May 3, 2011- Dial-Up Woes...

     Well, my recent foray into the world of laptop computers and new technology such as enjoying wireless, high speed internet has backfired on me now that I have returned to the island of dial-up.  You may remember that I mentioned my old laptop computer dying on me before I left for the states last month, so I purchased a new one, my first Apple, and while at my parent's house, I got more than used to getting up in the mornings, taking my computer downstairs with me and hooking up from the breakfast table or checking e-mails from my mom's easy chair in the evening before heading to bed.  While traveling, I could hook up in the airport or from the hotel room without a single wire and without having to go down to the lobby and use the "business center" or wait for the dial-up noise pattern I can hear in my head as I write. I have finally become spoiled by the latest technological advances that I haven't been privy to all these years on the atoll. The funny thing is that I was always the first one to say, "Having dial-up is no big deal. You get used to it, and you can still do all the things you would anywhere else. It just requires a little more patience."  After all, I couldn't have completed my bachelor's degree out here without a few online courses, and I would never have gotten my Master's degree at all without the "dial-up" system that allowed me to complete the entire degree online.  And that was back in the late 1990's to early 2000's, but now it's a decade later, and what do we still have, dial-up. 
     Finally, at least for me, it is getting frustrating because when I want to upgrade and purchase a new computer, I also have to purchase a modem for the dial-up, which was something I didn't even think about while enjoying the wi-fi at my parent's house. Bottom line, I am having to spend extra time at work to catch up on my blog and other personal computing needs because I can no longer hook up from home without an external modem.  My finace was kind enough to help me out by ordering what I needed, but that was only a couple of days ago, so now it's another waiting game, waiting for the mail to arrive, so I can go back to dial-up.  Never thought I'd be so excited to be able to connect to the internet through my phone line again.  At any rate, that's why you have only been hearing from me every few days.  The dial-up has gotten the better of me.  :)  Oh well, that's one of the few disadvantages (or some might consider it an advantage...depending on how you view America's growing "need" for technology to take care of even the most simple tasks) of living on an atoll.