:)
I can't make that a GREAT BIG smiley-face...but I would if I could!
Thanks to all of you.
Yep, we're all married to these damned machines now. Sigh.

lol... I love how you put this in the "horror story" section. Made me laugh. The obvious answer to your dilemma is to buy a laptop and go to one of the many places with free wi-fi, hook into that. The iphone might have been able to work in those places too, but I don't have one so I'm not sure...

You made me laugh. I could feel your frustration. Don't you know the computer has made our lives so much easier,that is when they are up and running.

This is so true it's awesome. I love your approach and the way you evoke exactly the experience of trying to get a human response from auto answering customer help lines.

And I totally understand what it means to be cut off from the internet; it's even worse when the computer itself needs fixing and takes 6 weeks.

I am glad you are back with us.