I just had a truly ludicrous time this morning trying to switch my internet service. As we all know there is a complete monopoly on internet service, and previously iPhone service until this year. There aren’t a lot of internet options where I live and I’ve been using Optimum/Cablevision for the last year happily enough (If my computer is plugged into the modem, it’s fine. The BF, on the other hand, is often kicked off on the wireless router, and now, I have finally experienced it having been forced onto the laptop after permanently being secluded in the only room with A/C.).

Two months ago, our internet service jumped $20. I called them up and they said my first-year promotion had just ended. Great. After much research, the BF discovered Verizon offers an internet-only plan for $24.95/month. Perfect. I ordered Verizon this morning only to find out that they didn’t know when I would get service since THEY WERE ON STRIKE. Though it’s Verizon Wireless, apparently it affects large number of technicians. Wonderful. I went back to Optimum and asked if there was anything they could do for me as I was about to cancel my service. (I had also read online you could negotiate discounts by telling them your plan to switch.) However, after much back and forth with the cancellation department and the sales department (on my first phone call they simply hung up on me after placing me on hold), and offering me a “triple play bundle” the lady finally said she could only offer me $10 off a month for the next three months. Totally lame. But as I didn’t have much of an option I took it. She told me if I did cancel I’d have to pay back the $10. Thanks Optimum.

Thank god for morning yoga with Jason Crandell!