The black hole
I know some of you can relate: to my headache, to the three times I’ve cried today–only one of them on the phone with someone.
My internet decided yesterday that I should be able to access all websites but my own. For no particular reason. Which also meant no e-mail, since that goes through the website.
And it also meant two hours this morning with the very nice tech support man in the Phillippines, another hour and a half with the internet tech people (with the girl who got very exasperated with me when I said, “No, I mean I use Mozilla Firefox.” “You just said you use Internet Explorer” (audible sigh, more gum chewing) (and no, that wasn’t when I cried, because you don’t cry when someone gets snippy with you like that, especially when she was the only one, it turned out, who could solve my problem).
The thing that finally did me in was on my third call to the internet provider, and the man saying, “I’m sorry, but your name isn’t on this account. You’ll have to have your husband call us to give permission.”
So I hung up, called my husband, and got through most of the seven digits he should call to give PERMISSION for me to access OUR account to deal with OUR internet problem–and you can see why it would be better to cry just then instead of yelling at someone who had nothing to do with my problem. “Can you call . . .” (starting to weep, etc.).
So now I just don’t feel like doing anything. Forget it. My problem is only half-solved, because obviously I can get onto my website again, but I still can’t access e-mail on the computer where I need it–
And you really don’t need to know all of this.
But dang it all to bleeping, bleepity-bleep-bleep. I did not plan to spend my day doing this. And now all I want to do is get away from it all, go get a chai latte or something, and sit and watch Oprah and suck my thumb.
Whatever, shake it off. Hope you’re all having a fine Halloween and all that. Tomorrow is a new day and a new month and all that. I’m going to thrill the dogs right now with an extra ride in the car, and just go get myself that chai latte. Because what kind of an example am I setting for you Friday List people if I can’t treat myself kindly on a day of frustration and internet impotence?
Oh, great–you know those last two lines above are going to get picked up by all the search engines. Fine, just go with it: internet impotence, internet impotence.
Cheers, y’all.
Yours in the struggle,
RB
October 31st, 2007 at 3:24 pm
*Hugs, chocolate, and good coffee* Let the internet search engines pick THAT up, why don’t they. The part about getting permission from your husband burns. Have we come so far only to be still so far behind?
On the good news front, Minh Le of Bottom Shelf Books is engaged!
October 31st, 2007 at 4:57 pm
You should turn the computer to the left. It likes to face south.
October 31st, 2007 at 5:04 pm
My night got completely derailed yesterday because the up and down arrows on the remote to my DVR stopped working, which meant I couldn’t get the stupid thing to play the Heroes episode from Monday night. You know when you’ve been looking forward to something all day, and it’s something simple, like sitting on the couch watching the latest episode of one of your TV shows? And suddenly it becomes complicated? And looks like it might not happen?
I got upset all out of proportion to the situation, but it was so, so irritating. So I empathize. I get *really* crazy when my Internet’s not right.
October 31st, 2007 at 5:21 pm
Let me suggest moving providers….
No, seriously. You should do that. Now.
October 31st, 2007 at 5:46 pm
I’m so sorry, Robin.
October 31st, 2007 at 5:53 pm
I HATE being helped over the phone. It always feels like they’re lying to me, even if they’re not.
I’m so glad you went for a latte. So many ills can be cured by dogs and a latte.
October 31st, 2007 at 6:21 pm
{HUGS.} And have some Halloween candy. All of it will be on sale tomorrow.
But you know what? On days like that, especially when your body’s not at 100 percent anyway, you have absolutely nothing to feel bad about for crying or venting. It’s your blog, and you know we’re here for you.
October 31st, 2007 at 6:26 pm
Bummer about the bad day. Hope you enjoyed that latte.
It is scary how much of our life is sucked up by computers and their related tasks. Usually they are fabulous tools, but I have often wondered how many years of my life is being used to delete spam, troubleshoot problems, and deal with tech support.
Actually, I probably don’t want to know.
October 31st, 2007 at 6:40 pm
I HATE it when I’m not “aloud” to handle something on a account because it happens to be in my husband’s name. That really ticks me off.
