giant conglomerate who is bent on making my life miserable apparently. If you’re really sorry, you should get another job.
    Serena> For now, since our engineers still fixing it, they haven’t posted estimated time of restoral but I assure you it will be fixed as soon as possible,
    Carey> What website do I enter the case # into to see if it’s fixed?
    Serena> The case number will serve as your reference for this conversation, everything is documented.
    Carey> What website do I enter the case # into to see if it’s fixed?
    Serena> The case number cannot be viewed on our web site, it will serve as your reference for this conversation where everything is documented.
    Carey> What good does that do me?
    Serena> It will server as your reference number for this issue and when I transfer you to billing.
    Serena> Please stay while I transfer you to our billing analyst.
    Carey>Please stay? What am I, a dog?
    Carey> This is gonna look good on facebook!
    Serena> I’m sorry. What I mean please wait and stay in this chat session while I get you a billing specialist.
    Carey> It’s a new world you know? You can’t treat customers like garbage any more and not be held accountable. You will lose customers if you can’t fix these problems. Don’t you realize that???
    Carey> Oh and tell the “billing specialist” to read the entire chat. I’m not repeating myself.
    Serena> I will.
    Serena> I will now transfer you.
    Serena> Thank you for contacting Road Runner Technical Chat Support, again my name is Serena, we value you as a customer. Have a nice day!
    Carey> You sure don’t show it!
    Serena> Please wait, while the problem is escalated to another analyst

    Analyst Serena has left room
    Analyst Gustavo has entered room

    Gustavo> Thank you for contacting Time Warner Cable. At the end of our chat you will be given the option of taking a brief survey. My name is Gustavo. Please give me a moment while I access your account.
    Carey> You can either refund the charges for my horrible service the past week, or cancel it completely and I’ll go to Verizon. Your choice.
    Gustavo> Good Afternoon. How are you today?
    Carey> Horrible
    Carey> I feel as if I’ve been raped by corporate America.
    Gustavo> I am sorry to hear that. 
    Gustavo> I understand that your services are down. 
    Gustavo> Please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused you.
    Gustavo> I will be more than happy to assist you. 
    Carey> Everyone there is sorry, but no one is doing anything.
    Gustavo> Unfortunately, I cannot apply credits unless the problem is fixed. And as the last analyst mentioned, the outage is ongoing. 
    Carey> It’s been ongoing for a week. When will the credit be applied. I’m not calling in again or sitting on a chat for an hour. This is YOUR problem, not mine.
    Gustavo> As a courtesy, I am applying a $10 credit. You can contact us back once the problem is fixed to receive the rest of the credit. 
    Carey> And when will that be?
    Gustavo> Our technicians are working to resolve the issue as soon as possible. At this time, there is no known estimated time of repair. 
    Carey> As soon as possible? It’s been like this for a week! I need a better answer than that. I have to decide today whether to cancel this service I’ve had for 10 years. You obviously don’t care about my business or my loyalty.
    Gustavo> I am sorry but I am just giving you the information we have. 
    Carey> If you were really sorry, you’d try to find out what the problem was and when it will be fixed.
    Gustavo> As mentioned before, our technicians are already working, there is nothing else to do from our end. We need you to understand that this is something that cannot be handled online. 
    Carey> Then you should have told me that an hour ago before I started this chat!
    Gustavo> I gave you all the information I have in the system and applied the credit I could. 
    Carey> I CALLED last week and was on hold for 40 minutes before being cut off. If I can’t call or chat online, how is it supposed to be handled???
    Gustavo> We started the chat 15 minutes ago Sir. 
    Carey> I started the chat with Serena an hour ago!
    Carey> Don’t play semantics with me, because you will lose.
    Gustavo> That is a different department sir.
    Carey> So?
    Gustavo> It is being handle by the technicians who are already aware of the situation. 
    Carey> I’m still the customer. I’m still a human being. You cut me, I bleed. Have you no regard for your customers?
    Carey> So how will I know it’s been fixed? Will they call me? Send me flowers? Sky write? How?
    Gustavo> The services will start working fine. 
    Gustavo> And no, we will not contact you. 
    Carey> So basically you’re telling me I’m out of luck. Just wait, like I have been waiting for a week…for something I pay you $160/month for that should work and doesn’t!
    Carey> This is going to look great when it’s posted on facebook, twitter, tumblr and my blog. I’ll make sure to tag it with #timewarner #customerservicenightmare!
    Gustavo> Please accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience this may have caused you.
    Gustavo> It would be a pleasure if there is something else I can assist you with.
    Carey> OK, I’m going to call Verizon now to see if they care any more about me.
    Gustavo> Again, my name is Gustavo. Thank you for chatting with Time Warner Cable. We value you as a customer and are here to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you would like to take a brief survey, please click on “End Session” and the survey will load.
    Carey> LOL, that’s going to be a doozy of a survey.


