We're only calling people with Windows-based computers

Every once in a while I answer the phone when I don't know who's calling.  This time I was enticed by the message being left by what was obviously a noisy call center with an operator who didn't know his called had not been answered.  When I did answer, he asked for my wife.  I tried to get as much info from him as I could before ending the call.  When he asked about her Windows-based computer, I knew I could have some fun.  I informed him she has a Mac, so he asked if I was the one with the Windows-based computer.  I asked why and was told that I have a problem with my computer that I don't know about and no virus protection software could stop.  I said I didn't have any problems with the internet; he insisted I did and that is why he was calling.

During all of this time, my wife was trying to get me to get off the phone, so I told him I was not interested.  Rather angrily, he asked how could I not be interested in my own computer.  I had to get in front of the computer so he could explain the problem.  A few more times I said no thank you and he questioned how I could say that and then I hung up.

Within a minute the phone rang again and stopped when the answering machine picked up.  Then immediately again and again.  I picked up under orders to state not to call again and hang up.  I did  more than that.

Interspersed throughout the previous conversation, I kept asking what company he was calling from and kept trying to get specifics.  All I could get was he was in the department that dealt with online issues at a company called PC Wizard, "Maybe you've heard of us on TV?"  This time, I asked how he got my number and he said they were just calling everyone with a Windows-based computer to help them with this issue.  I replied that was most people and he got angry saying people had computers based on Mac and Apple (I liked that one) and Linux.  I again asked how he got my number.  He got mad again and said he didn't have that information.  I then asked him to stop yelling at me to which he responded that he was just trying to tell me about a problem my computer has.

At this point I decided to try to get more information from him, so I asked him what the problem was.  He said I had to be in front of my computer.  I asked him to describe the problem first.  He started yelling again that he was calling from PC Wizard about a problem on my computer that could not...blah blah blah.  I asked him how much it was going to cost to fix this problem and he assured me that there was no charge to diagnose, but if I thought my computer important there would be a fee to fix it.  At this point I asked him not to call again and he started getting very angry and just wanted me to confirm that my computer had a problem and that he didn't think I understood anything.  I asked him why he was insulting me and that he called me, unsolicited.  He said it was not an unsolicited call.  I informed him that I did not ask for him to call me, so that made it an unsolicited call and I did not appreciated being yelled at and insulted and I did not want him to call again.

He kept getting more and more angry and finally agreed not to call me again.  My wife thinks I'm crazy, but I had fun.

Then I looked up the phone number and saw the results were a PC Wizard scam.  Wow.  Totally surprised.

Goals (not resolutions) for 2013

I make it a point not to make resolutions.  Why?  Obstinance would be my best guess.  I do, however, have some goals.

Running goal #1 - sub 24 minute 5k
Running goal #2 - sub 4 hour marathon
Running goal #3 - log 300 miles this year.

Biking goal #1 - overhaul my own bottom bracket (it's been a long time and I need to find the right tools)
Biking goal #2 - be able to ride my bike after said overhaul
Biking goal #3 - make it up the hill in the Chilli Challenge

Race goal #1 - top 3 in River Towns Race Series again
Race goal #2 - improve Chilli time by 20 minutes (5 bike, 5 kayak, 10 run)
Race goal #3 - have fun

Fire and Ice cyclocross is in a couple of weeks.  I'm braving the full hour.  Two weeks later I have my first and unrealistic chance at the 5k goal with the Frosty 5k.  I, unfortunately, will be missing the Humdinger this year, but I'm going to add in the Mon-Tour bike race (not sure which distance).  I'm not sure if I'm going back to the Lancaster duathlon or giving the Lewisburg triathlon another try.  I really wish there were some local duathlons.

It's a new year and I'm ready to go!
If you're going to force a resolution out of me, I resolve to grill more (resolutions are so unquantifiable - goals are superior)!