Yesterday morning, about 4:30 I woke just as a miniature lightening bolt dashed across the front of my bedside radio (don't ask: I don't know how, or what, I just know what I saw). Followed immediately by the biggest thunder boom I've ever heard. The house shook and bucked. I got up, ran downstairs. Too late. The computer was already off. I went back to bed in the midst of a huge, loud and bright show, followed by some rain. Not even that much rain.

In the morning woke to find the computer was fine, but the modem was fried.

Today, I have a new modem, and new power strip with phone line surge protection (should have done it after the first modem got fried three years ago), and a wonderful computer geek/repairman in my virtual rolodex.

Life is good.