    Here are the rest of the highlights of the past couple of weeks:


    Birthday dinner with Dreamer David Cho.


    A visit with Arielle and Baby Hazel.


    Roscoe at Runyon Canyon. More here.


    Office Christmas Party.


    Movie night with Claudio & Ryan and Chazz & Rio. More here.


    Orange County thunderheads, followed by a rare California snow storm!


    Late fall in Southern California. More here.


    Thursday family dinner.


    It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. More here.


    My brother, sister in law and niece visit The Hotel Careyfornia.


    Merry Christmas from Chazz & Rio.

  • A Junk Free Touching Christmas

    While much of America digs out from record snowfall from a storm that originated as 6 days of rare rain here in California; we ended up having a pretty beautiful Christmas Day.  I am very glad that I did not fly anywhere for the holidays.  The rain we had most of last week was complete with mudslides, hail and the now obligatory double rainbow.  The week of crazy weather didn’t phase Santa however, and the kids in our family (including me) had a wonderful Christmas.  It was certainly better than last Christmas, when 2 of us ended up in the emergency room and 9 of us came down with the stomach flu!  Here are some images and videos from the week, including my favorite Christmas present:


    If you’d like to know the story behind this, click here!  Thanks Lisa & Joel!


    What does it mean??


    December 22 was a crazy weather day!  More photos here.


    Video of the rainbow from my roof

     
    T’was the Night Before Christmas…


    Andy, excited for Santa’s arrivalMuch more so than last Christmas:


    What a difference a year makes!!


    It was a very dino Christmas as Andy opened his stocking Christmas morning


    I rest my case!


    My how they’re growing!  Look at them just two years ago!


    Tressa, Cody & Andy


    An epic family Christmas picture!


    A dinosaur snuggie!


    Lisa loved her presents from her boys!


    My gift to Andy was a hit, despite its questionable packaging!


    We missed Grandma this year!


    Even Sadie & Roxy were in the Christmas spirit!


    Best of the rest…click here
    Happy New Year!

