Owen's Pumpkin Patch Field Trip

Owen Goes on a School Field Trip to
Aqua Linda Farms Pumpkin Patch
Oct. 6 2011


Owen and Ava on the hay ride. Owen didn't want to show his face.

Bruce and Karl on the Hay Ride
Owen Really liked the giant tire swing.

Bruce had shots (like five pokes!) the day before and just felt like hanging out in the stroller.

Owen with his friends and some of their pumpkins.

I loved that it was a nice, windy, chilly day, so it actually felt like fall. Within a few days, temps had soared back up to the high nineties. We were lucky to have a fall field trip on a fall-feeling day!

The Trouble with ACN

Okay, so it is time to for me to rant a little bit about something that has been frustrating me for some time now. About a year and a half ago, Matt and I decided to go in with his brothers as sales reps for the ACN communications company. Going in together split the start-up cost from $500 to only $100, so I said we'd give it a try. However, my experience as a customer prevents me from trying to sell this service to anyone and still be okay with my conscience. I know that a lot of people out there might be thinking of joining ACN as a sales rep, or by purchasing the service. Before you do it, you may want to read my experiences.

I've listed a few of the reasons why I don't recommend this service to anyone I know.

1) ACN is built on a pyramid marketing scheme, and as such, most of the company's effort is put into hyping up sales representatives rather than on providing solid, reliable products and services. Many sales representative turn a blind eye to the problems with the product they sell because they find they are successful monetarily.

2) The monthly service fee for ACN VOIP service is not competative with other service providers.

3) Early termination penalty fees decrease by only $5 per month. For a 24-month contract, your early termination fee will decrease from $200 to $140 in the first year, and to only $110 in the 6 months after that. The farther along you get in your contract, it becomes cheaper to just pay the monthly fee for the remainter of the time than to bother canceling. My advice: Get out EARLY ON!! (Or better yet: never begin the service in the first place.) Keep in mind that most of the top VOIP providers have no early cancellation fee.

4) The service has compatibility issues with a good portion of standard internet and phone equipment, but only technical service representatives, not sales representatives, have the details on this incompatibility. Also, it does not appear that the company is making strides to make the product more compatible with more standard equipment.

5) Most VOIP providers offer a trial period in which you can make sure the service works to your satisfaction. Not so with ACN. If you find that the service doesn't work well (which is likely), you must spend a lot of money buying the necessary compatible equipment, or pay the $200 cancellation fee. Even if you choose the former, you might still find the service does not work well. At this point you can choose to live with mediocre service, or go ahead and pay to cancel. None of these options are good for customers.

6) The idea of using a video phone is cool, but the quality of streaming is better with a regular webcam (which is free). Also, with a video phone, you can only talk to other people who have a video phone with ACN.

7) Rather than giving notification of a problem with payment (e.g., an expired credit card on file for automatic payment), ACN will simply disable your service within a week of non-payment. No other utility provider will cut off your service so quickly, even if you purposely choose not to pay a bill. Nor would any other utility company dare to disable your service without giving you notification that they will do so.

8) Phone service may cut out if call waiting is activated, or if you try to make a lot of phone calls in a short period of time, or for no apparent reason (often in the middle of a conversation). At this point you have to go reboot the system and wait several minutes before you can make another call. I have had to reboot up to 10 times a day. This is unacceptable for a phone service.

Arr, Merry Christmas ta all!!!

Avast! Yet one more year be headin’ fer Davy Jone’s locker. So ‘fore th’ship sinks, this pack o’ scurvy dogs be wishin’ ye and yers all th’best this holiday season. And fer all ye scallywags wantin’ t’read on, here’s a peek ‘nto how th’voyage passed at th’Pittard Sea Dog Schooner.

