Where am I? Or better put: Where have I been? For those of you wondering if I've dropped off the face of the blogosphere, forgotten the importance of social networking, ignoring comments and site visits, I have an excuse.
MY MODEM BROKE!
Here is a photo of the little culprit, the reason why I have not been able to access the Internet for five days.
Cute, ain't it?
One second I'm sitting at my workstation, doing my thing, earning my bread and butter as a telecommuter when...
BANG!
My DSL connection is no more. Maybe "Bang!" isn't quite right. It was more like:
Pfffftttttsszzzz....kapluuuuiiieee.
We've all been there before, all know the symptoms: connection all of a sudden no longer connected. Reboot, try again. Still nada. Pick up telephone and make that phone call we all dread, the one where some techie walks us through a version of hell that none of us are looking forward to, and then...nothing again. After a few hours of this it was finally diagnosed that I had a bad modem (please don't tell my wife!) and needed a replacement.
Here's where it gets good. The nice doctor, I mean, technical assistant, assured me that he would get a new modem out to me that day, Friday 1/23/09, with the promise of it being delivered to me the next day, Saturday 1/24/09.
DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN'T TRACK A UPS PACKAGE WITHOUT A TRACKING NUMBER?
Of course you know that. But did you also know that you can't get a tracking number until SOMEONE ACTUALLY SHIPS YOUR PACKAGE!!
Bringing us to today, the day said package, containing my brand-new, shiny and wonderful modem, finally arrived, having been shipped not on Friday, but on Monday. Better late than never and thus ending this mess of a modem predicament.
No?
Not nearly. Newborn modem in hand, I call my favorite technical assistant and spend the next two hours attaching and reattaching cables and wires to hard drives and routers, troubleshooting and wishing it was 1975 when PC merely meant Politically Correct and not Personal Computer.
Finally, after munching on aspirin, an ice pack and heating pad on my shoulder and back, and my brain the consistency of my favorite breakfast food, me and my new best friend gave birth to a spanking new baby modem (I think I'll name it Marvin), and I am back in business, baby!
I appreciate all of you who continued to support my sites while I was in modem limbo and unable to participate in the social networking life that is so vital albeit exhausting yet integral and rewarding part of blogging. Continuing that same theme: I am putting the final touches on my latest song and video that just happens to be about social networking, called, "Social Network Blues." It should be ready for your listening and viewing pleasure in a few weeks.
My next post, as previously promised two posts ago, will be the second installment of Veg Out With Mike, featuring meatless meatloaf, garlic smashed potatoes, and brown gravy. Here is a preview:
Until next time...
peace,
Mike
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Me And My Modem
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30 comments:
Ahhh, I know your pain. I experienced a dead modem 3 months ago. It's not bad when you just use the internet for recreation but when it's your job...that's a whole 'nother ballgame!
yikes. must have the internet, even if for a few minutes everyday. i'll go to the library if i have to, but haven't had to. good to have you back on line then.
I don't envy you not at all. Techie hell, is my worst nightmare. Of course it doesn't help that I often think I am more techie than I am. The drudgery of the Q&A diagnostic with someone geared to talk grandma PC illiterate through a problem, is no fun at all.
Now your failing Techie, who dropped the ball/modem/shipping appointment. I will work up a proper torturous and excruciatingly painful way to tip him/her. No excuse for that. I would have been constantly on the phone until the guy got so sick of me he would volunteer to deliver it himself. Even if he had to drive all day and night to get there, LOL.
I suppose all's well that ends well, and at least our up and running again.
I can completely sympathize with your modem pain! Glad to see you back! Add 'techie' to the list of people you should make friends with, just after plumber.
Looking forward to the meatless meatloaf vid. My last attempt was a complete disaster. You know it's bad when you have to apologize to the kids for dinner.
Hope your new born baby modem 'Marvin' is working fine. Looking forward to the meatless meatloaf.
Glad you are back. I wondered why you hadn't posted anything in a couple of days. Take good care of "Marvin". LOL
Glad you have resolved your computer problem. I was wondering.
Pass me a plate of the meatloaf and smashed garlic potatoes. Don't forget the gravy either. That looks really yummy.
Have a terrific day. :)
My grandad used to say, "A poor excuse is better than none." :)
A few weeks ago, we changed our ISP. My wife was one the phone not one, but two nights in a row, well into the night, trying to get it all put together.
Finally, we had one of their technical support people come out and fix a few things that was out of our control, and we finally were back online!
It's important that we have Internet access, otherwise, my wife would not be able to work from home for your job.
Glad you are back with us, Mike.
And glad you don't have to munch any longer on those aspirins! Ha! Ha! Ha!
Hey there, you're tagged :)
casbah kitten: it's just a hunk of plastic, but, man, is it important
natural: i was jonesing a bit at first, then did more reading and writing...a good thing, actually enjoyed it
eric: so true. i can handle mild bouts of incompitence, but lying is another story
my autism insights: i'll tell ya, that meatloaf tasted amazing; should have the post ready in a few days...
t home: marvin is doing fine so far, thanks for asking
wanda: thanks, and marvin is in good hands
sandee: not only tastes great, but loaded with fiber and other good stuff
paul: whatever did we all do before the internet, huh?
hansthane: thanks, will check it out...
peace,
mike
it's great a problem's solved. And a failed modem can give you (and your PC) some break! Drop by later.
Actually, in 1975, PC stood for Paula Calhoon, the snotty girl in my class (name changed to avoid everyone asking her why she was so snotty).
Thank your lucky stars yours was merely a modem (and when they die, it definitely feels like a boom! instead of a Pffffttsszz... you know). My entire laptop started to boot and then .... well, not even a sound. It just sat there like a fat woman who'd just ate a crate of Oreos - motionless and in a stupor.
Geek Squad will be notified today.
Ahh yes the challenges! Nice to see you are back and ok! :)
Hey, how are you? I hate modems. Eh!!!
krizcpec: will do...and i really enjoyed kicking it old school when my computer was down
lori: hmmmm, paula calhoon? we all have a paula calhoon in our past, don't we.
mark: thanks, man....
leon: I am fine, and i also hate modems...
peace,
mike
I guess the moral of the story is that a broken modem leads to a lot of learning not only for the person whose modem it is but to many many others like me.
But how did you utilize the time you saved from not surfing online?
Great site. Living 365 gets more and more important with each passing 365. Wonderful how you can convert the loss of a modem into a story! Just noticing things...what a skill.
Mike you totally crack me up! But yes it's serious *grin* I too have a UPS problem (no, not a modem problem). My package is on time to be delivered yesterday. And APPARENTLY I have been contacted. Oh really? Ain't life fascinating?
Congratulations on your bouncing baby Marvin.
Man, I'm with you every step of the way. I think something is going around, your the second work form home kinda guy I know having computer issues. Not to mention my own, I had to replace my hard drives and rebuild them from a backup and reload all my programs. So now two weeks later I think I'm back as well but I thought that a week ago. Glad to see you bloggin again. Good luck with baby modem marvin.
Better than a fairy story - Some how the truth is always stranger than fiction. sop it must be true!!
Modems can't be raised form the dead, I hope you gave ti a good burial, it has surely served you well. RIPieces!
Long live the new modem....
Long live King Marvin!!
I hate it when something happens to my computer, internet, modem, oh, you get the idea.
I just want to turn it on and have everything work just as it's suppose to.
Kudos for getting everything up and going again.......:)
Awww, that sucks, Mike! I know all about these computer woes! Not being able to log on is like having no toilet in your house nowadays! LOL!
That's how important it has become to some of us!
Having had our DSL line down for best part of a week, I share (at least a bit) of your pain.
l.venkata: good point. i enjoyed my time off-line, catching up on some reading and writing...
butler and bagman: there is a story everywhere, just have to look for it
jan: ups does has its challenges...and marvin says "hi"
low carb diet junkie: there is nothing more frustrating than a computer at times...and other times, nothing more rewarding--one of life's paradoxes
martin: ripieces...good one. and long live king marvin
lisa: yes, agreed, just want to turn it on and have everything work...for my computer and me in the morning
fitness diva: an apropos analogy when you think about it
barry: dsl, modems, computers, routers...ahh, modern technology. ain't it great?
YOU SAID: "...unable to participate in the social networking life that is so vital albeit exhausting....."
I howled when I read this and thought, Oh gawd, tell me about it. LOLOL!!
I love your cooking vids too, We must eat the same food. I do my mash this way as well. Do you remember I had mentioned the meatless meatloaf in one of my other comments. I was curious to know what you put in yours. I use all kinds of things. Beans, lentils, rice, onions, garlic, sometimes grated carrots, cumin, cayenne, parsley, rosemary, (not all those herbs together but different ones for different flavors) sometimes diced greens or tomatoes or zucchini, etc. So many options
I think this is SO cool to see you cooking like this. It does a woman's soul good to see a man cooking! LOL!! :) I'm serious. It's fantastic! And you are SO relaxed in the kitchen. Very cool.
I'm looking forward to your new song.
Take care "Lively One" :)
Robin
I hope you enjoyed the weekend!
Hey robin! thanks for the kudos about my cooking vids. And I not only remember your comments about meatless meatloaf, i stole, i mean, used some of your ingredients. my meatless meatloaf video, by the way, is now up on youtube and will be part of my next blog post in a few days.
mark: had a wonderful weekend, hope yours was equally enjoyable...Go Pats, er...Steelers?
peace,
Mike
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