a few stolen moments
I’ve been away from the blogosphere for an entire week, and believe me, it’s not by choice. Even now, I am typing from a work computer where I’m supposed to be doing some translation, but, well, there was a working Internet connection, and that’s all the window I needed.
Let me assure everyone that I am fine, P is fine, Luna is fine–the only thing that’s not fine is our damn phoneline (and accordingly, my Internet connection), which has been down since last Friday. It’s been rough, but I’ve learned several things through the experience, and I’m going to do a Friday Five, taking a page out of Stefanie‘s book.
You can’t imagine how long it just took me to link to Stefanie on this ancient computer that won’t even accept my memory stick, which would’ve meant that I could’ve just copied and pasted what I had already written last night.
Five Things I’ve Learned in a Week Without the Internet
1. I hate Telecom (the phone company). Yeah, I knew that one, but now I hate them even more. Most of my town is without phone service, but they don’t even have an estimate on when we might get it back. Ain’t that cute?
2. I can carry on a decent conversation in Italian over the phone with a utility company. Information I’d rather not know, but whatever. I’m most proud of the fact that I haven’t (yet) yelled or cursed in either language.
3. I spend a lot of time on the Internet. I knew this one too, but it wasn’t completely obvious until I was faced with considerably more free time this past week. I’d be lying to say it wasn’t nice to get other things accomplished too, so I think I can take this is a warning sign to re-balance things around here. See, it’s not all bad!
4. Murphy’s Law of the Blogging World: You may get writer’s block on a frequent basis while you have the full ability to post, but once you can’t, the ideas will abound. That said, rest assured, this last week was not completely wasted, blog-wise. I have at least a week’s worth of posts ready to pull out when I most need them. Again, trying to look on the positive side here.
5. And finally, the best of all–I have made a lot of wonderful blog/Internet friends. I’ve gotten emails from people who had never even commented on the blog wondering if I was OK. Wow. That is just awesome, and I thank you all for your concern. I promise I’ll get back to everyone just as soon as I’m up and running from home. It’s hard to even borrow computers to use around here, but perhaps I’ll splurge and hit the Internet café one of these days (but hopefully I won’t need to…come on Telecom!).
I, too, miss being a part of your daily lives, and I can’t wait to catch up on all that has happened in my absence. I wish I had a time frame for when I’d be back to the regularly-scheduled program, but, you know, since Telecom doesn’t know, I don’t know either. You’ll come back, though, right? I miss you!
P.S. I’m not sure how this post will look as this computer doesn’t even have the font I normally use. Bear with me, and say a little prayer, would you?
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[tags]telecom italia, life in italy[/tags]
40 Beans of Wisdom to “a few stolen moments”
Michelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived.
Calabria Guidebook
Recipes
It took 2 months last year for the Telecom guys to come and fix the line in the shop…you didn’t want to know that did you?
Nik, I’m hoping that because it’s almost an entire village, things would move faster…yeah, I like to live in delusion 😉
maybe they are sending up the tweedle dee and tweedle dum guys from here? OUr useless telecom guys who ask ME questions that they should know the answers to, but at least come because someone knows someone’s cousin who told them to…. vanessa
Argh! that sucks. I was just on your site yesterday wondering if the feed was broken. 🙂 Hope you get back to normal soon.
Good to hear you’re well, although I’m sure the frustration you’re experiencing can’t be good for your blood pressure…
Fingers crossed that the Telecom guys will sort out your problem pronto.
Oh how art thou? You were missed!
I bet this week did give you some good material and I’m looking forward to all of it!
My dad’s brother is VP of Telecom (Italy). Should we give him a call? NOT! I’m cruel I know, but I couldn’t resist and I know you are laughing.
It is so good to have you back, even if for a short while. I truly hope your phone lines are fixed soon!
Good to hear everything is fine… I was worrying too. Wednesday is just not the same without my other playing partner.
This is probably why ATT gave up on buying Telecom. They learned that doing business in Italy is not as clear as they thought.
Maybe the Mexican company will still buy Telecom Italia and get it working better!
Jeff
No wonder Telecom hasn’t gotten back to me yet on my ADSL request?! They are lost out in Calabria! Good to know that you, P and Luna are all fine. That’s what matters the most. You’ll get through it. Remember when I lost my computer for those three weeks? UGH… that was horrible!
At least you still have the computer and I know you’re just typing away getting some good reads ready for us all to see. 😉
Aw. So sweet of you to link to me even though it meant great time and frustration on your part. 🙂
I was wondering where you were this week! I thought perhaps you had a trip planned and I missed your mention of it. Glad to know you’re alive and well and enjoying life away from the Internet (even if not by choice).
So, so glad to hear you’re doing well.
Glad you are back, glad you are well. I am glad it was only your phoneline and not something more.
Whew.
Wow, and here I thought having dial up at home here in the states was bad enough. 😉 Sounds like you need to invest in a PDA…what are the cell sites like there? Or are you totally laughing at me right now because there aren’t any? LOL! The only drawback now is that I’m addicted to my BlackJack PDA (or as I like to call it, my CrackJack). 24/7 email from home AND work. And I wonder what I ever did without it? How sad is that?! Regardless, SO glad to hear all is otherwise well with you. 🙂
Christina
It’s completely true – when I’m nowhere near a computer or an internet connection I get the BEST BLOG IDEA EVER!!! and then it dies once I find the computer. Sigh.
Hurry back ’cause YOU HAVE BEEN MISSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I had a feeling you had connection problems.
Good luck with getting it fixed (I think you might need it. Hee hee)
Glad you’re back! I missed reading your posts. I wondered if maybe you had run off to get married…
Andrea
One Week Without Internet … that sounds like a reality show. Your experience shows how virtual our virtual worlds really are, and how interconnected the web has made us, for better or for worse.
I was actually planning on poking you today, as much from concern as from selfishly having been missing your posts. ‘Cause I’m greedy like that. Glad you’re okay, but sorry about the phone service. Bleh!
How very frustrating for you to have something to say and nowhere to say it. Glad that you’re back now.
Glad all is well!! I was going through Espresso withdrawal!
Hurry back Michelle,
I’ve missed you too, that’s why I sent you an email. As someone else mentioned I was going thru espresso withdrawal, then worry, then I thought it could be internet connection and even thought you ran off and got married. My brain was in overload mode.
We’ll be waiting for your aggiornati informazioni:)
Glad you’re back! I love your blog. I’m glad you’re fine and that it’s just a “technical difficulty”.
You were missed!!
I just knew you had to post on the Duke case. I assumed your internet was down and it would take a while to get back up.
I hate Telecom because I worked there for 2 months without a legal contract and it took me 3 months after my assignment ended to get paid. Obviously they were making tons of money ripping you, your town, and other consumers off, but they still didn’t pay me on time.
And their service sucks too.
Thank God that you, P, Luna, and all are well. I was just about to send you an email. My wife thought that maybe you couldn’t come up with another good recipe since I didn’t report anything to her on Wednesday. She didn’t know how long you have been off line.
Glad you’re back, if just for a moment!
Hope things get worked out for you and you come back to posting soon! We miss you!
welcome back, glad to hear you’re all doing great. missed you here in blogland. have a great weekend.
I love to come visiting here. It’s always such a treat. Welcome back.
I was wondering where you went. I imagined a romantic vacation with your P boy. That would have been much better, no?
Sognatrice,
I have learned the same lessons as you as well. If you do not have paper or a screen the ideas will flow like a waterfall!
You are very insightful…
Novel
Well , glad to know everything is alright!
See you when you get back! Best of luck getting quick service!
So glad to see you back! I’ve been checking everyday – even when I was in Canada, with very intermittent internet service myself. I know I will be paying a crazy amount in roaming charges for my insatiable need to get online, but it was all worth it. Can’t wait to read up on your new posts!
Welcome back! I have a week coming up in which I will have no internet…and I’ve been psyching myself up for awhile!
so glad you’re back(ish)…
I hope your those telecom blues don’t last too much longer
Vx
Hey there. I figured you were busy with your “crush”. Isn’t he coming in April??
Miss you!
Hope you are up and running soon. I’d be lost without the internet but would probably get so much more accomplished!
Ugh, my sympathies.
I have actually screamed at the phone company. In America! In Boston! While I was at work, even! (It was ugly and got me nowhere.)
Hope it all gets sorted (with no screaming) soon.
ugh i am sorry about all your telecom ickiness. i’m glad you’re back up and running.