My dearest blogosphere,
In the words of a pen pal from my elementary days, how are you? I am fine. Mostly. I know that it has been ages since I’ve written, but I promise that there are reasons, many of which are even valid.
For one thing, blogging minus the internet doesn’t work so well. It’s been nearly a week since my (former) phone company, a bottomless reservoir of brilliant communicators, interpreted a clear request for ditching our land line as an order to disconnect all service, including our internet and every one of our well-established email accounts. ((That means that if you wrote to me in the past week, I may not have gotten it. And since I’m not about to post my shiny new gmail address online, you can use my contact form to try again.)) It’s possible it was an act of spite, brought about by their jealousy at our choosing somebody else’s cell service over their land line offerings. I, however, prefer to think of it as an honest mistake somehow perpetuated by, well, no fewer than six different customer service reps, four technical support gurus, and two managers. ((This is no exaggeration. I actually counted how many people couldn’t help me. I had to do something with all that time on hold.)) In an act of breathtaking incompetence, they managed to make the problem worse every time I called. While their communication skills may be lacking, their determination to screw things up is admirable.
Whatever the cause, this incident, as you may imagine, has not exactly filled my days with sunshine and rainbows. The good news is that I have now developed an exciting new hobby: unsuccessfully battling the company that ate my internet. Which is excuse number two for not having written. You know how hobbies can be, so all-consuming that at times they almost cease to be fun.
The public library, with its abundance of light, foliage, and wireless internet, is perhaps an obvious choice for those who find themselves marooned in a house without a workable way to surf the web. If only I hadn’t also been battling something mean and contagious, a fight I plan to win tomorrow, or maybe Friday.
Then there was the possibility of writing from work, with its many doors to all things online. Let’s just rule that option out now, though, shall we? I don’t typically blog about work, and I definitely don’t blog at work. The two entities go together like plaid and stripes.
I would like to think that my remaining time has been spent well, however. For example, I’ve attacked my new cell phone, associating different ring tones and photos with almost all of my contacts, a crucial first step in breaking in a new device. And then there are the book revisions. It’s astonishing how much less painful they can be without the worldly web tempting me at every turn.
All of this is to say that there is more coming soon, when I am less annoyed and more coherent. And to apologize for my lack of communication. A new company swooped in a few hours ago to hook us up to the rest of the world, which means I’ll be touring the blogosphere – and adding to it – in no time.
More soon,
Caryn
P.S. I think everyone should probably be without the internet for a while. At the very least they can rewnew their relationships with the dictionary and the phone book, two worthy publications that don’t see a lot of use these days.
29 Comments
About Me
I am the stay-at-home mother to a toddler nicknamed Sunshine. During nap times I write books, blog, and play around with the photos I've taken. I live in the southwestern U.S. with my husband, daughter, and two cats. My books are represented by Erzsi Deàk of Hen & Ink Literary Studio.
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Hi, Caryn. I have to take exception to your postscript. I am not entirely sure I CAN be without the internet. Who needs drugs when you can have the internet?! I am a TOTAL addict. Oh, and I totally relate to your phone book issue the other day. He he he.
Aaaagh! I feel for you. Welcome back to the blogosphere!
An occasional internet (computer, tv, etc.) fast is indeed a good thing, but so much better when it’s on your terms — not theirs!
I was Internet deprived for a few days last summer and went into severe withdrawals–it was awful! And yet– I got a ton of writing done-go figure!
Oh, NO! I think I might be having a panic attack just CONSIDERING the possibility of life without internet. Without a land line I could make do, but no internet?
::breathe, breathe, breathe::
Okay, I do use a program that disables my wireless access for a set amount of time each day (and I get TONS of writing done during those 4 hours), but to have it forced on me but some company?
No.
Sooooo sorry you had to deal with incompetence. Is it really so much to ask that a company provide knowledgeable customer service reps? Really?
Glad you’re back.
Tell you the truth, I’ve been taking more time away from the internet. Turning the computer on happens less and less. I think taking time away is a good thing. But, sorry you had to go through so much turmoil while away. That truly had to suck.
it’s good to get “unplugged” every once in a while!
glad to see you back!
I am beginning to suspect that such incompetent shenanigans have become modus operandi for phone and Internet providers. It’s at the point where one almost does not dare make changes because of the inevitable disruption.
But I’m glad it was good for your revisions. A little time offline now and then is not a bad thing.
We’re in the middle of getting out of our old internet service, and I’m anticipating a similar fight. Do you rent yourself out for such battles?
@Katie – sometimes I honestly wonder how I got along without the internet. It makes me wonder what inventions have yet to be discovered, but without which we won’t be able to survive once we’re hooked.
@Wil – Thanks! And I totally agree. So different when it’s on my own terms. At least I couldn’t feel as guilty about not blogging or blog-hopping, since it wasn’t my choice.
@Alyson – I believe it. I think I need the internet to research, but really I just look one thing up and then find another and another, and pretty soon I’m not working at all.
@Amy – Sometimes I’ll disconnect my wireless modem. By the time I move my laptop, get up, and cross the room to connect it again, I’ve usually talked myself out of it. Or I’ll go someplace without free wireless. That helps me avoid the temptation.
@Kathy – I need to be better about that, too. Good for you for having the willpower!
@Virginia – Thanks! It’s good to be back. Can’t wait to get caught up on all the blogs I’ve been missing out on.
