Cam I Am

For nearly four years, I’ve had the misfortune of having your alarm system in my home.  I have endured countless problems (see below for links), including your wireless sensors not consistantly communicating with the main unit, battery issues, poor customer service, and the lack of action that occurs when an alarm is triggered..

Oh yes, you really do get a voice through the unit.  It isn’t that loud, booming voice you hear in the commercial..  It always like some timid person trying to sound important.. 

My “favourite” part of having your service is discovering that my local police department won’t respond to an alarm unless there are two sensors triggered or if I am present and request that the police be present..

Here’s a scenario that my wife posed to me that illustrates how useless having your system is.

A burglar breaks into my home at night.  Let’s say that they trigger the door sensor, but of course the motion sensor isn’t tripped, because it isn’t armed when I’ arm the alarm to “stay.”  Anyway, the burglar comes up stairs, holds a gun to us and says, “Don’t say a word”.   Alarmforce’s timid creature comes over the system and asks us to “identify ourselves”.  We say nothing.  Because only one sensor is tripped and there was no verbal response from within the home, the local police are not dispatched and therefore, help is not on the way.

What good is your system?  I’d have better luck with having a phone and 911…

In closing, I’ve had my alarm system unplugged for about five months and don’t miss it.  When my contract is up, I’m dumping your alarm system and getting a new one.  

I’m going with “Large Noisy Dog”. 

Past Stories: http://blog.eagleinbc.com/?s=Alarmforce

It seems that the Hollow Tree in Stanley Park has received a reprieve from being cut down. 

One of the many attractions there, the over 1000-year old tree (or what’s left of it), will be reinforced and kept upright.  I, for one, am glad to hear it!   While some people may argue that it should be left to rot and decompose naturally, there is a lot to be said for keeping a piece of natural history in the heart of Vancouver intact.

To all the volunteers that worked on saving it:   Thanks!

While I’m eight days late, I wish you all a happy new year!

At this time of year, many people set “New Year’s Resolutions”.  I’ve done this in the past, but I stopped doing it about a year ago..   Instead of resolutions, I set goals for the year.

Some people might think that there isn’t a difference.  After all, a resolution is a goal that you want to achieve, but I think that there is a big difference..

Here’s an example.  You make a resolution to lose weight in the new year.  Perhaps you even say 20 pounds.  That’s great!  The first few weeks, you try..  but let’s face it!  Old habits are hard to break, whether they are eating, smoking, spending, etc.  After the first few weeks, people generally start to cave into their temptation, give up, and then say that they’ll try again later… or next year.

So..  I’ve set goals for the year.  Some of them are relatively easy, like painting a decorating my oldest daughter’s bedroom (well..  future bedroom!).  Some will take work, like losing some weight.  But here’s the beauty of my plan.  If I get off track, that’s okay!  I’ve got all year to do it.  I don’t get discouraged as soon as I realize that I’m visiting Starbucks too much and it’s not helping my lose the weight I’d like.  

Not only do I set goals, but I’ve written them down.  They are taped up on a cupboard in the kitchen, where I will see them every day, and be reminded of what I want to achieve!

Last year, I didn’t cross many things off my list, for a variety of reasons.  It’s all good..  I’ve got a new list this year!  So of the old stuff is on there, but there are new goals too..

I know that it could very well be just word games that I’m playing on myself. But if it works, I’ll call it whatever I want..