It's been a while, partly because my Internet situation has been a nightmare. As most of you know, I moved into a new lakefront house a little over a month ago. I've been super-busy unpacking, helping my husband convalesce, promoting two books, doing copy edits for Not Quite a Courtesan (in December's Brava Lords of Passion) and entertaining my family and friends. I've gotten my toes wet in the pond and seen an enormous snapping turtle (I still have my toes). My son-in-law keeps catching fish with my granddaughter (the same one, I think). I believe I'm living the good life at last...except for my satellite Internet dish.
When we moved, I was advised (erroneously) that I would have to have satellite Internet access. Naive me called The Company That Shall Remain Nameless Since I Don't Want to Be Sued But Rhymes With Poosnet. It is a shared broadband service which I understand so much more fully now---someone else is using MY share all the time. I can be in the middle of something and be shut down. I can't leave websites open to check on later (as I've done as a blog guest) because it constitutes a download. If I want to look up a word on Dictionary.com I can't---and have to haul out the Webster's instead. Lest I be considered unfair, for an additional fee I can get "more," but I'm already paying twice what I was for cable Internet at the old house.
I never realized exactly how dependent I am on Internet service---I mean I knew I was addicted, but being inconvenienced like this has been an eye-opener. Turns out the house was wired for cable Internet service all this time, and tomorrow hopefully our problem will be solved---at considerable expense to me and with a leftover ugly dish on my roof that's too big to play Frisbee with.
I've tried to look at this incommunicado business as a positive, but it's hard. I've felt cut off from the Romance community just when I should be wading in with the snapping turtles. It turns out I can't relax on the deck until I know all the news and reviews and tweets. So I'm not the girl who's going camping in the woods, but staying at a hotel with wireless. :)
What have I missed? Tell me what you're reading/watching/thinking about. One commenter will get a copy of Margaret Rowe's June debut Tempting Eden.
When we moved, I was advised (erroneously) that I would have to have satellite Internet access. Naive me called The Company That Shall Remain Nameless Since I Don't Want to Be Sued But Rhymes With Poosnet. It is a shared broadband service which I understand so much more fully now---someone else is using MY share all the time. I can be in the middle of something and be shut down. I can't leave websites open to check on later (as I've done as a blog guest) because it constitutes a download. If I want to look up a word on Dictionary.com I can't---and have to haul out the Webster's instead. Lest I be considered unfair, for an additional fee I can get "more," but I'm already paying twice what I was for cable Internet at the old house.
I never realized exactly how dependent I am on Internet service---I mean I knew I was addicted, but being inconvenienced like this has been an eye-opener. Turns out the house was wired for cable Internet service all this time, and tomorrow hopefully our problem will be solved---at considerable expense to me and with a leftover ugly dish on my roof that's too big to play Frisbee with.
I've tried to look at this incommunicado business as a positive, but it's hard. I've felt cut off from the Romance community just when I should be wading in with the snapping turtles. It turns out I can't relax on the deck until I know all the news and reviews and tweets. So I'm not the girl who's going camping in the woods, but staying at a hotel with wireless. :)
What have I missed? Tell me what you're reading/watching/thinking about. One commenter will get a copy of Margaret Rowe's June debut Tempting Eden.
13 comments:
I'm so glad we'll have you back soon. We've missed you with your crappy internet connection.
I wonder how I would do without the internet. I don't think I want to know. I've been surfing it for as long as I can remember.
I don't know what I would do without my online etymology dictionary when I'm in a pinch. And my online thesaurus.
I got no gossip. I'm very boring these days. Well, hell... that's most days. :)
Hi, Maggie! Sorry for your internet woes. I am also sorry to say that I am having my own web worries. Ever since "kinda rhymes with bugle" begin making massive changes earlier this year, I have had some very frustrating PC issues. I have even uninstalled and reinstalled some software, and that was not the problem. It's not me or my PC. I had a problem beginning in May with not being able to post comments on sites which I frequently access. One day I could, and the next day I couldn't. My ISP, sorta of rhymes with "all is not well", is a nightmare when it comes to customer service. I no longer receive some of the newsletters to which I am subscribed. Even though the senders say I am still subscribed, and the mail is being sent, I do not receive the newsletters. One of the newsletter senders told me that my ISP is famous for blocking incoming mail and automatically deleting it without dropping it in your SPAM inbox. This must be true because my SPAM filter is off, and I have indicated that I wish to receive all mail. My SPAM inbox remains as empty as the volunteer donation bin for the IRS :) Enjoy your Summer, and remember to count your toes now and then : )
gcwhiskas at aol dot com
Reading: Tessa Dare, Eileen Dreyer, and some YA novels: 10 Things I Hate About Me (cute) and now a new Jude Deveraux book called Days of Gold. Okay, I don't know if it's a "new", that might be subjective, but it's new to me. I haven't read one of her books in a long time because she got kinda weird for a while and it wasn't the same enjoyment to read her. You didn't know what you were getting.
