Friday, May 01, 2009

Felt like they cut off my right arm

Last night, as I was getting ready to answer some comments from all you lovely peeps, the internet stalled and then, moments later, crashed. Now, since this happened after dark and on a day most people are out celebrating or away somewhere having a long weekend (all my pals are out there somewhere camping), the most likely explanation for this is that some smart soul, in need of money, decided to dig up cables and steal them. Not an uncommon occurrence and oftentimes warrants the unfortunate T.I.A. But, at least this time, after I made the hubby call the provider (Seriously! Does this woman do anything herself?), the new provider was honest enough to tell the hubby that the entire estate was without a connection and that they had no idea when it would be up again. Doesn't sound like good customer service, I know, but after what the previous thieving provider, YSL (though not Yves Saint Laurent) did by charging for the connection they were no longer providing on account of having gone bankrupt and having thus been liquidated, this was a welcome change indeed. Also, hubby is pretty mellow, whereas I tend to threaten, and unless you directly swear at him he is pretty unfazed. This is partly why I don't usually make complaint calls, but write the letters instead (See, she does do something). As I've said before it's my diplomatic ways that have made me popular...

But I fokken digress. Big time. As if there were a point to this drivel.

Anyhoodles, the unfortunate break in my webby existence enabled me to watch a whole whoppin' episode of Desperate Housewives, and made me realize that I should read even more, and that there is nothing worth watching on television in South Africa. Among others, I managed to catch the ending of the classic, and no doubt critically acclaimed 'Ten Ways to Lose a Guy', something I had never seen before (or bothered with all the way to the ending - I am a 6 year old and thus have the attention span of one), most of some weird movie about the death of a family matriarch, starring Viveca A. Fox (never a good thing) and that evil woman from Ugly Betty (no better, I guess), most of a movie from 1991 of two very unlucky people in Mexico, which I watched solely because they were supposedly in Acapulco ("Ha! There is no way a plane can crash into the jungle if it is on its way from Acapulco to Mexico City," I told the television repeatedly, and then cried a little, because I miss Mexico so much), before changing the channel onto my trusted friend, Discovery, and catching that show about motorcycles. Fun.

Furthermore, despite my aversion to adapting to technological changes in my life, I am now convinced I should get one of those iPhone deelios to replace the phone that I sat on and broke in a drunken state in January. Since the parts of my current phone are still more or less attached and the phone keeps working (sorta), I was going to see how long it would take for the display part to fall off, just to, you know, pass the time, and to honor the memory of my, now deceased, previous phone which I used until the camera fell off. But it would be nice to own something that would feed my internet addiction even when the laptop is useless. 

Important issues.

Bet you guessed it already. I haven't left the house since Monday. Feeling all hermitesque and such, but should probably at least go out to the back yard.  

16 comments:

BITTER OLD BITCH said...

Nothing wrong with being a hermit. Sometimes "hermiting it up" helps you keep your sanity. ;) I do it all the time (and btw, I am *also* a six year old with the attention span of one - LOL).

Sorry about your cables. That's gotta suck. I hate making complaint calls too.

Extranjera said...

Bitter old Bitch - Welcome! Although, I think I might just be overdoing the whole hermit thing now. Am getting just a tad too much like them bloodsuckers on Twilight, but not as pretty. And pasty has never really been my thing.
Oh well, there's always that orange self-tanner to look forward to. Perhaps some cool designs...

julochka said...

i take it your internet connection is back up and running, otherwise, how did you write this? but i did wonder where the hell you were and in fact, it crossed my mind that you had somehow lost your internet and just as i feared, disappeared in a puff of smoke. i am happy that seems not to have happened.

from the t.v. you were forced to watch, it sounds like perhaps someone should dig up those cables as well..

and yes, go out immediately and get an iPhone. ALL of the cool kids have one and by ALL, i mean ME. :-)

WV word is loozo...person momentarily without internet connection?

Extranjera said...

Yup. Internet's back, thank Zeus! I was nearly gonna disappear, but I don't know if it's more from the lack of sunlight, from eating the same soup for a week now, or the interrupted internet. Am starting to be pretty transparent.

After last night's scare I'm seriously looking into the iPhone thing, but of course for actually to buy one I'll have to take a shower, leave the house, and drive further than the gas station... Maybe tomorrow...

I'm perhaps getting just a little too comfortable?

Amanda said...

On days without the internet (more like hours/minutes) I really feel like I am going thru withdrawl. I know this is really bad, but I admit, it is true! I don't watch tv, and I lost the power cord for my kindle, so I have to read a "real" book...

I really need to get a life.

Optimistic Pessimist said...

My internet connection went down last Saturday and I freaked out. I was frantic and actually threw a tempertantrum and then stomped around the house for a little bit. It wasn't pretty.

Extranjera said...

Marathoner - There was a fair amount of stomping and yelling at the poor tv on this end as well. i hope the thing forgives me.

Unknown said...

I haven't had a TV since I came back from South America, and I don't miss it at all, but no Internet? My worst nightmare. I'm getting an iPhone for my brithday next month. See? If you get it as a present, they'll bring it home to you and you won't need to leave the house! Get working on the hubby! :)

Extranjera said...

Amanda - Thank Zeus for books. I don't think I could take SA tv for longer than an evening.

B - So that's the way to do it. I wonder if the hubby can arrange it all from Zambia...? Thanks for the tip!

Kristin said...

I do believe that it's possible to buy an iphone over the internet (if it's working of course) and then it's shipped directly to you. Answering the door doesn't count as leaving the house either.

WV: radami (from the root words "rad" and "mi") techie slang for how one feels upon purchasing an iphone. As in "It's so radami to own an iphone."

Extranjera said...

Kristin - Oooh, must find out if they deliver to South Africa (they didn't to Mexico when I bought my Mac)! However, I have been researching shops that sell them here and fully intend to take a shower tomorrow. Good intentions...

caroldiane said...

I aspire to write like you - I feel like I am really sharing your life - and that we would just lift a glass of wine and toast each other as old friends the minute we met - you are a truly gifted writer! Thank you for so brilliantly including us in your life!!

Extranjera said...

caroldiane - Wow. Thank you!.

...Wow...

Well, like many of my dearest often remind me: It's all about me, me, ME, and that I'll always find a way to place myself in the center.

Cheers. Here's to us!

Cyndy said...

Dear Julochka and Extranjera,

My name is Cyndy, and I am one of your new followers (I liked when one comment referred to us as groupies!). Indeed, it feels like I have been stalking you both these last couple of weeks, and I feel like I need to come clean. I have a blog, but until tonight I had limited its readers to only those who I knew. Because I have enjoyed your blogs so much, and would not have found them unless you were open to the public, I have opened up 110Penned and have dedicated tonight's post to the two of you. (http://110penned.blogspot.com/) In your honor, I wrote two lists: honesty and blessings. If you should decide to dig further into the blog, you will find random posts about a small town in rural central Pennsylvania, poetry that celebrates the beauty of nature and the ups and downs of friendships, a lot of references to laundry, and pictures of my kids whose smiles make me smile. Most everything is written with a wry sense of humor served with a twist of sarcasm, unless I am gushing about the beauty of this little valley I call home.

I look forward to following your blogs, enjoying a cup of coffee each morning and reading about your lives a half a world away from here. Skol!

Gravy said...

Doesn't it make you wonder what we all did without the internet or even cable? Back in the dark ages, a.k.a. 10 years ago or so, I probably would have been reading a book while chowing down on a cheeseburger or something!! :)

Extranjera said...

Cyndy - Thank you so much, and I'm so glad we could inspire you to share your writings with the world! I am a little amazed though at your comment on the 'exotic places', but I guess that just means I'm in kind of a rut again and need to remember what an exiting place I get to live in.. Thank you again!

Gravy - Thank Zeus for books still. I don't think I could take another episode of Desperate Housewives... with or without a burger ;o)