Internet Silence

Wow. What a difference 15 years makes. Actually, what a difference five years makes! That’s how long I’ve had the Internet at work.

I got into the salon today — on my day off — thinking I would spend some of the time between clients (did I mention it was my day off?) working on some projects that would require the Internet. I had e-mail to check and respond to. I knew I had at least one e-mail with a file attached to it that I needed to download. I needed to get my blog posts written and submitted for the week. I needed to balance my checkbooks and order some supplies.

I got to the salon and discovered I had no Internet connection. The little “Internet” light on my DSL modem was glaring an angry red instead of the friendly green I’m accustomed to.

I checked all the things that still plug in. I checked all the things I can check without an Internet connection. I frantically ran next door and asked the massage therapist if she had Internet service. (She did.)

Thankfully the mobile data network was still working on my phone. At least I could access my appointment book. But I haven’t bothered to download the Squareup app on my phone — I use it on my iPad. The iPad can’t access the Wi-Fi because there is no Wi-Fi to access.

So much for my theory that that smelly plant is good luck, eh? Not only was my Internet a total loss, but my laptop refused to connect to the massage therapist’s Wi-Fi . Well, that’s not entirely true. It says it’s connected, I just don’t have access to the network.

What does that even mean?!

I didn’t have time to call AT&T and sit on hold while they shuffle me through seven different departments (I’ve done this before, can you tell?). So mostly, I summoned my inner ’80s girl and tried to move on with my day as though I remembered what life was like without constant connectivity.

I suspect I will be discovering over the next few days that the problem lies in Suite 404, three doors down the hall from me, where the entire floor’s phone lines come together in a giant switchboard-like grid inside a small broom closet.

Have I mentioned that that suite happens to currently be occupied by another nail tech? And an esthetician. Which is beside the point, except to say that the suite is occupied by tenants who may have inadvertently unplugged or jostled something that has resulted in me losing my Internet. And since they don’t work regular hours, accessing the lines inside the closet inside their office can be difficult.

I suspect I’ll be ditching my DSL line in favor of a service that doesn’t use the phone lines at all. Soon. Very soon.

Well. As soon as I have time to sit on hold with AT&T anyway.