WRITING & TECHNOLOGY: Wired

Computer problems, like a snowball rolling down a hill, gather quirks and kinks along the way that end up in a massive ball of twisting wires and cables at journey’s end. Modem dies in one and moneywise it’s best to tie the other two in with the access at this point in time, I think.

While those unbroken and alive are better for their sibling’s illness with addition of a router, adapter, cables and now able both to fly as one across the internet with speed unknown before to one, the silly one that failed is failing still. Wireless requires an upgrade to the program, another layout of some cash, but then again, a new fly in the ointment naturally appears. XP is a hog. XP is expensive. XP only seals itself to one computer at a time. Shall I switch around computers? No, the nightmare of the wires to which they’re tethered strikes with ominous delight at further trouble. Win ME would handle it, but rarely can the beast be found for less than pirate rates.

The simplest of solutions, done with blessings of guru is yet to be. Three hundred feet of cable snaking through the office, down the hall, and through the kitchen to garage. From there it hides beneath the ground to tunnel like the hated voles to shimmy through the chestnut beams and up to reach Computer C, who sits with useless wireless access primed and ready. Oh no, that must come out, of course, and wired adapter must be bought.

Dangerously close now to the cost of new computer, one fit and suited well to solve the original dilemma but avoided for the overwhelming price tag offered at the start. In bits and pieces dollars mount, and gas to circle round to Staples, Radio Shack and now, Home Depot, hidden by the mind who need be blind to all the trouble versus need. I’m off to buy computer parts: exchanged adapters, cat 5 cable, and a shovel; PVC tubing, I somehow have. I have as well, as was suggested as necessity, the vacuum cleaner, styrofoam peanut and fishing line.

This had better work.