Alin's Site

we got zapped (click for big)

blogging on paper...

See that giant hellhole of a storm Yeah, THAT thing hit us yesterday. Above is my blog on paper. That is what my blog looked like before I had any type of internet access and before I thought of tethering my phone with my computer. That is what blogs looked like before Blogs and the internet were invented I think… Anyway at 3:45 AM big flashing amber lights were out my window and our power was cut for a minute or two, I figure it was the definitive permanent fix from ComEd, I looked out the window and saw the big ComEd truck. ANYWHO, now the translated version of my text cause no one but me can read it i think.

By the way our internet is out as of 9:00 PM last night and is STILL out as of this post.

Some key words here ETR – Estimated Time to Repair/Resolution and Node – A piece of equipment in internet terms that serves an area.

Monday July 11

9:00 AM Plan was to pee then sleep at 7:30. 7:50 falling asleep BAM no power, alarms flashing. 400,000 without power.

10:00 AM No power dad scrounging around for generator possible code blue

10:30 AM Recovery trucks are out

10:30 AM ETR is today changed from 5 days. Dad knows who to call.

12:30 PM ETR is 1:30 now… we wait and see…

1:15 PM Power is up! (cable was up too!!!)

9:00 PM Cable is out major outage

11:15 PM Over 500,000 without power still.

11:21 PM No ETR on Internet

11:35 PM ETR is Midnight for Internet and TV

11:50 PM Ugh Tethering with phone for now

Tuesday July 12

3:00 PM They totally lied on the ETR, there is no ETR for this outage, it is a Level 4 outage and there are only 5 levels, Level 5 is like if the whole Comcast network nationally crashed. FIX THIS CRAP ALREADY! They said that 54% of the Nodes are functional a few hours ago so figure maybe hopefully tonight sometime MY freaking Node will come up!?! This is the LONGEST cable outage we have EVER suffered. Anywho even if it does not come back up then a technician will be out to the house tomorrow to see if some of our wires didn’t get damaged. I am questioning wire damage as there were still some gusty winds last night that may have brought some sort of object or something into contact with the line.

I am really sick of how outagey yesterday has been and today, can we please have less outageyness this week please? and yes outageyness is a word now.

This being said, I will still be communicating via E-Mail through my phone and computer as normal, Instant Messaging will not be online, Skype will not be online, Facebook will be spotty.

All of the communications will return to normal when the outage is cleared

UPDATE: 6:20 PM 54% of Comcast Devices are back online and an ETR has been established of 10 PM CDT. Hoping that means I pop online then! Otherwise my equipment and wiring will be technician fodder tomorrow!

UPDATE 2: 6:47 PM Just waiting for the ETR to roll by and my net to come back up. found out the power outage starting Toll was 817,000 nearly 1.0M people without power now down to approximately 300K

UPDATE 3: 10:45 PM The ETR has passed 45 minutes ago. They are making progress, 50% of people were up and running as of this morning, as of now in real time its 58% and rising. They say that TV is fixed but it’s not working in our house, our house is officially technician’s fodder tomorrow as one is coming out to check the SDW  or Service Drop Wire (The wire from the pole to the house) and other Comcast equipment on the outside of our house. Hopefully we will have cable back tomorrow. THIS IS PISSING ME THE HELL OFF!!!

Wednesday July 13

UPDATE 4: 10:00 AMish The connection is restored TV AND INTERNET ARE UP, repairs still underway, outage is not 100% cleared, apparently 60% something customers have connection and 40% are without, YAY I am very happy.

UPDATE 5:  12:48 PM Connection Resiliency Testing (Simulated POWER outage test) completed. Multiple disconnects of the power to the Modem result in a immediate service relaunch as expected, connection is resilient and functioning as expected. the outage is OVER for me!

This being said, I will still be communicating via E-Mail through my phone and computer as normal, Instant Messaging will be online, Skype will be online, Facebook will be covered as normally. The technician is still going to come and do an inspection and damage assessment.