There are days when I come to realize just how dependant I am on technology. Today is one of those. All week my Internet has been failing, limping across the finish line and just basically messing with me. Personally, I sometimes wonder if technology is more intelligent than I give it credit for since it waits until the worst possible time to f**k with me.
Case in point, I’ve had a huge project on my desk that needed to be completed and sent to my publisher. Now having intermittent Internet service is bad enough, but when my computer threatens to cannibalize the data contained within, because it’s gasping out its last technological breath, things get a little stressed.
Anyhow, I managed to get my work completed and sent to my publisher just in the nick of time—before my Internet decided to completely flat line. Realizing my ability to connect with the outside world “the modern way”—through technology—had come to a halt, I decided to go about things the old-fashioned way. Well, mostly.
I called, made some appointments and then found myself driving into the city to continue getting things done.
Technology: 1. Me: 1.
Of course, technology, being a versatile little bugger and still not done f**king with me, decided to follow me. Driving along, I got one phone call after another on my cell phone. That part went fine. It was only when I needed to return or make a call or leave a message that things went haywire. That’s when I got all sorts of delightful messages that “my call couldn’t be completed at this time,” or “all circuits are busy,” or my personal favorite—there was no indicator at all that my message or text had NOT, in fact, been delivered as I’d been led to believe.
Oh, how special!
My technology fun continued for the entire hour drive into the city, only ending when I was less than five minutes from where I was to pick up someone. And oh, what a joy that became.
In an attempt to simplify things, it had been decided that I would call the person when I arrived so they could come out of their building and get in my car.
Seemed like a good idea, since finding a parking space less than a quarter mile from where you need to be is near impossible in the city.
Arriving in front of the building, I attempted to make said call. But, seeing as technology was having so much fun with me, I got a recording that my call couldn’t go through at that time.
Oh, joy!
I attempted to make the call several more times, each time reaching the same recorded message. Looking at the building that had a security entrance, I tried to figure a way to contact the person I was meeting. As an added means of protection, the building had assigned a specific code to each occupant. Without said code, individuals weren’t granted access. Knowing that code would have been dandy, but no one had thought I’d need it since I was going to call my intended. So, without knowing the code, my only way to get to the person I needed, was to phone them.
Hmmm…. Technology: 2. Me: 1.
Seeing how I was determined to outsmart technology, I decided to drive around a bit to see if I could locate one of those ancient contraptions—a payphone. About a mile away, I spotted one. Slowing, to survey it, my hopes were quickly doused when I realized that the hand piece was missing.
Damn hard to make a call without one of those!
I continued driving in search of a payphone that might have all its parts intact—not a large possibility in the city. In between, I kept trying to use my cell phone to make the call. Driving miles and miles away from my destination, I finally arrived at a spot where my call was able to go through.
Technology: 2. Me: 2. Things are looking up!
Of course, by this time, I was probably five miles away from where I needed to be and to get back, I’d need to join in with horrific city traffic.
Ugh!
I reached my contact, told them what was going on and asked if they would please come to the curb and wait for me. They agreed, and by the time I got back to them, thirty minutes had passed from the time I’d exited the freeway.
Ah, the city.
Though my cell phone and text messages continued to taunt me throughout the remainder of the day, I did manage to have a productive day. Not the one I’d originally planned, but productive nonetheless.
Technology: 2. Me: 3. Ha!
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