...otherwise known as July 5th-17th in my household.
We were without home internet service for 12 days, thanks to our frenemies at AT&T. I won't go into major details, however: we were first sent a new modem that we didn't need, then a technician had to come out to the house three different times, three other times a technician was scheduled to arrive for an appointment and did not show or call, and I spent hours talking myself hoarse on the phone (alternating pleading and threatening) with customer service folks bearing strong Indian accents. Finally late on the 17th, peace was restored to my universe, and I was able to join the cyber world village once again.
How does one live without internet, you might ask? It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. For the first few days it was actually a bit liberating to not be constantly tied to my email and Facebook. T and I focused on shopping for new living room furniture and putting it together (another opportunity for ample levels of frustration). We watched a lot of NCIS reruns that were saved up on our DVR. This was entertaining, except when it made me want to google random criminal trivia like what BOLO stands for (Be On the Look Out, in case you were wondering). T and I played board games together after dinner most nights, which I am glad for, because we have always enjoyed playing games together, but somewhere along the way got away from it. It was a nice change of pace. To a point.
My days obviously weren't all campy fun. The internet was out for the four or five afternoons where the temperatures climbed above 110 degrees here in the sandbox. Neither our swamp cooler or air conditioner seemed to keep up. I found myself huge and pregnant, with swollen legs and feet, sweating it out on the couch watching Maury and occasionally regressing into irrational crying jags. I was hot and uncomfortable, and all I wanted to do was buy things on Amazon...seriously was that too much to ask?! My poor husband returned from his relatively cool office building to a madwoman for a few nights there. He is a trooper.
Saturday the 14th presented a welcome respite from our technological turmoil. My good friend E hosted a baby shower for me. It was such a fun afternoon. We played with all the babies (there has been a bit of a baby boom around here lately), ate a delicious lunch spread, opened adorable baby gifts, and decorated onesies. The friendships I have gained while living in the desert have been such blessings. There is a great sense of community in this isolated hamlet, anchored by an abnormally large concentration of welcoming and kind fellow military wives. Our baby boy came away with quite the haul, and it was great to indulge in some much needed girl time.
I've found myself using the internet less since we got service back. The nesting phase of my pregnancy has arrived, and I am pretty much consumed with organization and preparations in the nursery. I'm currently 33 weeks along. Intellectually I know it's too early for him to come out, but emotionally I am getting impatient. I just want to meet him already! That impatience, combined with the anxiety I feel over not knowing when and how everything will go down, is driving me nuts. 50 days (or less?) and counting.
On a personal and unrelated note, I wanted to share how sad I feel today over the news of the tragic shooting at the movie theater in Colorado. My husband had thought about going to a midnight showing of the Batman movie, and ended up deciding not to. I heard that there were fellow military personnel among the victims in Colorado. It's horrible to think about how a split second seemingly unimportant decision like whether or not to go to a movie can change the course of your life forever. I can't wait for my husband to get home from work so I can give him a big hug and a kiss. And I will do my very best to avoid picking a fight with him over something stupid (which hormonal me does quite often). Each day, minute, and second we have with our loved ones is a gift. Nothing makes that more clear than young lives being taken so senselessly and suddenly. I'm not the most religious person in the world, but you can bet I have prayers on my heart today, and I hope you do too.
