Unplugged!

Since we're going to be bumming it in Buenos Aires for the month, we decided beforehand that our digs should have three things: a kitchen, cable TV, and an internet connection. We found a little place online promising all three, rented it for the month, and moved in last week. There was just one little issue. The 12v power supply for the cable modem was missing. No power, no internet. We called the landlord. He apologized and agreed to bring it by the following day. Kind of annoying, but whatever. Honest mistake.

The next day, he brought by the power cord, shook both our hands, and left. I eagerly plugged the laptop in and awaited couch-surfing internet bliss. But the little LED on the "cable" part of the cable modem was strangely dark. As if...

I called the landlord, at which point he confirmed that yes, the cable had probably been turned off since he had actually cancelled the service a few weeks ago. He hadn't thought we'd have a problem since in the past the cable modem often went "working" well after the service had been cancelled. In short, he didn't want to pay for the cable that came with the apartment, was hoping he'd get it for free, was wrong, and now we were left hanging.

Come on.

I've spent a lot of times in internet cafes over the last ten months, and it's more or less been fine. But if I'm paying good money for an internet connection in my own home and I don't have one, it's only a matter of time before I freak out.

We woke up at 7 am this morning. Not because we wanted to, but because the cable guy's window of service was between 8 a.m.- 1 p.m. and it's a known fact that if you sleep in with the hope that the cable guy doesn't come until 10 a.m., he'll be early.

So, yeah. 7 a.m. It's now 1:30 p.m. It's nice to know that some things never change, no matter where in the world you are.

Poor Brendan. He's the one who really suffers the most in situations like this. Especially because now he has to call the landlord - at work - for the sixth time in three days.

-Sarah

Comments

That's a bum deal! Are they going to refund your money? Like you said, at least you know it isnt just here in the U.S. that landlords "forget" to inform you on minor details! Good luck you two and keep us posted! :)

Do you actually read the comments?

They do read the comments. Remember, if it's nasty about them, the comment is deleated. If it's nice toward them, it's kept.

By the way, you guys are boring!!

Hey Sarah,

It's nice to know there are some universal truths in this world. Landlords are always cheap, and cable guys are always late.

By the way, it's 2 below zero here in upstate NY. With the windchill, it's 20 below. How's the weather in Brazil? :-)

Sarah, I spent a year, living with my husband and 5 yr. old son, in a little house, which sat atop a hill in an idyllic setting. There were panoramic views of the sunrise and sunset. Ninety acres of open grassland and a beautiful little pond at the base of the hill... Our electric power came from solar panels on the roof, and provided for all our needs, until the dark months of November, December, and January. Then, it was like life of the cave people! We never came so close to getting a divorce as that Winter. But, we survived, and are a stronger family for it now. Believe me, I sympathize with your situation!