Watching: Twilight and New Moon, which are movies, but it's what I put on most. On TV, I watch The Middle, Modern Family, and Castle. I don't have cable. There's not a lot available to me. I do catch some reruns of FRIENDS. It's still good.
Internet: unfortunately my new addiction--and I saw unfortunately because it trumps nearly anything productive--is Frontierville. Which is like Oregon Trail meets FarmVille. Your avatar is in costume, you're fighting bears like Davy Crockett, and you're still growing crops. Best of all, you can get married and have kids virtually. Being I'm far more likely to be hit by lightning than get married or have kids, this is an awesome game for me. I'm having a GREAT time.
I seriously need to get a life.
Maggie -
I understand the frustrations of internet connection living in a rural area. Luckily my local ISP started offering broadband connections several years ago and last year I updated from dial-up to broadband. Most of the time I don't have trouble, but with my college-aged son home, he and I are always battling for bandwidth. I've gotten so I ask him to stop playing games on-line if I need to do research.
I've been up to a lot of on-line work myself recently. I started my own blog (check out maggiecarlsonromance.blogspot.com) which is taking up a lot more of my time than I thought it would.
I have seriously become addicted to the internet - reading all the blogs I follow and facebook and doing research. Last night my husband wanted to use the computer and was on for 3 hours and my hands were itching to snatch the mouse away from him.
Reading: Not Quite A Husband by Sherry Thomas and Death Angel by Linda Howard.
Watching: America's Got Talent (I know, kind of trashy mindless TV, but what can I say, I love it)
Also getting ready for RWA's annual conference at the end of July. Looking forward to all the craziness there.
Hope your internet situation is improved soon.
Maggie, I'm so glad you'll have a better Internet connection soon. I know it's been so frustrating. You've been missed!
And nothing exciting from me either. Though I am reading and loving the Amelia Peabody series!
Hi Maggie. I hate when Internet gets in the way. Its frustrating enough when computer issues complicate the daily routiines we take for granted. But I'm glad you're back.
My latest is being on Twitter. Taking notes on various blogs on how to be a little bit more savvy on Tweets, and all that lingo. LOL, that's how I knew you were here. *chuckle*
I just finished reading Shameless by Karen Robards. My mother had given me the the first in this trilogy, and I stuffed it away on the bookshelf not realizing this. So of course I dug it out and also hunted the second (Irresistable) because I hate to read out of order.
Now currently reading Taming Her Irish Warrior by Michelle Willingham.
I hear you will be attending RWA. Say "hi" to Margaret Rowe when he sit right next to her. *giggle* Sorry, I couldn't resist. Your commentary about that was too funny!
Have fun at RWA!
Welcome back, Maggie.
What a hassle! I know I'm going to turn into a crotchedy old lady cause lately I'm having a real hard time dealing with change or inconvenience. I not only don't know what I would do without internet or a computer but I don't like sharing either.
With summer vacation in full swing my PC is now the house PC with the kids needing to get on and check e-mail, iTunes and various other sites. In fact as I'm typing this I hear them arguing about an iTunes mishap! Gotta go...(When does school start again?!)
Good luck!
Maggie, I'm so excited you'll be online again!! :)
So far this summer, hubby has ripped apart my bathroom and we're in the process now of making it shiny new. I can't wait for my beautiful bubble jet tub!!
But I'm really excited to go camping (yes, I am that girl), and orlando and then a week at the cottage!
Oh, and I'm a couple thousand words closer to finishing the book!
Sorry to hear of your internet woes and glad it will all be over soon. I have had problems with my aging computer, it locks up and refuses to open websites, etc. Unfortunately, since I'm currently out of work, it's not exactly a great time to be contemplating a new one. I just read Julia Quinn's Ten Things I Love About You and I loved it.
Hope to see you at the RWA Literacy Signing, I have you on my list of authors to meet.
Glad to see you back! Not much happening her other then being very hot! I am reading a series by Mary Connealy right now. Also spending a lot of time on line.
lead[at]hotsheet[dot]com
Glad you're back, Maggie, toes and all... and hopefully internet issues resolved today! Nothing new here... just watching too much TV!
PS: No need enter me for TE, got 2 copies, thank you, love it!
It happened to my last couple days, I lost the internet connection because of big Thunder hit our area. 5 days without internet..it was sooo sad for me.
I just finished Forgive my Fins by Terra Lynn childs, and Now reading Erica Ridley, Too Wicked Too Kiss.
Glad your getting your internet back. I'm rewatching Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth. (yummy)
marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com
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