Do You See A Green Light?

No, I don't.  That's why I'm spending 6 cents a minute talking to you.


On the 9th of January right after our Christmas holidays, I was happily taking photos of the snow when I noticed that the light which indicates that the Internet is working wasn't on, and, of course, I couldn't get any page to come up.  I did a thorough check of the connections, disconnected and reconnected things, asked my neighbours upstairs if they had internet (which they did).  Then I telephoned my internet provider only to talk to three different people who made me do the same tests but none of the three told me the cheap router they'd sold me wasn't working.  No, I had to call a computer technician for that - the same person I called later to bring me a new router because the 1D10TS refused to send me a new router unless I tested the old router, which was still under guarantee, yet again.  End of problems?  No!  The computer guy had to ask to speak to a technician because the person he was speaking to first said that I had a static connection and then said it was dynamic and then static and had no idea what the Gateway was plus some of the other information was also incorrect - information that a normal computer user would accept as accurate!  Anyway, my new router has a 5-year warranty and I can connect more computers.  Changing providers isn't the solution as they're all the same, but I am going to ask that they reimburse me for all those calls I had to make.

I can't believe how much I missed the time that I wasn't on here.  I did connect to leave a note about my woes using some unsecured WIFI connection and once to update my anti-virus.  Other than that I was internetless as I don't like using public computers - paranoid you know.  I missed seeing what you guys were up to and I missed Post Secret.  Wouldn't you know today the visitor counter isn't working!  The secret sent in by the soldier deployed in Iraq is heart-wrenching.

Today we've got rain and it's a bit windy though not as much as it has been the past few days.  Madrid, however, hasn't been hit by such high winds as the North.  In Barcelona alone 5 people have died - one woman who was walking past a building site when the protective wall gave way and 4 children who were at a baseball game.  How strange because baseball isn't popular here.  At the moment it's probably colder in Lexington, KY, but in general our winters in Madrid are colder even without snow.  We've been lucky to have snow in the mountains for the ski resorts this winter.  Last year it was a really poor season in the mountains of Madrid.  Luckily, I didn't call the computer technician the day we had so much snow as he was, like thousands of others, stuck in traffic.  He said he didn't work any that day.

Hope everybody has a great week.  With luck, this rant and rave will last me for a while.

Finally Back

Will pass by and say hello later on. Have to go to work in a bit, but just wanted to say that I've missed everybody.

No Internet

At the moment I'm using a wireless connection, but shouldn't. My router bit the dust on Friday during a snow storm, so until my new router arrives... See ya later

Coming Soon: The Year of the Ox

According to what I've read, the Year of the Ox is supposed to be quiet and calm. I'll drink to that. How I crave a bit of boredom - well, tranquility anyway! Speaking of drinking, as always I ate too much on New Year's Eve despite having a sore throat and cough. The cough's still with me and bothers me especially when I lie down, but the sore throat is history, which is good because it's coming up to the time that I have to go back to work, and in my profession I have to be able to speak.

 My dog and I have just come back from a quick walk around the block (luckily there were no loud noises or frights). The day is bright and sunny with a cold wind unfortunately. During our short walk, I decided on my one and only resolution for this year which is to take my camera with me more. There are so many times, like today, that I would have stopped and taken a photo, and there weren't a lot of people around either. Today is one of those days that I can always go out again if I wish. However, you don't always see the same things later on.

Maybe I'm not always as observant as I should be but today I noticed for the first time this message on Post Secret: 'Thanks for telling others about Post Secret'. Actually, I know I'm not observant enough. I remember one of my roommates at university was always asking what colour socks this one particular professor was wearing in class. I'll admit I don't usually notice things like socks unless they're bright green or something. Anyway, I was visitor 205,522,610 on Post Secret. This week's secrets were anything but disappointing.

Happy first Sunday and first full week of 2009 to everyone! Hope all your wishes for it come true.