@Mary – So true! In a way, it’s almost like they *want* to lose customers, though I can’t imagine why they would!
@Pam – I don’t think you’d want to rent me for this one. I was very unsuccessful. Here’s hoping I’ll be more successful when the bill arrives, since I’m sure that will cause all sorts of new problems.
*groan*
Oh, Caryn, I’ve been there…though I must admit to admiring (greatly) your ability to count the number of incompetent “service” people during your ordeal, which shows some spunk and a level head. I completely lost track during the Mysteriously Non-Working Modum Distaster in the fall of 2008, so I’m quite impressed :).
Glad to have you back…
Oh my, that sounds like a mess. Although I find it funny how backwards we are in our blogging schedules. I only blog at work. It’s the only time I can have peace and quiet, ironically enough.
Still. Cheers to internet connections!
I’m glad you’re back! Missed ya!
@Marilyn – You remember that name game where everyone sits in a circle and the first person says his/her name, and then the second person says his or her name plus the name of the first person, and so on? Well, it was like that. They didn’t put any notes in my file, so every time I called, I had to recount what every person I talked to told me. The story just grew and grew.
@Erin – How funny. Things get so busy at work that I wouldn’t have the opportunity. Even if I did carve out the time I’d feel guilty about it, since there’s always something work-related for me to do.
@Robin – I’m glad to be back, too! I definitely missed everyone. Thanks for the welcome.
No internet is probably the most conducive thing to writing I’ve found! Whenever I really want to crack the whip on myself, I need to go to a cafe or diner or somewhere similar where I can’t get online… Then I just put on some music and GO!
How are the rewrites going, then?
Definitely sucks to go so long without it, though. And no email?! Craziness, right there!
I am so addicted, I can’t get off the internet! It is nice to have a day without it. Seriously. I really have trouble doing without it, even when I want to. It, like, CALLS to me!
I would like to spend less time on the internet. And I really can’t remember what I DID before I spent hours on the internet every day.
Well, I’m glad to see you’re back online! We had our internet service go down without warning a couple of years ago (due to “upgrades,” naturally!) and I nearly chewed my arm off. So frustrating!
:/ So sorry you’ve been without internet! What a bummer. I also like your #2 – maybe I should count the doctors who can’t help me? I’ll keep a tally on my sidebar.
@Kyle – I’ve found exactly the same thing! Of course, it seems like it’s easier and easier now to get internet when I escape my house, so sometimes I just unplug my modem and stay home. In fact, that’s my plan for the afternoon.
As for writing, it’s going well, though since I’ve been pretty sick I haven’t gotten as much done. I’m cracking the whip today, though!
@Spyscribbler – I’m exactly the same way – I have a lot of trouble going without the internet, and I just can’t remember how I survived before it came along!
@Katie – Wow! That does sound frustrating, especially when you lose service in the interest of making said service better. There’s some irony!
@Emily – Hey, wouldn’t hurt to keep a tally, though it’s kind of depressing and very frustrating every time you add a new one to the list – probably even more so in your case!
I’m glad you’re back among the internet users. I can’t survive without the internet but I can go a couple of hours with the computer off.
Yikes!! Glad you’re back.
One of the things about being at my best girlfriend’s house that I enjoy is that I have very limited internet access. She is pretty anti-internet and so I check my email maybe once every few days and then let it go. Which is where I’m at now. It’s a little bit refreshing to not be tied to the computer 24/7 even if the ties are completely voluntary.
That said, I’m really glad to have you back. The internet just isn’t the same without you.
I felt the same way the last time our power went out. Glad you’re back!
@Dru – I’m getting better at going for a while with the computer off. Funny how a few days of cold turkey internet withdrawal makes it easier to stay unplugged.
@Keri & Mari – Thanks! I’m glad, too!
@Courtney – That sounds like a good way to be. Even when I was without the internet I still hunted up ways to check my email most days. At least I wasn’t getting as much because I wasn’t sending as much!
I’m shuddering as I read this
Even when we go on vacation I usually find a coffee shop to check my email (I have an addiction).
You have been missed! But a few ‘unconnected’ days every now and then is definitely a good thing.
Oh dear, Caryn. I’m sooo dependent on the Internet. And not just for blogging, or writing, I conduct some of my exercise business via the net. Ugh. When I first started I thought, “Who wants to use this?” Boy, that was a while ago…
@Katie – I do that, too! Public libraries are good for that, too. In fact, I can find the library in every one of our most-visited towns and cities. I even have my favorite places to set up shop in each of them.
@Alyssa – Thanks! And, yeah, the unconnected days were rather refreshing, I have to say.
@Conda – Had to laugh at your “Who wants to use this?” I was introduced to the internet in college, and while I thought it was kind of neat I certainly didn’t feel a need to have it at home. Now I not only must have it, but it has to be high speed, wireless, and handy at all hours of the day and night!
So good you are back. I’ve been taking a little break from the blogosphere myself, and I owe all my pen pals a letter. Why is it so hard to start up again?! But I am inspired by having you back, and so I shall go back as well. Loved your flower pictures!
“And then there are the book revisions. It’s astonishing how much less painful they can be without the worldly web tempting me at every turn.”
I hate my wireless because of this tendency. I just have to know (every three seconds it seems) if someone has posted, writtten me or commented on my blog.
Sorry to hear about the massive screwups you’ve been dealing with. What a painful process. And it sounds rather like my mother dealing with her medigap insurance coverage change this year.