Technical Difficulties

I got home from work tonight a little before 2 a.m., but despite the late hour, I was determined not to break my daily blogging routine. I was still amped up from deadline day at the newspaper, and after a quick cup of coffee (don't ask how many that makes for the day - the answer would be a scary, big number), I was ready to punch things out on the keyboard.

But - I couldn't log on. What was the problem? I checked and re-checked my wireless signal - strong and connected. I thought it might be Google that was down, so I attempted to log onto other websites. No such luck. I did the magic reboot - still nothing. I began to think that my computer was on the fritz, and so I went into Sabrina's office to try hers. Same error message.

Finally, I had to concede that Comcast, my network provider, was down. I did not want this to be the answer. All of the other possibilities had potential solutions: repair programs to run, cables to check, buttons to push. But if Comcast was down, there wasn't a damn thing I could do.

As much as I like to think that I am progressing towards "detachment," I am constantly reminded of the myriad ways in which I struggle to stay in control of everything, even things as completely out of my power as service from my internet provider!

The toll my long Wednesdays take on me was beginning to show. I was getting irritated, annoyed, impatient and bordering on cranky. Luckily, the only beings close by tonight are the dogs, and they are incredibly compassionate towards my misbehavior. I think if anyone is ever sent to me as a teacher of patience, the teacher will be in the form of a dog.

I had two options: Give up and go to bed (very tempting at 3 a.m.) or stay up a bit longer and keep trying to log on, just in case. My insomniac Wednesday side won out, and it is now 4 a.m., and Comcast has restored service, and I am once again on the go.

So, nothing very insightful to share with you today, due to extreme fatigue - just this message - teachers are everywhere, some in yellow lab form, some in network provider form. I never know where my next lesson will come from.