Halloween dragged up four pirates named Pittard. That dark-haired sea spawn (Crewmate Owen) was wantin’ t’ware his pirate booty every day fer a month. And fer those who be wond’rin’, Cap’n Matt Sparrow’s grin’s no costume makeup. That missin’ pearl got yanked out ‘o his skull, consequence o’ getting’ banged up by a scurvy baseball in times o’ yore. Mind ye, come next year that grin’ll no longer sport a gap, thanks t’th’wonders of th’modern medicine man.

Speakin’ o’ baseball, ‘tis nothin’ like a good season playin’ fer the Sahuarita Saints. After cheerin’ on his Cap’n and First Mate as they pillaged the diamond, the freshest sea spawn (Crewmate Bruce) was wantin’ t’play nothin’ but baseball. That scabbard sea dog and his brother were bustin’ up th’ship knockin’ ‘round those rogue cannons. Luckily First Mate Keri could incline th’pups to relocate from th’hold t’th’deck, good weather permittin’.

Cap’n Matt towed his First Mate and Buxom Beauty along for a weekly ballroom caper. Th’lessons payed off as th’couple performed a West Coast Swing routine at th’Sahuarita Dance Center’s annual Christmas recital. At th’dress rehearsal, Crewmate Owen was watchin’ th’entire show with rapt attention. Later he was tellin’ his First Mate ‘bout “the lady with the red cheeks” that got wound up (the doll from the Nutcracker) and pantomimin’ th’stiff dance moves.

This voyage, the land lubber sea spawn found both their sea legs and their bicycle legs. First Mate Keri plundered a couple o’ Kazam Balance Bikes and now th’two sea pups be zoomin’ fore and abaft. Th’pair o’ scallywags be resemblin’ two barnacles studded t’th’stern: inseparable. Most often, we be thinkin’ ‘tis a fine arrangement. But truth be told, thare be a fair share o’ brawls t’subdue.

Cap’n Matt refused t’surrender t’new challenges aboard his merchant vessel, and received engineering honors fer th’second time. He also labored long and hard t’submit two more papers that he’ll be presentin’ at conferences in th’spring. As for First Mate Keri, several new opportunities t’tickle th’ivory surfaced, and she be glad fer the occasions t’progress ‘n perform. However, th’extra practice often irked the unfledged crewmen. Crewmate Owen was often found t’say, in an effort t’regain his First Mate’s attention. “Mom, you need to stop that. You don’t play very well.”

On a more solemn note, we sadly bade a final farewell t’several fellow crew men and women on this earthly voyage. ‘Tisn’t easy t’say goodbye t’th’ones we be callin’ family ‘n friends. But we’re not forgettin’ t’acknowledge th’hand of God in all our dealin’s. We thank Heaven for all
th’tender mercies we be receivin’ every day in ‘the face o’ rough seas.

Merry Christmas t’all ye land lubbers, and watch out fer the Jolly Roger!

Love, The Pittards (Matt, Keri, Owen-4, and Bruce-2)
Christmas, 2009

Owen's Birthday

Owen turned three years old yesterday. He was super excited to get a new bike. I came home to find Keri in the garage trying to take the entire pedel arm set off the bike. She wants Owen to learn how to keep his balance and use his feet to stop himself.

He was really happy to have a bike. We rode it all around the house before I had to leave for an EQ presidency meeting.

Grandmas outfits

Mom Pittard got Owen and Bruce their own slick matching outfits. It came as part of Bruce's birthday package, but I'm sure he was happy to share with Owen in the fun. They both loved their outfits.

Bruce has a fun smile. Not sure what expression Owen is trying to make. Recently, he has been making some funny ones for the camera.

Renovation Update

Alright, the yard is really coming together now. The hardscape is pretty much complete with a few minor modifications and touchups. Keri and I are very pleased with how it is turning out. All that is necessary to do now is to dig out the large and small circles for the play ground area and sand box respectively and lay some irrigation lines. Should be done by the end of the week.

Bruce Bday and backyard update

We gave Bruce some of Owens old stored away toys for his birthday. He was never happier .

How the backyard is coming.