I will not name names, but the picture to your left is an actual picture of the offending lodge. As you are all quite aware, my laptop and the ability to access the internet at will is like my Lord of The Rings Precious...PRECIOUS (*See video below* I react pretty much this exact way).
So when I arrived at this lodge, tucked into the majestic mountainside near Yosemite National Park, I reached for my welcome packet, searching for the free WIFI code and low and behold...NOT FREE!! There would be a daily usage fee should I choose to access it. Now don't get me wrong, I'm willing to pay for internet when I must, but my beef occurs when I'm already paying a pretty penny to stay at the hotel/lodge anyway. This was no cheap stay. So give me free internet. Screw the shower cap. Even Motel 6 offers free internet. Come on!
So when I arrived at this lodge, tucked into the majestic mountainside near Yosemite National Park, I reached for my welcome packet, searching for the free WIFI code and low and behold...NOT FREE!! There would be a daily usage fee should I choose to access it. Now don't get me wrong, I'm willing to pay for internet when I must, but my beef occurs when I'm already paying a pretty penny to stay at the hotel/lodge anyway. This was no cheap stay. So give me free internet. Screw the shower cap. Even Motel 6 offers free internet. Come on!
So after settling down from my near panic attack and realizing that I won't implode from internet access denial, I learned to actually enjoy my family vacation. Yeah, really.
Maybe THE LODGE (that's what we'll call it to protect its identity) was actually onto something--force people to stop using the internet and start interacting with their family (I was planning to interact with my family...just not as much). I hiked. I went on open-air tram rides. I even went swimming with my kids in the pool (yeah, the one in the picture PLUS the inside pool as well). I allowed my children to nearly drown me. I was an EXCELLENT parent. I even took really long naps on my big comfy lodge bed. Had I been able to access the internet, I wouldn't have done half those things. I'd be busy trying to get my novel ready for the August 15th release. I would be writing blog posts and checking email--all while sitting at the pool side. Relaxing without my laptop perched on my legs is something I'm not used to doing.
All in all I had an excellent time and my kids got their mom--not the writer--for vacation.
How about you? Do you freak out a little when denied internet access? How do you cope?
Maybe THE LODGE (that's what we'll call it to protect its identity) was actually onto something--force people to stop using the internet and start interacting with their family (I was planning to interact with my family...just not as much). I hiked. I went on open-air tram rides. I even went swimming with my kids in the pool (yeah, the one in the picture PLUS the inside pool as well). I allowed my children to nearly drown me. I was an EXCELLENT parent. I even took really long naps on my big comfy lodge bed. Had I been able to access the internet, I wouldn't have done half those things. I'd be busy trying to get my novel ready for the August 15th release. I would be writing blog posts and checking email--all while sitting at the pool side. Relaxing without my laptop perched on my legs is something I'm not used to doing.
All in all I had an excellent time and my kids got their mom--not the writer--for vacation.
How about you? Do you freak out a little when denied internet access? How do you cope?
