technology vs. preserved Meyer lemons

Along with the candied lemon slices from yesterday, I also put up five large Mason jars of preserved Meyer lemons. You can find the recipe HERE.

I hadn’t planned on making preserved lemons on this particular day, but since I was “being held captive by my technology“ I decided to make good use of my time.

The problem was with our TiVo. It decided to quit communicating with our router and wireless network. Or maybe it was the router and the wireless network that decided it no longer want to play nice with our TiVo.

Either way, it wasted a full 6 hours of my day.

I’ve always gotten wonderful customer service and tech support from TiVo. My luck may have run out on that.

The tech saga began at 2:20 PM on Martin Luther King Day. I use my computer to log into Tivo Support Online and entered into a chat with a technician named Natalie. Natalie had me do all sorts of shutdowns, unplugging, replugging, and restarting my TiVo and my router.

After 20 minutes of it, I realized that I would need to multi-task and take on another project, in-between our communications, to prevent me from going mad.

So I grabbed a cookie sheet, a cutting board, a knife, a bowl, some paper towels, and a bunch of Meyer lemons. I worked on this while simultaneously working on my technical issues with Natalie.

At one point, and I’m not making this up, this was our chat:

Natalie: OK Linda, unplug the Ethernet cord from the back of the TiVo box and while it resets, go and get a paperclip.

Linda: OK MacGyver, the cord is unplugged, I’ll go get a paperclip.

Natalie: LOL, “MacGyver,” you are too funny!

Linda: Natalie, I’m back with the paperclip, I assume you want me to unfold it and stick the end into some small hole somewhere. Might I need some Silly Putty and a shoelace too?

Natalie: Now who’s Ms. MacGyver? No, just the paperclip will do. Yes, unfold it and stick it in the small hole on the bottom of the TiVo wireless adapter, then plug the Ethernet back in and tell me what happens.

Linda: Done and done. Nothing has happened. Are you certain I don’t need a wadded up piece of gum or something to make this damn thing work?!?

This went on for nearly 3 hours. So long in fact, that I had to get another huge batch of lemons to work on.

After many more tries, Natalie had to give up on me and told me to call the TiVo support phone line and talk to a technician who was more advanced … 3 hours later! Whatever.

I called in and guess what? The next tech wasn’t able to help me either. He tells me I have to call the manufacturer of my router.

By now, it is after 6:00PM, so that won’t be happening until the next day.

If you know anything about me, you know that I am not willing to give up. I go back into the restart program and try a variety of different options. After many (SO VERY MANY!!) failed attempts, at 8:30 PM, I finally use the right combination of options and get the darn thing to connect and load … all by my little self.

No tech help, no paperclips, no wads of chewed gum.

Technology – love it and hate it at the same time!
Preserved Meyer Lemons – love all the time!