ACK...

Yup - 15 days later, and we're still not back on "teh internets".

I wish I could say that I'm developing a sense of humor about it. But I haven't.

I wish I had something cute and fun to say - but spending several hours (and for once I'm not exaggerating for comic effect here!) a day -- EVERY day -- on hold and then dealing with ineffectual customer service reps? Well, let's just say it drains all the cute and fun right out of a girl...

Who would have thunk that you could go two whole weeks without accessing email, without reading blogs, etc?* It's like living in the past again, and I - for one - am not all that enamored of it...

Ah well, think of all the lovely catching up I'll get to do!

DEPRESSING BUT INTERESTING SIDE NOTE: Last night, at about midnight after holding for more than 45 minutes, Bubba spoke with some very high-level service tech - who told him that Earthlink is having hideous problems in the Atlanta area. According to the tech, they don't know why it's happening, there's no apparent cause; and they don't seem to be able to fix it; it's very sporadic with no rhyme or reason - but that some people have been without access for over a month!!! Aw - hell to the no to that!

So - going to try to research this some today - (of course, ironically, how do you blog about not having access if you don't have access???) This is the first story of this kind that we've heard from them - and believe me, at this point, we've heard pretty much every story imaginable about why it's not working. Sad part is that if this guy is not lying to us, then every other person we've dealt with has. And, if his story's the true one - well, it doesn't sound like it has a very happy ending...

I hope that you are all off having wonderful adventures! I'll read about them someday, I hope!


xo
lla

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*Occasionally, when there's something that I just *have* to do, I'll borrow a laptop and then go somewhere and borrow internet access too. But the laptop is very slow, and I feel very clumsy with it. And it's tough to juggle it all with a very bored Schecky - so I've really only been getting online for the necessities. And the occasional whinging post about how I don't have Internet access....

I'm Not Dead...

although it would seem that my internet access still is...

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I'm back from TN - which was lovely, lovely, lovely.
Simply all of it...

And I can't wait to share - I've got lots and lots of pictures - but seems like I'm going to have to.

Wait, that is.

The FWs at my ISP promise to have it fixed by Thursday - which, for those of you who are counting, brings the total amount of "time out" to exactly two weeks. Too bad patience has never been one of my better virtues...

Serenity now...

I've missed everyone bunches and hope that you have all been having lovely, wonderful crafty adventures!

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And can I say a great big YAY! for businesses with sloppy WiFi boundaries???
I feel like such a pirate - "borrowing" internet access...

And a great big BOO! to service technicians who not only do not fix the DSL problems, but who do go and muck with the regular phone lines so that now they don't work correctly either. GAH!
That's right - now the regular phone line is out of whack too!
Did I already say "GAH"????

xo
lla

Abbreviated Happy Things...

Today's list is going to be short, and fast...

Out of necessity.

Because I am dealing with a plumbing disaster.

Yes, something else is going wrong at the house that crazy built. You have no idea how much I wish that I was making this stuff up, or exaggerating it.

I went to the basement early this morning, to be greeted by a large puddle of water. Which was growing in size rapidly thanks to a steady trickle from the ceiling above.

It seems to be coming from the kitchen.

And for whatever reason, I can't seem to get the stream to stop. Even though I've tried using every single water cutoff valve I can find...

I've been calling the plumber, whom usually I love, since 6:45 this morning. If his receptionist tells me one more time "He should be on his way, hon" I may very well lose it.

In the meantime, I'm getting all kinds of lovely exercise by emptying out the large 5 gallon bucket that I've put under the deluge of water. It fills up way faster than one would imagine....

I can still find two things, though, that are worth smiling about. I present them below:

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A COMPLETED PANDABABY!



Although I never did get her sweater to come out quite right, I went ahead and finished her up. I needed her done ASAP - because I donated her to my son's school's upcoming auction. I hope she goes to a good home. I became quite fond of this one...

I've still got one or two more ideas for a lil' Panda sweater up my sleeve, and I think I'll get a chance to try them out still. I've got a feeling that I am not done with Pandas just yet...

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GOOD MUSIC TO LISTEN TO
while I wait and wait for the SF Plumber
and as I empty out bucket after bucket of water

One of my dearest friends from college sent me an email on Friday - always a fun occasion in and of itself - in which she told me about The Music of the Year Jukebox.

I am loving this, although I'm not exactly sure of all the details about it (such as what it is, who runs it, etc.) But the short version is that someone has put together the top music by year from 1950 - 1984. Click on a year for the top 30 of the top 100 songs from that year. The songs are by the original artists and the quality is about what it was back then.

There are other playlists available too. I've been spending this morning bouncing back and forth between 1984, and 1968.

Although, I'm currently listening to AC/DC. Loudly.

Because the plumber's not getting here any faster, and I'm not getting any less cranky about it...
But the too loud music is appeasing my inner angry child.

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UPDATED TO ADD: Plumber finally got here. Don't worry, I won't bore you with all the gory details - but the good news is that the tide has been stemmed, and the floor will probably be fine once it dries out. The bad news is that my arms are incredibly sore. Not from hauling all the buckets, but from writing the big old check that I had to write to the plumber.... sigh...

Oh - and the 1983 playlist is my absolute favorite!