There are days… usually days with deadlines looming… when everything in modern technology makes you wish for the humble quill pen and ink bottle.
It’s a matter of personal pride that I speak fluent Mac and competent PC; am familiar with all manner of software creative and practical. It takes a lot for me to even consider reaching out for “technical support” from a purveyor of internet services. So when I absolutely must call my ISP — because my workplace IT support folks spit up their milk when they tested how slow my internet service is — I will.
But only because I am on deadline to send “40 Ways of Looking at Manhattan” to the printer. And because to meet the deadline, I can’t have my internet running at the speed of mouse-rotations-per-wheelspin. But I won’t like it. And neither will the tech support people I have to deal with.
Is it their fault it takes just short of two and a half hours to sort out:
- My account login
- The social security and email info associated with same
- The status of my modem’s green lights (three different techs asked me for the same report-out in two different chats) and number and nature of devices trying to access the modem
- Where my work colleagues got their data (.7Mbps download, .27Mbps upload) from (asked challengingly because the ISP techs couldn’t get their systems to read my modem)
- And how much I was willing to pay in case the company needed to send an actual human to my home during the coronavirus, oh and supply a replacement modem
Well, it isn’t my fault… so I guess we blame it on the cats?
Even cats have bad days
My own cats have been having mood swings. They seemed happy through most of April, May and June to have me home 24/7 to dispense treats and squeaky mice and catnip. But these last few days, their tempers seem as frayed as mine.
As my old dad used to say, “The only time they’re good is when they’re asleep.”
To achieve peace and quiet at night, and sleep for all parties, I have installed (inspired by Clark Gable in “It Happened One Night”) the Wall of Jericho. That would be a couple of rolled up fleece blankets between his end of the bed (my feet) and hers (Tim’s pillow).
I snarled at the computer all day today, waiting for the non-existent tech support to do something supportive. I snarled at the cats for snarling at each other over their dinners and lack of squeaky-mouse sharing.
And then someone kind sent me this photo. After sighing and saying ‘awwww,’ I decided to forgive everyone, have a hot shower and go to bed.
Banner photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels