Not long after I made the post, my "green acres" connection was lost and I could not get connected to the Internet.
Worked with AOL for over an hour trying to resolve the issue; they finally told me that all they could suggest was doing an uninstall and reinstall. I did and still had the same problem.
There is a Home Depot about a 1/2 mile from here, so I went and bought some Cat5 cable (I have the conduit), dug the ditch (8 hrs to dig 100' with a pick and shovel), ran the wire in the pipe, and called my buddy to see if he could swing by to help me hook it up. While I was awaiting his arrival, I tried to get connected again and everything went fine.
When my bud got here, I told him what had happened, and he laughed. He then told me, there is a phone comp guy working on a box just up the road. I did not understand how my phone could work fine, but could not get thru the dial-up process. He just grinned and said, stick to engines and let me hook up the line. Well, he knew that would not go well with me, but that's why he said it. His way of trying to relieve some of the tension I built up digging the ditch. We are not positive that the problem was phone comp related, but everything sure pointed that direction.
So, anyway, it's been a long day; I have the latest and greatest phone line and don't have to worry about hooking it with the tractor again. I do have to cover everything up tomorrow, but that will be a piece of cake.
My hands have never fit a pick or shovel very well, and I'll have about $100 in chiropractor bills to get straight again.
Crushed/compacted granite is hard digging. I'd hit it with the pick and it would only penetrate about an inch. After you got thru the first 6", the digging was not that bad. I'm tired and I hurt.
Hi Patrick,
Glad to see you back!
It is amazing that there is zero accountability with the phone company, maybe they should have a fitting slogan such as;
YOU PAY US TO FIX OUR SHODDY WORK!
(if you don't like it, fix it yourself)
Your friends at the phone company.
Take care,
Joe
Thanks Joe.
I've had several conversations with QWEST about accountability. Customer Service really does not seem to exist with them.
Good story Patrick.
I hate that w/drawal feeling!
Hi Patrick,
I'm glad you got everything working again and were able to get back
on line. It's awful not to be able to get on the Internet!
Iris
Gena/Iris, being without never bothered me too much in the past, but it really did this time. Saturday night was an eye opener for sure. I have become dependant on the Internet for several reasons. What had me so worked up this time was that all my bills were due and I pay everything, except the rent, over the Internet and get all worked up if I let one become past due. I set it up that way due to all of my traveling. I could not ever convince myself to set them up on automatic payment, I felt more comfortable being involved in the payment process.
I just knew I was going to have to find my checkbook and do it the "old fashioned" way. I'd have to go buy stamps and take everything to the Post Office. So, instead, I hot wired the phone line to avoid this.
Patrick