I lost but I didn't

The schools are closed here today because they are 'in between semesters'?? (It sure seems to me that they close schools around here constantly - loud fart? close schools - winter break, spring break, anything that smells of a holiday... But, old lady talk.)

Last night it was predicted the traffic would reflect the closure by being lighter. And, sure enough, going to the gym, it was like the olden days (3 weeks ago?).

So I got cocky. I did not cut my swim short. I swam long and gloriously. I scored the best time over a mile of any time recently. It was good. Really good. And I was the only one in the pool for the first 50 minutes. I did not hurry through my shower either. So it was 6:20 by the time I got back on the road. It was fine... until it wasn't. Bumper to bumper for half the trip. Sigh.

And also I found out last night, that while the new tunnel will open on Monday, the exit I need to get home will not open for another week. So, there is likely to be not much, if any, traffic relief next week. Fuck.

I spent a while yesterday with the genealogy stuff. I still have yet to even crack the surface. It's laid out in an organized fashion but not organized in a way that is intuitive to me. So I'm having trouble really following along, but still there's just so much good stuff.

Like this gem. My dad loved parades and traveled a lot for work. One time he came home from a trip during which he'd attended a fine parade - a Shriners parade and gave my brother the fez. My brother did not take that thing off for weeks. This was taken in Kansas City. We moved from there when he was 2 in 1955. (That bench, by the way, sans cushion, made it all the way to the retirement home with my parents.)



Same dude, different hat. In Seattle a couple of weeks ago. My how times change. Still cute, tho.



This morning, the house cleaner comes. Yeah! This place needs it. I need to run a pile o' stuff to Goodwill and then maybe a run up to the Red Apple market for a couple of things. Oh and gas. the car needs gas.

Then home to sewing. I have some sewing ideas and my machines miss me. So sewing.

No signal... grrrr

So, I was sitting here having a cookie while I contemplated my next move when my internet went out. Cut to testing testing testing and, turns out, my TV cable is out as well.

Crapdidly.

I called tech support which was not a terrible experience. Except while she could see that I had no modem action, she couldn't see why. So tech call. She first said Friday (WTF????) and then went back to check and came back with an 8 hour window tomorrow.

It's bad. Really bad. But, not quite as bad as no electricity. Although my mind keeps listing towards that direction... Yes, I will be able to cook dinner without the internet. And even watch TV because I've got stuff saved on TiVo. And there's really nothing on tonight that I need to record. But still, it still feels isolating.

I am currently using my neighbor's internet. And I'm quite appreciate that she keeps an open network available for guests. (I do the same... except for today.)

Maybe I'll go sew some more or read a book or do some laundry or ... I can't seem to do anything but stare at the modem trying to will that stupid internet light to come back on. Grrrrrr

One note... I am one of the very lucky few who has three internet choices (cable or fiber with one company and cable with another) and two cable TV choices. I have had Comcast in the past and am currently with a smaller company WAVE. While I don't, normally - have no reason to - I am not above playing one off the other. Today the tech tried to sell me a $4 a month service contract in case the problem was my equipment. I told her using the nicest possible voice, no thank you, and 'to pass along to your sales/marketing folks, it would be easier and way cheaper for me just to flip to Comcast rather than add yet another expense to my bill. I can't help but think that that mention might have been what urged her to get me tech help tomorrow instead of having to wait for Friday.

I'd hate to have to go to Comcast for a lot of reasons but I will if I have to. In the grand scheme of things, the trade off is about even steven.

Oh well, tomorrow will come. I hope.

And how joyus it was to find out there 'is an outage in your area'

YES! Turns out mi problemo was su problemo and they fixed it. All of a sudden that staring at the modem thing paid off. I looked and the internet light was on.

When I called them back to tell them to cancel the technician, a recording told me there was an outage in my area and estimated time of recovery was 4 hours.

But my recovery is NOW!! Thank you, neighbor, for your bytes.