It's an addiction...

Last week the neighbors who live directly below me moved out. At first I thought this event was a bonus for me in several ways:
1. They own a giant dog who barks all the time. He's so big he shakes my floor when he barks and drives the cat crazy. I was home sick one day last week and he barked for two solid hours when his owners weren't home.
2. They gave me their window air conditioning unit for free when they left. Maybe to make up for all the barking?
3. I no longer have to feel bad when I accidentially drop things early in the morning or kick books off my bed at night. Both are inevitable happenings.
4. They had a surround sound system and would watch action movies. Every Sunday. All. Day. Long.

However, a few hours after they departed a discovered a very sad reason why their leaving was such sad sorrow for me. Apparently the internet signal I've been using since I moved in was coming from their apartment. No more neighbors, no more internet. Hence my lack of posting over the holiday weekend.

Last night I was so desperate to check my email that I drove down the street to a parking space I knew would pick up a free wireless signal and used said signal from my car. Sad, I know.

I've spent most of today investigating paying for internet and the news is not good. Someone really needs to challenge the local communication monopoly because they want to charge me over $45 a month for internet, plus installation fees. All this after I just downgraded my cable (watching less TV is a good thing, life does go on without DVR) and was charged $10. To downgrade! Jerks.