OK I am curious how many of you out here in RC land got "emergency" calls on Thanksgiving day. I got THREE on my cell phone at that. One guy blew up his inwall center speaker (and I mean blew it up, cooked worst than some of the turkey served on Thanksgiving) seconds before 12 family members were to show up so he could show off his new dedicated theater, another guy had lost all of his audio setting on his preamp and was "forced" to listen to his system in PL II, and the other guy's kid got button happy on the front of the receiver and messed up a bunch of settings.

Has nothing to do with your post, but since no one but Fred Harding (no offense, Fred) apparently read my Thanksgiving editorial in CE Pro and the original T-Giving post, may I take the opportunity to repost here....
----------
November: A Time for Thanksgiving

I’m thankful that in two more years
We CEDIA conventioneers
Leave Indy for the Bronco state
And maybe better hotel rates?

I’m thankful that the new XP
Gives us reliability.
And I’ll be thankful for the day
There is such thing as plug and play.

I’m thankful to avoid the glitches
X10 gave us with their switches.
Zigbee, Zensys, UPB--
I’ve waited all my life for thee.

I’m thankful that my ‘98
Mitsu bigscreen still works great,
Since no one really seems to know
Which way the TV winds will blow.

Will DVI at last prevail?
How will newer formats scale?
Just how long will a plasma last?
A couple years, as in the past?

I’m thankful that the cable guys
Have worked out a nice compromise
With CE makers to create
Some rules that will accelerate

The DTV transition … Sure!
Just don’t complain if one day your
Beloved PVR won’t play
A “flagged” broadcast you taped that day.

I’m thankful for my broadband feed.
It’s always on, and such high speeds!
It’s really nice to have, but geez…
Why such outlandish monthly fees?

Even though my kids have strayed,
I’m thankful that the two have stayed
Away from zealous copy cops
Who prosecute for file swaps.

Although my husband left GE
I’m thankful for his legacy.
After all, GE still buys
The back page, where they’ve advertised

For 10 years since we launched the mag
(I wasn’t then a married nag).
I’m thankful even moreso that
So many others want the back.

But most of all I’m thankful to
Our readers, because without you
I wouldn’t have a forum for
My really stupid poems.
--------------
CE Pro editor-at-large Julie Jacobson ([email protected]) is now accepting bookings for poetry readings.

I worked until midnight on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving trying to get problems solved.

Seems like Thanksgiving is the #1 holiday for suddenly remembering that the DVD player in the basement hasn't worked since January but now it's an issue since the entire family is coming over.

No work on Thanksgiving day for a change. And not even one single phone call.


BUT!

This morning the phone rang every few minutes. And these weren't calls from reps, telemarketers, etc.

It's been a GREAT year, but now the race to Christmas is on.

Seems like all those jobs that have been dragging along are all going to need finished just before Christmas. And then there's the umpteen new jobs that are requiring the rough-in at the same time.

When the better half asks what i want for Christmas, I always tell her the same thing.

A break.....

Quiet day on Thanksgiving.
Yes Julie, I did read your article. I was amused!
And TSS, DITTO!!

So peaceful and quiet, what a surprise. Not even a single phone call this weekend. Everybody now wants it done before Christmas, now all we have to do is figure by which Christmas.

man you guys got lucky, some of my customers just don't know anything about personal boundries.

Just curious, do you guys charge more for after hours, weekend, Holidays, etc. service?

you betcha, but as far as a nationally recognized holiday, they can keep their pants on and wait until the showroom reopens after whatever holiday it may be. My last name does not have MD at the end, and I doubt someone is going to die if they have to listen to their system in PL II or have no sound for a day or two because they got reckless and blew up a speaker.