Tuesday, January 20, 2009

The Feast After the Famine


38 days.

We were without internet for 38 days. Additionally, the outage was wholly unanticipated, so I wasn't even able to plan for the vacuum. We are talking a total descent into chaos. I learned, in early December that I am a bonafide internet addict. What Starbucks is to B-Mama, my DSL modem is to me. Oh, except that I drink too much Starbucks as well. Being without my portal to the outside world meant several things. It meant family members missing Christmas gifts, it meant driving to the airport too early to pick someone up because I couldn't check. It meant bank overdrafts, it meant unanswered trivia standoffs between Husband and I. It meant having to actually open my cookbooks again. It meat 973 unread Yahoo messages. But, most tragically, it meant missing my friends!... My B.C. buddies and my Catholic Mom Mentors in the blogosphere. I was so nervous that I would miss the pregnancy announcement here, or miss seeing photos of B-Mama turning 30 or Bella's first day of school. I am still aching to read the MaryAlice solution to Mount Washmore too. I can't believe C fell in a creek! So much to miss out on. Up here, alone with my family on the third floor of a German apartment building ;)

So, I did miss you guys, I am thrilled to be back. My household notebook has a back page entitled "potential BC post ideas" with five bullets on it. So, I won't be too queit. I have been missing my sounding board of rad Catholic moms for too long. I have a 1-year birthday to hold, restaurant etiquette questions, polemic thoughts on subsidized daycare, ideas about the blessings of living with little children, you name it, let's get busy!!!

8 comments:

Kat said...

AWOL, so glad that you're back! I know how you feel - after Hurricane Ike we were without internet for several weeks as well, and though it was nice to be "unplugged" for a little while, it was also difficult! Can't wait to hear some of your thoughts - what jumped out at me were your thoughts on subsidized daycare, it would be interesting to hear the pros and cons from a European perspective. Lots of love from the US!

Juris Mater said...

AWOL, missed you SOOO badly! It hasn't been nearly the same without you. Welcome back, friend!!

B-Mama said...

AWOL, we love you and are so glad you're back! Isn't the internet respite great, though, for seeing that you still CAN function without the www! I will often wonder how we lived without it... Oh the luxury of technology! So glad to live in an era where we can all be connected at the touch of a button! Blessings and so happy to have you back on board! :)

texas mommy said...

Welcome back, AWOL! Can't wait to hear what you and the fam have been up to! I totally remember the days in Italy with spotty internet access and hanging around St.Peter's square (a small place, you know) hoping that someone got my email to meet them, but being unable to check. Looking forward to your witty comments, thoughtful thoughts and self-deprecating humor!

Right Said Red said...

So glad you are back! I have missed your sense of humor.

And if you have a moment, I'd love to know the story behind the 38 day internet hiatus. Sounds awful!

texas mommy said...

Maybe we should ask you, AWOL....any BC pregnancy announcements???? j/k

Juris Mater said...

Also, AWOL, how does Europe feel about our new Prez? Do tell...

AWOL Mommy said...

yes, to be unplugged was nice in some ways, but the community is indispensable. Kat, the subsidized daycare goes on in the military - I am not sure about the Euro-system, but there are probably similarities. Red, the internet outage was due to a language barrier at the T-Mobile place back in early December. We thought they said that they would "be by" in the next few days to install our stuff. But what they really said was that they would "mail us a letter in a few days which would contain the date of our installation appointment." When we got that snail mail it was emblazoned with a date that was 30 days in the future. Ouch. Oh, yea, and then we were missing some secret codes we needed to input and Deutsch T-Mobile could find no one in technical support to help us figure out how to do so. That explains the last week of waiting.
JM, the streets are abuzz here over our new prez. They love the O-Man. When I am out with the stroller I hear a wash of German that I only faintly understand, but the word "Obama" sticks out in any language. I mean, no surprise. He is appealing on many fronts, we just have to pray for his conversion of heart on the life issues. TM, I am ignoring you on purpose.