Give me back my Internet!

internet

An awful thing happened yesterday.  At two in the afternoon, I lost my Internet connection.  Oh, my Wifi still had full signal, but Comcast was not reaching it.

This wasn’t a total surprise.  I’d been hearing trucks outside my window during the few hours preceding that and figured work was being done in the neighborhood.  So I waited a few minutes, then tried again.  Nothing.  I waited a little longer, then tried again.  Nothing.  I tried my tv, which also connects via Comcast.  Nothing.

Fortunately, my phones use Verizon.  So I called Comcast.  Five minutes of automated menu options later, I was put on hold to wait for an agent. After total silence for another 10 minutes, I hung up and called back.  This time, quickly enough, I heard a recording saying that there was an outage an the area and that power would be restored at 5:21 pm.  Given an exact time, I was heartened!

That was when I finally returned to my computer to work.  I finished the cover letter for my revised manuscript and, feeling delighted to have it done, went to email it to my editor.  But, of course, I could not.  No Internet connection.  Giving Comcast a little more time, I decided to make an Instagram post.  But, of course, I could not.  No Internet connection.  I decided to e-order the book my husband wanted, its title and author jotted on a Post-It on my desk.  But, of course, I couldn’t order it without an Internet connection.  I couldn’t even check Comcast’s website to see if there was an update.

5:21 came and went.  Our tv did come back on, but not Internet or email.  I called Comcast again.  After spending 50 minutes on the phone with a lovely woman who tried to talk me through rebooting the modem, we concluded that I needed a service call.

Sunday, she said.  I told her I needed it fixed within 12 hours because I had work issues – which, BTW, were monumental.  At least, I hope you all will think that.  I finished doing the revisions on my new book and had just put together a document detailing the changes I either made or did not make, when the Internet had gone out.  How to e-mail a 441-page manuscript to New York without it?  Not happening.

So the lovely woman at Comcast went back to the drawing board and promised someone here today at 10.  He did come.  Three hours later, I was reconnected to the web.  Seems that the work Comcast had done outside caused a power surge that, even with my surge protectors, killed my modem.

All’s well that ends well.  I’m back online, posting this blog, which I would not have been able to do at this time yesterday.

But what a lesson this is about how dependent we’ve become.  I can’t tell you how many times late yesterday, yesterday evening, and this morning, I turned to my computer to do something, only to realize I couldn’t do it.  No Googling.  No Instagram.  No checking websites or Facebook.  No ordering books online.  No reading the news, which is just as well.  But think what would happen if the entire Internet grid was disabled.  Okay.  Maybe that would never happen, given the scope of different connectivity options.  Still, if a foreign country wants to mess us up, all they have to do is to go after the biggest of our links to the web.  Seriously.

Are you as dependent on being online as I am?

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10 Comments

  1. Chris on August 11, 2017 at 8:32 am

    Oh yes! I am lost without the internet. Fortunately, I can go to my library and use a computer if I really need to badly. I work there too, so that’s helpful if it’s after hours, I have a key! (But I’ve never had to go after hours). Usually I just take a deep breath and pick up a book and start reading. It takes my mind off not being able to get online!

  2. Kathy Phillips on August 14, 2017 at 12:44 pm

    Hi Barbara….I just had to chime in (off the subject) because I’m almost finished with “Sweet Salt Air” and I have to say that you have made me a reader of novels. This is my very first and I’m 64 years old!
    I usually only read biographies, self help books and books about history…..real life things.
    But how this book swept me away! I couldn’t put it down once I started! A friend of mine gave it to me, and to be honest, I only took it to be nice. Now I see what I have been missing by not reading novels. I was instantly transported to Maine, and memories of a lost love came flowing back to me. I have been clinging to every word of your story….and I can’t wait to see how things end with Nicole, Charlotte, Leo and especially Jules. Thank you for showing me a whole new discovery in literature….fantasy, but easily relatable in so many ways. I am already thinking about which jewel of a book I will start next…..yours of course!

  3. Kathy Phillips on August 14, 2017 at 12:55 pm

    Please reply if you can….to let me know you really read our replies.
    Thank you Babbara

    • Barbara Delinsky on August 14, 2017 at 12:57 pm

      Yes, I really read your replies, Kathy — and I’m thrilled that you liked SWEET SALT AIR so much!

  4. Kathy Phillips on August 14, 2017 at 8:25 pm

    Thank you Barbara for your reply!! In your humble opinion, which of your books would be a good second novel for me to read after finishing “Sweet Salt Air”? I have about 4 more chapters to go and then on to the next. I love reading about love, secrecy, taking chances, New England and anything that takes me away from everyday doldrums.

    • Barbara Delinsky on August 15, 2017 at 5:11 am

      Kathy, since I try to grow as a writer with each book, I always feel that my next book is my best. Only, I just finished writing my next book, which won’t be published until spring/summer 2018. Until then, perhaps you’d like BLUEPRINTS, which is about a mother and daughter who are best of friends until they are pitted against each other for a job both want. This one has lots of risk-taking, lots of personal challenge and life change, lots of New England, and not one but TWO great love stories. Many others of my books also fit your criteria, but two earlier ones that come to mind are THE VINEYARD and LAKE NEWS. I hope one of these three work for you!

      • Kathy Phillips on August 15, 2017 at 10:32 am

        Barbara, thank you so much for your recommendations. I will anxiously await the release of your latest gem in spring/summer of next year!
        In the meantime, I will purchase “The Vinyard” and “Lake News” and will enjoy my retirement with your books in hand.
        I feel like I have just discovered gold…..and I believe I have!

  5. Jeanine Cronin on August 25, 2017 at 6:51 pm

    Kathy, I have been reading Barbara’s books forever. I first met Barbara during the early ’90’s when I attended a few writers’ conferences down in Boston that she spoke at. I am responding to your question about what book you might particularly enjoy reading next. You can’t go wrong with any of them, but one in particular that I really enjoyed early on was “Flirting With Pete”. I hope you will give it a try.

    • Kathy Phillips on September 28, 2017 at 3:34 pm

      Thanks Jeanine. I will definitely read “Flirting With Pete”. Just finished “Blueprints” and next is “Lake News”. I just love how Barbara writes. I have found a new and very enjoyable past time…..reading Barbara’s books. I so envy your having met Barbara in Boston!! Thanks again.

  6. Beth Surette on September 6, 2017 at 2:41 pm

    Just finished Facets…..live in Maine but grew up outside of Boston so I felt such a connection to this book. Without a doubt you are one of the best writers I have ever connected with and I read a lot.
    The way you weave a story and define characters is unmatched. I look forward to reading many others. Many thanks for the hours of great reading!

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