I have Part II of “Investigating Chelsea’s Law” ready and should be publishing it now.
I’m not doing that. My DSL connection is down—has been down over 16 hours—and I can’t access my blog. I can’t access anything online. In the past 16 hours, in addition to updating the blog, I have wanted to but been unable to:
- pay bills through online banking
- balance my checkbook through same—I don’t get paper statements
- read or reply to email
- compare prices for an item that I need to purchase
- look up an unfamiliar meaning for a word without resorting to Webster’s—which I never use anymore and can't find
- research a topic that came up at Bible class
- locate a hardware store in the area that is open on Sunday
- retrieve info from an email needed for a report I am writing
- check the bus schedule for a friend
- refill a prescription
- send an e-birthday card to a friend
- book an appointment for a haircut
- read some news and opinion articles that I had book-marked for later reading
- locate the nearest Thai restaurant
- see if the new book by one of my fave authors is out yet
- find a recipe for cooked chocolate cake frosting
I believe that everything in life should be a learning experience.
I have learned the truth of what Robert Burns wrote oh so many years ago: “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”
I have learned that I am probably much too dependent on the Internet, or, conversely, how vital the Internet is in my everyday functioning.
I have learned how very polite and accommodating the Internet provider people are on the telephone while telling you that the problem is still being worked on and they have no idea when it will be resolved.
I hope I am learning to be more patient, but that one is still to be determined.
Update: now at hour 33 without Internet. Patience is looking less and less likely.
Update: hour 39; new information: the main outage is back online, but I am not; reason is undetermined; a tech will be dispatched tomorrow morning between eight and noon to “determine and repair” the problem.
Eight tomorrow morning will be hour 57; noon will be hour 61 .
There is no patience. That ship has sailed. I am trying to stave off raging fury and find my way into the port of dull resignation.
Hope this helps, Shelly!
ReplyDelete1 cup(s) milk
3 tablespoon(s) flour
1/8 teaspoon(s) salt
8 ounce(s) of either 62 percent dark chocolate or white chocolate
1 cup(s) (2 sticks) butter
1 1/2 cup(s) confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoon(s) cocoa, (for white chocolate frosting, omit cocoa)
1 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
Directions:
Whisk 1 cup milk, 3 tablespoons flour, and 1⁄8 teaspoon salt in a small saucepan over medium heat until the mixture thickens and begins to bubble -- 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and let cool. Melt 8 ounces of either 62 percent dark chocolate or white chocolate. Set aside to cool. Beat 1 cup butter, 1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, and 2 tablespoons cocoa (for white chocolate frosting, omit cocoa) together until light and fluffy. Beat in the cooled chocolate and add milk mixture and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (dark chocolate frosting only) until smooth and fluffy. Use immediately.