Pete, I never was out of touch with the internet -- I had my iPad. It just made doing my primary email a little more complicated. The stressful thing was not having access to any of my writing, my archives, various address books, financial information, archived email, letters, etcet etcet -- my LIFE!

Tami, the washer filter is easy. It's a little plastic casing between the shutoff at the pipe just above the washer and hose that goes into the washer. You shut off the water (and, thanks to the plumbing work done last summer, I only had to shut the water off here instead of down cellar, too), unscrew the filter housing (well, a little more complicated -- unscrew the hose first so the housing can be unscrewed), pop in the new filter (they come in packs of two), and reconnect everything and Bob's your uncle.

Except I SHOULD have opened the filter package first. It's one of those that requires either an industrial strength machete or a small nuclear device. As a result of the delay between taking everything apart and popping the new one in, I may have put it in upside down...or not gotten the seal right, or something. Therefore, the leak. And I Just. Did. Not. have the patience to do it all over again right then. The laundry was done. I just shut off the water in the laundry room and popped the clothes in the dryer.

That was Monday. I haven't had the energy or patience to deal with it yet. Maybe tomorrow.

Called to sign up for the April grief group and, wouldn't you know it, the person I needed to talk to was out of the office today. So had to leave a message. (One more thing hanging.) I'd been looking forward to talking to her, too.

Linn