  • Longing for a Blow Job

    Even though I’m an atheist, I’m inclined to agree with the postulate that everyone likes presents, Santa, peace on earth and all the things that come with Christmas and the holiday season.  I mean, what’s not to like?  That said, it’s hard to get into the Christmas spirit here in California when it’s 80° F (27° C) and sunny.  It’s also hard to be optimistic with our country in such a state of shambles; thanks in large part to greedy Republicans and an inherited deficit too big to imagine.  I was reminiscing with friends recently about the first Christmas I spent in Africa twelve years ago this week.  It’s easy to forget that twelve years ago, Bill Clinton was in the midst of an impeachment trial over lying about oral sex.  Despite that theatrical absurdity, our  economy was strong and unemployment was at 4%.  I was struck by the fact that twelve years ago, everyone I met in Africa thought the whole charade was ridiculous.  Of course, Bill Clinton sailed through his impeachment, and 12 years later, he’s still in the White House taking charge.  I was reminded of that fact when I watched President Obama introduce President Clinton during his press conference last week.  Claudio and I were talking about it, and he had mixed emotions seeing Bill Clinton handling the room like always.  He thought it was the most telling political picture of the past two years.  I don’t necessarily agree with that; but it did produce strong and mixed emotions.  Bringing Clinton into the White House was a good move for President Obama.  Bringing him to the podium was a risky move.  Leaving him to go “tend to Michelle” was a horrible move!  (Click the link, it’s hilarious!)  But it sure made for great political theater and a lot of nostalgia.  Especially as Bernie Sanders was filibustering across the mall.  THAT to me, was the contrast.  Now if the president could just find some of Bernie’s zeal.  (Though I thought he did a mostly good job at his press conference the other day, save for the hostage analogy which The Daily Show skewered so well!).  I wish the President well.  He’s in an extremely unenviable position.  In the words of Robert Reich, “I urge congressional Democrats to remember the larger principles — not in order to be purist or make the perfect the enemy of the better, but to move toward an economy and a society that we believe in, that reflects the needs of the vast majority of Americans at this difficult time.”  How I long for the days where all we had to worry about was a blow job in the Oval Office!  That said, here’s how we tried to get into the Christmas spirit here in California this week:


    Our Christmas Card, LOL


    Chazz and Rio have become inseparable and sometimes hard to tell apart!


    Andy, Tommy, Ryan, Chazz & Rio (and me)…Ho Ho Ho


    More photos here…


    Winter sunset from my front yard


    Neon art on Santa Monica Blvd.


    The Beatles at sunset


    As the sun goes down over Santa Monica Blvd.


    More photos here…


    Last night we had second row seat for West Side Story at the Pantages!  Thanks Julia!

     
    One of the great old Hollywood theaters, the Pantages.


    More photos here…

  • Happy Xangaversary & A Bad Breakup

    Happy Holidays from The Hotel Careyfornia!  4 years ago yesterday I started my humble little blog.  In that time, I’ve written 692 entries and have devoted this space mainly to my photos and random musings.  The Xanga community has been good to me.  And though I micro-blog more often on facebook and Tumblr these days; I still try to come here once a week to summarize my life and write my rants.  As I’ve said before, blogs are like clothes.  Sometimes you look back at them and wonder, “What was I thinking!!??”


    Future Xangan CareyGLY

    It’s often been suggested that I rename my blog:

    Kids, Dogs, Sunsets & Sarah Palin 
    and the occasional rant against corporate America


    She ain’t all that “hot” close up, is she?

    When I look at my most common “tags“, this rings somewhat true.  Here’s a look at the highlights of the past year, filled with lots of dogs, kids, sunsets, Xangalebrities and political rants:

    And here are some photos from the past week with links to photos past:


    Look how Andy has changed in four years!


    Favorite Cousins!


    My new family mantra :)


    Look at him just a year ago!


    He was actually looking in these presents.  LOL


    Look Jin!  New snowmen!


    Garbo & Ruby met director Michael Bay of Transformers fame, coming out of Starbucks the other day.  He thought they would be great in his next movie with Shia LeBeouf!


    And just to make sure I cover all of my bases, here’s tonight’s sunset!

    I also went through a devastating breakup this week.  After nearly 30 years of an on again off again relationship; McRib and I are finally finished.  I broke the bad news to him in a “Dear McRib” letter last night. Both McRib and I hope that the media will respect our privacy during this difficult time.


