We have a failure to communicate

Sometime this weekend, either our modem or something else in the connection to our ADSL provider (needless to say, they think it's the modem, although we're not so sure) was mortally wounded. I tried to install a new modem last night, with no luck. Gretchen has successfully resisted the urge so far to call me at work every hour or two to ask if she has any new emails, but it's not easy. It's amazing (or not, I suppose, when you don't really have English language television) how quickly you feel cut off from the rest of the world--hopefully we'll get it fixed soon and post some ever-so-cute pix of Grandma Caril's visit......