I didn’t know what I was going to write about today, but, as my head screamed Get Up! at 4:45 this morning, I knew I had to write something. It is Wednesday, after all. Monday, Wednesday, Friday–my blog post schedule, and if I don’t pre-schedule my post, I have to get up early to write it. So, as I was saying, 4:45 this morning, my first thought is, What am I going to write?
Which turned out to be the least of my problems.
I’m at Mom’s house. Last year around this time, I got Verizon to wire her up for WiFi so I could work, because I’d already been living with her for two months (she was one sick kitty). So, I was looking forward to clicking on my computer, pulling up 777 Peppermint Place, and writing whatever came to mind. Except I couldn’t get on the internet. Verizon wasn’t working. I flipped through the files in my mind and remembered paying the bill, so it wasn’t that. I poked the button on the router, and that didn’t work. Then, I relied on the ever-popular unplugging routine.
And it didn’t work.
Talk about panic! I had visions of being here during Mom’s entire recuperation-from-surgery period having to rely on my Blackberry to connect with my cyberworld. My heart raced so much, I almost didn’t need the caffeine kick-start. Notice I said almost.
I ran diagnostics on my computer, which said to unplug the modem, so I unplugged the modem, which didn’t help. Again.
Before I threw the entire thing out the window–modem, router, computer, and all–I decided to take a coffee break. Five-fifteen. Start the coffee, catch the morning news, fume at Verizon for not working.
Go back, try it again.
Better results this time. I’m hooked up and ready to rumble, except for some reason this super-fast internet service we’re paying for is moving slower than a snail in a molasses spill.
More coffee, more news, check my email on the Blackberry. Go back, try it again. I shut everything down, left it all off for ten minutes, hooked it up again, and Bingo! We’re movin’! The snail is out of the molasses. At least, that’s what I thought until I decided to run to Flickr and find a picture of a snail. Then, the psuedopod returned to the molasses spill–I don’t even know if the word “pseudopod” is right because I can’t get into Dictionary.com.
Go back, try it again.
Same results. Still can’t get to some of my sites.
Headline News flashes about SOPA and some internet sites’ blackout protest.
Okay, maybe that’s the problem with some of the sites, who knows?
Try it again. I can get to my blog, so no more complaining.
After all this, my post is roughly four hours late. Mom has already gotten up, had breakfast, and landed for her morning nap, and I can’t get the snail out of the molasses. The snail I can’t find a picture for because both of my photo sites are shut down.
Sigh.
Dear Lord, thank you for slugs, syrup spills, strikes, and slow internet service. At least I had something to write about.
Several years into it, and this blog still refuses to be categorized. It's eclectic and includes everything from writing posts to snippets from my ordinary life. 
Linda W. Yezak 
Wow, Linda. You’re such a techno-guru. Unplug it? Who would’ve thought!
Congratulations on your diligence. I was up at 4:45 this morning too, but in California, so you’d already been up for HOURS!
Lord, please be with Linda and her mother. Grant them peace and good health and blessings of time spent together and with you. Amen.
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Nothing techno-guru about it, Carol. That’s the new “hit it” response to things that don’t work. We used to be able to slap our TVs upside the head to make ’em work, remember? Now to reset everything, we have to unplug it. Makes sense, I guess.
Thank you so much for the prayer. We both need all the prayers we can get!
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Take deep breaths! Don’t you hate those cyber wars? As I read this, I was expecting you to say that you’d accidentally clicked the off button for the internet. Only because I just did it two days ago! Ha! Hope things speed up for you!
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It seems to be willing to work a little faster now. Maybe it was the threat to take an ax to it . . .
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Dear Linda,
Your blog is one of my favorites… Sigh… Thanks for the smile this morning. You are truly the best!
Love, Kat
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Thanks, Kat! Glad you find it entertaining!
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Oh, not entertaining! Just “that one bolt” thing that always happens. You know.. the hubby says I’m going to go work on the car, it will only be 1/2 hour. Lo and behold there is always that one bolt that has been glued on with 20 year old rust and refuses to come out. Ten hours later, he’s done.
You just put a spin on things that makes me smile… with empathy!
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“The snail is out of the molasses.” – I *lurve* that! Sorry about the ‘puter problems. Those are always frustrating no matter the cause.
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Yep. Frustrating.
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Uuugh – poor thing. Would drive me BANANAS. Praying for your hair to grow back 😉 And the snail. And the molasses.
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Giggle! Thanks, Joanne!
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@Kat–Love it! That “one bolt” seems to be everywhere!
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It is inevitable, the day you cannot afford the pencil lead to break, everything else does. Sometimes I think God is telling us to slow down, stop being a Martha and imitate Mary a little more. I know I’ve decided I don’t want to be remembered for how much I got done in my lifetime, but for how I made people feel and how much of my faith I exhibited to others. It is a good goal I try to balance the day with, but I have yet to achieve the perfect balance and still grind my teeth over the snail in the molasses and the herd of screaming turtles that always seem to get in line ahead of me regardless of where I am. Sigh. Blessings to you.
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Honorable goals, Ceci! I think you’re right–I need to imitate Mary a little more, too.
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