    Dear McRib,

    I’m writing you to let you know that I can’t see you any longer.  I
    couldn’t say it to your face tonight, so I decided to write it down.
    Trust me, it’s not you, it’s me.  We’ve known each other since 1981.  I
    was only 16 years old, and much skinnier.  Even though we only saw each
    other once or twice a year, my friends told me you weren’t good for me.
    They called you offal (an admittedly clever pun).  They said you didn’t
    have my best interests at heart (your were only interested in clogging
    my heart).  I scoffed at them.  I defended our love.  When they called you
    “fake”, I called you “new fangled”.  But lately, you’ve been calling more
    and more.  I’m no longer the gangly 16 year old who fell in love with
    you all those years ago.  It’s a new world McRib.  A world filled with
    Tender Greens and Trader Joe’s Pad Thai.  I’ve finally realized this is
    not a healthy relationship.  I think we need to see other people (no, not
    McNuggets!).  I don’t think we should even be friends any longer.  You’re
    too tempting.  It was fun while it lasted.  I will always think of you
    fondly and I wish you all the best.

    Sincerely,

    Carey

  • Christmas Eve in the Emergency Room (Twice!)


    T’was the night before Christmas, and down in the kitchen.
    Little Andy was running, soon his head would need stitchin’.
    The stockings were hung by the chimney with nails,
    In hopes that dog Sadie would not them inhale.
    Cole & Tressa were bundled all snug in their beds,
    While Lulu was hurling and needing some meds.
    So off to the hospital again we did race,
    And we whistled and shouted and picked up the pace.
    Dear Tommy and Andy and Tressa and Cole,
    We hope you like Christmas…it sure takes a toll!

    With apologies to Clement C. Moore

    Well, boys will be boys, and this afternoon while 5 year old Andy was running around playing with all of his cousins, he slipped and hit his forehead on the edge of a chair.  It was a pretty deep cut, but luckily very straight.  He took his 10 stitches like a trooper, and was back home in time for a traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner with pasta, turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and lots of other delicious food.  After the gift exchange, we headed back to Dar’s to await the kids in the morning for even more presents.  As soon as we got home, Grandma got very sick to her stomach and was throwing up for an hour.  (No, she didn’t get run over by a reindeer!)  So, back to the emergency room!  I wonder if they have a 2 for 1 special?  She’s currently on an IV now to help with her nausea and replenish her fluids.  Still waiting for a doctor.  It’s going to be a long night!  Merry Christmas everyone!

    UPDATE:  Grandma was released from the hospital late on Christmas Day.  I drove her to Dar’s house so she could open her presents and see the kids, and then drove her back home for some much needed rest in her own bed.  She’s still weak, but on the mend.  Thanks to everyone for their concern!  She must be feeling a little better, because when she heard my poem she rolled her eyes and gave me the raised eyebrow!

    UPDATE II:  I have come down with the stomach flu, as have 8 of my cousins.  We’ve all been puking our guts out the past two days.  It truly was the gift that kept on giving this Christmas.  I hope to be all better by Wednesday when I head up to Pacifica for our annual GLY NYE


    What a brave little guy he was!


    I always marvel at the Hollywood sign on a clear day.  Even though it took me 2 1/2 hours to drive the 60 miles to my cousin’s house, I listened to Christmas Carols and was in a good mood.


    I took this from my sunroof going 70 mph down the 5 freeway.  This is just past Disneyland.


    As I pulled onto Jennifer’s street, this is what I saw


    Kenny, Tressa and Tommy


    No Italian Christmas is complete without pasta and meatballs!


    Before Grandma got sick :(


    The kid’s table!


    Apparently he didn’t get his two front teeth for Christmas…but he does look like Harry Potter now!


    T’was the night before Christmas…


    Buster, the one eyed horndog and Roxy…waiting for Santa


    Best of the rest…

  • The Yin and Yang of Christmas

    Even though I don’t believe in God, I’m inclined to agree with the postulate that everyone likes presents, Santa, peace on earth and all the things that come with Christmas and the holiday season.  I mean, what’s not to like?  My office Christmas party was today and we had a Secret Santa gift exchange.  The person whose name I drew, is an staunch Orange County Republican who thinks Sarah Palin is “hot”. 

