I figured that it was about time to post something before the blog spirits cast some evil weird nonupdating spell on me. However, technology has been a little bit impaired "around my way" lately, mostly because I haven't been able to afford it. I did a very bad job of budgeting for the summer and when it got right down to it, having all of the Grotto Pizza I wanted at the beach really was more important than keeping the land line connected.

Regretfully, I think my land line has gone the way of the dodo. It has packed its leather valise and moved gently into the night. I didn't even say goodbye when it slipped out the door.

As much as I prized my ancient telephone exchange and equally ancient heavy bakelite telephones, I realized that it was beyond folly to pay for two telephone services when I really only used the one for 'net access anyway. Now, of course I'll still need to get some kind of access, but dial-up just wasn't doing it for me anymore.

So, it is with heavy heart but a happily heavier wallet that I bid farewell to the old land line that has seen service in the St. Paul street house since the late 1910s. Soon--once I actually get some kind of 'net connection--I'll be able to blog more responsibly, watch Happy Cat birthday cards, and won't have to spend five minutes waiting for naughty pictures to load. Ain't technology grand?

Even better, I may still be able to use the bakelite phones and have the old Chesapeake exchange. I understand that some online services allow one to do so through the computer, although I have a strong suspicion that hooking it up will require at least three martinis and many, many four-letter words.