I hope you get everything worked out soon;-)
October 31st, 2007 at 6:55 pm
Strange indeed, those blasted computer/email problems. I have experienced some of the same problems the last couple of days so this is my solution—-went to a funny/sad movie, drove to 3 stores until I found my favorite chocolate hershey kisses (which will not go in the Halloween giveaway jar tonight) and decided that i will start my internet provider calls again tomorrow and act like it is my first time and hope I don’t get the same helpers as I did today. If that doesn’t work then will repeat step one, movie, candy, etc. I believe in scientific approaches to all problems.
October 31st, 2007 at 7:06 pm
Wow. OK, that day sucks on every conceivable level.
Sorry you had to put up with all of that.
October 31st, 2007 at 7:34 pm
Oh, it’s the worst, isn’t it? Computer problems make me feel so feeble. I swear I’m not a total idiot, but talking to tech support always makes me feel like one.
Do you get trick-or-treaters on your street? They didn’t come up to my 2nd floor apartment, but watching the steady stream of adorably-dressed children has cheered me up no end tonight. Hope you saw a few fairies and pirates too.
October 31st, 2007 at 7:55 pm
I’m so sorry for the frustrating day, Robin. Hang in there; it has to get better. Go take a bath and read a good book and don’t think about the computer.
October 31st, 2007 at 9:05 pm
I LOVE YOU GUYS!!! This is why I blog–who else can understand and sympathize and say so many kind things but all of you?
THANK YOU!!!
Computer router still not working, which means I can look at the website now, but still not get my e-mail. More complicated than my new friends in India could handle. They finally gave up after 3 HOURS OF TECH SUPPORT tonight, and are sending me a new router. In the meantime, I don’t think I can communicate.
Fun! But back to my deep love of you guys! LOVE!!!!!!
November 1st, 2007 at 7:47 am
I’ve been thru this type of computer madness,too,Robin-I feel your pain! Atleast,something is being done. The last time we had computer probelms,it took the Geek Squad and one of our very helpful neighbors(who knows quite abit about this stuff)to help us straighten things out.
Good luck with the new router,I’ll keep my fingers and toes crossed for you:)
November 1st, 2007 at 7:48 am
So I’m a bit late on this post, but I totally sympathize. It is beyond frustrating to try to communicate a technical problem over the telephone. Hang technology anyway! Just imagine being my 80-year-old grandmother trying bravely to negotiate these treacherous new waters of the internet and email. Imagine her being on the phone with a heavily accented tech support person who keeps spouting words like “drop and drag,” “go to the pulldown menu,” “type in your key code”–Greek. It’s all Greek to her.
I hope today’s better and that you can get email soon. I’m lost without it myself. And, if I may say so, I sent you some adorable pics of my girls in costume. They’ll be waiting when you finally get the issue resolved. Now go eat candy!
November 1st, 2007 at 11:47 am
Also late to the post, but just wanted to say “I hear ya sistah!”
I didn’t have computer problems, but I spent all day Tuesday finding that little things I needed to do were taking ten steps. It’s so exhausting when you’re ready to tackle something, and everything is going wrong. I’m sending out good vibes to you and your computer. Ohmmmm. Ohmmmm.
November 1st, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Oh - that’s such a horrible, frustrating waste of time! And being told you had to get your husband’s permission on top of it all…! Or possibly the no-email is the evil topper of it all, don’t know.
On a happy note, if it’s not too Pollyannaish - at least your dogs had a good day! Ours is still recovering from last night’s (*illegal*) fireworks, which had her a cowering, panting, drooling misery.
November 1st, 2007 at 2:33 pm
Cuatro burros secuestraron su Internet y lo vendieron a las vacas rusas púrpuras?
November 1st, 2007 at 6:18 pm
AW! *hugs* I’m sorry you had troubles! Those things are the worst! *hands you chocolate* Well I hope your doing better now! Sometimes you just goota let it all out in a good cry!
I’m having troubles too! I joined NanoWrimo and I just realize… “I can’t do 1667 words per day!!!!” It’s sooo hard! I never write that much! and I kinda hate the blog type layout i’ve been writting it in now so I have NO idea what to do!