That’s the Bay these mornings – an icy soup near the shore and a lot of cold, cold waves pushing in from the north. No way I’m walking along the beach with the dogs until things settle down. But there’s plenty to see on the road. For example, yesterday morning we exchanged pleasantries with Dee Grammer, who delivers numerous advertising circulars and the occasional present to our mailbox.
We said our daily hello and yes-it-is-a-little-nippy to Running Man, who covers the same morning territory much faster than we do. Miss Sadie and the Cowboy would like to move that fast, but they can’t drag me at speed, even on the ice.
Most interesting of all, we had a nice chat with Anonymous Cable Guy, who has been in the business a long time and has the presence of mind to travel with dog treats in his pockets. From him I learned a great many dismal facts about the lack of highspeed internet hereabouts, even though there is fiber optic cable right there where I can see it. The problem, it turns out, is the lack of appropriate–and apparently very expensive–transmitters all along the route. What is in place now offers one-way transmission, suitable for television. Internet use requires two-way transmission–I should say so!–and that awaits significant investment. My work is cut out for me.
Torch Lake Views 
p.j. grath
January 6, 2010
I saw a Big Orange Truck in Northport today and thought of you, Gerry! Good luck on the high-speed deal. Us, too.
Gerry
January 6, 2010
I had hoped that a new Margaret Atwood novel or a lovely poem would remind my friends of me. A Big Orange Truck, eh? Ah well. I have seen stranger things depicted on tombstones. I’ll keep you apprised of my quixotic quest for broadband.
Fee
January 7, 2010
I suppose that’s the advantage of city life. We have high speed broadband (we even have a choice of providers), but we just don’t have the outside space you do. As a transplanted country kid, I still miss the wide open spaces I grew up in.
Gerry
January 7, 2010
A choice of providers . . . Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? I suppose all of life is really a sequence of choices, and I certainly have chosen to live up here in the drumlins. Still, I think we have as a community made a mistake by not looking at broadband as a public utility along the same lines as roads and electricity and postal service. I’m going to go out and watch the waves on the Bay and think about it some more. 😉
uphilldowndale
January 7, 2010
Brr…. that looks chilly, I’d ponder by the fire if I were you
Gerry
January 7, 2010
Indeed I shall, while surrounded by dogs and quaffing a glass of red wine. Which begs the question: if a person is going to stay inside all winter anyway, and winter lasts for 17 months out of the year, what does it matter if a person lives in a place of surpassing natural beauty? But that’s just the January crankiness talking.