It's time for a change

When things go wrong with your internet server you suddenly realize how much you take it all for granted. I turn on my computer, click a few places, and I'm able to do all manner things, the most important being my work. When suddenly and unexpectantly I turned on my computer and no longer was able to access those services. After my initial panic, I gathered myself together and started working the problem. I knew that the problem was the router, which I disconnected and head to Best Buy. I handed the broken router to the Best Buy Guy and he proceeded to turn it in all directions, carefully inspecting it with the oddest look on his face, "I hate to tell you this, but this kind of router is outdated. They don't make it anymore. You could try finding one on the internet." This is not what you want to hear when you've got over 300 papers sitting in your inbox, awaiting grading. I don't have the luxury of time to hunt for an outdated router. This meant that we would have to contact our current internet server and make arrangements for an upgrade. Last time we upgraded they charged us $150 and took their sweet time showing up to do the upgrade. Time and money were not two resources that I felt like giving to our current internet server. The Best Buy Guy then suggested that we switch to another wireless broadband company; he checked his computer and determined that we were in their service area. Off to the new internet service provider. I got an account set up, they hand me a box with a modem in it, as well as a router and it was time to hook the new system up. All of this killed an entire morning, a morning that was supposed to be dedicated to work. Before I could complete the equipment hookup it was time to go and teach a class and then pick thekids up. Once home again, I had to return to Best Buy to purchase a longer cable; then back home again to finally finish the job at about 4:30 pm. It took an entire day to restore us back to a "state of normalcy." Now all we have to do is contact the numerous businesses that require an email as a user name. Something as simple as an email address change creates a tremendous cascade of additional work. Let's hope we don't have to do this again for a very long, long time. The one good side benefit is that all those junk emails will no longer be able to find me. It feels so good to be able to start out with a clean slate. There's always a silver lining if you look hard enough.