Comments on: Will the Squeaking Wheel Finally Get Some Grease? http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/will-the-squeaking-wheel-finally-get-some-grease/ About finding balance in your life, connecting with who you are, and creating a lifestyle where you wake up each morning eagerly anticipating the day ahead. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:29:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Shirley http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/will-the-squeaking-wheel-finally-get-some-grease/#comment-7260 Shirley http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/will-the-squeaking-wheel-finally-get-some-grease/#comment-7260 Elena, it's amazing how smart these birds are, isn't it? We know all about trying to keep them quiet... for some reason our Amazon likes to call out "Help, help, I'm all alone in here" when he hears a stranger's voice outside. One day my husband actually had to explain to a concerned meter reader that although the voice calling for help so urgently sounded like a woman (just like me, actually), it was really only our bird in a mischievous mood. The meter reader seemed very skeptical!!! Thanks for sharing your story. Your Calypso sounds like a treasure. Happy Spring to you too! Elena, it’s amazing how smart these birds are, isn’t it? We know all about trying to keep them quiet… for some reason our Amazon likes to call out “Help, help, I’m all alone in here” when he hears a stranger’s voice outside. One day my husband actually had to explain to a concerned meter reader that although the voice calling for help so urgently sounded like a woman (just like me, actually), it was really only our bird in a mischievous mood. The meter reader seemed very skeptical!!!

Thanks for sharing your story. Your Calypso sounds like a treasure. Happy Spring to you too!

]]> By: Elena http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/will-the-squeaking-wheel-finally-get-some-grease/#comment-7240 Elena http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/will-the-squeaking-wheel-finally-get-some-grease/#comment-7240 Reading your description was SO familiar. We live in New Mexico, where it can go weeks, even months without moisture, but then when it rains, the things that have dried out and cracked (like roofs and phone wire wrap) soak up the moisture. The reason that I felt I had to write was to perhaps amuse you, as a parrot parent, with our particular version of this telephone wire-crack dilemma: our daughter's cockatoo Calypso has a fondness for peeling e-v-e-r-s-o-c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y the plastic/rubber coating on electrical/phone wires. We don't notice he did it (again) until a good rain (yes, he goes outside freely, and our 2 dogs guard against neighborhood cats.) Then the phone line goes dead. We have gotten pretty good at covering the split wrapping with electrical tape (you have to let it dry out first, though.) But it is hard to find the exact spot sometimes. When Calypso was really young, he figured out that if he jiggled the line right where he'd chewed it, the phone would ring in the house. One day I ran from the garden to get the phone several times over 10 minutes or so, always frustrated to have no one be on the other end. After the 4th time, I looked up and saw Calypso sitting on a branch next to the wire with one claw clasping it, ready to give another jiggle. He was enjoying watching "Mom" dash into the house and then swear at the $%& who kept calling and hanging up! We have occasionally given up, called the phone company whose repairmen always tell us that we have "chipmunks." We don't dare tell them about the bird, and keep him hidden in the house - hopefully quiet (not always so easy.) The last couple of years, he seems to have changed his chewing preferences - lucky for everyone! Just found your blog today and am really enjoying it. Happy Spring! Reading your description was SO familiar. We live in New Mexico, where it can go weeks, even months without moisture, but then when it rains, the things that have dried out and cracked (like roofs and phone wire wrap) soak up the moisture. The reason that I felt I had to write was to perhaps amuse you, as a parrot parent, with our particular version of this telephone wire-crack dilemma: our daughter’s cockatoo Calypso has a fondness for peeling e-v-e-r-s-o-c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y the plastic/rubber coating on electrical/phone wires. We don’t notice he did it (again) until a good rain (yes, he goes outside freely, and our 2 dogs guard against neighborhood cats.) Then the phone line goes dead. We have gotten pretty good at covering the split wrapping with electrical tape (you have to let it dry out first, though.) But it is hard to find the exact spot sometimes. When Calypso was really young, he figured out that if he jiggled the line right where he’d chewed it, the phone would ring in the house. One day I ran from the garden to get the phone several times over 10 minutes or so, always frustrated to have no one be on the other end. After the 4th time, I looked up and saw Calypso sitting on a branch next to the wire with one claw clasping it, ready to give another jiggle. He was enjoying watching “Mom” dash into the house and then swear at the $%& who kept calling and hanging up! We have occasionally given up, called the phone company whose repairmen always tell us that we have “chipmunks.” We don’t dare tell them about the bird, and keep him hidden in the house – hopefully quiet (not always so easy.) The last couple of years, he seems to have changed his chewing preferences – lucky for everyone!

Just found your blog today and am really enjoying it. Happy Spring!

]]> By: Shirley http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/will-the-squeaking-wheel-finally-get-some-grease/#comment-6646 Shirley http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/will-the-squeaking-wheel-finally-get-some-grease/#comment-6646 Thanks for the encouragement... this situation is really getting ridiculous. Rhiamom, that's exactly what we've told the telephone company and the repairmen!!! Thanks for the encouragement… this situation is really getting ridiculous.

Rhiamom, that’s exactly what we’ve told the telephone company and the repairmen!!!

]]> By: rhiamom http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/will-the-squeaking-wheel-finally-get-some-grease/#comment-6527 rhiamom http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/will-the-squeaking-wheel-finally-get-some-grease/#comment-6527 I live in a third world country and *I* have better phone and Internet service than you do! What you are going through is inexcusable. I live in a third world country and *I* have better phone and Internet service than you do! What you are going through is inexcusable.

]]> By: Marigene http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/will-the-squeaking-wheel-finally-get-some-grease/#comment-6445 Marigene http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/will-the-squeaking-wheel-finally-get-some-grease/#comment-6445 What a pain to have to go through this for six years. You are far more tolerant than I would have been. Have you had the line to your home replaced? Sounds like there are bare wires somewhere along the line. I hope they are taking all this downtime off your monthly billing. What a pain to have to go through this for six years. You are far more tolerant than I would have been. Have you had the line to your home replaced? Sounds like there are bare wires somewhere along the line. I hope they are taking all this downtime off your monthly billing.

]]> By: Lisa http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/will-the-squeaking-wheel-finally-get-some-grease/#comment-6418 Lisa http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/will-the-squeaking-wheel-finally-get-some-grease/#comment-6418 Wow, do I really feel for you!! I cannot say that I have had any problems with our phone company, but I did have a major problem with our satellite company. They got our address mixed up on someone else's account, someone who does not like to pay her bills, apparently. Although it does not affect us personally, it was very annoying to get mail here for her. Finally, I contacted the FCC and the US Post Office. That seemed to help for a little while, though we just got a collection letter for her. Perhaps someone at the FCC could help you. I wonder if your phone company should be collecting money from customers when they cannot deliver a service as promised. Good luck! Hope your problem resolves itself soon! If not, keep on until you get what you are paying for! Wow, do I really feel for you!! I cannot say that I have had any problems with our phone company, but I did have a major problem with our satellite company. They got our address mixed up on someone else’s account, someone who does not like to pay her bills, apparently. Although it does not affect us personally, it was very annoying to get mail here for her. Finally, I contacted the FCC and the US Post Office. That seemed to help for a little while, though we just got a collection letter for her.
Perhaps someone at the FCC could help you. I wonder if your phone company should be collecting money from customers when they cannot deliver a service as promised.
Good luck! Hope your problem resolves itself soon! If not, keep on until you get what you are paying for!

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