    As a gag gift, I gave him the book “Going Rouge – An American Nightmare” which is the bitingly real expose of the most dangerous woman on the planet, Sarah Palin.  (I also gave him a real gift, and the gift receipt to exchange the book for something he really wanted!)  The person who drew my name in the gift exchange had a similar idea, and gave me the book, “Going Rogue”, the fictional work of a delusional demagogue by Pontius Palin – The Bobbleheaded Beauty Queen herself.  Delicious irony, right?  In a way, the gifts canceled each other out.  Ah, the magic of Christmas!


    Good vs. Evil

    Magic aside, Christmas in California is a lot different than Christmas in Chicago where I grew up.  I don’t have a whole lot of very fond childhood memories, aside from those spent with my aunt, but Christmas was usually pretty nice:


    Me, my Dad & Mom in happier times and my brother, circa 1970


    My brother (L) and me, circa 1969.  I was 4, and stylin!

    Fast forward 40 years to the warm weather of California and Christmastime with my family here:

     

     

    And of course, Christmas in Hollywood at The Hotel Careyfornia and surroundings:


    Ryan, in lights


    Never fails!


    At least the homophobic Mormons put on a good light show!


    Christmas lights at the bottom of my street, Santa Monica Blvd.


    A homeless Santa on Sunset Blvd.  This picture cost me $5, so I hope you like it!


    Best of the rest…

    One of my favorite Christmas songs

  • Pink Christmas Trees and Sunroof Sunsets

    It was a busy weekend at The Hotel Careyfornia.  Since Ryan and Chazz are out of town, Claudio and I decided to spend some “quality time” together.  It rained all day Saturday though, and the traffic was a nightmare.  No one knows what to do in L.A. when it rains, as witnessed by this truck that got stuck in my driveway yesterday morning.  So we just ordered Chinese food and watched movies all night.  It was nice.  Today was beautiful, and after an alleged Lady Gaga sighting, we walked to Tender Greens for lunch and then I drove down to my aunt’s for our pre-Christmas spaghetti dinner.  ‘Tis the season!


    Andy entertained us with some Christmas Carols…which you can hear better after Grandma stops talking about her pills!  LOL


    Lunch on Santa Monica Blvd.


    I sent this to Wendy Williams, as she likes pink Christmas trees.  Maybe she’ll show it on TV tomorrow?


    Bah Humbug!  The patented Claudio sneer


    Ho Ho Ho


    Get your kicks, on Route 66


    Sunset from my sunroof…I took this going down the 101 highway at 65 mph (104 kmh)


    Another shot from my sunroof while driving

     
    Favorite cousins!

     
    Great Grandma made her famous spaghetti


    Look familiar?


    Our first Christmas without Grandpa


    Tressa also wants her front teeth from Santa this year


    Bad Andy – Don’t imitate Sarah Palin!


    Cody & Andy

     
    Merry Christmas from our family to yours!


    Best of the rest…

  • Chasing Rainbows for $46,008.02

    My mortgage was sold to Chase Bank last month.  This month I got this email notification that my payment had been made:

    Gmail Carey Anthony

    Your home loan payment alert from Chase
    1 message

    From: Chase Manhattan Sun, Dec 6, 2009 at 6:44 PM
    To: Carey

    Chase
    For your account ending in 0950: Thank you for your recent payment of ($ USD) 46,008.02.

    This Alert was sent according to your settings.


    Excuse me!!!???  I mean, I know The Hotel Careyfornia is one of the finest boutique luxury hotels in Southern California, but if my mortgage payment is $46,008.02 per month, I’m going to need to raise our room rates!!

    A day later, they sent this message.  Not a great way to start a business relationship Chase!!  FIGURE IT OUT!!  You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry!

     

    Dear Valued Customer:

    We’re writing to let you know you received an Account Alert on 12/06/09 that contained inaccurate information about your mortgage payment. Please disregard the Alert, and accept our sincere apologies for any inconvenience it may have caused.

