Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

This week Mike is in Florida. Jake's initial response was unhappiness - he thought Mike was going to Disney World without us.

Maddie talked to Mike yesterday and asked how his day went. Mike is there as a client and therefore is getting catered to in some things. He was originally scheduled to go fishing in the ocean on Tuesday. Due to choppy waves though, they were taken on a boat around some area where the dolphins played. Mike's group saw a lot of dolphins following the wakes of a lot of boats - except their own. But, he explained to Maddie that it was fun and he still got to see them. She replied, "I thought you were there to work." I think mostly he's been working on keeping his allergies and sinuses under control. He was actually scheduled to work - in an office - today and tomorrow.

In the meantime, we are stranded without our own computer guru and technology professional. Last night I went upstairs to watch our t.v. which is in the middle of having 3 remotes merged into one. Basically, between these three remotes I couldn't get a picture, much less a channel change. I was getting really irritated. But after an initial 15 minutes of pure exasperation I managed to sit down and actually think through things and lo and behold! the t.v. answered back with picture, sound AND changing channels. It was midnight Mike's time and I seriously considered calling to tell him the good news that I had actually accomplished the impossible (for me at least...). However, I tend to begin a lot of conversations at midnight with him and I thought he deserved a break from that.

This afternoon my mom and I realized the internet connection was down for some reason. Well, who knows if it was actually down, but something wasn't right. Mike's answer is always "turn it off and on" so I did that a bunch of times. Then I gave up and decided I just wouldn't have an internet connection until Mike got back. It's surprising how stranded a person can feel without that little connection to the world, and I can't even tell you how many times I thought, "I should email Mike and find out what the problem is with the internet." Needless to say, that didn't happen.

But, somehow all the turning off/on worked. Or maybe it was that my dad reset something and it finally kicked in an hour later. Or maybe Comcast's siesta was over and it was time to get back to work.

This is generally how things work...or don't...when Mike is gone. There is always a t.v. or audio problem and the computer always puts up a fight. Does he set this up on purpose so that while he's away I realize just how invaluable his talents are?

If so...well played, Mike.