Update: Naps are magic! I took a nap this afternoon, woke up, rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and hooray, the Internet is magically working again. I am still going to get a new Internet service provider—I can have a home phone and DSL cheaper than going through my local cable company and my modem is free.

Yesterday morning I woke up, rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, sneezed a few times and grabbed my Powerbook. As per my morning ritual I checked my email… hmmm, no Internet connection. I checked my modem, no pretty lights as usual just one blinking light. Uh-oh. Call the cable company. I was “talked” through an automated system to help me “fix” my problem. I went through the steps, waiting the hour it said it would take and nothing. Call the cable company… again, wait on hold for 36 minutes, talk to a real person for 2 minutes, get put on hold again for another 10 minutes or so, talk to another real person who says it looks like there’s a problem in my entire building and someone will be out in a couple of hours to fix it. P.S. I have no cable tv at this point either, which for me means no tv whatsoever. The guy I’m talking to makes a “back-up” appointment for me on Monday just “in case the problem isn’t fixed today.” 3 hours later, no working cable. 4 hours later, still no working cable. So I call the cable company again. I’m told by the person I spoke with that I have an appointment on Monday and someone will be out then to fix it. I say, what about the guy who said you were sending someone today? The reply? I don’t know why he told you that.

Anyway, come Monday, I’m looking for a new Internet provider. If that means I have to get a telephone in my apartment to do so, I will. I’m tired of Cox Cables’ lackluster service and quite frankly, their monopoly in the industry. Right now I’m sitting in a coffee shop working and I shouldn’t have to be in a coffee shop working.