    If you have any questions about this message or your mortgage account, feel free to call us at 1-800-848-9136. Our service representatives are available to help you Monday through Friday, from 8 AM to 9 PM Eastern time, and on Saturday from 8 AM to 5 PM Eastern time.

    Thank you for your business. We look forward to continuing to serve you.

    Sincerely,

    Alexander Krantz
    Senior Vice President
    Customer Care

    Speaking of Chase, people in West Hollywood were chasing rainbows yesterday all over town (how cliche, in a gay city)!  This one was snapped from my rooftop and it ended right at Ryan Seacrest’s office on Sunset Blvd..  Damn that Seacrest.  Does he really need more gold?

    It doesn’t storm very often here in Southern California, but when it does, I head to my roof to take photos as the sky is usually beautiful. The first 13 photos in this video and are all from last night between 4:30 and 5 PM. The rest are from other storms we’ve had the past two years.

    The rain made for some beautiful skies for Chazz to pose against.  It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas:

    Tonight, Seth and his band played a set at Crane’s Tavern in Hollywood:

  • A Stoked Anniversary

    3 years ago today I started my humble little blog.  In that time, I’ve written 641 entries and have devoted this space mainly to my photos and random musings.  Blogs are like clothes.  Sometimes you look back at them and wonder “What was I thinking!!??”


    Future Xangan

    Some people have suggested that I rename my blog:

    Kids, Dogs, Sunsets & Sarah Palin 
    and the occasional rant against corporate America

    When I look at my most common “tags“, this rings somewhat true: 

    Tommy and Andy seem to be most popular.  Followed by Chazz and other family members!  American Idol is pretty highly ranked too, as tend to run into Idols all over Hollywood!

    Speaking of Chazz & sunsets, I just took this photo in the front yard:


    Chazz looks good in red!


    I took this picture an hour before the last one.  I like how it looks like he’s shooting a laser beam from his eye!


    Who’s a good dog?

    I went to 2 Christmas parties this week, and I have 2 more next week.  ‘Tis the season!


    Aunty LuLu put up her tree before Thanksgiving!


    At a work Christmas party on Thursday

    I’ll leave you with a final thought on this Xangaversary.  Are we doing enough to warn our kids about the dangers of getting stoked?

  • Snow in Hollywood?! – How the Grinch Stole Garbo & Ruby

    The Hollywood Christmas Parade isn’t quite the caliber of Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, but it’s been a tradition here since 1928.  It features extremely D-List celebrities like Susan Lucci, Lorenzo Lamas, Lee Majors and the minor castmembers of Glee, The Office and a slew of soap operas.  Add some assorted marching bands, balloons, floats and Santa Claus with fake snow on a red carpet and well, you get the idea. 

    The temperature in L.A. yesterday afternoon was a balmy 80° F (27° C).  By the time the parade started at 6 PM, it had dropped to a bone chilling, wintry 65° F (18° C).  I’m dog sitting for Garbo & Ruby this week, so we headed to the parade route to meet my aunt and cousins who were dressed like they were at the North Pole!  We enjoyed ourselves, but the real fun came after the parade as I was walking home.  I sneaked on to the red carpet and let the dogs play in the “snow” in front of the Kodak Theater.  They had a blast:


    When I posted this picture on Twitter, Jin said it was Sarah Palin without her makeup!


    Making “snowballs”


    Garbo & Ruby in the middle of Hollywood Blvd.


    This is my favorite


    Kids act the same way in fake snow as they do in real snow


    A Tinseltown Blizzard


    Oh the weather outside is frightful


    Southern California’s version of a snow angel


    Ruby & Garbo’s Christmas Card


    Emily with The Cat in the Hat


    Crazy reindeer games


    Waiting for the parade to kick off


    I’m usually the cold one in the family!


    The crazy Scientologists sure put on a good Christmas display


    The site of the Oscars


    Grauman’s famous Chinese Theater, before the parade


    Best of the rest…