Panic!!

Tuesday night was one of the longest nights of my life. This may sound like a dramatic statement that reeks of hyperbole but it is true (though not literally).

I got home from work at 345pm, as I do most days, and settled in to eat my Subway sub that I purchased for dinner (Mmm, foot long Tuna subs!!). I turned on the TV to see nothing but a black screen. This was a little disconcerting but it happens from time to time. So I called Shaw Cable and the message told me it would be at least 10 minutes to speak to a specialist and would I like to enter my number for a call-back. (Side note: I love the "call-back" option. Since I have a cell phone and no home phone, I hate chewing through my minutes while waiting on hold). About half an hour later a Shaw representative called me back. I explained that my cable was out as well as my Internet. The rep reviewed my signal and said there was no signals bouncing back from my cable boxes and modem. Not good. The rep then said that my neighbours did not appear to be having any difficulties. Really not good. At this point I started to get a little worried that I may be without access to the outside world for a while. The rep told me that someone was going to need to come out to my residence to check out the problem. PANIC ATTACK APPROACHING. However, Shaw would be able to send someone out to my house the next day. WHEW!! Less Panic. I agreed to an appointment for the Wednesday between 500-800. Please be closer to 500, I didn't want to miss Modern Family at 700.

Once my callback from Shaw was complete, I sat quietly in a house without any Internet or cable. What the hell was I going to do? I suppose I could read what was happening on my new Blackberry Torch (love my new phone) but that didn't seem practical for all the stuff I like to read and look at each night. The worst part? It was US election night and I wanted to watch Fox News and MSNBC and couldn't. Also, it was Canucks/Oilers on TV and I really can't stand listening to the local Oilers broadcast on the radio. Just biased coverage on 630 CHED.

At least I was able to watch stuff I had PVR'd but it really wasn't the same. And then the moment came, nothing left on the PVR and it was 7pm. Now what? Was it too early to go to bed? Maybe. Should I do some chores? Not likely. I was officially left with nothing motivating to do. I sat on the couch for another 20 minutes or so and then decided I would just go to bed and continue reading The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (PS: good book but takes a while to get going).

Normally, I watch the news before going to sleep so this was obviously out of the question so I went to bed with little knowledge of the hockey game score or the election results. I kind of wished that I would wake up and have my cable back... No such luck, no cable on Wednesday morning.

Fast forward to Wednesday night and the Shaw Cable visit. Apparently my cable signal booster fried. I didn't even know there was a booster on the network. Any how, the technician got my Internet and cable up and running and I couldn't be more happy, my 24 hour nightmare was over.

In hindsight, I suppose I could have done more and I failed in the face of adversity. I think I need to address my reliance on technology. What would happen to me if the Zombie Apocalypse ever came???